EASTHAM'S SERVICENTER INSTALLS SIGN AT NEW BETHESDA LOCATION (PHOTOS)

Eastham's Servicenter (now apparently renamed Eastham's Auto Service Center, in a victory for spellcheck and Autocorrect programs everywhere) is ready to go at its new home, at the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. The historic downtown Bethesda institution will offer its auto repair services, but won't sell gas. They moved from their longtime Wisconsin Avenue location after the landowner sold the property to developers, who plan a high-rise residential building that is scheduled to break ground later this year. This location is also temporary, with a 17-story residential building planned for this site, as well.

EASTHAM'S SERVICENTER ALREADY MOVING INTO NEW BETHESDA LOCATION (PHOTOS)

Eastham's has begun moving into its new, temporary home at Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda. If you click to enlarge the photos here, you can see that the venerable auto repair business has already hung its many community, regional and national awards and plaques on the wall of the station's office. The famous leather sofa should follow soon.

The historic site of Eastham's Servicenter since 1929 in Bethesda, on Wisconsin Avenue, is due to become a luxury residential building in the next few years. As is its new home, a former BP station.

EASTHAM'S SERVICENTER MOVING TO NEW BETHESDA LOCATION (PHOTOS)

Bethesda's beloved but beleaguered auto repair business, Eastham's Servicenter, has found a temporary new home. Eastham's will soon move from its legendary old Exxon station site on Wisconsin Avenue, to the former BP station at Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road.

Eastham's Exxon closed as a gas station in the fall of 2012 at 7100 Wisconsin Avenue, to make way for a luxury residential building developed by Washington Property Company. However, although the gas pumps and underground tanks were removed, Eastham's has maintained an auto repair facility on its old Exxon site.

Now that the construction is getting ready to proceed, Eastham's is moving across town to the old BP site. It, too, has had its fuel facilities removed. Eastham's will use the garage facilities to continue providing its popular auto repair services to the Bethesda community.

Alas, this arrangement will come to an end, as well. The BP site will eventually be home to a 17-story apartment tower, at which time Eastham's will have to move yet again.

7100 WISCONSIN AVENUE APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION MOVING FORWARD AT EASTHAM'S SITE IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

After significant delays, Washington Property Company is now moving forward with its development at the Eastham's Exxon site, at 7100 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The legendary gas station stopped selling fuel over a year ago, and maintained an auto repair business on the site. A construction permit has now been applied for, and was officially received by the Montgomery County Department of Permitting on December 23.

The new luxury apartment building will contain over 100 units, and will be directly adjacent to the existing Crescent Plaza condominium building. Construction can begin as soon as the county issues the permit.

WHAT'S GOING ON AT EASTHAM'S EXXON SERVICE CENTER? (VIDEO AND PHOTOS)

Bethesda's beloved and historic Eastham's Service Center has been in limbo for about 3 months.  No longer an Exxon gas station, it was scheduled for demolition anytime after January 1, 2013.  Yet, simultaneously, Eastham's ownership has been negotiating with the developer (which plans to build a luxury apartment building on the site), in hopes of using the station as a repair center prior to demolition.

However, the window is now closing, and no deal has been publicly announced.  Eastham's now has only 27 days left to use the site.  Calls to the Eastham's number go to voicemail, which plays the same message about their hopes of opening in "early November," which, uh, has kind of passed, if you check your calendar.

Yet strange things are afoot at the station.  The office is gleaming, and in impeccable condition.  I've never seen a gas station office so well-maintained in all my life, in all of my travels.

There is also a Christmas wreath on display.

Last but not least, there is music in the air.

On a recent evening, late-1970s elevator music was heard near the station.  Following the sound led one to the canopy that once covered the [now-removed] gas pumps.  Emanating from stereo speakers in a brick pillar, was Muzak, apparently still operational, and having been reactivated by someone in recent days.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF MUZAK AT EASTHAM'S

The spotless station, and new signs of life, suggest that Eastham's may be close to reopening as a service center.  But with less than 4 weeks remaining, how much revenue can be realized?  Or do they know something the public doesn't?  Namely, that an unforeseen delay in construction of the apartments has occurred?

Most people don't put a like-new leather couch in a room they expect to be demolished.  Consider this advance notice of an inevitable announcement any day now.