Ted's Bulletin owner has big plans for former Woodmont Grill
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The old Woodmont Grill (pictured) will transform into a flagship for Ted's Bulletin after a multi-million dollar investment. Photo: Deb Lindsey For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Goodbye, Woodmont Grill. Hello, Ted's Bulletin.
- Restaurateur Steve Salis bought the prime Bethesda property that Hillstone Group vacated last year in a $7 million deal — and plans to turn it into a splashy Ted's flagship.
Why it matters: Ted's has big restaurant shoes to fill. Woodmont (née Houston's) operated there for more than 30 years, and regulars are still mourning its abrupt closure.
- But Salis says this won't be just another diner. "It will be the best Ted's that we have built to date," he tells Axios.
State of play: The new Ted's is slated to open next year after a major renovation. It'll be the chain's 10th DMV location, following a ninth opening in Alexandria this November.
- Salis says he's been trying to break into Bethesda for years, and jumped when the Woodmont opportunity arose.
- Unlike most Ted's locations, Salis owns the building — giving him more freedom to pour several million dollars into the restaurant and rethink the space.
What to expect: The diner, which debuted on Capitol Hill under different ownership in 2010, is known for all-day breakfast, homemade Pop-Tarts and boozy milkshakes.
- Bethesda will build on what Salis calls "Ted's 2.0" — an evolution of the brand with halal-friendly options and dishes beyond pancakes and burgers, like ahi tuna tots and steak frites.
- The interior will get a major overhaul, though Salis says he's looking at ways to preserve nods to Woodmont's history — including, potentially, its distinctive outdoor clock.
Friction point: News of the takeover brought out critics unhappy that a chain diner is replacing a neighborhood institution — which, to be clear, was itself a chain, owned by Texas-based Hillstone.
What they're saying: Salis says he gets it: He was a Woodmont customer, too.
- "I understand the grief. I appreciate that grief," he says. "It was a cornerstone."
- "We have to earn it every day. Because we have a good business doesn't entitle us to anything."
Zoom out: Salis, who got his start in D.C.'s restaurant business as a co-founder of &Pizza, is actively expanding his food and real estate portfolio.
- More Honeymoon Chicken locations are coming; he's considering expanding Federalist Pig; and Kramer's will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a party in October.
- And Salis says he's actively looking for more acquisitions: "We're going to be opportunistic."