New traffic signal being installed at Old Georgetown Rd. intersection in Bethesda

A Montgomery County Department of Transportation contractor is installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road with Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Let's give a shout-out to the reader who correctly surmised this was the reason for the recent upgrades at this intersection. Access to Cordell Avenue is currently blocked off at Old Georgetown, as the crew is using Cordell as a staging area. This was actually pretty good timing by the agencies involved, as Cordell is already blocked off at Norfolk Avenue for the first summer concert tonight (6-8 PM, but closed for set-up already this afternoon), sponsored by the Bethesda Urban Partnership. A few weeks back, another crew was adding a new refuge median to the intersection, as you can see in the photos below from April 23 and today, May 15:

The Cordell "coming soon" to downtown Bethesda

New "coming soon" signage has been posted at The Cordell, opening soon at 4865 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The "unique event venue" is filling the space formerly home to Grapeseed and Lucy. It has been over four years since Lucy closed at the height of the pandemic. The Cordell is anticipated to open before the end of the year.

Montgomery County deploys surveillance camera on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda

Montgomery County deployed a surveillance camera robot on Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda yesterday. It was placed across from Caddies in front of the Brown Building at 4931 Cordell. This camera does have the County seal on the side. We've seen camera numbers 2220165 (Bethesda) and 2220161 (downtown Silver Spring). This is camera number 2220164.

The Cordell taking over long-vacant Bethesda restaurant space

The Cordell is taking over the former Lucy Ethiopian and Grapeseed restaurant space at 4865 Cordell Avenue. It won't be a standard restaurant, however. The Cordell is described as a rental hall and event venue with commercial kitchen facilities. A dedicated dining event space is a bit of a rarity, especially in downtown Bethesda. Events like wedding receptions, bar mitzvahs, or pharmaceutical companies wining-and-dining doctors, etc., are often handled in the private dining rooms of conventional restaurants and bars. Some have spacious private rooms or even a whole second floor for this purpose. 

Events can be a very lucrative business for those who can perform that service well, so it's good to see something viable going into a storefront that has been dark for four years. Lucy closed in July 2020, a very tough summer for restaurants in the midst of the pandemic.

WSSC project to impact street parking on part of Cordell Avenue in Bethesda this week

A WSSC water utility project will impact street parking on part of Cordell Avenue in Bethesda this week. Parking spaces in the vicinity of 4886 Cordell, in front of Zuma by Chef Ninja, will be blocked off for part of two days. There will be no parking from 7:00 AM on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 through 5:00 PM on November 22.

Cordell Avenue utility work continues over holiday weekend

Pepco's Woodmont Triangle contractor isn't getting Memorial Day Weekend off. Replacement of a major underground electrical cable continues along Cordell Avenue, between Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Both blocks remain open to traffic during the project.

Cordell Avenue gets its own sandwich at Ensemble...for a limited time

The street that inspired it all

Is Cordell Avenue ready to join 5th Avenue and Maxwell Street in the sandwiches-named-after-streets spotlight? Ensemble thinks so, although their address at 4856 Cordell might have a little something to do with it. 

The Cordell

Does sliced brisket, macaroni and cheese, crispy onions and BBQ sauce on a hoagie roll make you think of Cordell Avenue? Then order "The Cordell" for a limited-time on the Ensemble app, with a side of wedge fries, for $16.25.

Have it delivered to you,
or pick it up at Ensemble

Firefighters respond to alarm at 4715 Cordell Avenue (Video+Photos)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a fire alarm at 4715 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda around 8:45 PM last night. County police officers closed off the intersection of Cordell and Woodmont Avenue, and firefighters began setting up equipment outside, but then packed up and drove away a short time later. 

MCFRS did not make any public statement about the alarm on social media, but it appears to have been either a false alarm or very minor incident. 4715 has been referred to by the County Council as an "apartment building for homeless people," and also has retail units on the ground floor.

Cordell Avenue resurfacing ahead

Watch for No Parking signs and possible lane closures on Cordell Avenue between Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues this week. Resurfacing has been scheduled for March 24 and 25, 2021 for the south side of the street (the side with Duck Duck Goose, Brickside, Ensemble, etc.). Cars parked in spaces closed off for the project will be towed away. The resurfacing is being done by a Washington Gas contractor.

Resurfacing begins on Cordell Avenue

Road resurfacing work in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood of Bethesda has now extended to Cordell Avenue. Watch out for lane closures and bagged parking meters during the paving operations.

Sidewalk obstacles on Cordell Avenue

Pedestrians should watch their step on Cordell Avenue between Old Georgetown Road and Norfolk Avenue. Some work being done by the curb is fenced off, reducing the amount of space on the sidewalk near Caddies on Cordell.

Mystery drilling operation underway in Bethesda garage (Photos)

Drilling for oil? The drilling company vehicles long parked outside the public garage on Cordell Avenue are now being put to work - inside the garage. It's quite an operation, but Montgomery County did not feel it necessary to inform the public as to its duration or purpose.

Cordell Ave. closed at Old Georgetown Rd. in Bethesda (Photos)

Cordell Avenue is currently closed off at Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda. Montgomery County police officers are on-scene. It appears a wire or cable is down on Cordell.

Cordell Ave. water main break worsens, WSSC finally responds (Photos)

The water main break that has been flowing on Cordell Avenue near Caddies, Alatri Bros. and Gringos & Mariachis for several days began spewing water out of the middle of the street yesterday. WSSC crews finally responded last evening, after letting the worsening leak run unchecked this week. Heavy ice and slush developed in the roadway, due to the widespread pooling Friday.

CAR CRASH-RELATED HOLE IN BETHESDA GARAGE GETTING PATCHED (PHOTOS)

Somebody was listening last week, when I reported on the massive hole that remained in Montgomery County Parking Garage 40 (Cordell-St. Elmo Garage) after a car wreck four months ago. The wall is being patched up, and the space is blocked off in the meantime. A fresh coat of paint on the exterior and interior walls should leave Garage 40 looking as good as new.

Exterior view from
St. Elmo Avenue

PHOTO STUDIO SUNK BY PLUMBING TO REOPEN IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Bethesda photographer Carly Glazier is reopening her studio at 4715 Cordell Avenue, after being forced out of the space by plumbing problems earlier this year. Two plumbing disasters, and the resulting damage, led Glazier to not renew her lease a couple of months ago. With the issues now resolved, Glazier has signed a new lease, and will reopen the studio on September 1.

You may notice there is also a spiffy new sign above the storefront (above photo).