Fire Station 1 Open Tonight
I just got confirmation from the powers that be that Fire Station 1 will officially be open for business tonight for dinner. They had to wait for their final permits to come through, and that’s all now been taken care of. I’ll be there to check it out – photos to come!
UPDATE: As Promised, More Photos
Just went by Fire Station 1 to confirm, and the kitchen is humming, trucks are being unloaded, and the place looks great.
40 Comments so far
Leave a reply
Blech! It looks like a Gymboree crossed with a Borders Books crossed with an airport waiting room! And it definitely looks more like a sports bar than anything else.
I’ll stick with Piratz’ patio.
How does it rate as a World Cup venue (watching, not playing)? I don’t see any really big TVs.
Where’s the brass pole?
It’s not that kind of bar.
I assume the brass pole presented too many liability issues. Sad, really. I was looking forward to that.
@Sligo: No really big TVs, so it may be a little dicey as a World Cup venue. And you don’t have to have scantily-clad women *on* the pole for it to be appreciated for what it is.
Hmm…no pole, bummer. I must say, I’m underwhelmed by the interior design. The outside tables so close to Georgia Ave make me more than a little nervous.
Do you get the sense it will be kid friendly? I’m always wary of taking my kids to pub restaurants, but I really want to check it out!
The upstairs looks more kid-friendly than the bar area, but I have to admit that while the decor looks looks nice, it’s nothing new.
We went tonight – a good number of locals, so it was pretty busy.
A LOT of service issues, and the taps weren’t working and the bottle beer was warm. The food we had was pretty good.
I have some major concerns about the service issues – much we can write off as opening night shakedown, but some of the attitude of the 5 floor managers made me nervous for their future success.
Overall, we’ll be back, but that was never a question for us, since we live down the street.
On the taps that weren’t working, seems like there will be two hook and ladders (we drank them out of bottles tonight), blue moon, yuengling/bud/miller lite, looked like sam regular and sam seasonal, stella, one i couldn’t identify that had a spiral handle, and a few others i can’t remember after 4 backdraft browns.
Great info. Thanks, Kate. We came |this| close to going, but the potential for just such opening night issues sent us to Mi Rancho. Margaritas and cheese-filled chiles? Sure, I’ll take that.
“some of the attitude of the 5 floor managers made me nervous for their future success.”
Attitude as in not knowing what they’re doing, first day jitters… or attitude as in you felt like you were a guest being tolerated in someone’s house, instead of a customer at a pub?
I was hoping that this place would have a relaxing atmosphere to go grab beers and watch a game, but the pictures make it look like a glorified TGI Fridays. I don’t want the corporate atmosphere to go with it….but I’m out of town so I’ll have to see for myself next week.
We went last night… let me say… I’ve been waiting for 3 years… and man… I was seriously bummed. They definitely should have waited to open. They didn’t have all their beers on draft yet. Our server knew NOTHING about what they did have on draft – couldn’t even read off a list to me of what they had – let alone provide any insite to the various styles. I know hook & ladder pulled out of the deal, but they only had 1 hook & ladder variety – I thought they were at least still going to provide a good number of the beers, no? They pushed the food out too fast – our pizza crust wasn’t cooked all the way through. And I realize a lot of “breweries” don’t brew on site… particularly in militant-Mo-County… but usually they at least have breweries they contract with to provide some specialty brews for them… and maybe this was just first night, it’s not all there yet? But there was nothing out of the ordinary… I mean it was a good selection, but no better a draft list than quarry house… and they don’t claim to be a brewery. So that’s a lot in one comment… I do feel bad ranting so much because I have seriously been waiting for them to open for 3 years (If I recall spring 2008 was the original date when first announced), and we’re moving out of maryland (back to northern NJ) in 2 months so it was really just in time… but man.. I was seriously bummed out. If it was really a brewpub, then the brew would be their thing and mediocre food and maybe even service could slide…. but since they don’t brew, something else better be special and it just wasn’t.. at least not yet. As for the previous comments about the 5 floor managers… I hear ya… just not very professional, don’t know how to do customer service well. We were sitting and waiting and one of them walked over leaned on an empty chair a the table and just stated talking without even an introduction.. it was just kinda weird. I mean.. if we had food in front of us and he was asking how it was, that would be one thing, but it was before our food came just like “how are you doing tonight”… like someone told him “talk to the customers” but never told him how to do it without being weird and creepy. They seriously need a restaurant professional to go through and train the servers AND management. But we went to the new pizza place down the road from there a few weeks ago and the service was just as bad… Do all the decent restaurant people just go to DC and we’re left with unemployed folks who have never worked in a restaurant before? I mean that’s find.. but TRAIN THEM PROPERLY! Do mock service before you open and tell them what they’re doing wrong! alright… I’m done ranting….
