City Sports space still up for lease at Bethesda Row as pop-up winds down

Don't give up hope on maybe getting another bookstore or medium-size retailer/restaurant in the old City Sports space on Arlington Road at Bethesda Row. The "pop-up" use of the 5786 SF vacant storefront by next-door neighbor Urban Country appears to be winding down. A leasing sign is in the front window. Note that the sign floats the idea of a "temporary lease," suggesting we could see another pop-up use in the near future.

But consider that Books-A-Million (a.k.a., BAM!) stores are as small as 4000 SF, and you realize this is a indeed a viable-if-not-ideal space for a bookstore. Now, if they could fit a 4000 SF BAM! store with a 1786 SF cafe area inside here, it might take some of the sting out of losing anchor Barnes & Noble at the end of the year. BAM! does have Joe Muggs cafes in many of its stores. On the other hand, the sidewalk width here is a bit cramped compared to the B&N plaza space, traffic noise is louder, and the BAM! inventory may not satisfy Bethesda demographics seeking more of a Politics & Prose experience.