Bethesda Smiles dental clinic relocates in downtown Bethesda

Bethesda Smiles has relocated its dental practice in downtown Bethesda. Drs. Adam Navabi and Iris Hirschfeld have moved from 7700 Wisconsin Avenue to a new office space at 4808 Moorland Lane, in Suite 107. Services and treatments offered by Bethesda Smiles include general and restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and implant restoration, periodontal treatment, CEREC® single-visit crowns, teeth whitening, sleep apnea and snoring prevention, and Invisalign® and clear aligners. The doctors and staff are proficient in English, German, Farsi, Spanish, and French.

Bethesda Dental Group moving

Bethesda Dental Group is relocating to new offices north of downtown Bethesda. They are currently located at 7508 Wisconsin Avenue, near the Bethesda Metro Center. Their new location will be at 5415 W. Cedar Lane, Unit 205, in the Georgetown Doctors Park. The moving date has not yet been announced.

Head2Toe Health relocates in Bethesda

Head2Toe Health & Aesthetics has relocated in Bethesda. They have moved out of their space on St. Elmo Avenue, and are now open at their new location at 7505 Democracy Boulevard in Suite A113. The wellness center first opened in downtown Bethesda in 2019. That building is expected to be demolished to make way for a new apartment tower.

Signage installed at iCRYO in Bethesda

The sign is up at iCRYO at 7161 Woodmont Avenue, in the ground floor of The Darcy condo building. iCRYO offers whole-body cryotherapy, infrared and red-light therapy, compression therapy, "zerobody dry float," intravenous infusion and injections, body sculpting, facial Neveskin shaping and toning, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Darcy has seen a turnover of its ground-level retail spaces in recent years, with the pending arrival of iCRYO, and the replacement of PassionFish by One Medical. iCRYO has been under construction since July.

Below Zero opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Below Zero is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cold therapy skincare boutique missed its expected spring opening date, but is now here in time for fall and the holiday shopping season. Its products are targeted at those who want to look younger and extend their lives, which is just about everybody, right? The interior fit-out of the boutique is quite nice, with upscale marble finishes.

"Many animal species live longer at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures," Below Zero notes. "Researchers found that the sense of cold activates a genetic program that enhances lifespan. The research shows that enzymes and hormonal frameworks have a role in reactions to low temperatures, which affects aging and lifespan." Look for Below Zero on Level 2 of the mall, between California Pizza Kitchen and Avalon Nails-Hair-Lashes, right outside of Nordstrom.

Signage installed at Nesfield Performance in Bethesda

The permanent sign has been installed above the future storefront of Nesfield Performance at 7832-7834 Wisconsin Avenue, in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium in Bethesda. Nesfield Performance is a fitness, physical therapy, massage, and movement therapy business currently operating in Chevy Chase. The new Bethesda facility is expected to open before the end of summer. While the windows are covered, social media posts by Nesfield Performance have shown that extensive construction work has been ongoing inside all summer, so it should be just a matter of time before an opening date is announced.

iCRYO "coming soon" in Bethesda

iCRYO has posted "coming soon" signage on the storefront of its future downtown Bethesda location. It will be at 7161 Woodmont Avenue, in the ground floor of The Darcy condo building. iCRYO offers whole-body cryotherapy, infrared and red-light therapy, compression therapy, "zerobody dry float," intravenous infusion and injections, body sculpting, facial Neveskin shaping and toning, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Darcy has seen a turnover of its ground-level retail spaces in recent years, with the pending arrival of iCRYO, and the replacement of PassionFish by One Medical.

Signage installed at The Kensington Bethesda (Photos)

The first permanent signage has been installed at The Kensington Bethesda, the new assisted living facility at 5485 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. It is over the future garage entrance. Developed by Kensington Park Senior Living, the facility is scheduled to open in mid-June. It features assisted living, memory care, and couples care residential options. More information and tour scheduling are available at the property website.

