TRUE FOOD KITCHEN TO OPEN BETHESDA LOCATION IN 2016 (PHOTO)

The future Solaire Bethesda luxury apartment building has its first tenant, a healthy lifestyle-themed restaurant based on the principles of Dr. Andrew Weil. True Food Kitchen will occupy a 6400 SF ground floor space when it and the Solaire open in 2016. A partnership between Phoenix-based Fox restaurants and bestselling medical author Dr. Weil, True Food Kitchen has an existing area location in Fairfax County's Mosaic District.

Developer Washington Property Company believes the restaurant fits Bethesda's reputation as a healthy place to live. “We think Solaire Bethesda is the perfect location for True Food Kitchen,” said Daryl A. South, Senior Vice President of Development and Acquisitions in a statement yesterday. “Bethesda is home to the National Institutes of Health and is one of the nation’s most bicycle-friendly communities. We think this exciting restaurant concept will be a magnet for Bethesda’s discerning and health-conscious residents, as well as visitors from all over the area.” Two other healthy dining concepts attempted in Bethesda have had mixed results - Rock Creek closed on Elm Street (and at Mazza Gallerie) a few years ago, but Seasons 52 remains a mainstay at JBG's North Bethesda Market.

In addition to the restaurant, the Solaire Bethesda will house 139 luxury apartments, and is being marketed with its proximity to the popular restaurants, shops and theaters of the Bethesda Row area in mind.

The Solaire will rise on the site remembered for its historic Eastham's Exxon service station, which was demolished to make way for the new development at 7100 Wisconsin Avenue.

HISTORIC EASTHAM'S EXXON DEMOLISHED IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The historic Wisconsin Avenue service station best known as Eastham's Exxon (or Eastham's Esso earlier) was demolished yesterday. A fixture in 20th century downtown Bethesda history, Eastham's survives - for now - as an auto repair facility at the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. The demolition clears the way for a mixed-use residential building on the site. But yesterday was the end of an era, for anyone in town with a driver's license prior to a year ago. Eastham's opened in 1929 at this location, 7100 Wisconsin Avenue. Soon downtown Bethesda will be down to 3, then 2, gas stations. And then... Happy motoring!

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 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.

EASTHAM'S EXXON GETTING READY TO REOPEN AS EASTHAM'S SERVICE CENTER? (PHOTOS)

WHAT LITTLE TIME

IS LEFT IS RUNNING

OUT

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Could Eastham's Exxon be getting close to temporarily reopening as a car repair facility, as hoped by the owners?

Last week, the security fencing around the shuttered gas station was scaled back to enclose only the spaces being decontaminated.  The service bays and office are accessible, as well.

The company developing the site, as a mixed-use residential building, has previously said Eastham's had to get out by the end of the year.  Reopening for 8 weeks hinges upon a deal being struck between Eastham's and the developer for a short-term lease.

EASTHAM'S EXXON SITE DECONTAMINATION BEGINS (PHOTOS)

CLEANUP REQUIRED

AT BETHESDA GAS

STATION TO REZONE

LAND FOR

RESIDENTIAL USE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Developers wasted no time in hiring a decontamination crew for the former Eastham's Exxon site on Wisconsin Avenue.  A battalion of trucks entered the fenced-off property in downtown Bethesda Thursday.

Triumvirate Environmental is the firm in charge of any necessary decontamination, tank inspection and removal, and soil remediation at the Eastham's site.

Eastham's closed forever Monday, as the developer was unwilling to extend a lease allowing continued operation as a service center.  The swift boot by the developer, and the nearly-immediate launch of the decontamination process, strongly suggest the new owners intend to begin construction of their luxury residential building as soon as possible.

EASTHAM'S EXXON CLOSED PHOTO GALLERY - UPDATED! NEW LOCATION FOR EASTHAM'S?

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

EASTHAM'S EXXON CLOSED!

A final look under the gas pump canopy

Crescent Plaza looms over a fading piece of
Bethesda history

A new location for Eastham's Exxon in Bethesda?  Not just closed for gas, but entirely shut down?  Get the exclusive story - including a potential new location for Eastham's - and remember the historic closure of a Bethesda landmark in this exclusive photo gallery from the day Eastham's Exxon closed forever.

Click here for story and exclusive photo gallery of Eastham's Exxon closed 

EASTHAM'S EXXON COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, STRIPPED OF SIGNAGE - EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!

HOPES DASHED

FOR STATION'S

BID TO REMAIN

AS REPAIR SHOP

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The developer of the historic Eastham's Exxon gas station in Bethesda showed no mercy Monday.

While gas sales were expected to end forever on Sunday, September 30, Eastham's ownership had been seeking a temporary lease to stay open as a service center, until the site was demolished for a luxury building.

But those hopes were dashed Monday, as the gas station was abruptly encircled by security fencing, and stripped of all signage.  The flags are gone from the flagpoles, and Bethesda has lost yet another auto repair facility.

A post-apocalyptic atmosphere
permeates Eastham's Exxon
Monday evening

The Eastham's flagpoles are bare,
as storm clouds roll into Bethesda

Like McDonald's and Hot Shoppes,
Eastham's was a last vestige of the
Golden Age of Motoring in Bethesda

The owners had also expressed hope of reopening Eastham's at another Bethesda location, but - again - as a service center, not a gas station.

I am aware of a site available for lease in the Westbard industrial zone on River Road.  Perhaps the Eastham's folks should investigate this, as it is a hidden site, but their customers are loyal enough to seek it out.  They would be able to have a sign out on River Road.

Could this be a future location
for Eastham's service center?
5200 River Road is for lease,
but is not roadside

For now, another piece of Bethesda history is gone.