The other side of town.
I remember when I first moved to Frederick back in the early 80′s the Golden Mile (A.K.A. Route 40 West) was just about the only place in town to eat or shop. There was Beef Steak Charlies, Ponderosa, Allegro’s Pizza, and more. Plus the Frederick Towne Mall was the only show in town.
Time hasn’t been kind to the Golden Mile. The FrederickTowne Mall is all but dead, tax credits have been issued to try and revitalize the area, and the perception is that crime is up in along the Golden Mile. But there are still lots of good reasons to go to the Golden Mile.
I recently re-discovered Il Forno Pizzeria (which is expanding), Lotus is still my favorite place to grab some Chinese food in Frederick, and there are many other original Frederick eateries tucked into the nooks and crannies of the Golden Mile’s side streets and strip malls.
You can also find some decent places to spend your hard earned cash along 40. Chanticleer Shoes is still hanging strong in that old mall and is the best place to get kid’s shoes. Even though my Wife cuts my quickly retreating hair now-a-days I used to get a decent cut at Gentleman’s Choice Barber (ask for Sue). A couple times a year I stop by If The Shoe Fits to pick up some shoes.
Maybe the secret to The Golden Mile’s come back will be it’s anti-Route 85 status. Light on chains, but deep in Frederick originals. Secret places for Frederick residents to shop and eat away from the hustle and bustle of new Frederick. Maybe.
What makes you still go to the other side of town? Is there a restaurant you can’t get enough of or a shop that provides great service?
~Guy~
I enjoy the food at Fajita Grande. Service is great and prices are very reasonable.
There is a great little El Salvadoran restaurant (I don’t recall the name) in the strip mall adjacent to the Toys R Us. It’s no-frills…not much atmosphere to speak of…just excellent authentic food at modest prices. Be sure to try the fried plantains.
I was personally more excited when they put Home Depot in at FTM than if Nordstom had gone in. I agree with Monica, Fajita Grande is wonderful! I think if more businesses would give the “Mile” a chance they would be pleasantly surprised. I would much prefer to stay away from the madness of the 85 and FSK Mall area and I think a lot of people on the west end of town do too. This end of town deserves good shopping and restaurants too!
On this side of town we enjoy:
- The farmer’s Market on Baughman’s Lane on Saturday’s
- The Dutch Plant Farm
- Pier One
- there is a little spanish Bakery in the same stripmall as the Cajun Crab – very cheap and yummy treats!
- Carraba’s
- Il Forno
Gotta do some more thinking. I know there’s more places!
I really can’t wait for them to do something with the Mall though. I was looking forward to it when they announced the plans about transforming it into the “Frederick Towne Center” – i was expecting something like the Rio.
Let’s see what happens.
Honestly, there is so much hustle and bustle on the Golden Mile that I tend to avoid it whenever possible. Key Parkway is my secret way in to avoid 40 though. Then again, as much as I can, I avoid 85 as well .
Il Forno is great, Hard Times cafe has great chili and a decent beer selection and Casa Rico is a good stop for Mexican. Record and Tape traders is the only place to shop in town for music.
My husband and I still enjoy an occasional shopping excursion to Boscov’s…. We still go for the old dept. store concept. For garden items, I enjoy visiting The Dutch Plant Farm.
Time may not have been kind to the Golden Mile, but judging from the amount of traffic, there’s still plenty of business going on there!
I miss the TCBY that was across from the El Salvadoran restaurant meahern was telling us about. I wish there was one somewhere else. I really enjoyed the frozen yogurt there.
I really think 40 is still OK as far as restaurants. I think you can find more of variety of foods in this area then the chains that you can find on 85 or 355.
There is an El Salvadoran restaurant by Ricks Pet Foods. Anyone tried that yet?
Fajita Grande is great! Doc Geiser’s Chicken (formerly Bill Watson’s) is always good. The Giant Eagle is much nicer now than it used to be. Chanticleer Shoes is planning to move soon across the street to the Hillcrest shopping center, I think. Bought my car at Mountain Motors. Haven’t been to G. Hunter’s yet – has anyone eaten there? The Cajun Crab closed before I could try it. Never been to Barbara Fritchie’s, but I love the pie at Mountainview Diner.