The DRIPBaR "opening soon" in Bethesda

A week ago, I reported that The DRIPBaR would soon be joining the list of ground floor tenants at the Gallery Bethesda II apartment tower at 4850 Rugby Avenue. Now there is signage posted at their future storefront. It promises the IV bar will be "opening soon," and lists some of the treatments that will be offered. According to one of the signs, if you sign up early, you will get 50% off and a free B12 shot.

The DRIPBaR opening in Bethesda

The DRIPBaR is coming soon to downtown Bethesda. It will be located at 4850 Rugby Avenue, in the Gallery Bethesda II apartment tower. If you've been following the retail trends of the last few trends, you already know the drill here: It's an "IV bar," providing intravenous drip therapy of vitamins and nutrients. 

The DRIPBaR's safety standards include a contamination-free facility, a corporate medical board headed by a national medical director, and having all "drip specialists" be registered nurses. They also offer injections and oral supplements as alternatives to IV therapy. Construction of their Bethesda facility is expected to begin before summer.

Photos courtesy The DRIPBaR

iCRYO opening downtown Bethesda location

iCRYO is expanding to downtown Bethesda. The wellness center chain is moving into 7161 Woodmont Avenue, in The Darcy condo building. iCRYO offers whole-body cryotherapy, infrared and red-light therapy, compression therapy, "zerobody dry float," intravenous infusion and injections, body sculpting, facial Neveskin shaping and toning, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

"Whether you're looking to recover more efficiently, improve your immune system, enhance your appearance, move with greater ease, boost athletic performance, or alleviate pain and inflammation, iCRYO has you covered," the company said in a statement. "Our comprehensive range of services is designed to cater to your unique needs and help you achieve your wellness goals."

The B12 Store rebrands at Montgomery Mall

The B12 Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has rebranded. It is now known as Vydration. The shop offers primarily preventative healthcare via vitamin injections and IV therapy. Clients apparently find that it offers benefits, as the store has a perfect 5-star rating after a whopping 254 Google reviews, tough for any business to pull off. Look for Vydration on Level 1 of the mall, next to Häagen-Dazs.

1 Bethesda Dental Center celebrates grand opening

1 Bethesda Dental Center celebrated its grand opening last night in Suite B005 of 3 Bethesda Metro Center. This is an expansion of Chevy Chase Dental Center, which is located at 5406 Connecticut Avenue NW. The practice is led by Dr. Akram Sannaa, who has owned Chevy Chase Dental Center for the last six years. Appointments can be scheduled online.

1 Bethesda Dental Center opening at Bethesda Metro Center

1 Bethesda Dental Center will open soon at Suite B005 at 3 Bethesda Metro Center. The dental clinic is scheduled to open on August 2, 2024. This is an expansion of Chevy Chase Dental Center, which is located at 5406 Connecticut Avenue NW. The practice is led by Dr. Akram Sannaa, who has owned Chevy Chase Dental Center for the last six years. Appointments can be scheduled online.

"One Bethesda Dental Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate, and personalized dental services for patients of all ages," the practice's website says. "Our state-of-the-art facility combines advanced technology with a warm and welcoming environment to ensure your comfort and satisfaction. Our experienced and friendly team, led by Dr. Sannaa, prioritizes patient education and preventative care, ensuring you have the knowledge to maintain optimal oral health. We are committed to making your dental visits as pleasant and stress-free as possible, with flexible scheduling options, a relaxing atmosphere, and personalized treatment plans tailored to meet your unique needs."

No Begging, Bethesda business pleads

Montgomery County elected officials have had little to say about the recent finding that MoCo has experienced the 2nd-biggest increase in homeless population in the entire Washington, D.C. area over the last year. But business owners dealing with the real consequences of that shameful fact don't have the luxury of silence. One of downtown Bethesda's last remaining gas stations has just attached a new sign to its existing sign warning a variety of trespassers and loiterers: "NO BEGGING," it reads in all capital letters.