To Kate and Paul,
As a former server at a mid-level (now defunct) TexMex restaurant in the District, I can tell you that all new servers, especially those without serving experience, require training. You can’t just throw a newbie into the role of server and expect him or her to know how to do the job. The fact that the two of you are reporting what looks to be amateur hour does not at all speak well of the management of this place.
I gotta say those interior photos look pretty disappointing. I expected firefighter/firehouse memorabilia everywhere. But even if they didn’t want to play up the firehouse theme, it would have been nice to come up with an interesting or cozy look of some sort.
The design just looks “safe”–and not really compelling in any way. Maybe it looks better in person, but I doubt it.
Regardless, I’ll wait at least a month before going there to see if they get their service issues sorted out.
There was a story on NPR about them today — they mentioned that there were helmets and boots as decor. True?
And I’m still baffled by the “Brewing Company” part…
A few tables out front is fine, but they have taken up waay too much of the public sidewalk. I have had to walk out in the street several times because the whole area was blocked with trucks during construction. However, once the place opened I expected the sidewalk incursion to be no greater than Taste of Jerusalem’s used to be.
From the above comments, sounds like this new establishment many issues. Maybe they should close for a week or so until they resolve some things and then re-open. Certainly the staff needs training. So many jobs are called “unskilled” or “semi-skilled.” Every job is a skilled job.
Close for a week? I think not. Once the staff kneads out the opening-a-new-restaurant knots and everything is under control in a week or so, I’m excited to give the patio a try.
I’m sure many economists would disagree with your assessment of skill levels…
” they have taken up waay too much of the public sidewalk…”
As much as I think I would enjoy sitting on the patio sipping a brew watching people walk out into traffic –
At the next ESSCA meeting, I propose we approve a bridge over the affected area, with access for all and moving sidewalks.
Pablo—pure genius idea
Seriously though—folks we need people on GA ave…and I’m not talking about the patrons to the wig, nail, and hair salons. Does it really matter if the patio tables stick out just a tad too far? Just walk around. This isn’t 5th Ave, this is an underdeveloped part of GA that desperately needs people! Whether you like the decor or not, or they don’t bre their own beer, ot they don’t have their service perfect the first month—why not just give these people a chance?? We cry we don’t have enough local business who want to invest in DTSS but when one does and it’s not perfect so many become armchair critics. Sad.
Agreed. A brand spanking new restaurant deserves a little leniency during its soft open. That’s what it’s there for- to work out the kinks. Give’em a week or two, check it out in person- they’ll be knockin’ your socks off.
We went on Saturday. Food was not that great. It was family friendly and the staff was actually nice (maybe too nice). I am happy it is not a chain, but the menu is really not too exciting. There were some boots and hats on shelves in the bar. Tap list was limited and didn’t look too exciting.
Broke my own rule about going to new restaurants early. We went for Sunday lunch. It was great to turn onto Georgia Ave and see *life* out on the sidewalk in the form of populated tables and colorful umbrellas. The service was uber friendly, especially towards our kid. We stuck to the basics for food- just beer and pizza. The pizza was good (wild mushroom & caramelized onions), the beer was cold. And cheap! Large pizza and 3 decent beers for under $35. I was sad that the front didn’t have roll-up doors, but there was lots of nice sunlight pouring in. Everyone working there seemed spirited and dedicated, so that’s a good sign. It definitely looked like a rush to open, with some things still being finished. I wish them luck, especially since it’s such a massive place. They’ll need a lot of consistent business to make it.
Anyone feel out the staff as to whether FS1 will be showing World Cup games? Seems like they have a few TV’s over the bar (out of town so haven’t been yet) , would love it if this could become a soccer destination, or general sports at least.
Whoah there Paul! Taps were about as good as the QH?!?! Last time I was at the QH (last week) they had a Belgian Honey Ale (Barbãr, brewed by Brasserie Lefèbvre SA) that’s actually pretty hard to find, Dogfish Head 90, some cider, Carlsberg, Guinness, a seasonal Flying Dog brew, and something else. That’s about par for course. Comparing that to a tap selection of Bud, Stella, Miller, Yuengling, and two H&L varieties is ludicrous.
Also, I walked in this weekend just to look. I’ve seen Applebees that had more personality in their decor.
I work here. The decor is still a work in progress, as is the beer selection. Give us a few eeks and we will be one of the hottest spots in town!
Jen June:
A request from someone desperately looking for a place to watch sports and eat drink and who lives within walking distance of FS1: PLEASE encourage your employer to be World Cup friendly and overall sports friendly (soccer extra points)WITH sound for games. You will be so busy you won’t know what to do with yourselves. I know FS1 can’t be all things to all people, but this town is dying for a good place to watch sports.
to add to the chatter
http://socoeats.blogspot.com/2010/06/taking-one-for-team-my-lunch-at-fs1.html
Awful logo. Screaming and boring at the same time. Yes I judge companies by their logos and branding. I am a designer, and trust me these things reflect the thinking of the company (or lack thereof). I give this place one year tops, after which the ugly logo right above the classy architectural type “silver spring volunteer fire department” will become a neighborhood eyesore.
