The pedestrian plaza at The Donohoe Companies' Gallery Bethesda development may finally achieve its potential with the addition of BabyCat Brewery and Baruch Cafe Express. Both have leased ground floor spaces at the Gallery Bethesda II apartment tower. Kensington-based BabyCat Brewery announced yesterday on social media that it would open a Bethesda location in early 2025 at 4829 Rugby Avenue. "Coming soon" signage has been posted in the storefront windows.
Also coming soon is Baruch Cafe Express. The coffee shop is promising "the best experience in Bethesda." It had a liquor license hearing on Thursday, according to a sign posted in the front window. Both the brewery and cafe will offer outdoor seating, which could finally provide the catalyst for sustained pedestrian and after-business-hours activity that could activate the plaza between Gallery I and II.
"BabyCat is a fantastic addition to our building and the neighborhood," Donohoe's Don Konz said in a statement. "Ownership is excited to welcome a MoCo-born craft brewer to Bethesda and think this store will be a huge hit with our residents and locals alike."
4 comments:
Fantastic news, Robert. We are fans of the Kensington brewery and it will be so nice to have a craft brewery we can walk to.
I very well might be alone here, but I'd still prefer one of the better sub/sandwich chains to come to the northern part of downtown.
I've mentioned PrimoHoagies, Capriotti's, Jason's Deli, and Which Wich before (albeit in different contexts), but only recently remembered about Newk's Eatery. FWIW, all of them have appeared in USA Today's "10Best" list for "Best Sandwich or Sub Shop" either this year or last--with most appearing in both. (In fact, PrimoHoagies repeated as #1.)
Ironically, even though some of those chains are based in southern states, most of them appear to have more of a presence in Maryland than in Northern Virginia (or even Virginia overall). That said, it looks like the NoVa locations for Jason's Deli (along with some of their neighbors) went out of business primarily due to rising rents.
Another fan of Babysat Kensington... good news
Having to schlep kids up to Saturday activities on Rugby Rd across the street from this site, I am super excited. Babycat makes good brews and there hasn't been good coffee on that side of Norfolk Ave since the More than Java Café inside the Brightview closed during the pandemic.
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