Nordstrom unveils 2025 holiday windows at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Nordstrom had promised to keep its external holiday windows covered until Black Friday, but had dropped the curtains as closing time approached last night. Perhaps this was done to save time for employees today and tomorrow. Here, then, is a sneak preview of what you'll see tomorrow on Black Friday. It's definitely a solid Christmas theme, with the Christmas tree and wreath.

Gold Bunny Donut opening Black Friday at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Gold Bunny Donut has set an opening date for its Westfield Montgomery Mall location in Bethesda. With impeccable timing, it will open tomorrow, Black Friday, November 28, 2025. Gold Bunny features fresh-baked donuts with rich fillings, providing plenty of carbohydrates to sustain your holiday shopping spree. Look for it in the former Donutchew space at the end of the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2 of the mall.

Egyptian holiday pop-up shop at Serpentine Dance Studios in Bethesda

Holiday shopping season officially begins Friday, and is quickly followed by Small Business Saturday, when shoppers are encouraged to support local small businesses. One such business in downtown Bethesda is Serpentine Dance Studios at 4930 St. Elmo Avenue, which is hosting a holiday pop-up shop with handcrafted items from Egypt. Pieces include jewelry, ornaments, and stone carvings. 

Here's a chance to pick up a high-quality gift for the Egyptology buff or handicrafts collector on your shopping list, while supporting a local small business. Serpentine Dance Studios is open 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays, and closed on Fridays and Sundays.

Bethesda's Finmarc Management acquires cineplexes in Maryland, Virginia

Finmarc Management, a commercial real estate firm located in downtown Bethesda, has acquired cineplexes in Maryland and Virginia. The movie theaters are the Xscape Theatres Brandywine 14 in Brandywine, Maryland, and the Cinemark Centreville in Centreville, Virginia. Finmarc paid $15.1 million for both theater properties, according to REbusiness Online. The company had vowed earlier this year to acquire $200 million worth of new assets in 2025.

Acquisitions of cineplexes appear to be a growing trend in commercial real estate. It suggests the industry is forecasting tough times ahead for the movie business. The Regal Germantown was sold earlier this year. Like the theaters Finmarc acquired, it sits on prime land for redevelopment. 

The Xscape Theatres, for example, is located in the Brandywine Crossing shopping center near the interchange of MD 301 and Route 5 in Prince George's County. It is close to the CSX railroad tracks, which - if smarter people are elected to the state legislature - could eventually be repurposed for MARC commuter rail service. That would permit higher density for the cineplex site, increasing the property's value even without assembly with adjacent lots. For the immediate future, it is a revenue generating opportunity for Finmarc, as the Xscape Theatres is leasing the property at a very successful shopping center, in an area with no other convenient movie options.

Construction begins on The Food Market in Bethesda

The interior fit-out of The Food Market has begun in the ground floor of the Hampden House apartment tower at 4915 Hampden Lane in downtown Bethesda. This is the third location of the growing local restaurant chain in Maryland. The existing locations are in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore (what a coincidence!) and in Columbia. Serving American cuisine, The Food Market specializes in steaks, seafood, inventive vegetarian dishes, stand-by appetizers like mozzarella sticks, and a number of international flavors ranging from tacos and pork belly to yellowfin tuna meatballs and red curry butternut squash soup.

La Panetteria Ristorante for sale in Bethesda

La Panetteria Ristorante at 4921 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda is on the market for sale. Operating for 40 years, the Italian-Argentine restaurant is being marketed as a turnkey opportunity. The asking price is $599,000, according to the online listing. La Panetteria remains fully open for business at this time.

Montgomery County cracks down on owner of vacant Bethesda properties

Montgomery County code enforcement officials have taken action on several eyesore properties in downtown Bethesda associated with the long-delayed Artena Bethesda development. Inspectors issued a violation notice to Artena Equities, LLC of Manassas, Virginia, in regard to the trash-strewn premises at 8000-8011 Wisconsin Avenue. A fine of $1000 per day was threatened if the garbage, plastic bags, bottles, food containers, and metal debris were not removed within 10 days. It appears an effort was then made to clean up the mess, although the dilapidated, boarded up site remains an eyesore and favorite haunt of vagrants and mischief makers.

Bethesda construction update - The Charles apartment tower (Photos)

Here's a look at the lobby entrance at The Charles, the new apartment tower at 7342 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Marble baseboard can be seen on the interior walls of the lobby. The Greystar development is now leasing. According to the Greystar website, most units will be available for move-in by January or February, with a smaller number coming online in December.

Dinner-and-a-movie deal at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Here's something you used to see in downtown Bethesda, before the Montgomery County Council stupidly but intentionally allowed the demolition of the Regal Bethesda 10 cineplex at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, without mandating a replacement movie theater be part of the redevelopment of the property. Dinner and a movie! Today it's happening where there is a 16-screen cineplex in walking distance to restaurants in Bethesda, and that is at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Order any entree at California Pizza Kitchen on Level 2 in the Nordstrom wing of the mall, and your movie ticket at the AMC Montgomery Mall 16 cineplex on Level 3 will be only $11. This is a great deal to take advantage of while doing your holiday shopping, for a date night, or when going to see any of the big holiday movie releases.

Bethesda construction update: Cheltenham apartments (Photos)

Construction is advancing quickly at the site of the Cheltenham apartments at 4725 Cheltenham Drive in downtown Bethesda. Work only began in September, and the building is already one story above street level. Of course, much time was saved by the ommision of underground parking. The first story also appears shorter in height than most other buildings, where the ground floor tends to be the tallest, to allow for the higher ceilings of the lobby and retail spaces. 

Nordstrom upholds Christmas display tradition at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Nordstrom's exterior display windows are covered at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A sign notes that the displays won't be revealed until Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. This is not inspired by the backlash of recent years against Thanksgiving Day sales, but continues a 124-year tradition by the department store chain. Nordstrom does not put up Christmas decor or play Christmas music in its stores until the day after Thanksgiving. "One holiday at a time" is the chain's motto for its policy.

Sign installed at BabyCat Brewery in Bethesda

Permanent signage has been installed at the new BabyCat Brewery taproom at 4850 Rugby Avenue in the Gallery Bethesda II apartment tower. Last night, it was lit. The brewery has been open for a couple of weeks, and reviews of the beer and premises have been positive. This is BabyCat's second Montgomery County location; the original is in Kensington, but the Bethesda taproom has a dedicated kitchen for food.

QToys opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Toys are one of the biggest shopping categories during the holiday season, and there's a new toy store this year at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. QToys is a leading collectible toy brand from China. What that means is lots of blind bags, trendy Chinese stuffed toys, and other collectibles. Operating hours for the store are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sundays. Look for QToys on Level 2 of the mall in the Macy's Home wing, between Perfume World and Laderach.