Update on Gorjana at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Here's a sneak peek at the construction progress inside the future Gorjana boutique at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Laguna Beach-inspired jewelry retailer is appropriately expected to open this summer at the mall. A look inside the construction wall door that was hanging open reveals flooring, walls, and lighting fixtures in place. Now shelving and other displays are being installed, which means merchandise can't be far behind. When it opens, look for Gorjana on Level 1 of the mall, across from Lily Pulitzer in the Nordstrom wing.

Taco Bamba opening in Bethesda

Taco Bamba is expanding to downtown Bethesda. Chef-owner Victor Albisu has signed a lease for the space most recently occupied by Casa Oaxaca at 4905 Fairmont Avenue. Albisu said he will retain the popular outdoor patio from the previous tenant, but plans to strip the interior down to the studs. Expect Taco Bamba to open sometime this fall. Taco Bamba's Bethesda expansion was first reported by Bethesda Magazine.

Metro pylon stripped at Bethesda Metro station

I guess this is the transit equivalent of coming out to find your car up on blocks. The new version of the iconic Metro station pylon at the Bethesda Metro station installed last August has been totally stripped. All that's left is the interior frame that supports the familiar brown monolith. Well, if you always wondered what was inside the pylon, now you know. 

Pepco tells Maryland customers, "It's not us"

The most recent two U.S. presidents have had to get used to having their likeness slapped onto gas pumps via "I did that!" stickers, when their policy decisions have led to rising gas prices. Less eager to take credit for exploding electricity bills is Pepco, which is once again taking pains to inform customers that government is indeed the problem. "Higher energy bills can be challenging, and we want you to understand what's driving those changes," the Exelon-owned utility explained in a message to ratepayers with this month's bill. And explain they do, but not as extensively as they should, requiring us to employ the Annapolis Anger Translator (AAT) for full disclosure.

First culprit on the list is the regional grid operator PJM. Pepco notes that PJM "is increasing electricity supply prices for our area. Pepco does not generate electricity or set these prices — we pass these charges through directly to customers with no markup. These increases are due to factors such as higher demand and tight energy supply."

Using the AAT, we can expand on this to learn that the actual electricity rates paid by consumers in Maryland are set by the Maryland Public Service Commission, a body appointed by...whoops!...the governor of Maryland, and approved by the Democratic-controlled Maryland State Senate. 

Why is there a "tight energy supply?" Perhaps because Maryland elected officials forced the closure of 8 power plants across the state. As a result, Maryland itself can no longer generate enough power to supply the demands of residents and businesses, and is now forced to import electricity from out-of-state at inflated boardwalk prices.

Pepco also highlights the EmPOWER MD surcharge that appears on your monthly bill. Like many other "sneak taxes," elected officials hope that you will assume these taxes, fees, and surcharges are being levied by the service provider, not your corrupt leaders. The reality is that this surcharge was levied by the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. It is a Karl Marxian Communist initiative of the highest order. Your hard-earned money goes into a slush fund used to pay for "green" upgrades to poor people's homes. From each according to his abilities...well, you get the idea.

Not mentioned is the latest hoax: data centers, the latest pass-the-buck punching bag for politicians trying to divert public attention from their direct role in the affordability crisis. No, data centers in Maryland are not the reason your Pepco bill keeps going up. It's a boogeyman far more familiar to you: your unfriendly neighborhood elected official. The call is indeed coming from inside the house.

Update on Call Your Mother Deli in downtown Bethesda

A painting crew is working on the exterior of the future Call Your Mother Deli at 4828 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Gone is the drab gray of former tenant Hardwood Artisans, and in its place is the distinctive blue shade of the CYM branding colors. The windows are still covered, so we can't see the progress on the interior fit-out. Construction has been underway since April 16.

Maten's entertainment center opening in Bethesda

Maten's, an entertainment center featuring billiards, shuffleboard, and foosball, is coming soon to 7500 Old Georgetown Road at the Bethesda Metro Center. Founder Aaron Lippman calls the concept an "out of home entertainment" venue, and - as described on the signage posted at its future location, a "third place." Maten's, named after Lippman's great grandfather Al Maten, will also feature lounges and offer beverages for sale. Entry to the 4000-square-foot venue will come by a one-time fee of around $15, or via a monthly membership Lippman is currently pricing out in the $35-a-month range for unlimited access. 

