Bold Bite closes in Bethesda; may be replaced by Popeyes

Bold Bite has closed after seven years of operation in downtown Bethesda. One of their final customers reported the restaurant closed abruptly late Saturday afternoon, and staff began packing up the contents. A source tells me that a Popeyes chicken restaurant will soon take over the space. That would indeed be a boon for the Woodmont Triangle, and eliminate the need to drive to Montgomery Mall or Rockville for Popeyes' famous Louisiana chicken.

On a personal note, Bold Bite was my first on-camera dining review in downtown Bethesda. The video also provides nostalgia for the time before Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer destroyed nightlife in downtown Bethesda with his "nighttime economy" initiative - which ended up tanking the nighttime economy, including deep-sixing the late-night hours at Bold Bite and other businesses.

Bold Bite licensing up for beer, wine as national chain competitor looms in Bethesda

Downtown Bethesda's homegrown upscale hot dog spot, Bold Bite, is preparing to take on national hot dog chain Dog Haus Biergarten. Like Bold Bite, Dog Haus also serves gourmet burgers and sausages alongside the hot dogs on its menu. But unlike Bold Bite, which is located at 4903 Cordell Avenue, Dog Haus serves craft beer and wine.

Bold Bite is aiming to remedy that this summer, before their competitor opens a few blocks away at 7904 Woodmont Avenue. The restaurant has applied for a liquor license to serve beer and wine, and will have a hearing on July 6 at 10:00 AM. While they had already planned to add beer and wine before Dog Haus announced its plans, the addition of adult beverages will be all the more advantageous to Bold Bite with a booze-purveying competitor looming.

Bold Bite adds sign, drops breakfast in Bethesda (Photos)

Bold Bite has a new, permanent sign above its entrance at 4903 Cordell Avenue. They've also changed their hours, now opening later at 11:00 AM, and closing at 9:00 PM, seven days a week.

Bold Bite opens in new Bethesda location (Photos)

Bold Bite has made the move in the Woodmont Triangle. The popular restaurant is now open at 4903 Cordell Avenue, which is right at the corner with Norfolk Avenue under Tommy Joe's.

There's not only a new location, but also new menu items and new hours. Bold Bite is now open from 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM, meaning you can now get dinner. In the morning, they serve breakfast. They also have added soft-serve ice cream and shakes.

Bold Bite expecting to move early next week in Bethesda

Bold Bite will be moving down Norfolk Avenue early next week to the former Smashburger space at 4903 Cordell Avenue, if all goes according to schedule. Stay tuned for the official opening date.

Expect expanded hours now that they no longer have to share a kitchen with TapaBar. It's unknown yet if the new schedule will include late night hours. 202 Donuts & Coffee will remain on Fairmont Avenue. All 3 highly-rated restaurants are owned by brothers Alonso and Alvaro Roche.

Sign installed at TapaBar in Bethesda (Photos)

The sign for TapaBar was installed last week at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue. TapaBar is a new concept from the owners of the neighboring Bold Bite.

Furniture and lighting fixtures are already in place as the long-awaited opening approaches. If you've already witnessed what the owners were able to create with hot dogs, burgers and salads, expect innovative Spanish tapas and a full bar with "never-before-seen concoctions."

Bold Bite to juggle hours as owners gear up for TapaBar opening in Bethesda (Photos)

The owners who brought you Bold Bite on Fairmont Avenue are changing the hours of operation there, as they prepare to launch their newest concept, TapaBar. Bold Bite will be closed today and tomorrow, as they convert their kitchen operations to serve both establishments (TapaBar will be right next door at the corner of Fairmont and Norfolk Avenue).

Bold Bite is scheduled to reopen Saturday, July 2, with new hours from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

In special tasting dinners, diners have gotten a sneak preview of TapaBar dishes like watermelon and tuna crudo, gazpacho and vieiras a la gallega. The new restaurant is also hiring, with job fairs scheduled for July 5 and July 7 from 1:00-5:00 PM. If you are interested, contact jobs [at] TapaBarBethesda [dot] com.

TapaBar under construction

De Tapas applies for liquor license in Bethesda (Photos)

De Tapas, a new restaurant featuring - surprise - a tapas menu in the former BlackFinn space at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue, has applied for a Montgomery County liquor license. The newest venture from the owners of Bold Bite next door, De Tapas is expected to open this spring.

New awning reflects evolving menu at Bold Bite in Bethesda (Photos)

A new split awning on Fairmont Avenue represents the evolution of Bold Bite since its launch in 2011. Ninety percent of new restaurants fail by the end of their first year (or sixty percent, if you prefer the Ohio State analysis), so Bold Bite's longevity speaks for itself. But sibling owners Alonso and Alvaro Roche didn't rest on the laurels of their successful hot dog-and-fries eatery.