I wonder, is what’s happening with the Golden Mile just the local manifestation of this national trend:
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=264510ca-2170-49cd-bad5-a0be122ac1a9
G. Hunter’s is pretty good. It’s owned by the same folks who own Brewer’s Alley, Acacia, and Isabella’s.
I also like Lotus, but another great Asian place is Thai Rice, by the Blockbuster. I drive down there many times each week (it’s on my way home from downtown), and the pickings are pretty slim.
Wait–that sounded bad…the pickings are pretty slim on the Golden Mile in general, not at Thai Rice or Lotus. Those are good places.
I’ll second the votes for Record & Tape Traders and Thai Rice. But I really miss Sunny’s Surplus. That *was* another great reason to frequent the Mile.
I visit Fashion Bug in the Fredericktowne Mall pretty often. I am moving out of Frederick soon but for all the Plus Size women around this area I hope they relocate in Frederick or Nearby…..I Love that Store!!
I love G. Hunters! My husband and I frequent the restaurant often. We also like Fajita Grande, Los Potrillos (sp?), and Bangkok Thai Kitchen. There is a great latino market across from Home Depot, next to the “Don” chicken place (which we keep saying we must try). We get our crabs from West Point. In addition, I like to shop at Pier One, Wild Bird Center, and Dutch Plant Farm.
I can’t say that I make it to the old Golden mile much any more but I do love Lotus and Illfornos! If you have not checked out these restaurants you definatly owe it to yourself.
“the perception is that crime is up in along the Golden Mile”
That’s a joke, right?
Thai Rice and Clay Oven are good, but the best reason to hit Rt. 40 is the Mountain View Diner.
I’m pretty sure that Chanticleer shoes is moving very soon, if they aren’t out already.
Wonder Book.
Weekly Rentals. Best Selection outside of Netflix.
Books are priced well
I still like the Red Horse. I am not sure if Capones pizza is still out there but they were good also. I don’t make it out of downtown much so the Horse is about as far up 40 as I like to go.
How about Red Lobster, Famous Daves and Joanne Fabrics?? I still visit Red Lobster pretty often when I eat there with Family.
Oh and does anyone frequent Kmart anymore or has Wal mart and Target taken over your shopping?? And does anyone still go to Burrlington Coat Factory?? They have a Great Baby Section just so you know. Almost one whole half of the back wall of the store is nothing but Baby Stuff!! You have to go experience it to believe it!!
@Flair, no it’s not a joke. Show me the data.
Burlington Coat Factory has an insulting return policy and lost my business years ago.
And with you, Guy. Frederick is almost laughably safe. Not that I’m laughing, because yay! safe!
Donchicken is very good. My wife and I have been there a few times, and have enjoyed it each time. Their yucca is very good.
We also hit Hard Times, Doc Geyser’s, and Famous Dave’s from time to time. We did go to Miyako, but since they opened in FSK, we go to that one now. Fajita Grande and G. Hunter’s were good the one time I’ve been to each.
KMart? Kmart is a joke. Times and times over have i tried to give that store a chance and everytime i do i realize why i dislike it sooo much!
The store is dirty, the selection horrible, the employees not friendly or helpful and the garden center is a disaster. All the plants are dried up!!!
The ony good thing about the store is Martha Stewart’s Christmas decoration…
I have no clue how they stay in business.
Kalidurga, I’m pretty sure Sunny’s Surplus is back in its old location.
I was at Chanticleer shoes recently and they are moving in October. If you all want good home cooking, eat at either Barbara Fritchie or Massers.
Wow! Memories are flying thrugh my head. I used to work at Ponderosa or what I called Pondergrossa. I aalso remember Beefsteak Charlie’s and it later became Emerson’s and my sister worked there as a waitress back then. I remember he getting so thing and instead of singing “Brick House” I wouls sing “Stick House.” I have many fond memories fo the mall with my late grandmother. I also wored at Waxie Maxie’s. Seems like yesterday.
