Ghostly sign of Bruce Variety in Bethesda

A ghostly sign of the legendary Bruce Variety remains in downtown Bethesda. It is not at the store's original location in the Bradley Shopping Center, which was a landmark for decades. Rather, it is located at the store's fateful final location at 8011 Woodmont Avenue. 

A window facing the public parking lot to the right of the building continues to bear the stenciled Bruce Variety logo, even though the structure was converted into a school after Bruce Variety closed in 2015. 8011 Woodmont Avenue has its own storied history, as the location of Bethesda's outpost of the famed Sir Walter Raleigh Inn steakhouse chain.

Former Bruce Variety space hosting...an estate sale?

The vacant Bruce Variety store on Woodmont Avenue is playing host to an estate sale. Items up for sale are on display inside the building. The legendary downtown Bethesda retailer closed last year.

Former Bruce Variety building available for lease in Bethesda

The building recently vacated when legendary Bethesda retailer Bruce Variety closed is now available for lease. This indicates that the property owner has no immediate plans to redevelop, or consolidate the plot with any of the major developments around it. Those include Douglas Development's 8008 Wisconsin project, a planned redevelopment of the public parking lot adjacent to it, or JBG's Trader Joe's-anchored 7900 Wisconsin Avenue development.

Many had hoped that one of these projects would incorporate the smaller house, although that possibility can't be ruled out in the future. 8008 and 7900 seem to be set, but the one on the parking lot could remain a possibility, as I don't believe any renderings or concepts for that have been released yet. So perhaps that developer would like to talk to this landowner.

But for right now, the 4700 SF space at 8011 Woodmont Avenue is up for lease, along with 1370 SF of basement space. With a better, ADA-compliant entrance in front, this could always make for a good restaurant space. A great restaurant would certainly go well with any future developments that would surround it.

Bruce Variety closes in Bethesda (Photos)

Bruce Variety has closed in Bethesda, truly the end of an era in downtown retail. The variety store has operated continuously since 1953, one of the oldest businesses still open in Bethesda. In 2013, the store moved from its legendary location in the Bradley Shopping Center to Woodmont Avenue, which had less foot traffic and required paid parking on weekdays.

That move appeared to be the death knell for the store, as there were few customers inside whenever I stopped by the new location. In contrast, the beloved original location's narrow aisles were often cramped with people. Without easy access (not to mention free parking) for Bethesda residents making their usual rounds at the Bradley Shopping Center - Strosniders Hardware, the barber shop, Bradley Care Drugs, Bradley Food & Beverage, to name a few - "Bruce" ended up being dropped from the afterschool or weekend routine by many families.

When I broke the story on May 18 that the store would be closing, the actual closing day was still undecided. Ultimately, the store's final day was Friday. 

Meanwhile, "replacement" Bradley Party & Variey remains open at the Bradley Shopping Center. As I reported last week, the ownership of the shopping center is now exploring its future options for redeveloping the property, according to their attorney, Jody Kline of Miller, Miller & Canby.

BRUCE VARIETY VOTED BEST VARIETY STORE IN BETHESDA

Bruce Variety has been voted the Best Variety Store in Bethesda in Bethesda Magazine's 2015 Best of Bethesda reader poll. The results do not appear to have been posted online yet, but the news was delivered by owner Richard Dimock.

A haven for everything from clothes and Halloween costumes to sewing supplies and fabric, school necessities and things-you-didn't-know-you-needed, Bruce Variety has been an institution in the Bethesda community since 1953. Formerly in the Bradley Shopping Center, Bruce Variety is now located at 8011 Woodmont Avenue. There is public parking adjacent to the store.

GET READY FOR HALLOWEEN AT BETHESDA ROW & BRUCE VARIETY TODAY (PHOTOS)

Bethesda Row is offering you "retail scare-apy" today from 5-7 PM all around the Row. Bring your trick-or-treat bag to Bethesda Row shops and restaurants and see what you'll get - like candy and 20% off at Bonobos on Bethesda Avenue, for example.

Stop by the green tent on Bethesda Lane near bluemercury first, to get your free trick-or-treat bag.

How about Roosters Men's Grooming Center on Arlington Road? During Trick-or-Treating, adults can receive a $10 gift card to use on any service for a first time visit, and a hot lather add-on for a shave (you don't need to get the shave tonight, though!). Kids will get candy and light refreshments.

Speaking of bluemercury, ladies, you will want to stop by during the event to try their M-61 Glow Express treatment for free.

For families in costume, Le Creuset will have free candy (even if you're not in costume), and a free cookie cutter for the first 30 costumed clans.

You can get free candy too at Jaleo, but adults might want to try a free sample of gazpacho.

Creative types can create their own Lilly print with crayons at the Pink Palm's drawing competition.

Equinox will have guest passes and temporary tattoos for kids.

And those are just a few of the treats in store tonight.

Be sure to enjoy a free live performance by local violinist Daisy Castro.

Not quite ready for Halloween yet?

Stop by Bruce Variety at 8011 Woodmont Avenue for costumes and decorations that will make you, and your house or apartment, stand out this Friday night.