As the business expanded beyond Bethesda, so did the scope of the menu. Premium quality burgers and salads became just as important as the franks. And the latest menu additions, upscale donuts and locally-roasted coffee, get equal billing on the new awning out front as 202 Donuts and Coffee. Bold Bite is also the newest member of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.

Bold Bite

4901-B Fairmont Avenue

De Tapas to open in Bethesda (Photos)

The brothers behind Bold Bite Burgers Half Smokes and Salads are venturing into small plates in their newest downtown Bethesda venture. De Tapas will open in one of the new storefronts being created out of the shell of the former BlackFinn Bethesda bar at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue.

Alonso and Alvaro Roche have leased the Greenhill Capital space facing Norfolk Avenue. Local architecture firm Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. is designing a new street entrance for the restaurant, among other modifications to this and one other future storefront. The construction contractor for the $500,000 project will be Sigal Construction. As the signs suggest, a Spring 2016 opening is planned.

The brothers have only teased the concept by posting signage with the name, so it's too early to speculate if this will be a traditional Spanish tapas restaurant. Perhaps with their Venezuelan heritage, they might provide a new twist on the Spain-oriented concept already well-established at Jaleo and the nearby Guardado's. Stay tuned.

JBG GIVES BUSINESSES NEAR ITS BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION SITE A BOOST (PHOTO)

Sidewalk (and occasional street) closures on Fairmont Avenue related to construction of the 7770 Norfolk and Bainbridge Bethesda apartment towers have made a challenging environment for the businesses in that area. Now 7770 developer The JBG Companies has taken a step to lessen the impact by posting a banner at the construction site urging passersby to support those businesses, and to increase public awareness that the establishments are there and still open.

Among the businesses touted on the sign are Bold Bite, Positano, Coles Martial Arts Academy, ShipShape IT, Pronto Press, and College Nannies + Tutors.

MURAL BEING ADDED TO BOLD BITE BUILDING IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Are those windows real? This building-size mural is being added to the side of the Fairmont Avenue building currently home to Bold Bite. The Woodmont Triangle is now getting its third public art addition in a month, after local artist Jordann Wine completed murals on Del Ray and Rugby Avenues.

BOLD BITE HOT DOG CART HITS STREETS OF BETHESDA

FAIRMONT AVENUE

RESTAURANT

GOES MOBILE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

While the food truck market continues to expand, Bethesda's Bold Bite is entering the curbside dining phenomenon backwards, launching a food cart out of the existing bricks-and-mortar hot dog restaurant on Fairmont Avenue.

While world-famous chef Jose Andres recently made news with the launch of his food truck, Pepe, Bold Bite's venture is a more natural development.  In fact, Bold Bite the restaurant was originally inspired by co-owner Alonso Roche's memories of hot dog and sausage carts in Venezuela.  So, perhaps it was inevitable after all.

Bold Bite Cart

The cart made an inaugural run September 24, with New York and Chicago-style hot dogs on board.  Yesterday, it made another appearance at Wisconsin Avenue and Leland Street.

This is a good chance for those who work on the Bethesda Row side of town - but only buy lunch within walking distance (although I consider Bold Bite within walking distance of Bethesda Row, it just depends how much  lunch time you have) - to try Bold Bite.

Follow @BoldBite on Twitter to find out what days the cart is out, and where to find it.  It's a chance to literally "buy local," as your dollars "stay in the neighborhood" when you purchase from Bold Bite.

BETHESDA'S

BIG PLANET COMICS

IS MOVING

What may soon be the last bastion of comic books in Montgomery County is moving. Fortunately, true believers, Big Planet Comics will be moving just a couple of blocks from its current location at 4908 Fairmont Avenue.

On April 18, Big Planet will reopen in a brand new spot at 4849 Cordell Avenue. So they're staying right here in Bethesda.

That block of Fairmont Avenue is undergoing perhaps the biggest upheaval of any street in "Old Town" Bethesda. Except for Relic and Bold Bite, and a few who may stagger around from BlackFinn, it is dark and dead at night. A number of storefronts are vacant, and one building is even condemned - "Do not go in there," as Ace Ventura once said!

JBG is building a new residential building at the corner of Fairmont and Norfolk, and there are some complaints that the ground floor will not have active businesses at night on Fairmont. That is indeed something to fix about that project, as the whole point is to activate a dead block there at night.

Expect more tear downs on that block of Fairmont in the next 1-3 years. But the street is a great location with lots of promise.