Lining up for iPhone 15 at Montgomery Mall Apple Store (Photos)

There was still a short line of people lined up to be among the first to receive their iPhone 15 at the Apple Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Saturday evening. We haven't seen the kind of camping-out-all-night spectacles that once greeted each new generation of iPhone in the last decade this time around. But a velvet rope seen nearby hinted that the line must have been significantly longer earlier in the day Saturday. The phones, and several other new Apple products, arrived in stores Friday. USB-C or bust!

Bethesda Row Apple Store gets an exterior touch-up

An after-hours effort to spruce up the front facade of the Apple Store at 4860 Bethesda Avenue was underway last night at Bethesda Row. Workers from building maintenance firm Stuart Dean were on scaffolding out front, leading upward to the store's iconic illuminated logo. Apple, as always, is meticulous about every detail when it comes to design and aesthetics. It has contracted with Stuart Dean for over a decade to prep its stores for grand openings, and to handle routine maintenance like this. Stuart Dean specializes in upkeep of some of the trademark materials Apple employs in its retail store design.

Man with the Golden Gun arrested for armed robbery of Bethesda Row Apple Store

The alleged Man with the Golden Gun who has been sought by Montgomery County police in the October 22, 2022 armed robbery of the Bethesda Row Apple Store is now in custody, police announced today.  Tyrone Lamont Jones, 32, of Capitol Heights has been charged with "armed robbery related charges" that were not detailed by police. Jones is being held without bond.

Detectives confirmed that the golden gun had an extended magazine. They also revealed that Jones was color-coordinated, allegedly fleeing the Apple Store robbery in a gold Cadillac. He was driving the Cadillac when he was arrested in Prince George's County on November 3, police say. Items tying Jones to the robbery were allegedly found in the vehicle with him. Police have released a photo of the now-infamous golden gun.

iPhone 14 arrives at Bethesda Row Apple Store

Employees were working late into the night Thursday at the Bethesda Row Apple Store to prepare for today's launch of the new iPhone 14. If you're looking for the iPhone 14 Plus, that won't be arriving until October 7. The new phone includes improved cameras, Action Mode for the best video recording stablization yet, and Crash Detection and Emergency SOS services that utilize satellites to summon help if you are off the grid.

Employees working last night to prepare
for today's new iPhone14 launch

iPhone 13 lines at Bethesda Row Apple Store tonight (Photos)

Customers are lined up outside the Apple Store at Bethesda Row this evening to be among the first to acquire the new iPhone 13 models. Today is the first day the phones are expected to be in stock; Apple began taking pre-orders last Friday. The store closes at 8:00 PM tonight.

Montgomery Mall Apple Store to get a facelift

The Apple Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall is getting some work done. A new illuminated logo sign will be added to the storefront, as well as new quartz exterior wall panels. It's not confirmed yet if the changes will be in place by Black Friday, or after the holiday shopping season.

Apple Store reopens at Bethesda Row

The Apple Store has reopened at Bethesda Row. Their new hours will initially be 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. As I reported a few weeks ago, customers' temperatures will be checked at the door.

Masks are required to enter, but they will provide one for you if you don't have one. The number of customers allowed in the store at one time will be limited, under Montgomery County guidelines. Surfaces and devices will be regularly sanitized throughout the day.

Bethesda Row boarding up for looting

Bethesda Row businesses are beginning to board up their windows in expectation of potential looting. Nearby Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase was hit by looters Sunday. Late Sunday night, about 75 looters smashed windows and took merchandise on the D.C. side of the line in Chevy Chase, including Rodman's, CVS Pharmacy, and the new Tenleytown Target. 

These two Bethesda businesses are now not taking any chances. CityCenterDC, another high-end retail center, and Georgetown were among the other upscale shopping areas already raided by looters in the District. Flyers about protests have already been placed on some of the boards. 

Temperature checks may be standard when entering Bethesda businesses

Caddies on Cordell releases 

detailed policy ahead of Monday's

restart of outdoor dining; 

Apple Store already plans temperature

checks at door

More downtown Bethesda businesses are announcing that a temperature check will be mandatory to enter their businesses, even for outdoor seating in some cases. The Apple Store will require temperature checks at the door when customers are allowed by the state and Montgomery County to enter the store. Yesterday, Caddies on Cordell confirmed they will require temperature checks of all customers and employees as early as Monday, when outdoor seating is allowed to begin. Your temperature must be 99 degrees or lower in order to enter the premises.

Caddies has the most-detailed policy yet made public by a Bethesda business. In addition to a temperature check, guests must wear a mask except when actually eating or drinking. Gloves will be mandatory for staff, and are recommended for guests.

Patrons at Caddies will have to sign a contact-tracing ledger to be notified if they were exposed to the coronavirus by another guest or employee. A maximum of 50 guests may be seated outdoors at one time. Six guests per table is the maximum, and social distancing must be observed while moving around on the patio. There will be no menus - you either have to bring your own device to access their website menu, or your server will verbally tell you which menu items are available.

All food and drinks will be served in single-use, disposable containers. Tables and chairs will be sanitized after each sitting. No cash will be accepted at Caddies until further notice. Only one person may enter either restroom at a time, and they must wear a mask to enter. Restrooms will be regularly cleaned.

Meanwhile, the Apple Store has placed signs on display tables that remind customers to stay 6-feet apart. However, Montgomery County's executive order limits non-essential retail to curbside sales only; Apple will have to assert it is an essential business to allow people inside Monday.

