Construction begins at PopUp Bagels in Bethesda (Photos)

Construction has begun on the interior fit-out of PopUp Bagels at 7607 Old Georgetown Road, in the ground floor of the Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown apartment tower in downtown Bethesda. The race is officially on, as competitor Call Your Mother Deli recently began construction as well. PopUp has a "LegUp," as it is starting the process immediately, while Call Your Mother has to first demolish the interior left from the previous furniture store tenant. Who will cross the finish line first?

PopUp Bagels are served hot and fresh out of the oven every 3-4 minutes, and they are the main attraction on a very simple menu - not the bagel sandwiches you typically see on social media. Smaller than the typical bagel, PopUp Bagels are served unsliced, to keep them warm. They are crisp on the outside, while their interiors are characterized as pillowy and fluffy. Customers are encouraged to "grip, rip, and dip" their hot bagels in a selection of schmears. Cream cheese, scallion cream cheese, butter, and vegan scallion butter are always on the menu, but a rotating list of limited-time-only schmears changes weekly, ensuring there will always be a new flavor to try.

PopUp Bagels "coming soon" to Bethesda (Photos)

PopUp Bagels, has posted coming-soon signage across its future storefront in the ground floor of the Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown apartment tower at 7607 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda. The upstart New York bagel chain has made its social media virality central to its branding and marketing. Construction is now getting underway on the shop, a refreshing change from the many banks typically opening around town in recent times. Hot and fresh bagels with a rotating selection of schmears - and a required minimum order - are the focus at PopUp Bagels, not bagel sandwiches, nor non-bagel menu items.

Bethesda's new Lidl grocery store now a selling point for apartments

The new Lidl grocery store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda has very quickly become a selling point for nearby apartment buildings. It's only natural that Bethesda Place, which stands atop the store at 7701 Woodmont Avenue, has added a picture of it to its website. But the Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown apartment tower right next door is also getting in on the action. A sign placed on the sidewalk in front of the building asks passersby to "imagine carrying your groceries this far home," and provides a QR code for the property's website. 

Some rental buildings in close proximity to Lidl have some catching up to do. Element 28, two doors up from the store on Old Georgetown, is still only listing the new Trader Joe's store in the 8001 Woodmont apartments. The Metropolitan, right across Old Georgetown from Lidl, doesn't mention the new store on its website yet, either.

Looking toward Lidl from the
Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown

Sign installed at Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown apartment tower in Bethesda

The permanent sign is now up at the Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown apartment tower in downtown Bethesda. It is directly over an entrance to the new building, the latest in Washington Property Company's Solaire portfolio of apartment developments in Montgomery County. 

There's probably a fire code reason why the red FDC sign and water connections are in that specific spot to the left of the door, but it's rather unfortunate from an aesthetic and design standpoint, as they stick out like a sore thumb. The building recently opened, and we are awaiting the posting of the first residents' early online reviews of the tower.

Pricing shows that residential housing continues to remain detached from market forces in Montgomery County. Despite two decades of promises that relentless construction will reduce rents, 1-bedrooms here start at $2,592, and 2-bedrooms at $3,603, according to Apartments.com. The official website is currently offering 2 months of free rent, if you sign a 13-month lease, and move in by May 31, 2024.

New public benches installed outside Solaire Bethesda 7607 Old Georgetown apartments (Photos)

New public benches have been installed on the sidewalk outside of the new Solaire Bethesda 7607 Old Georgetown apartment tower. They are backless, and include a mid-bench divider to discourage rough sleepers. You can also see the new landscaping and street tree that have been planted behind the bench in the photo above. The Solaire will begin welcoming residents in "early 2024."

Bethesda construction update: Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower (Photos)

The finishing touches are being put on the exterior of Washington Property Company's new Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower in downtown Bethesda. Inside, workers are now completing the interiors of the individual apartment units. Some of the first kitchens and appliances are now visible in lower level apartment units from the street below. As of this morning, I still cannot find any official website with leasing information online, or an opening date for first residential move-ins.

Bethesda construction update: Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartments (Photos)

The Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower is in the home stretch of construction on the former site of the La Madeleine restaurant in downtown Bethesda. The Solaire 7607 will house 198 residential units, 1500 square feet of retail space, and a four-and-a-half level underground parking garage. This will be developer Washington Property Company's second Solaire-branded property in Bethesda. Clark Construction is forecasting a 2024 delivery for the tower.

Road closure ahead tonight near Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower in Bethesda

Mobile crane operations will halt all traffic on Old Georgetown Road between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues in Bethesda starting tonight, June 9, 2023 at 10:00 PM until 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 11. The work is being done at the Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower. Watch for flagmen directing traffic to a detour. Should inclement weather disrupt the planned work, it will be rescheduled to start on Saturday. The contractor has promised to reduce nighttime noise as much as possible for residents in nearby buildings. Keep a pair of earplugs handy just in case...

Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower project tops out in Bethesda (Photos)

Hometown Bethesda firms Washington Property Company and Clark Construction celebrated the topping out of WPC's Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower development this past Friday. "Topping out" refers to the successful placement of the final beam atop a structure, and is traditionally marked by a celebration among the construction team and development partners. 

Clark has poured 14,500 cubic yards of concrete, and installed 2000 tons of rebar, at the construction site so far, WPC said.  The Solaire 7607 will house 198 residential units, 1500 square feet of retail space, and a four-and-a-half level underground parking garage. A late-2023 delivery is anticipated for the project.

How did they get here? Here's a look at the construction progress over the last two months, in chronological order:

Top 3 photos courtesy Washington Property Company
Construction photos: Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row