POTD: Grille

>

This neat shot is by Rockville Central reader Janet Piczak Brown. Of it, she says: “I was walking around downtown and noticed this for the first time. There are so many interesting things to notice in the new town center.”

You’re so right!

Editorial Opinion: Town Square Business Closures Sad But Not Troubling

Every time a >business closes in Town Square, people get worried. Some, who were perhaps ambivalent or opposed the development in the first place, point to each closure as evidence of the original folly of Town Square.

Others, who believe the City is managing Town Center poorly, say that if only we had different policies, more businesses would stay open.

I take a different view. While I regret each business closure, I also know that many, if not most, start ups don’t succeed. I’ve read that three out of four restaurants close — and Town Square has a lot of restaurants. Looked at in context, Town Square is doing well. Yes, some businesses fail, and some are struggling. Others are thriving.

Rather than imagine what went wrong, I would prefer to look at what is going right and try to do more of it.

In today’s Gazette roundup of business closures — and their replacements — my friend Stephen Schadler of the Austin Grill has a very useful reminder:

“When you have a development like Town Square you put in a mix of retail and restaurants that you think will be successful; however, you’re never going to get that perfect the first time around. . . . There’s always going to be those businesses even in the best of economic times that are going to struggle and not make it one way or another. The hope is you bring in new merchants so that you can continue trying to get that right mix and give consumers what they’re demanding.”

Remember, every turnover is an opportunity to refine and create a successful mix.

Greystone Grill In Town Square Closes

Following up from a tip from one of our >Twitter friends, I took a peek and found that, indeed, the Greystone Grill in Town Square appears to have closed. In fact, it is evidently closed forever:

It’s always sad to see businesses not succeed. But there are still lots of good restaurants in Town Square and this opens the door to something new!

POTD: Fountain!

>

This striking shot is by Janet Piczak Brown. Of it, she says: “Was out in town center today. The fountains were on! A reminder that warmer, sunny weather is around the corner. I can picture all of the kids running around in them.”

Of course, I waited until warm, sunnier weather was here before I ran it! (That’s just how I roll.)

Happy Cinco de Mayo in Town Square

Although the Mexican state of Puebla celebrates >Cinco de Mayo today, we had our Rockville celebration last Saturday, May 2, 2009, when music and entertainment filled Rockville Town Square for twelve full hours.

Here’s a very brief clip of the mariachi band to make you feel a part of the holiday:

When I stopped by on Saturday afternoon, I’m afraid I didn’t get into the Mexican spirit. My intent was to catch local Rockville musician Keegan Corbey play his acoustic set with Dave Speake. Keegan was born and raised in Rockville then studied music in Tennessee before returning to his hometown. His original songs reference Maryland and our local area so they’ll suddenly surprise you with a mention of places near and dear, such as “I drive a vespa in Bethesda when I’m on the road/ And I’m doomed to reach this destination alone”. With his quality strumming and earnest singing, he’s sure to have a Good Year back here, especially when he plays Hometown Holidays on Saturday.

The Town Square merchants filled tents along Maryland Avenue, primarily with tastings from the restaurants from about $2-$5 each. As I strolled down the street, I decided on sushi from Sushi Damo which is even less in the Cinco de Mayo spirit but the spring rolls [Update: my husband has told me California not spring!] were excellent. Throughout the afternoon, kids lined up to jump in the carrousel-themed moonbounce for their fun.

Austin Grill Rockville booked the bands and fenced off the area in front of the stage turning the Square into a large outdoor club. A $10 admission fee at the gate got you tickets redeemable for drinks and tacos. As dinner time approached, people were starting to arrive for the Reagan Years’ performance. Cinco de Mayo or not, it became very apparent that we don’t need much of an excuse to have a good time in Rockville Town Square.

POTD: In Lights

>

Rockville Central reader Janet Piczak Brown sent this cool shot along. Of it, she says: “I was in downtown Rockville today and just noticed these lights. Had to get a picture.”

Glad you did!

Town Center Summit Recap

The Town Center Summit, hosted by the >Town Center Action Team, attracted a large crowd to VisArts last night, Tuesday, April 21, 2009. As promised, the discussion centered on how to how to facilitate and encourage improvements in the short and long term.

The first part of the summit was on the just completed Town Square including how to make the best of the current economic environment. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the points presented.

City long-range planner David Levy thinks that the Rockville Town Center Master Plan’s goal of creating daytime, evening and weekend activity area has been met with Phase I, regardless of whether there are condos or apartments.

