Clarendon Ballroom is shutting down... (Arlington, Manassas: sales, apartments, leases)

[sonnymarkjiz]

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/12/11/cl...om-is-closing/

What is happening to that area? I haven't been in quite a while but last time I went, almost everything is being shutdown. I'm guessing the rents are increasing in that area so much that the businesses can't compete?

[NOVA_guy]

Wow... that sucks, man. I was just there like a month ago.

I’d presume it’s the rent if I had to guess. This is a problem all over NoVa even in far out places like Woodbridge and Manassas, it’s pushing businesses further south and west.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by sonnymarkjiz

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/12/11/cl...om-is-closing/

What is happening to that area? I haven't been in quite a while but last time I went, almost everything is being shutdown. I'm guessing the rents are increasing in that area so much that the businesses can't compete?

I think it is a legit question if rents are becoming unsustainable for business along the Orange Line. I know of a few businesses just down the road in Ballston who have closed or left. What would make me nervous is the viability of what is replacing those businesses, if they are being replaced.

[Veritas Vincit]

Tons of vacant commercial space in Clarendon. I suspect that developers are eager to get their hands on every bit of property down there, but they wanna build condos/apartments which would require rezoning. Probably need a lot of property in place already to get that approved.

[sonnymarkjiz]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

I think it is a legit question if rents are becoming unsustainable for business along the Orange Line. I know of a few businesses just down the road in Ballston who have closed or left. What would make me nervous is the viability of what is replacing those businesses, if they are being replaced.

Yeah I remember places like A-Town and Carpool have moved. Well, I know Carpool is now way out in Herndon.

But even though I never loved Clarendon/Ballston (bit of a yuppy post-college bro-fest), the spots there made the area unique. I'm afraid we're going to be seeing many things replaced by places like Busboys and Poets and Teds Bulletins.

Don't get me wrong, I haven't been to the Ballroom in almost 5 years and I never hung out there, but many people did and a shame that some of the longer-time bars are being driven further out.

[ParadiseKendra]

Very sad! It’s such a landmark of Clarendon. Real shame to see Arlington unable to keep it’s identity.

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by ParadiseKendra

Very sad! It’s such a landmark of Clarendon. Real shame to see Arlington unable to keep it’s identity.

This made me chuckle. I went to CB back in the day (early 20s/grad school). The idea of CB as being indicative of Arlington’s identify is both spot on and kind of sad to me because it means that the identity of Arlington is early 20s bro culture.

[ParadiseKendra]

I agree with you on both accounts. ☺️

[paytonc]

Closed after "over 19 years" in business; standard retail leases are 10 years long.

Restaurants, bars, and retailers have a high turnover rate -- and especially now, with online sales (now even for food) cutting deep into the supportable amount of retail space. There's definitely a few properties in Clarendon that are being vacated in advance of redevelopment (and some where that process is underway, as with the Market Common expansion), but I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary.

[NeganGrimes]

19 years really isn't all that long, but I can understand for millenials and people in their 20s, 19 years might seem like an eternity