Two tenants approved for Bailey’s Crossroads retail center
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| The future site of a retail center, on Route 7, between Charles Street and Washington Drive. |
Two companies – Sleepy’s and T-Mobile – have signed up for the newly approved shopping center to be built at 5885 Leesburg Pike. That’s in addition to the standalone CVS drugstore that will serve as the anchor.
Spectrum Development is expected to start construction on the retail center, known as “The Shoppes at Bailey’s Crossroads,” in early 2017. The Board of Supervisors approved the project in January after the county’s planning staff had rejected the proposal several times and called for extensive changes in the design.
About 5,000 square feet of space is still available for lease and could be taken up by one, two, or three tenants. According to a source close to the project, the developer is seeking at least one restaurant and possibly a bank.
A mattress store and cell phone store are hardly the type of neighborhood-serving businesses promised during numerous community meetings and hearings. Mattress Discounters is across the street. There are many phone stores throughout the area and two T-Mobile stores opened recently in Annandale, on Columbia Pike and in Heritage Mall.
36 responses to “Two tenants approved for Bailey’s Crossroads retail center”
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This is an outrage.
What can we do?
Nothing. Whatever Penny Gross wants, she gets. Voters had their chance last November to make a change.
That sucks!
Just what we need. Another strip mall as if there isn't enough empty retail space already.
Another crappy shopping center coming to you in the Mason District.
I have a feeling that the restaurant will be either a Taco Bell, KFC, or a McDonald's.
Yes, we need another one of those combo Taco Bell/KFCs.
Those tenants will not likely come (at least not until the first restaurants fail) because of the restriction on drive-thru for restaurants.
They are targeting places such as Chili's or Smashburger. It seems Smashburger decided it was not worth their time though.
If there is a place you want, it would behoove you to write to the place's real estate development team.
I wrote to Sweetgreen and Cava Grill.
typical bait and switch. i recall penny promising "boutique" type stores and things that would improve the neighborhood and everyone could be proud of.
Another Dunkin Donuts would be nice. I remember when Penny was so happy to announce the one inside the Hess gas station on 236 and John Marr Dr.
Penny loves anything corporate and big named. For whatever reason she isn't into having local and small businesses in the district. Maybe they don't contribute to her campaign or something?
I would be good with Dunkin'. Or a custard place. I have to live across from it, so hopefully it won't suck.
I'm not sure what's funnier…the fact that the touted "Gateway to Bailey's Crossroads" is going to be anchored by a convenience store, mattress store, and cell phone store…OR…the fact that anyone is shocked by this, which implies that you actually believed Penny and Spectrum?
To me, the latter is funnier. Seriously. Reality check, folks. No high end business wants to deal with Bailey's Crossroads until Culmore is developed into luxury condos.
Luxury condos at Culmore…that day can't come soon enough. Not that I'd be able to buy one, but seeing that vast depressing slum demolished would be worth it.
Yay,another phone store and mattress shop. That way, when people get a new mattress, they can just dump their old one somewhere on Leesburg Pike. After all, Penny is coordinating a "clean up Culmore" day soon.
Hahaha
i was assuming it would be a Cricket store so this is quite an improvement.
seriously though, there is an opportunity to do something unique and exciting and this is what we end up with after all the fighting over this? i think it proves to never trust the Supervisor on anything and also that there is no plan or vision to make our district better.
Very sad.
Ms. Ashford's write-up and the wails of the commenters on this site are pathetic.
If you have a better use for the property buy it from Spectrum and develop it yourself. You all seem to prefer to have a ridiculous rat-infested "pocket forest" in Bailey's Crossroads.
Most lame of all is the statement in Ms. Ashford's article that "[a] mattress store and cell phone store are hardly the type of neighborhood-serving businesses promised during numerous community meetings and hearings."
Really? What type of boutique "neighborhood-serving businesses" were promised by Penny Gross (who is not God and does not tell people exactly where to open their businesses and exactly which businesses people can lease their commercial property to and for how much)?
Did you say what was promised was an upscale Hookah Lounge with valet parking to compete with the plethora of low to mid-brow Hookah Lounges that have put Bailey's Crossroads nightlife on the map?
Keep your fingers crossed because it remains a possibility.
Or maybe we could just leave it alone and enjoy the meadow. We need the oxygen and biodiversity more than we need more retail.
Who is this fool that keeps calling us pathetic? But, "Penny's not God." You got that right buddy.
Coming soon to the other retail space , Title Max , Something with Pollo name in it.
I don't know what all the fuss is about. What would you expect a Dump to attract, Nordstrom's, West Elm, William and Sonoma, are you kidding me?
No metro access, no leadership vision, no urban planning (except by know nothings), litter everywhere, and section 8 housing abound = a Dump. And you expect boutique stores.
Get real, for a Dump you got boutique stores: third world style.
i agree but it wasn't what was being sold by "our leadership". the community fought to get more high end and local places in there but instead we get more of the same crap which just helps put the district back another 10 years. Why get a Taylor or a Cava or something nice for the community when you can get a T Mobile store. You think anyone of this would have happened 2 miles down the road in Arlington on Columbia Pike. Look at their new developments and what is going in those.
Almost makes ya giddy that the Bailey's SE Quadrant development will just be a residential building now.
It's not all bad, we have a sushi bar that delivers, which is really good BTW
(Take Asian Bistro).
Good to know, the last time I called for take out they were backed up by an hour so I had to forgo my order. Its rare but encouraging that we are getting some good stuff in over there.
After that horrible laundermat (Suds) moved in (a section 8 social club) replacing the very nice upscale Italian restaurant that closed its doors because the Dump drove them out of business, I gave up on that part of Baileys. I hope the German Gourmet stays and doesn't turn into another Latino grocery, Laundromat or Title Max.
What a legacy for this District, 20 years and the best we can do is an Asian take out in Baileys, a Sleepys and a T Mobile. I guess for the Dump that is progress. They must have better drinking water in Providence.
Amen to your last paragraph
And with all the Korean eateries, I wish one who would deliver.
Whether you are for or against this, nothing is served by constantly carping at each other. If we want real change, why are we not running for office ourselves or willing to lead the community in voicing things at every forum that is available? Enlist other businesses' help. If we want something, can we put something together in a cohesive fashion on our own that we could present? I'll bet some of us know developers, etc.
the thing is people spoke out about their concerns for 2 years about this and it didn't mater in the end . as long as the current "leadership" is in office, there sin't much anyone can do
Actually there is something you can do. Rebuild your neighborhood associations. If you have officers and they are just placeholders, replace them. Carve out the time, talk to the leadership in active associations, talk to your district council and start attending meetings or restart you neighborhood civic association.
that doesn't do anything when Penny goes against the whole neighborhood anyway
Get over it, this is the best that can be done at this time. And this is better than nothing.
Eventually, Fairfax will have to put together a strong Urban/Economic Development Team with some vision and empowerment leverage if the County's older communities are to survive and compete with the surrounding jurisdictions. DC and Arlington are booming and sucking up the best of the best, while Fairfax becomes the Bronx of this metro area.
Penny and Sharon: knock knock, are you there, are you listening, are you watching what is happening around us?
Its time to get good businesses to move in, section 8s to move out, and tax paying professionals with bicycle lanes and good metro access to move in, to work, live and commute here wout a reliance on their vehicles.
CVS, T mobile and Sleepy"s aint gonna bring them in.
this is not better than nothing actually and that attitude is what got us into this mess in the region
Agreed. I am tired of people saying that anything is better than empty lots here and there. Patently false. This is a prime example.
I don't think either one of you got Anon 3/10 5:24PM sarcasm.