Signature Cigars closes in Bethesda

Signature Cigars has closed at 4919 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The shop's last day was Sunday, and there is already a for-lease sign in the window. Cigar aficionados seeking the traditional shopping experience still have the nearby Capitol Cigar & Tobacco at 4916 Del Ray Avenue. But the loss of another longtime Bethesda business still stings, as the moribund Montgomery County economy claims another victim. But, hell, let's go ahead and vote for the same people who did this to us again! "Smarter than the average bear!"

Just Salad opens in Friendship Heights

Just Salad is now open at 5300-D Wisconsin Avenue NW at what's left of Mazza Gallerie in Friendship Heights. The fast-casual salad restaurant is the latest addition to the ground-level retail spaces in what is now known as the Residences at Mazza. Reusable bowls and a large number of plant-based alternatives to meat (the real thing is also still available at Just Salad, though) are part of what the chain calls "Earth-friendly" dining. 

To celebrate the Chevy Chase opening, Just Salad is offering 50% off your first digital order. Use the code MG50 through June 30, 2026. That's a good deal in tough financial times like this in Montgomery County.

Elite Estate Antiques opens in Bethesda

Elite Estate Antiques is now open at 8121 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Founded in 1985, the business buys, sells, and appraises antiques, fine art, furniture, home decor, military collectibles and memorabilia, and estate purchases. Hours of operation are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday. They are closed on Sundays.

Austrian life sciences firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Austrian life sciences firm Ringana has made the United States the target of its next international expansion push, but first it needed a U.S. corporate headquarters to operate from. It has found the perfect location, and you won't be surprised to hear it is not in Montgomery County, or even within the state of Maryland. You also won't be surprised to learn that Virginia is once again the winner in this latest corporate HQ sweepstakes. That's right: 435 jobs are on the way from the Österreich to 2797 Frontage Road NW in Roanoke, Virginia. The former Johnson & Johnson site will not only house corporate offices, but also a manufacturing facility and a distribution center.

The deal was apparently secured when Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger invited Ringana corporate leadership to meet with her personally this past February. In contrast, Maryland Governor Wes Moore has failed to turn his supposedly-massive Rolodex of Wall Street, Hamptons, and Martha's Vineyard business contacts into a single major corporate headquarters win. After an awkward few months dominated by divisive partisan politics, Spanberger seems to have found the blueprint left behind by her Democratic predecessors, who have typically been as successful in attracting corporate headquarters as their Republican counterparts.

“RINGANA’s decision to establish its first U.S. facility in Virginia underscores the Commonwealth’s reputation as a welcoming, premier destination for international investment,” Spanberger said in a statement. “With our world-class workforce, strong apprenticeship and career training programs, and unwavering commitment to supporting global companies in a global marketplace, Virginia offers the ideal environment for businesses to grow and succeed in the United States. We are excited to welcome RINGANA to Roanoke and look forward to the hundreds of career opportunities this partnership will create for Virginians.”

We should take note of the site chosen by Ringana. Look how close it is to Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, which has connecting flights to Dulles International Airport. Also nearby is Interstate 81, a major freight trucking route connecting Tennessee and Canada. Once again, Virginia tax advantages join with infrastructure to hand Maryland and Montgomery County yet another economic development loss. MoCo and Maryland elected officials will tell you with clownish pride that "we don't do highways," and that they will never allow construction of the long-delayed new Potomac River crossing to the Dulles area.

Now before we get too carried away, I don't want to overhype Ringana. We should be focused on major corporations, especially on aerospace, biotech, defense, and technology firms. Ringana is not a Fortune 500 company. But it has enjoyed $245 million in annual revenue, and 30% year-over-year revenue growth. It will be investing $85 million in Virginia and its people and communities. The Roanoke Regional Partnership is already working to connect local businesses that can provide services to Ringana with the company's leadership.

Beggars can't be choosers. Montgomery County and Maryland once again are left holding their nearly-empty begging cups.

The Velvet Room opening June 17 in Bethesda

The Velvet Room will open at 8020 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda this Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Reservations for an opening week table at the speakeasy are now being accepted online. You can also view the cocktail menu for opening night, which includes many drinks with hyperlocal names. Operating hours will be 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 4:00 PM to midnight Friday through Sunday, and closed on Mondays.

