Sidekick Bakery Will Turn a Classic Chevy Chase Diner into a Place for Novelty Croissants

Sidekick, the spinoff bakery from the group behind Ted’s Bulletin that opened in Ballston this summer, plans to sell its unorthodox croissants like a Frostee and Fries flavor, loaded soft serve concoctions, and sweet potato brioche breakfast sandwiches at a once-venerable diner in Chevy Chase.

Entrepreneur Steve Salis tells Washingtonian that a second location of Sidekick will open in the former American City Diner, a gleaming silver ideal of a train-car diner that he began leasing last year, when the business at 5532 Connecticut Avenue NW ended a 30-year run after original owner Jeffrey Gildenhorn died. There’s no firm opening date, the magazine reports.

Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Salis, who owns the Ted’s chain of modern diners, Federalist Pig, and Kramerbooks, had planned to turn American City Diner into a French brasserie but says he ran into zoning snags and decided to change course.

Salis Holdings group pastry chef Vincent Griffith confirmed the plan to Eater and says the new cafe will have more savory options and could incorporate a book kiosk from Kramerbooks.

Sidekick is attached to the futuristic Ted’s Bulletin in Ballston, the first to incorporate Salis’s vision for the future of the beloved comfort food brand he bought two years ago. Griffith’s creations at Sidekick include croissants in both sweet (matcha and strawberry) and savory (Reuben) flavors, old European-style cakes, and soft serve “Snowdays” cups with mixed-in toppings like s’mores, oreo, and black sesame cookies and cream. Sidekick also places a lot of focus on coffee and tea, selling trendy lattes and nitro cold brew.

The bakery just released a line of fall goods that includes a pumpkin spice latte mini cake, apple cider croissants, and maple bourbon eclairs.

• American City Diner: This Is What’s Going Into its Former Space [W]
• Chevy Chase’s American City Diner Closes After 30 Years [EDC]
• Arlington’s New Modern Bakery Stuffs Croissants With Chocolate French Fry Cream [EDC]
• Ted’s Bulletin Opening in Ballston Provides a Glimpse of the Brand’s New Plan [EDC]