Rethink College Park

In the last few weeks, this website has received over a hundred hits from people searching for information about the Thirsty Turtle, a new bar opening on Route 1 in downtown College Park. Owner Alan Wanuck has not yet announced an opening date but we’ve noticed construction is ongoing at the bar, and the bottom level appears to be nearing completion. Wanuck told the Gazette newspaper last week he would like to open in the “very near future.” He also told the paper he hoped the new restaurant will also appeal to university faculty and College Park residents in addition to students. As soon as we hear we’ll post an opening date, and if you know anything more about the bar feel free to comment.

> Gazette: “The Thirsty Turtle quick to fill vacancy”

The logo is from another Thirsty Turtle — in Aurora, Indiana.

This week’s Gazette has a good article about the increasing number of corporate chains in College Park. The story reports that since 2000 three small businesses have moved out of the College Park Shopping Center and with the recent closure of Paperworks Balloons and Gifts, very few independent businesses remain.

There are a variety of public policy options available to local leaders to protect small and local businesses. The city of Washington, D.C. is requiring at least 30% of the retail space in the redeveloped old convention center site be businesses with less than 6 locations, and other communities provide tax credits and other incentives to protect a healthy mix of businesses. Some have even banned them completely from downtown districts. In addition to protecting the character of the city, local businesses may make good economic sense: studies have shown more money spent at local businesses stays in the local community. What approach should College Park take?

> Gazette: “Small shops a dying breed in Downtown College Park“

The Diamondback reported yesterday about two bars opening this fall on Route 1 in downtown College Park. The Mark will be a lounge serving tapas with a sophisticated atmosphere, and the Thirsty Turtle is a large bar with a live music venue upstairs.

When we stopped in the Thirsty Turtle today the bar manager said he was hoping finish work would be completed by next Friday, but noted they had a lot to do before opening day.

> Diamondback: “Double Vision: Two New Bars Hit Route 1“

In one of this website’s first comments University of Maryland Professor Peter Levine suggests one of the things College Park needs is a grocery store, noting that without it “it’s hard to be a car-less student.” Although we like the Maryland Food Collective, we have to agree the options are limited for campus-bound students.

What do you think College Park needs most? Whether it’s more bars, coffee shops, or anything else we want to know - post your thoughts in the comments below.

A bad experience with a tax preparation business has inspired a Beltsville man to launch the Beltsville Vicinity Shoppers blog where he plans to post reviews of businesses in Beltsville, Hyattsville, College Park, Greenbelt, and Laurel. The Gazette newspaper reported that site founder Hector Blackwell has said he’ll publish any review contributed by readers. “‘I see it as an avenue to contribute to the community so we can spend our money more wisely,” Blackwell told the Gazette, ‘‘I want to let the businesses know that just because they’re local we don’t have to patronize them. They’re going to have to step up their game and treat [customers] right.” The site features reviews of RJ Bentley Restaurant and the Home Depot in College Park.

> Beltsville Vicinity Shoppers blog

The city’s citizen committee on transportation suggests better bus maps and a new parking garage to alleviate congestion on Route 1 …. Los Cabos apologizes to city, agrees to cease “nightclub-style” events … Maryland students among tenants of newly opened Towers at University Town Center in Hyattsville (left) … Shuttle-UM may not open to non-students, after all …

This week’s Young and Hungry column in the Washington CityPaper profiles College Perk, describing the owner, former Army Ranger Chris Gordon, the coffeehouse’s eclectic atmosphere, and the food: “The Fruitbat is a bitch to eat, given that its chunky ingredients tend to flee from their crescent-shaped hideaway. But if you manage to cram everything in your mouth at once, the result is a richly layered sandwich that begins to blow College Perk’s cover: The place, you realize, is not just a simple, trippy coffeehouse after all.” College Perk is located at 9087 Baltimore Ave.

> CityPaper: “Young and Hungry: Cuppa G.I. Joe”

The photo above was uploaded to Flickr by user artfulaction.