I really hope all of the critics on here are proven wrong. Look, the place may not be very good (I have not yet visited, so I’m in no position to judge), but I’d rather have a successful business there than nothing. And if it does fail, it certainly does not bode well for the future of that area, because who would want to invest there when the track record for the area is, at best, mixed.
No one WANTS to see it fail, but it’s hard to imagine how such a mediocre place will be a roaring success. Why would I want to spend money in a place that has a thoroughly boring menu and the interior design of a TGI Fridays? Also, I don’t think that SS has such a terrible track record with restaurants. Jackie’s (despite being a bit uneven over the years) has been successful. Olazzo seems to have been successful. The Ethiopian places do well and have been stable. Hell, even the Piratz Tavern is still open. I think we were just hoping for something with some character and originality, and instead we got someone’s attempt at creating the most generic restaurant in MoCo.
We went Saturday afternoon to survey the damage. I can’t tell you how many fat little kids were there enjoying their burgers and fries, and fries, and fries. The place is like a diner, with lots of high fructose corn syrup. NO dive bar appeal: cheap drinks and no nonsense. The food put us to sleep…
It will do well because this is the kind of place that does well in Philistine neighborhoods where kitsch rules. When I want cheap and easy appeal, I’ll go back for a Stella.
Myself and Ms. Brains and our kids went for dinner tonight and I’m afraid I have to add my comments to the long list of negative reviews. The service was well less than competant. Our waiter mumbled and referred to the Hook and Ladder as “Black and Ladder” and then forgot to deliver my beer with the other drinks. He also asked Ms. Brains what kind of bread she wanted on her burger (the menu did not list a choice of bread). Then two other servers tried to give us the meal intended for the table sitting next to us. Ms. B’s burger arrived 15 minutes after the rest of our food and included cheese despite her asking for no cheese. And we had to ask twice for ketchup.
The food was good in the same way that my room service dinner at the Hilton Kansas City Airport was good. Safe, no major preparation flaws, and basically tasty but extremely conventional. Short ribs came with a small mound of mashed potatos and a medly of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot medalions. The kids ate their vegitables and burger and chicken tenders, so I guess I can’t fault the food. Total cost, $48.95. I’ll go back in six months to see if it has improved and, if not, I’ll never go back again.
P.S. To those concerned that the place will be overrun with tykes, I saw only one family with young kids besides mine at around 5 PM on a weekend, and the place was pretty full.
Well, not good, not good at all. Went Saturday, late evening and was so underwhelmed as to feel unwanted. Service was even worse than novice, I blame management. Product was below what we should expect for that hunk of real estate, now wasted on this failed attempt. New management please. I could have done better and I’m not good at food service. I felt like standing up and barking orders to the staff.
What exactly is “their” beer? If they say it’s Hook & Ladder, it’s not — H&L is not involved in the project anymore. If it’s Daily Crisis, it’s not that either — that’s made by Red Brick Station and not unique to FS1. I’m so confused.
We went to Pacci’s last night and on the way passed by FS1. It was packed, inside and out. To me, it looks like a very large TGIF’s, and as David Byrne once kinda sang, I wouldn’t go there if you paid me; but, whatever floats your boat.
So, FS1 serves two good purposes: 1) it brings crowds and the accompanying security to that stretch of Georgia Avenue, which can only help with its redevelopment, and 2) more room for us at Pacci’s, which is an amazing place.
Now if only AAMCO would close down and someone could open up a ‘grease’ themed restaurant. Triple stack burgers and fries fried in lard, a real artery clogging sort of place. And for decor they could import some of that crude from the Gulf of Mexico just to make it ‘more’ authentic. Man would that be a happening stretch of Georgia Ave then.
Five of us stopped by about 10 p.m. last night for a beer. Sat outside, which was great on such a nice nice. They were still fairly busy, and more folks came in after us. Server was super-friendly, but not real knowledgeable about the beers (you mean there’s more than one kind of Flying Dog?).
Still we had a good time, especially when she kept bringing us free beer, saying that they were mistakes by the bar. Funny that they just happened to be the type we were drinking. Though one of our party never got a “free” one, she ordered another and was never charged for it. So we chalked that one up to another “mistaken pour”, too.
It all made for happy patrons, but ain’t exactly a winning business model. I wihs them luck and we’ll likely go back, I’m sure.
this looks sooo awesome! I must go there and do my NOM NOM BORIS!!!!!!