Sheri: Yay! I’m gonna have to check on Sunny’s next time I head out the Mile.
I’ve tried Mountain View Diner twice, and both times was turned off by the number of flies buzzing around inside the dining area. Has anyone else had that experience?
And Wonder Books! How could I forget that place, it’s great!
As for crime…while it’s not specific to Golden Mile…In 2004 Frederick was more violent than 94% of America and 82% of MD. I had no idea.
Reading FNP most days, seems like most reported violence is a couple streets downtown and behind Golden Mile. Could be like you said, a feeling, but not sure.
http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=MD&area=Frederick
We frequent the City Buffet near Toys R Us, Barbara Fritchie’s, and If the Shoe Fits. Some fellow Frederick Mensans meet once a month at the Pizza Hut there, as well.
Ah, Joe, thank you for reminding me about the Red Horse.
While I can’t say we frequent the Red Horse for dinner often–in fact, we hadn’t been there for several years–we did go recently when our out-of-town company asked about going somewhere locally for a good steak dinner. And yes, we held our breath a bit about whether the Red Horse would indeed turn out to be the “good steak place” our visitors were looking for. But I’m happy to say everyone in our party did indeed seem to enjoy the food, service, and evening in general. We’re planning on a return visit before long.
We are always swatting away flies at Mountain View also … it’s definitely a buzz-kill…
Out on RT 40, we like to visit Thai Rice, Don Chicken (the Peruvian place), and Fajita Grande for the grande margaritas if nothing else !
I’m no statistician, but the crime information on the website offered by Joe doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. According to this link on that site, Frederick has a higher rate of crime than some much larger and more densely populated cities. http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crimereportlistranking.cfm?state=MD
I find the information on that site hard to believe!
If you like sushi, the best place to get sushi in Frederick is in the shopping center behind Record & Tape Traders, called Roppongi! The couple that owns it are always friendly and talkative, and their sushi can’t be beat. Their miso soup is also amazing, and is unique in the little crunchy tempura bits they sprinkle into it.
Really a treat, so make sure you give them a visit. It’s chains like Matsutake and Miyako’s that drive these small restaurants out of business.
Thanks for the mention of Roppongi Jack. My husband loves sushi, but places like Matsutake and Miyako are costly the average person and I totally agree, we need to support our small businesses.
I’ve lived in Frederick for 5 years and when I read about the crime, I’ve been trying to figure out where all this crime in Frederick is occurring. I’ve lived in some large cities, New York, Houston, Washington, D.C. If we want to talk about crime. I guess for those that have lived in smaller towns any increase in crime is big. My husband and I go to the Golden Mile frequently. Even though we are within the same distance of FSK and FTM, but we frequent the restaurants on the Golden Mile more often then those off of 85.
The first mistake the cities make as their population grows is to let areas of the city run down.
Just as Frederick is putting money into revitalizing the downtown area. I hope they don’t forget the Golden Mile. I would love to see the FTM revitalized with stores that will bring people back.
If in the best of areas crime occurs. As Frederick’s population grows, malls, shopping areas will need to increase their security. I went to Montgomery Mall the day after Christmas and they had security everywhere. It is all in the name of growth.
Yes, I agree. Thanks for the mention. I had forgotten all about Roppongi and went back the other day. Just as good as I remembered. Friendly, too.
These folks deserve our support. And, thankfully, they now have the infrastructure there in the remodeled plaza to help them as well.
I remain at a loss as to why Fredericktowne Mall could not pull it together to save that end of town. It is really a shame. The right stores could turn it all around. We’re certainly not lacking for population on this end of Frederick.
What is the name of the music store near the Blockbuster? Please tell me FAST!!!
Yes please tell me the name of the music store near that Indian restaurant and blockbuster PLEASE!!!!
Is it Duet with/for Music? Not sure of the name.
music & arts
Thanks for that answer. I was actually looking for sheet music online and I thought that would be the place to look. But they don’t have any sheet music for piano.