Miniso returning to Montgomery Mall for cage match with Pop Mart

Miniso operated a store at Westfield Montgomery Mall from 2021 to 2025. But the company appears to have realized it might have made a hasty decision to exit, now that Pop Mart is preparing to open a store at the Bethesda mall. And it looks like they're reclaiming their old haunt on Level 1 near Macy's. Of course, Miniso sells a much wider variety of products than toy retailer Pop Mart, such as kitchenware, home goods, and health and fitness items. But a significant portion of its Japanese-inspired (don't tell Chairman Xi!) Chinese merchandise is dedicated to blind bag and oversized plush toys, making this a high-stakes faceoff for the toy collector's dollar at Montgomery Mall.

Sleep Number closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Sleep Number has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The showroom has been cleared out. However, it's not the end for the famous adjustable bed retailer in the immediate area. The company says the store has relocated to Rockville, in the Montrose Crossing shopping center. This is unexpectedly good news for fans of the Sleep Number Bed, as the brand is in significant financial difficulty, and has said a bankruptcy filing is not out of the question.

Assault at Montgomery Mall

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Wednesday night, June 10, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 9:14 PM Wednesday. This is the fourth known assault to take place at the popular retail center so far this year. A total of twelve assaults were reported at the mall last year, so they are currently on a pace to improve on those numbers.

Armand's Pizzeria latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy

Armand's Pizzeria and Grille is closing at 190 Halpine Road in Rockville. After over 51 years in business, the restaurant's co-owners announced on Instagram that they will permanently shut their doors after the close of business on June 20, 2026. This is your last chance to get a slice of Armand's pizza. But it's also another chance to see what the anti-business policies of the Montgomery County Council, and the resulting moribund Montgomery County economy, have wreaked on our business community and underfilled County revenue coffers.

WTOP reporter Luke Lukert wrote that "due to financial reasons and a struggling environment for small businesses, they will have to shut their doors." Lukert interviewed Armand's co-owner Chris Sappe, who told him,"Montgomery County is a tough place to have a family-owned business with minimum wage increasing." Along with recent hikes in ingredient and fuel costs, Sappe said, they had to make the difficult decision to close.

Let's again spin one of the greatest hits recorded by Peter Gragnano of the Suburban Washington Franchise Owners Association, when he and many other business owners and advocates pleaded with the Council not to move forward with their massive minimum wage hike in June of 2016. "That's a lot of extra Slurpees to sell," Gragnano said in the quote of the night. Did the Council heed these warnings? Nope.

Remember the Council's brilliant idea to index the minimum wage to inflation beginning in 2021? Yep, that one hasn't aged well, either. One businessman warned the Council that if inflation spiked as it did in the late 1970s and early 1980s, "there won't be a way to wash a dish in a restaurant." This is the man you should now be asking to generate your lottery numbers! Inflation spike? In America? The County Council clearly does not share that businessman's Kenny Kingston-esque foresight.

Another one of the brilliant minds in the business realm of Maryland is Maddy Voytek, who in 2016 was working at the Maryland Retailers Association. She noted that Montgomery County had already lost 2141 retail jobs between 2000 and 2016. Voytek told the Council that adoption of the $15 wage would "devastate our economy."

What we've seen most recently, as all of these dire predictions came true, are more closings of older businesses. Community institutions. Businesses like Armand's or Flanagan's in Bethesda. Businesses that have survived wars, recessions, and the 2008 "Great Recession," only to be felled now by the incompetents on our County Council. Something is rotten in the County of Montgomery. Have the smelling salts reached your nostrils yet?

Bradley Liberty gas station to reopen Friday in Bethesda

The Bradley Liberty gas station at 5001 Bradley Boulevard at the Bradley Shopping Center in downtown Bethesda will reopen tomorrow, Friday, June 12, 2026. It has been temporarily closed for major renovations. However, construction fencing has finally been taken down at the family-owned service station. Just in time for summer travel!

Assault at Westbard Giant in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Giant grocery store at 5320 Zenith Overlook at Westbard Square Monday afternoon, June 8, 2026. The assault was reported at the store at 4:50 PM Monday. This is the third known assault to take place at the supermarket this year, with the first two taking place in January.

Virtual meeting on Cheltenham Bikeway in Bethesda tonight at 6:30 PM

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will host a virtual public meeting regarding the proposed Cheltenham Drive Bikeway project in downtown Bethesda tonight, June 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM. MCDOT will present the project design, estimated cost, and timeline. The agency will also provide an opportunity for public testimony and questions. In its meeting announcement, MCDOT stresses that the final project design can still be altered based upon the feedback it receives from the public tonight. 