Jaleo goes into "hibernation" at Bethesda Row, Apple Store shows signs of awakening

The Bethesda Row location of Jaleo has temporarily closed. Celebrity chef José Andrés' popular Spanish tapas restaurant had remained open for takeout service only, but that apparently was no longer sustainable as Montgomery County remains in lockdown. In a statement, the restaurant said, "Due to COVID19, Jaleo Bethesda is hibernating until further notice." They recommended customers order delivery from other restaurants in Andrés' ThinkFoodGroup empire in Northern Virginia or the District.

On Bethesda Avenue, the Apple Store has now lowered a black curtain to block view of the store's interior. A few of the company's stores have reopened in the United States over the last couple of weeks. So far, I have heard of no special policies being implemented by Apple beyond the standard disinfecting regimen throughout the day, and limiting the number of customers allowed in at one time. Masks must be worn by customers and staff alike, and temperatures will be checked at the door, according to a statement from Apple. Customers without masks will be provided with one at the door, as well.

It seems a shame that they just finished remodeling the store to enhance their Today at Apple classes, and now such group gatherings are decidedly passe.

Some Montgomery County businesses close, Bethesda gym confirms member has coronavirus

UPDATE - 12:41 PM 3/15/20: Jaleo at Bethesda Row and all other Think Food Group restaurants have just announced they are closed "until further notice." Chef/ownership partner José Andrés says some of the restaurants will be used as community kitchens for those who need meals during this crisis. "We are in an unprecedented emergency...and as painful as it is, ALL restaurants, bars, etc. must be closed across America if we are to avoid what’s happening in other countries. This is the only way," he tweeted.

The first coronavirus-related business closures in Montgomery County have occurred. The Apple Stores at Bethesda Row and Westfield Montgomery Mall have closed until March 27, 2020. Apple is closing all of its stores outside of China until that date. Mynd Spa & Salon at Pike & Rose announced at the close of business last night that it would close indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While those businesses closed to avoid employees and customers contracting covid-19, upscale gym Equinox in Bethesda already had a member who did. WUSA-9 reported that the Bethesda Row fitness facility confirmed a member tested positive for coronavirus after last working out there on March 9. Some employees and members of the gym expressed anxiety over its decision not to temporarily close, and WUSA-9 cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that suggest a 24-hour closure is needed before an exposure site can be disinfected.

Mall operator Westfield released identical statements regarding its Montgomery Mall and Wheaton Plaza properties Saturday. Westfield stressed that both retail centers remain open, but that it will allow individual tenants to change hours or close as needed to protect their staff and patrons. The company added that the open status of the mall could change if the CDC or government authorities request such gathering places be closed.

President Trump announced he tested negative for coronavirus on Saturday. The United Kingdom announced citizens 70 and older would be asked to self-isolate in the near future, but Maryland Larry Hogan had long ago recommended Marylanders 60 and older do just that to avoid exposure to the virus.

Some of the business closures appear to be driven by the same magical thinking of local politicians that schools would somehow be able to reopen in only two weeks. That will almost certainly not be the case. Testing locally and nationally remains inadequate, and as a result, we have no true sense of how far and how rapidly covid-19 has spread in our county and region yet. But no credible medical professional believes this will blow over in two weeks. "I'm not an epidemiologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

Bethesda Row Apple Store to soon give customers "even better Today at Apple experience"

A store update being rolled out worldwide by Apple has come to the Bethesda Row Apple Store. An announcement on a temporary construction wall erected at the back of the store says, "An even better Today at Apple experience is coming soon."

What does this mean? Primarily, the installation of what Apple calls a "Forum," which is highlighted by a 6K or 8K video wall that plays a key role in Today at Apple sessions. At stores with large enough space, special seating, new lighting fixtures, and even live plant green walls are part of the makeover for the Forum space. The company has tried to not only increase the offerings of the Today at Apple seminars, but also reduce barriers such as providing iPhones or iPads to non-Apple owners and no longer requiring an Apple ID to participate.

iPhone X lines up customers at Bethesda Apple Store (Photos)

The release of the ridiculously-priced iPhone X had customers still lined up outside the Bethesda Row Apple Store last evening. Police were on hand to manage paying customers, and those who just wanted to get their hands on the display iPhone Xs. The phone itself is short on major tech breakthroughs, and long on price. It has an impressive screen, but it is slightly marred by the odd design choice to stick a bezel tab down into the top of the display. To the Montgomery County political cartel's chagrin, it still can beautifully display the leading news websites fighting the $y$tem in corrupt MoCo.

No lines for iPhone 8? Now that's #FakeNews (Photos)

The mainstream press wanted America to know that "No one cares about the iPhone 8." Never underestimate how much Apple fans in Bethesda care! There was indeed a line at the Bethesda Row Apple Store on Launch Day for the iPhone 8, which hit the streets more than a month before the ridiculously-expensive but coveted iPhone X. Also on display Friday was the next Apple Watch. Strangely, the iPhones were not connected to the internet, preventing a thorough test.

Apple Store closed Saturday for "unforeseeable circumstances" at Montgomery Mall (Photos)

The Apple Store at Westfleld Montgomery Mall in Bethesda was mysteriously closed yesterday. A sign posted did not explain why the store had to close for the day, simply attributing it to unnamed, "unforeseeable circumstances." There was a partial power outage at the mall on Friday, but the store did not cite this as the reason, and the empty store had electricity yesterday. All other businesses at the mall were open Saturday.