Shake Shack opening in downtown Bethesda on June 24

Shake Shack has set an opening date for its newest Bethesda location at 7535 Old Georgetown Road in the ground floor of the Element 28 apartment tower. The fast-casual hamburger restaurant will open June 24, 2026, according to Google. This is the second Shake Shack to open in Bethesda, with the first being located in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Here's another sneak peek at the construction progress inside the downtown Bethesda store.

Bethesda Shake Shack construction update (Photos)

Construction is advancing quickly inside the future Shake Shack at 7535 Old Georgetown Road, in the ground floor of the Element 28 apartment tower in Bethesda. Tile application is well underway on the completed walls and counter. A mural has already been installed, as well. The restaurant has a Montgomery County liquor license hearing scheduled for May 21, 2026 at 1:30 PM. Next on the Shake Shack agenda should be a drive-thru location on River Road or Wisconsin Avenue - it's got to happen!

Shake Shack signage installed in Bethesda

Signage has been installed at Shake Shack, opening soon at 7535 Old Georgetown Road in the ground floor of the Element 28 apartment tower. The restrictive sign regulations and slim font lettering of the Shake Shack logo will inhibit visibility for the burger restaurant to drivers passing by. But the location and visibility could not be better for high volume foot traffic emerging from the Bethesda Metro station at night, making it an easy takeout dinner stop for commuters between the station and their apartment or condo downtown. It's been a long road since I was writing about our chances of getting a Shake Shack downtown way back in 2012, but it's finally happening.

Shake Shack coming soon to downtown Bethesda (Photos)

A big win for burger lovers in downtown Bethesda: Shake Shack will be opening a new location at 7535 Old Georgetown Road in the ground floor of the Element 28 apartment tower later this year. Signage with the New York-based burger emporium's now-familar logo has been posted in the windows of their future storefront. Imagine having a Shake Shack downstairs in your building. Element 28 residents won't have to imagine much longer, as construction on the interior fit-out appears to be underway inside the space. What an upgrade from SunTrust bank!

Element 28 retail space for lease in downtown Bethesda

The closure of SunTrust bank at 7535 Old Georgetown Road in the Element 28 apartment tower has opened an opportunity for another business to move into the high-traffic location. Rappaport has listed the space for lease, which is 3500 square feet, and situated directly across from the Bethesda Metro station.

New Bethesda bank already cutting back hours

Is it the ongoing flight of the rich out of record-high-tax Montgomery County, our moribund County economy, or just too many banks in one area? Whatever the reason, the brand-new SunTrust branch in the Element 28 apartment building is already drastically reducing its business hours. The branch is entirely eliminating Saturday hours, and will now close at 3:00 PM on Mondays, instead of at 5:00 PM.

SunTrust Bank leases retail space at Element 28 apartments in Bethesda (Photos)

If you thought downtown Bethesda had reached "peak bank" several years ago, you were wrong. SunTrust is opening a new branch in the ground floor of the new Element 28 luxury apartments at 7535 Old Georgetown Road, across from the Bethesda Metro station. That will deep-six any potential activation of the streetscape there after business hours, (but will actually be a great fit for residents upstairs seeking a good night's sleep in peace and quiet).

Banks have multiplied as nightlife has shrunk in Bethesda, after the "nighttime economy" initiative of Montgomery County Councilmember "Helpless" Hans Riemer instead tanked late night business downtown. Riemer's incoherent scheme, touted only by his allies in the local media, ended with eleven nightspots closing as a result of Helpless Hans' incompetence. 

Helpless Hans Riemer:
"What happened?"

The councilman had just finished destroying the food truck business in Montgomery County, with 96% of the trucks Bethesda workers had once enjoyed going out of business or retreating to D.C. Bar and restaurant owners who were told they would benefit from Riemer's plan instead were enraged to find out Riemer had taken steps to strengthen, rather than end, the County's monopoly control of liquor sales.

Element 28 apartments greet Spring in Bethesda with a green thumb

The glowing leaf sculpture that brought a green theme to the front of the new Element 28 apartments in the dead of winter is now sprouting for real. With Spring arriving in Bethesda, live plants are emerging from the soil in the sculpture's base. Branding in the windows is also playing up the plant angle, with green leaves pointing the way to the building's leasing office.

Element 28 is located at 100 Commerce Lane, across from the Bethesda Metro station.

Lighted signs installed at Element 28 apartments, Hyatt Regency Bethesda (Photos)

The sign has been installed at the new Element 28 luxury apartment tower at 100 Commerce Lane in downtown Bethesda. It's already lit, as are parts of the glowing leaf sculpture in front of the building.

Glowing green leaf
sculpture lit

Also up and lit, is a new sign at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. The hotel is in the final phase of a major makeover, which will include the addition of more restaurants and retail on the ground floor.

Bethesda construction update: Element 28 luxury apartments (Photos)

The lobby of the Element 28 luxury apartment tower is taking shape, and its design reflects the nature theme that begins with the glowing leaf structure out front. Organic lines and pillars evoke tree trunks and landscaping in an indoor setting. Meanwhile, the garage door has been installed, and curiosities like a man-sized door in the leaf sculpture have come to light.

Element 28 includes 101 apartments and 3500 SF of ground floor retail, and you can see the latter empty space in some of the photos below. The Kettler-developed building is at 100 Commerce Lane, across from the Bethesda Metro station.

Tree-like pillar in lobby

Organic shapes

View approaching the lobby
from outside

A door into a sculpture...
now that is unique

View from the front plaza

Garage door

Leaf sculpture

The 3500 SF retail space
for lease