Residents and other stakeholders who cannot participate tonight may still submit written testimony by this Friday, June 12. Written testimony will be given the same weight as oral testimony. To find out how to join tonight's meeting, or to submit written comments, visit the meeting announcement website online.

On second thought...Woodmont Avenue closure postponed in Bethesda

A potentially devastating street closure near Bethesda Row has been postponed. Cryptic signs referring to an unidentified segment of Woodmont Avenue closing appeared last week. Eventually, the segment was identified as being located between Strathmore Street and Wisconsin Avenue, and it was to remain closed from June 8 through August 31, 2026. Now the electronic sign boards are advising "Work Delayed" and "Road Open."

2 the 9s to reopen July 15 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

2 the 9s has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. However, the owner says the fashion boutique is changing hands, and is being remodeled by the new owner. The shop will reopen July 15 "with a fresh look." 2 the 9s opened here on Level 2 of the mall in the spring of 2023.

Montgomery County Republican Club endorses Ed Hale for Maryland governor

Baltimore businessman Ed Hale has received the endorsement of the Montgomery County Republican Club in the GOP primary race for Maryland governor. The club was founded in 1970, and counts former Governor Bob Ehrlich among its Advisory Board members. This morning, the club's Board of Directors announced its endorsements in County and State contests, headlined by its backing of Hale for governor. 

"At the top of the ticket, the Club has thrown its support behind Ed Hale for Governor of Maryland," the Board said in a statement this morning. "A businessman and entrepreneur, Hale has built his campaign around lowering the state’s tax burden, reducing regulatory obstacles to commerce, and restoring an economic climate in which job creators can thrive. The Club presents Hale’s real-world experience as a decisive credential for Maryland’s executive office."

The Board's argument in favor of Hale centers on his business resume, which includes having been a major employer and catalyst for growth at the Port of Baltimore. He served as president of the Bank of Baltimore, and was the founder of 1st Mariner Bank, credentials that Hale has pointed to as evidence he is well-positioned to tackle the state's mounting fiscal crisis. Hale was also the successful developer of Canton Crossing, which transformed a severely-contaminated oil refinery site in Baltimore into a vibrant mixed-use development.

"Honored and grateful to receive the official endorsement of the Montgomery County Republican Club!" Hale wrote on social media this morning. "Maryland is ready for a leader with real-world business experience who knows what it takes to lower the tax burden, cut through regulatory red tape, and restore a thriving economic climate where job creators and families can truly flourish. Thank you to the Club and all of its members for throwing your support behind our mission to bring decisive leadership to Annapolis. Together, we are going to build a stronger, more prosperous Maryland!"

Shake Shack opening in downtown Bethesda on June 24

Shake Shack has set an opening date for its newest Bethesda location at 7535 Old Georgetown Road in the ground floor of the Element 28 apartment tower. The fast-casual hamburger restaurant will open June 24, 2026, according to Google. This is the second Shake Shack to open in Bethesda, with the first being located in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Here's another sneak peek at the construction progress inside the downtown Bethesda store.

Hammer and Nails opening August 1 in Bethesda

Hammer and Nails has set the opening date for its new downtown Bethesda location at 7712 Woodmont Avenue at the Lionsgate condominiums. The "Grooming Shop for Guys" will open on August 1, 2026. As you can see, the sign is up over the storefront, and is already lit up at night. Founding Memberships are still available. The company is referring to this as the "Woodmont" location, which makes me wonder if there might be additional Bethesda locations in the works. Stay tuned!

Bethesda office building for sale

An office building in downtown Bethesda is for sale, but looks can be deceiving. 4709 Maple Avenue looks like a residential home, and probably started its life that way when it was constructed in 1937. But in its modified form today, you might be surprised to learn that there are eight individual offices inside there, as well as a conference room, a reception area, a kitchen, and three bathrooms. Oh, I forgot to mention the fireplace. The asking price? $1,600,000, according to the online sale listing. 

Images courtesy AMR Commercial, LLC via LoopNet

Marriott International HQ plaza in Bethesda is closed for repairs in Bethesda

Marriott International's downtown headquarters has only been open a few years, and its plaza is already in need of repairs. The promenade between the Marriott HQ and the Marriott Bethesda Downtown hotel at 7707 Woodmont Avenue was closed to the public last night. "Plaza closed for repairs," read a sandwich board sign. It was not immediately clear which aspects of the gathering space were in need of repair. But we know the menus in these buildings are. Bring back the original recipe Mighty Mo Burger, Teen Twist, Orange Freeze, and chicken noodle soup with the round noodles!