BRUCE VARIETY INSTALLS NEW SIGNS (PHOTO)

Bruce Variety has installed new signs on its storefront at 8011 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda.

The signs face oncoming automobile and pedestrian traffic, for greater visibility than the existing banner-style signage.

BOOKTOPIA CLOSES IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Booktopia, a shop offering children's books and a variety of toys and gifts, is the latest small business to close in the Bradley Shopping Center.

Previously, Bruce Variety left (they are now located a few blocks north at 8011 Woodmont Avenue - take Arlington to St. Elmo, and turn onto Woodmont), and Kae Robin Gifts closed.

Mostly Monograms has moved to the Westwood Center II at the corner of River and Ridgefield Roads.

So far, only 1 tenant has replaced a departed one, and that is Bradley Party and Variety.

BRUCE VARIETY EXTERIOR PAINT UPDATE (PHOTO)

Here's a photo of what the updated paint on the front of Bruce Variety looks like at 8011 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda:

BRUCE VARIETY REPAINTS EXTERIOR OF NEW BETHESDA STORE (PHOTOS)

Bruce Variety has added a fresh coat of paint to large areas of the exterior of its new Bethesda location.

The new colors are mustard yellow and blue. It looks like maybe the front is either staying similar to what it was, or the job is still ongoing.

BRUCE VARIETY DOUBLES DOWN ON SIGNWALKERS IN FRONT OF RIVAL'S STORE (PHOTOS)

A follow-up on last week's report on the sign man Bruce Variety had posted on the sidewalk in front of then-not-yet-open rival Bradley Party & Variety.

BP&V is now open. The Bruce Variety sign man is not only still manning the sidewalk, but has been joined by a second signwalker.

I've seen many a sign holder, sign waver and giant fish out in front of their own associated businesses along Rockville Pike over the years.

But this is the first case I can recall of a rival store advertising directly in front of a competitor. It is a public sidewalk, and therefore not part of the actual shopping center property.  I assume it wouldn't be happening if it wasn't legal.

I'm not being critical of the sign strategy, or endorsing it. Rather, I'm genuinely curious why no one has done it before, if this is legal to do. It would be something for other businesses to employ. For example, Walgreens could have several people stand outside of CVS holding Walgreens signs. Or Whole Foods at Harris Teeter. Or Guapo's at Uncle Julio's. What's stopping them? This could be a whole new marketing tactic.

BRADLEY PARTY & VARIETY OPENS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Bradley Party & Variety had its long-awaited opening yesterday, in the legendary Bruce Variety space at Bradley Shopping Center.

The revamped interior - by the Bethesda architectural firm of Bruce Lawson - retains a retro atmosphere, but is brighter and more colorful and spacious. Most notably, exposed hardwood floors play an integral part in the design.

New automatic front doors are a nice touch, as well as being practical when carrying large shopping bags out to the car.

Bradley Party & Variety's hours are:

Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Regular readers will recognize the new BP&V logo, chosen in a design contest sponsored by the owners, which I gave you an exclusive preview of months ago.

Now the competition begins in earnest. With the original Bruce Variety open at 8011 Woodmont Avenue, both stores will compete for your business.

Feel free to post your opinions in the comments below. Have you visited both stores? Which one comes out on top for interior design, prices, customer service, and inventory? Or is it a draw?

BRUCE VARIETY ADVERTISES IN FRONT OF RIVAL'S STORE (PHOTOS)

Bruce Variety had a sign man stationed in front of competitor Bradley Party & Variety's yet-to-open store in the Bradley Shopping Center Saturday.

Of course, if you've been following the dime store soap opera in Bethesda over the last 5 months, you know that BP&V's store is the former home of Bruce Variety. One of the signs carried by the man alerted shoppers and passing motorists that Bruce Variety is now open at 8011 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda.

It will be interesting to see if Bruce's brings the sign man back to Bradley Shopping Center when their competitor opens.

BRADLEY PARTY & VARIETY INSTALLS SIGN

First Bradley Party & Variety chose a logo. Now the storefront sign has been installed and lit.

BP&V is scheduled to open in May. Competitor (and former tenant of this space in the Bradley Shopping Center) Bruce Variety has already reopened in its new space at 8011 Woodmont Avenue.

Here you can also see this retail space as it's never been seen before. Completely empty for the moment, and not configured with aisles, you can get a sense of how big the store is.

BRUCE VARIETY OPENS AT NEW LOCATION IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS) - 8011 WOODMONT AVENUE

Bruce Variety has reopened in Bethesda at its new location, 8011 Woodmont Avenue.

A friendly employee was welcoming each customer entering the store yesterday. There is convenient parking alongside the store, and you can park for free on weekends, according to the posted sign.

Much of the familiar Bruce Variety products are back in stock, including thread, craft supplies and, yes, Mad Libs books.

The store has more open space, and brighter lighting than the old location, even though the cramped aisles and dim lighting were part of the original's charm. Overall, it is much easier to get around this store during more crowded times than the old one.

Enjoy a virtual tour of the new store below. It is also a virtual online catalog, as you can click to zoom in on each photo to see all of the individual products.

The Captain 20 Dick Dyszel pirate stole the show. Now that's classic Bethesda for you.