“This Place Matters” Campaign
It’s only been this year that I’ve started taking Metro regularly to work (just because the current/temporary contract I’m on is in a different location). While my walk from the King Street metro is uneventful (thanks to the uninspired architecture and construction efforts of the Carlyle Group), I always enjoy my walk from the Silver Spring metro back home (minus the panhandlers, of course).
The savory smell of Jamaican beef patties at Negril is usually the first sensory stimulation, but the music eminating from Roadhouse Oldies always picks up my pace and puts a smile on my face.
May is National Historic Preservation Month, and Silver Spring Historical Society President Jerry McCoy recently sent me a link for the “This Place Matters” Campaign from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He submitted a story talking about how Roadhouse Oldies matters to him, and I encourage you not only to read it here, but to support this great Thayer Avenue business.
Thanks to Jerry and the Historical Society for all their efforts.
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Although I’ve never been inclined to make a purchase from Roadhouse Oldies, I also like walking past the Motown music emanating from the store. I hope that the business can find a new location in Fenton Village–how about relocating in the now defunct Pieces clothing store? Also, there is some vacant retail space on Fenton Street.
I support populating Fenton Village with small, independently-owned businesses, but I don’t think it is realistic to expect the existing small businesses to stay in the area forever. Some will close because the owners want to do something else, others will not be able to turn a profit, and others, like Roadhouse Oldies, will need to move when their lease expires.
Nothing lasts forever. Even the Yenching Palace in Cleveland Park (my household’s go-to Chinese Restaurant during my childhood) closed its doors recently after being in business for decades. I mourned the passing of the Half Moon BBQ but recently went to Olazzo that replaced it and the experience was pretty good.
The building that is now the Thai Market used to be Captain Jerry’s Seafood Restaurant. Should it have remained a seafood restaurant forever? Says who? Local demographics, needs, and tastes will change over time and businesses will change with them.
One day Dale Music and Chrisfield Seafood will close their doors, which will be sad. On the other hand, a new Ethiopian coffee shop and market recently opened on Fenton Street and business appears to be good. Maybe they will become the next local staples.
Nothing lasts. Change is the only constant.
I go to Crisfield Seafood regularly. Their business is doing just fine and will probably do even better once they finish the Apt next door. I think if you run a good business you can remain in business for a LONG time. Dale music on the other hand will probably be forced out business by Steve Jobs.
Unless Apple starts selling the iFlute, Dale Music will be ok.
Whoops…
Better than a flesh flute, I suppose.
I just bought a guitar from Dale a while back, and with all the school band programs in the vicinity, I can’t imagine them going anywhere.
As for Roadhouse, David has a point. Things come and go, and both Fenton Village and South Silver Spring are going to have a dramatic impact on everything below Wayne Ave. and beyond.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
When we lived on Houston Street and took Metro together, my wife and I used to dance in front of Roadhouse Oldies on the way home, just to be silly and newlywed.
Youbetyerass that place Matters.