Come Gather ''Round People....

Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

(Robert Allan Zimmerman)

and...they are a-changin’… or phases and stages or any other song title or lyric that occurs to you.  We all know nothing is forever, including us, but especially so in the food service industry. Independent restaurants come and go, leaving the chains who are supported by national organizations to survive.  There’s been a lot of movement around lately so I thought I would kind of do a random informal survey.

San Souci plaza near us used to be home of a lot of restaurants, I think at one point there were 13 or 14 (and this might be as far back as when “chef’s” was operating).   With apologies (if necessary) a couple of the flag ships were Monterrey and Bollywood Masala.    Both offered pretty good food with an international flair the latter more so, I suppose as Tex Mex is pretty prevalent, Indian, not so much.  Anyway, here’s what Bollywood looks like today (or yesterday)

Which, next to the vacated Monterrey leaves pretty much that whole side dark

With only ghosts to remind us of the past.

Both places still exist in different locations with Monterrey changing name to “Plaza Azteca” in the old Damon’s sports bar location, and Bollywood filling the recently emptied Lenny’s.

Besides the restaurant, there is supposed to be a “Tap Room” associated with it, not sure where that is in the floor plan.  As we all know, Lenny’s was a piece of the history of Lexington Park, going back many years from when it was the “knotty pine” as I recall (perhaps erroneously).  A landmark stood out front for years and years

And, while local preservationists have made attempts at preserving this bit of history, the new owner says he will retain the sign, and while respecting its past, will use it for his purposes..  Could be, but here is what it looked like yesterday stripped of it's Neon and paint..

We’ll see.

And it’s not only the buildings that changing, so is the landscape.  There used to be nice wooded area on Route 4, just across from the “back end” of First Colony.  For years, there has been a “coming soon” sign there.   Well, soon is now

A huge Tyrannosaurus Rex like machine is busily gobbling the trees

Taking down in minutes what nature took decades to accomplish

And Lexington Park (really California) is not the only place undergoing changes.  A “most convenient place” (AKA Leonardtown) is not immune.  For instance, the cornerstone (pun partially attended) Café

Will be replaced by (English Translation) “The Gull” in the near future, which is reportedly to retain some French traits,although with more of a Mediterranean bent.  And I can’t be critical about losing the Café, Karleen and Loic were wonderful tenants for a long run, bringing us a great dining experience and lovely food (like Foie Gras), so they richly deserve their retirement, and Loic has hopefully found us a worthy successor.   And keeping with the “corner” theme, on the other end of the same block, the old Pet Store is being transformed into……..what???

We know that it will be the trendy “mixed use” plan, i.e. residences above and retail below pretty well known to be a restaurant.  Despite tapping my best sources, I still can’t tell you what kind of restaurant it will be.  Heard many iterations.  Have to wait and see.   Further up Washington street there is no doubt that a Dunkin’ Donuts is being built right next to the old Winegardner Used Car facility which is also being transformed into that “mixed use” model..  A quick grab shot from my (not distracted driving) car

You can still see the used car sign off to the right.

I guess I would say that those buildings are enough separated from the “quaint” part of town that their designation as “one of the best small towns in Maryland/USA(?)” will not be overly sullied.  And they are not without their piece of the pie or land being gobbled up by the “developers” with more forested land being cleared for more town houses/apartments, kind of near Ryken High School between Fenwick Street and Route Five.

It’s hard to watch what’s left of our rural character being slowly transformed from woodlands to parking lots, multiple family dwellings, strip malls, and so forth.  I realized the other day that I have been here 20 years(!!) and while that certainly doesn’t qualify me as a “County Boy” it has been long enough to see the changes, moving us I am afraid, closer to a “Waldorf South” look.  We do have a planning and zoning commission and a Department of Economic Development,  I hope they will pay attention to bringing something besides dollars to the region.

Okay, just to end on a brighter note, thanks to all those who took the time to congratulate MFO on her Woman of the Year award.  She doesn't Facebook or blog, but i have been passing them alongt.

Next time I post it will be about food.  Have something in the works, so you might be thinking of how you will

DFD

PS, my own supply of Soba has been secured… stay tuned (Different from the above teaser)