The Exxon station at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Battery Lane has a wonderful convenience store, which has some snacks and sodas you can't find anywhere else in town. Like so many businesses, it also has to navigate the reality of Bethesda's increasing numbers of unhoused residents, some of whom cause a number of issues for local business owners. 

I can recall a resident reporting a couple of years ago that she had been violently assaulted out-of-the-blue by a homeless person outside the nearby Harris Teeter, which is steps away down Battery Lane. Reports of such attacks are not uncommon on local subreddits or Nextdoor in recent years. Police, who are often the first line of response in America's mental health "system," are frequently summoned to business establishments to remove homeless individuals who are accosting customers and refusing to leave the premises. In most cases, these problems are the result of our government and our society failing to provide the services and treatment for mental health problems and crises that are typically at the root of why many of these individuals are homeless to begin with, as well as the increasing poverty and food insecurity in Montgomery County. 

But much like the sustained crime wave of recent years, the County's current policies are not having success in reducing any of these problems. Like residents, business owners are on their own to fend for themselves in Montgomery County. It's a "sign" of the times.

One Medical "coming soon" to Pike & Rose

One Medical will open its first Rockville location soon at 915 Meeting Street, at the Pike & Rose development. "Coming soon" signage has been posted in the future clinic's windows. One Medical is a primary care clinic offering same-day appointments, and 24/7 telehealth services. It covers everything from basic health checkups to management of chronic illnesses. 

Construction of the clinic is underway. One Medical has existing locations in downtown Bethesda and at Chevy Chase Lake. Its partners include Amazon, where Prime members get special pricing, and MedStar Health.

Foer's Pharmacy closes in Bethesda

Family-owned Foer's Pharmacy has closed at 8218 Wisconsin Avenue, in the Bethesda Medical Building. During more than half a century in operation, Foer's at one time had multiple locations in the region. As of the close of business last evening, it retains a Rockville sales office that is focused on providing medications to long-term care facilities.

A store representative said that the downtown Bethesda pharmacy's prescription records have been transferred over to the pharmacy at the Safeway store at 5000 Bradley Boulevard. As of this morning, calls to the Bethesda Foer's number will be automatically forwarded to the Safeway pharmacy. Patients may have their prescription refills transferred to another pharmacy of their choice if they wish. 

Prenuvo opening soon in downtown Bethesda

Prenuvo is opening soon at 7106 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The Vancouver, B.C.-based medical imaging start-up's clinic will be located in a former auto dealership showroom. Co-founded by radiologist Dr. Raj Attariwala, and named for a childhood friend who died from stage 4 metastatic colon cancer, Prenuvo's concept is that the imaging center should be your first - not second - stop in healthcare. Instead of being the place you are sent for tests by your doctor after an initial physical, Prenuvo offers a $2499 full-body MRI scan designed to detect tumors, abscesses, aneurysms, herniated disks, skeletal abnormalities, evidence of past or imminent strokes, multiple sclerosis, and other ailments that might otherwise be missed in a routine physical exam.

The Prenuvo MRI technology is designed to be faster than a traditional MRI machine. Prenuvo also claims its proprietary MRI software creates more accurate and complete imaging than a regular MRI scanner. The company is also making intensive use of artificial intelligence in its studies of health and medical conditions, and suggests AI may replace some radiologists in the future.

Maria Menounos at Bethesda Row
in 2014

Prenuvo has attracted attention via celebrity patients like Kim Kardashian and Maria Menounos. While many Prenuvo scanning sessions have wound up as yet another photo op for celebrity influencers on Instagram, the Prenuvo scan did detect Menounos' pancreatic cancer at an early stage, which she has credited for a successful treatment. Critics of the company have countered that most people, unlike celebrities, cannot afford the Prenuvo tests. Health insurance does not cover the Prenuvo scans, but the company says it offers financing, and notes that the cost of the scans is "typically tax-deductible."