Parks and Recreation director Burt Hall explained that the Mayor and Council have postponed a change in the hours for paid parking in Town Center until October so evenings and weekends will remain free through the summer. The monthly parking rate will be lowered from $75 to $65. All City residents will get 12 free parking days starting on June 1, 2009. Coupons will be distributed at City Hall.

Michael Schwartzman from Ross Development gave the real estate developers perspective on Town Square and he said “It has been fantastic … I can tell you that with all sincerity.” Ross is still the 50% holder of the Palladium condos. Town Center has won 10 awards.

Matt Wexler of CIM Group which he described as an “urban investing leader”, reported that his company owns 492 rentals in Town Center and that they are about 85% leased. The projections of renting about 20 units per month have been met. The renewal rate is also on target. Someday they hope the units will be introduced as condos when the market improves. Although later during questions, a couple of people expressed disbelief that 85% were actually rented, Mr. Wexler reiterated that about 85% were in fact rented whether people had their lights on at night or not.

Neil Berkoff (sp?) of Federal Realty said that we cannot ignore that we have had some store closures. They are working to put stores in that people want. Natural attrition occurs in new developments. Some merchants are challenged but for those who are committed, they are working with them. The new furniture store has 12 other successful locations and thinks this store will be successful.

The big news is that the Super Fresh Grocery assured him that it will open this year. Vice President Robin McBride said that as she was walking out the door to attend the Summit, she confirmed the grocery was opening and that their inability to get an exception from the State of Maryland to sell alcohol in the store was not a deterent.

Debra Moser, the executive director of VisArts, talked about how VisArts is gaining recognition throughout the country. The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria (which I always refer to when explaining about the artist studios) came up to see the building because they are thinking of renovating. 57 juried artists will participate in the Fine Arts Craft Festival during Hometown Holidays and a sculpture will be built in the portfolio gallery. Each Wednesday throughout the summer, artists will be in the Square.

Debra Simon, owner of the Waygoose, said that, as a retailer, “It’s been hard.” When the shop re-opened in Town Square after being on North Washington Street before the redevelopment, the recession started almost immediately. She said it’s difficult to make people realize there is something special behind the large garage walls on Rt. 355. Regional media coverage has been difficult to obtain in order to attract people from outlying areas. Although the Square has been getting national attention, it does not have the attention of people living within 10 miles.

She asked everyone to “Invite all your friends that live more than a mile away.”

Sally Sternbach of REDI provided a financial assessment of what should be built in Town Center because this is what she is “paid to wake up and think about.” She advocates for more commercial office space, not government buildings. Commercial offices place a lower demand on public services and provide more tax revenue. She also said that commercial tenants rent more hotel rooms, eat out more in restaurants, and choose more expensive meals than government tenants.

Robin McBride, Vice President of Federal Realty, explained that they have subsidized $1 million dollars for marketing in addition to the fees charged to merchants. Two market studies have shown that shoppers “will not travel north” from DC or Bethesda, but people will travel south from Clarksburg, Olney, and Gaithersburg.

Federal Realty holds events throughout the country at their properties. It’s different at Town Center, she says, because for some reason the large crowds at events do not result in sales generation.

This was all during just the first part of the meeting. The second part looked at Town Center north of Beall Avenue (across the street from Town Square).

David Levy explained that Maryland Avenue will be extended like a curved spine through this section and Dawson Avenue will connect North Washington Street with Rt. 355. The new Rockville zoning confirmed by-right heights for buildings and also set a maximum (with no minimum) for required parking. This north section is not a public-private undertaking like the Town Square and it will be privately developed.

As Mary van Balgooy of Peerless Rockville started to explain about the possibilities for the Pink Bank, which I’ve previously detailed, I had to leave for my kickboxing training. JBG had decided not to speak because the plan was too immature to comment on at this point. I believe that KSI was going to present about their approved development along Beall Avenue which includes the Pink Bank building. Please let us know what we missed in comments!

Nonprofits: Get On Austin Grill’s “First Mondays” Schedule!

Our good friends at the Austin Grill in Rockville Town Square have let us know that, after a brief hiatus, they’ve been able to reinstate their incredible “First Mondays” program for area nonprofits. The deal, in a nutshell, is simple: Austin Grill donates 20% of the night’s revenue to your organization. It’s up to you to fill the room and make it a party. These events can be huge, and they are scheduled a few months out so it helps to be organized.>

The band I play with, The West End, served as entertainment for one in support of Beall Elementary School’s PTA last year, and we were able to raise enough to support the school’s annual anthology of student writing.

