Nighttime break-in at Bethesda smoke shop

Downtown Bethesda's smoke shops continue to be a prime target for criminals in both the daytime and the nighttime. The nighttime was the right time for one burglar who rolled up on Smoke Island at 7913 Norfolk Avenue with an entourage in a white SUV at 2:30 AM Saturday, September 14, 2024. This wasn't the first appearance by the suspect that morning, however. The ski-masked suspect first cased the store seven minutes earlier, before returning in the vehicle with passengers who remained inside the SUV.

Using an unspecified object, Montgomery County police say, the male suspect smashed the front door to gain entry to the store. Stealing unspecified property from inside the store, the suspect fled in the SUV. Detectives have released surveillance video of the incident, and are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the suspect. 

One of the Woodmont Triangle's new rat-resistant trash cans makes a cameo appearance, and the suspect slows the getaway driver's escape when part of his haul gets caught in the rear passenger door of the SUV, and is dragged scraping along the pavement alongside the vehicle as it turns onto Cordell Avenue heading east.

Police describe the suspect as a male of unknown race, wearing a black ski mask, a black sweater, gray pants and black shoes. He was carrying a green "sling bag." If you have any information about this incident, or can identify the suspect, you are asked to call police at 1-866-411-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Montgomery County liquor store broken into in downtown Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a burglar alarm at the Montgomery County Government-operated liquor store in downtown Bethesda early yesterday morning, October 30, 2024. The alarm was triggered at Montgomery County Liquor & Wine at 4920 Hampden Lane at the Shoppes of Bethesda at 4:20 AM Wednesday. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the store. A nearby restaurant in the 4700 block of Bethesda Avenue was broken into 45 minutes later.

Tatte Bakery & Cafe posts "opening soon" signage at Westbard Square in Bethesda

Tatte Bakery & Cafe has posted "opening soon" signage in the windows of its future storefront at Westbard Square in Bethesda. It features sketch art, and help-wanted information for the new cafe, which is on Level 1 of the new Giant building at 5400 Westbard Avenue. The interior space, which appears largely complete, is 55-square-feet larger than the chain's existing downtown Bethesda location. Stay tuned for an opening date!

Peter Mason opening November 1 at Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Get ready to dress for success this holiday season at Peter Mason by Montgomery Custom Tailors. The menswear store will open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this Friday, November 1, 2024. Peter Mason offers men's suits made with superfine wool fabrics from Italy and England. Custom-tailored suits, ready-to-wear, and dress shirts are available. Look for Peter Mason on Level 1 in the Old Navy wing of the mall, across from The Cheesecake Factory.

Bethesda juveniles arrested, immediately released for convenience store robbery

Three Bethesda juveniles were arrested, but immediately released "to their primary caregivers," in relation to the October 22, 2024 strong-arm robbery of a downtown Bethesda convenience store. Montgomery County police allege that the three suspects entered the Tobacco & More Mart at 7809 Old Georgetown Road at 9:34 AM. They attempted to leave the store with shoplifted items, and were confronted by an employee. One of the three suspects, age 16, struck the employee in the head, and the alleged thieves fled on foot.

Officers were able to locate and identify the three suspects based upon their descriptions. They were arrested and charged with robbery, police say, but the press release did not indicate if the 16-year-old was also charged with assault. 

Celia's Salon, Chloe's Nails & Co. opening at Westbard Square in Bethesda

Two services lost when the Westwood Shopping Center was demolished will soon be restored by two new businesses at the development that replaced it in Bethesda. Celia's Salon and Chloe's Nails & Co. have signed leases at Westbard Square at 5400 Westbard Avenue. Celia's Salon has had a Palisades location since 2019, and won a Best of Bethesda award from Bethesda Magazine in 2022. Both salons will be located on Level 2 of the Giant building.

Bethesda construction update: The Cecil apartments (Photos)

The sidewalk in front of The Cecil apartments at 8015 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda has reopened to pedestrians. Construction is wrapping up on the mid-rise development, which replaces Christ Lutheran Church on this property. The 310-unit apartment building was developed by JLB Partners, and will be managed by Bozzuto. SK+I Architecture was the design firm.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on the evening of October 24, 2024. The assault was reported at the mall at 7:22 PM. Two police cruisers pulled up to Entrance 5 by The Cheesecake Factory in response to the incident. 

This was the tenth assault reported at the mall this year, which has already doubled the five assaults reported in all of 2023 at the popular retail center. The last assault took place on August 8. Montgomery County police opened a "resource room" at the mall in 2022, in an attempt to address elevated crime at the property - part of a general crime wave that has persisted countywide since 2020, after the County Council defunded the police - after 12 assaults were reported there that year. The police department is down 194 officers since 2020, and 179 police officer positions are now vacant, according to a County Council staff memo released earlier this year.

Police investigate another smoke shop incident in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Smoke Island at 7913 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda last Friday afternoon at 12:00 PM. The incident that prompted the call was termed as "shoplifting." However, an eyewitness reported that crime scene tape was placed in front of the store, and that six police cruisers responded to the scene.

BT's Bethesda Bar & Grill update

More signage has been posted outside of BT's Bethesda Bar & Grill at 4866 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The restaurant is currently hiring for all positions. This was previously home to Zuma by Chef Ninja and Brickside Food & Drink. The new restaurant is expected to open next month.

Public art installation in place at Sophia Bethesda apartments (Photos)

A public art sculpture was installed yesterday at the new Sophia Bethesda apartment tower at 4924 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The installation is located on the pedestrian paseo that the building shares with next door neighbor Bainbridge Bethesda. Occupancy of the building is now up to the 13th floor. Sidewalks have reopened to pedestrians; the paseo is still fenced off for the moment, as work continues there.

You can see many of the art deco design elements in the photos below, as the finishing touches are put on the tower. New residents can get up to two months free rent this weekend, if they qualify for the open house special from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM today, Saturday, October 26, and 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM tomorrow, October 27. See the development's website for full details, pricing, and floorplans.

The fitness center is visible on the
second floor