Friday, October 09, 2015

Williams-Sonoma opening this morning at Bethesda Row (Photos)

We're T-minus two hours away from the Grand Opening of Williams-Sonoma at Bethesda Row this morning. The high-end kitchen, cookware and home decorating store is teaming up with Bethesda Avenue neighbor Georgetown Cupcake all weekend to celebrate.
This is one of the first Williams-Sonoma stores in their chain to sport this particular interior design and layout, which the chain will eventually roll out in other select locations. The first thing you'll notice upon entering is the table setting for pumpkin season straight ahead. That's just one of many fall, pumpkin, and Halloween-themed items you'll find around the store.


But if you stop by this weekend, you'll probably notice the pumpkin aromas wafting out onto Bethesda Avenue before you even go inside. General Manager Travis Montgomery says they'll be baking and preparing pumpkin treats all weekend at the store. On Thursday, a coffee display was set up ready for demonstration as well. The other reason you'll notice the aromas at a distance? Williams-Sonomas' storefront can open like the front of Redwood during nice weather.
You can custom order one of
these French stoves, entirely
hand-made, for around
$23,000
Also up front is a hand-made stove from France. Like everything but the walls, floor and cash registers, it is for sale. That's right - if you see a table, a chair, or anything else you like in the store, it's for sale.
At the same time, there
are many affordable items
available, like these
$6 plates in their
Open Kitchen line
 The new store at 4824 Bethesda Avenue will replace the one at Mazza Gallerie, and also features many new proprietary products, such as.... Montgomery said Williams-Sonoma is expanding its proprietary product offerings, which are being sold alongside the top brands you're used to finding at their stores.
One of many new
Williams-Sonoma brand
products for sale

In fact, there's one display dedicated to a brand Williams-Sonoma has been associated with from its earliest days, Vitamix.
Vitamix
The stove in the center of the store is gas, and is brand new. Employees were testing out the burners Thursday when I stopped by.
Employees fire up the
gas burners
Demonstration kitchen

The stove is the
centerpiece


If you stop by today, Saturday or Sunday, you'll be in for a treat - literally.

They'll be giving away Georgetown Cupcakes. Get a Williams-Sonoma Open Kitchen tote bag with any $25 purchase.

On Saturday at 12:00 PM, there will be a Georgetown Cupcake technique class for all of you cupcake fanatics. These types of classes will be a regular weekend event at the store.
Gifts for the ghoul
in your life

Lots of Halloween food
products and decorations
Stick around, because from 1-4 PM, the store will participate in the Bethesda Row Perfect Pairings event. Enjoy Williams-Sonoma treats specially paired with appropriate wine selections. Make a purchase, and you'll get a free set of wine glasses (while supplies last).

Come back Sunday for a bake sale with Georgetown Cupcake, with all proceeds going to the worthy charity No Kid Hungry.

Store hours will be 10 AM to 8 PM Monday to Saturday, and 12 PM to 6 PM. However, they will take appointments for wedding registries and other personalized services in advance for 11:00 AM Sundays. Montgomery said you can even have store employees come to your home as a free service, to advise you on kitchen makeovers and interior decorating.

This store will feature some Bethesda-based companies' products, including Gordy's Pickle Jar and Dear Cocoa Chocolate.


Finally, make sure to pick up some of the seasonal catalogs. You'll find interesting ideas for Halloween, like this impressive ghost cake - and the molded pan you need to bake it.




These aren't just
standard display
shelves...
 
...look closer and find
they are vintage French
baking pans
 











30 comments:

Anonymous said...

another sign of montgomery countys moribund economy

Robert Dyer said...

5:02: Retail and restaurants are two positive sectors in the county's economy, along with biotech. I don't think anyone can argue with that.

Anonymous said...

Looks like office, business services, management occupations, healthcare, computer, and education are also doing well:
Link to data.


Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

It's a tour of the new store. Robert's photos are great.

The one blurry iPhone photo that Bethesda Mag tweeted yesterday didn't do the store justice at all. :)

Anonymous said...

Robert has that persistent case of "Photorrhea"!

Anonymous said...

Bethesda Mag has employed Mr. BlurryCam to cover the Williams-Sonoma opening:
https://twitter.com/BethesdaBeat/status/652133094879682562

Anonymous said...

Robert's photos have a great 'Man on the street' quality to them. The more, the better. Good post.

Anonymous said...

As in "weirdo in a trench coat hanging out on your street at 3 AM with a camera".

Anonymous said...

"weirdo in a trench coat hanging out on your street at 3 AM with a camera"...that's exactly what folks thought of Bethesda Mag's photo they tweeted. Blurry. No people around. Store closed. Hmm..
https://twitter.com/BethesdaBeat/status/652133094879682562

Anonymous said...

Yeah look at how terrible the layout of Bethesda Beat's website is.

Anonymous said...

I hate that you have to have an account for Bethesda Beat's comment system. What trash.

Anonymous said...

9:49 AM Most folks hate their dishonest reporting, but yeah, the layout and commenting system aren't good either :)

Bourbon said...

At last check today, Hull had his boys dumpster diving, looking for rats.
Breaking news: urban areas have rats. The kind of reporting only found in Bethesda Mag?

Anonymous said...

#ratghazi

Robert Dyer said...

6:09: Unfortunately, the larger economy is moribund in Montgomery County, with no major corporation moving here in over a decade. Aerospace, defense, hi-tech manufacturing and tech are all weak sectors in MoCo. If it weren't for retail, restaurants, NIH and biotechnology, and - most of all - federal government jobs, there wouldn't be any economy at all in MoCo.

Robert Dyer said...

7:14: The old, "If you don't have the photos, criticize the guy who does" tactic again.

Anonymous said...

Hull is banning Williams Sonoma coverage UNTIL they buy ads in the magazine. If they buy enough ads, they might even get a "best of bethesda" award trophy.
Dishonest reporting.

Anonymous said...

@ 8:49 AM - LOL, no you don't. Just click "I'd rather post as a guest". And did you ever figure out that they have a mobile version?

@ 1:26 PM - Yes, and their ban on Williams-Sonoma coverage is so extreme that they published an article on their opening before Dyer did.

Anonymous said...

Bethesda Mag's blurry iPhone photo outside the store counts as coverage? And a rat invasion story? Bethesda Mag's mystery investor should ask for his money back.
Stick to the EYA advertorial guys.

Anonymous said...

Lots of restaurants closing all the time in MoCo. Retail too. How does it compare to other areas?

Anonymous said...

You are saying 7:14 is Bethesda beat? On what grounds?

Anonymous said...

If you read only Dyer's shill, you'd think that The Other Plaice published only three stories every two weeks.

Anonymous said...

I miss Parkers bar already.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

8:24am Me too. I want more rat photos and out of focus iPhone photos outside of stores.
Much better than Robert Dyer's full and complete tour of Williams Sonoma :)

According to Twitter, Bethesda Beat's most recent follower is Kumar Barve. Kumar, is that you at 8:24am? Apparently Barve is another regular Dyer reader.

Robert Dyer said...

10:45: Ever notice how not a single story on that race in the local media mentions Barve's DUI incident?

Anonymous said...

Ever notice how a simple Google search refutes everything that Dyer and his shill claim?

Anonymous said...

Wow such mean-spirited comments on a Williams-Sonoma post. I am disappointed by the behavior of all participants.

Anonymous said...

Agree with Dyer, retail and restaurants will not support MoCo, but every little bit helps. When are those in charge going to drum
up some serious business incentives. They keep building expensive condos, but office buildings remain empty!!