Marine Layer closes for "refresh" at Bethesda Row

Marine Layer has temporarily closed at 4803 Bethesda Avenue at Bethesda Row. The beechwood pulp apparel boutique is beginning a "refresh" of the store's interior. A reopening date has not yet been announced. Customers are being directed to email ohhey@marinelayer.com for inquiries about orders, exchanges, returns, "or anything else." Marine Layer opened here in 2019.

Baruch Cafe closes in Bethesda

Baruch Cafe has closed at 4841 Del Ray Avenue in the ground floor of the Gallery Bethesda apartment tower. The restaurant opened in December 2024, replacing the convenience store that had occupied the space since the building opened a decade earlier. It's a double whammy of a closure, as Lifestyle Corner had begun operating out of the cafe just a few months ago. Hopefully the new attention to the Gallery Bethesda plaza generated by the recently-opened BabyCat Brewery will help draw another winning tenant to this space.

Kenwood Cherry Blossoms 2026 (Photos + Video)

Here's a look at the famous cherry blossoms in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chevy Chase for the year 2026. Why drive and walk for miles downtown when you can see the same thing here for free close to home? You can drive through, or walk through, but don't think about parking on the street! There might be a lemonade stand if the Montgomery County Council hasn't shut it down before you get there. The Capital Crescent Trail passes right through the neighborhood, a relatively easy walk from downtown Bethesda or points south of River Road into Georgetown.

Bethesda church for sale, a potential redevelopment target

A church property in the elite 20816 zip code of Bethesda could become the next cookie cutter townhome or - even more controversial - apartment development. Washington Baptist Church at 5144 Massachusetts Avenue has just listed its property as available for sale. The asking price for the 2.15-acre plot is $14,995,000. While a Montessori school tenant and cell service antenna leases can provide short term revenue to the purchaser, the online sale listing notes the redevelopment potential of the site, which is in the exclusive Westmoreland Hills neighborhood. 

One must wonder if this planned sale was a driving force behind including Massachusetts Avenue in the zoning text amendment rammed through last year by the Montgomery County Council. According to the ZTA map, this property is eligible for multifamily housing.

Such redevelopment would be contentious, but the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board have established a rock-solid track record in recent years of steamrolling over resident opposition, ignoring civic associations who don't sell their membership out to the Council, and paying zero price at the ballot box for doing so. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" 

Rosetta Bakery opens in Bethesda (Photos)

Rosetta is now open at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The Italian bakery "brings the authentic flavors of Milan to Bethesda with fresh pastries, signature focaccia, rich espresso, and all the sweet moments Rosetta is known for," the Miami-based chain said in a statement announcing the opening. Rosetta is named for the bread used in its signature sandwich menu item. See a preview of the menu boards below. The Bethesda location has established a partnership with the Best Buddies organization.

Silk Route restaurant aiming for May opening in Bethesda

A few more details have come to light regarding the future downtown Bethesda restaurant Silk Route. You may recall it is moving into the building that was recently sold and vacated by Tia Queta at 4839 Del Ray Avenue. According to Silk Route's liquor license application, the owner hopes to open before the end of May 2026. The menu will feature a fusion of Persian and Mediterranean cuisine. Operating hours will be 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM seven days a week. The owner was previously a co-owner of the former Pour Vino N Hops in Rockville.

A glimpse of The Velvet Room in Bethesda

The long waiting game for The Velvet Room at 8020 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda continues. But a new image of the future speakeasy has been posted inside the entrance, as seen above. Originally expected to open in February 2025, the establishment has remained unrealized for more than a year since. Let's hope this is a sign of things moving forward at last.

Assault at Whole Foods in Friendship Heights

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at Whole Foods Market at 4420 Willard Avenue in Friendship Heights Thursday morning, March 26, 2026. The assault was reported at the supermarket at 9:47 AM Thursday, continuing the troubling trend of violent crimes being committed during daylight hours in Montgomery County. It appears to have been related to a shoplifting incident at the store, another persistent crime trend in the County.

Matchbox closes at Bethesda Row

Matchbox has closed its Bethesda location at 7278 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. A note in the window states the restaurant has "moved" to Rockville and Silver Spring. Of course, this is false, as the chain has had both locations for many years. Signage has been stripped from the exterior. Matchbox will be replaced by Prato, an Italian restaurant.

Maryland silica factory closing, production relocating to South Carolina

There goes another one. Evonik Corporation will close its Maryland factory in Havre de Grace, and relocate its production of silica to South Carolina. The closure will eliminate 34 jobs, according to a filing the chemical firm submitted to the state on Wednesday. While the company explains its strategic move with buzzphrases like "economies of scale," there are several obvious reasons why the grass appears much greener in the Palmetto State if you are running a business enterprise.

Industrial electricity rates in South Carolina are 22% less than in Maryland. This is largely due to the forced closure of eight power plants by Maryland elected officials, who have also mandated the purchase of ever-increasing amounts of "clean power," such as solar or wind. In addition, the state has socked energy utility customers with an EmPOWER Maryland fee, that funds a Marxist program that subsidizes the purchase of energy efficient equipment by lower income customers. The end result is that Maryland now imports the majority of its electricity from out-of-state, naturally at greater cost than it had been provided from those shuttered in-state plants. Not to mention that Maryland ratepayers are now receiving record-high monthly power bills.

Maryland's corporate tax rate is 8.25%. South Carolina's is 5%. Doh!

Last year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Democratic-controlled legislature established a 3% tech tax. By comparison, IT consulting, custom coding, and systems design are not taxed in South Carolina.

Finally, Maryland’s average annual pay for chemical engineers is approximately $121,012 to $140,708. In Charleston, the average is roughly $93,975 to $128,000, according to Indeed.com.

Heckuva job, Brownie!