As you might imagine, there are some hoops to jump through and some applications to fill out — but it is worth your time. Here are the forms you need.

Town Square Super Fresh Won't Be Selling Booze

As many >Rockville Central readers know, we’ve been tapping our feet waiting for one of the cornerstones of Town Square to open: the Super Fresh grocery store at the corner of Beall Ave. and N. Washington.

The state legislature dealt the A&P-owned chain a setback by refusing it an exception that would have allowed the grocery store to sell beer and wine on the premises.

Says the Gazette:

Super Fresh will not be selling beer and wine in its Rockville Town Square grocery store when it opens this year.

The state bill that would have allowed a special exception for the grocery store to sell beer and wine did not make it out of a House of Delegates subcommittee by the end of the legislative session on Monday.

Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann expressed disappointment:

“We’re very disappointed that the liquor industry in the state continues to have the stranglehold on the Maryland legislature. . . . We received opposition from groups outside the city and even outside the county … those wholesalers don’t do business in the county and yet they came and testified in opposition.”

No word yet from A&P or Super Fresh on their response, although one option is to open a third-party beer and wine store next door.

Storm Water Maintenance In Town Square Scheduled

This from the project manager for Town Square:>

Rockville City Public Works department will be working in the Town Square for the next three weeks. They will be replacing the lids to the storm water interceptors throughout the plaza. The general purpose is to adjust them to handle increased traffic loads and level them up.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thanks for the heads up!

[UPDATE]

Belay that last! Says Rockville facilities people:

This is a follow up to the notification sent to you earlier this week regarding the project to replace the lids on the access hatches to the storm water management facility in the Town Square Plaza. We are informing you that the City has decided to put this project on hold once the first of the six hatches is finished.

It is possible to delay this project until the outdoor season is winding down in the fall. This was determined to be the preference given the amount of noise, dust, etc. involved. This does not mean that there will never be the need to perform street or plaza repairs that are disruptive. If, for example, a water main burst, that is the type of project that would have to done immediately, while of course minimizing the disruptive elements associated with the repairs. We will make every effort to keep all of you informed when the need for such projects or repairs arise.

The lids that cover access hatches to the storm water management sand filters located beneath the Town Square Plaza near the grass area need be replaced, as the current lids do not have the appropriate load bearing rating to handle traffic on the plaza, and they are currently somewhat of a tripping hazard. There are six lids involved, each approximately 4-1/2′ by 5′. The new lids are galvanized steel lids painted to blend in with the existing pavers.

POTD: Teardown

>

The other day I ran across this scene as they were taking down the ice skating rink in Town Square. I thought it was sort of neat.

POTD: Stacked

>

This was the scene in the wee hours at Town Square one recent morning. They seemed at the ready.

POTD: Flow

>

In my favorite donut shop, the Fractured Prune in Town Square, there are a bunch of drawings by area kids. This one caught my eye . . . it looks like a world made of flowing lava.

And I loved the vibrant use of color.

POTD: Locked Up

>

This seemed a silly level of security for an ATM, if you ask me . . .

Buskers! Audition With City Hall For 2009 Season

As you may know, Our Fair City has a “buskers’ program” in Town Square. This means that if you would like to be a street performer, you need to get a permit. Auditions are coming up for this season’s festivities. This from the City’s press release:>

The City of Rockville invites jugglers, magicians, clowns, musicians, mimes and street performers to audition for the chance to exhibit their talents in Rockville Town Square this year.

Auditions will be held Tuesday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive.

Performances may include playing an instrument, singing, mime, dance, theater and clowning.

“Street performers really add to the fun and energetic feel of Town Square,” said Colleen McQuitty, special events manager. “We think the buskers program is great for the City and the performers who have the chance to showcase their skills for a new audience.”

A busker permit is required prior to performing on Rockville streets and sidewalks. Permits specify when and where performances are allowed to occur.
To schedule an audition, complete an application available on-line here and submit it to the City of Rockville, Department of Recreation and Parks at 111 Maryland Avenue. City staff will contact applicants to schedule a specific audition time upon receipt of the complete application. Once auditions are complete, permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on the buskers program, including applications, performance guidelines and permit locations and times, go here or contact Jen Betts, events specialist at 240-314-8604 or jbetts@rockvillmd.gov.