Ruth's Chris Steak House, House of Foong Lin reopen in Bethesda

Ruth's Chris Steak House has reopened at 7315 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Masks are required except when seated to dine. Their new hours are Monday-Thursday 4:30-9:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 4:30-10:00 PM, and Sundays 4:00-9:00 PM. Happy Hour will be until 7:00 PM daily in the lounge. Dine-in and carryout service are available.

Also, an update on House of Foong Lin at 4613 Willow Lane - the restaurant has completed the emergency kitchen repairs, and has reopened for business.

House of Foong Lin temporarily closed for repairs in Bethesda

The rumor mill has been churning about the future of the House of Foong Lin after the restaurant appeared to be closed at the start of the week. It's not time for tiki night fans to hit the panic button just yet. They say they are just temporarily closed for kitchen repairs.

What appeared to some as paper over the windows is just their shades pulled down, I believe. At least one person appeared to be working inside Monday evening. The owners estimated the repairs would take about two days, so they could be open as soon as today.

DESTRUCTION! BARBED WIRE! DEMOLITION CONTINUES AT BETHESDA SHOPPING CENTER (PHOTOS)

Barbed wire? These guys are serious!

Yesterday, the rest of the convenience store and the old Foong Lin restaurant were razed. Demolition continues today at the former shopping center located along Norfolk and Fairmont Avenues in downtown Bethesda.

That's the front door of Foong Lin in one of the photos.

Clark Construction is demolishing the structure to make way for a 17-story luxury apartment building by JBG.

DEMOLITION OF BETHESDA SHOPPING CENTER IMMINENT (PHOTOS)

The classic, green strip center that housed popular restaurant Foong Lin and the One Plus convenience store in downtown Bethesda is near its demise.

Multiple John Deere vehicles have encircled the building, and parking is now prohibited alongside the shopping center, which wraps around the corner of Norfolk and Fairmont Avenues.

Evidence of utility-related digging adds to the air of finality. Once demolished, the site will become home to a 17-story mixed-use building by developer JBG.

FOONG LIN REOPENING IN NEW BETHESDA LOCATION ...SORT OF

Foong Lin fans rejoice: the venerable Bethesda Chinese restaurant may be making a comeback a few blocks away from its old home. Sort of.

Moon Gate restaurant at 4613 Willow Lane says it is now under new management by - Foong Lin owner, Fu Cheung!

So, what does this mean?  As of last evening, Moon Gate remains Moon Gate. But it would certainly make business sense - given Foong Lin's popularity and good name in the community - to consider changing the name to Foong Lin in the future. And given that Fu Cheung's name is now associated with Moon Gate, old Foong Lin customers could rightfully come in expecting Foong Lin classics from the kitchen.

Whatever is about to happen or not, Foong Lin's website is not yet announcing it.

But it's great news that Fu Cheung has found a new location in town. It's very hard for an independent restaurant owner to secure space in downtown Bethesda for a long term at an affordable rate.

DEMOLITION PERMIT REQUESTED FOR FOONG LIN BUILDING

GREEN BUILDING ON

FAIRMONT, NORFOLK

TO BE DESTROYED TO

MAKE WAY FOR

JBG BUILDING

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The wrecking ball is warming up for the green shopping center along Norfolk and Fairmont Avenues.  Home to a convenience store, Foong Lin, Haandi (which is moving to Norfolk Avenue), Sweet Basil among others, the structure is scheduled to be demolished by JBG for a 17-story residential building in the coming months.

FOONG LIN RESTAURANT: HAULING AWAY BETHESDA HISTORY - PHOTO

FURNITURE GOING OUT

THE DOOR AFTER

25 YEARS IN BETHESDA

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Foong Lin is officially closed now, and the contents of the restaurant are being hauled away.

I happened to be there just as the dining room chairs were loaded into the back of this pickup truck.  Moments after this photo was taken, the truck sped away.

FOONG LIN CLOSES FOREVER. AND THEN REOPENS. HUH?

What's going on at Foong Lin?  The restaurant had announced August 31 as its final day on a large banner out front.

But Saturday night, I passed by and there were people inside.  A sign said they were closed for a private party.

Sunday night, it got even stranger.  The restaurant was open for business, and even had a list of specials out front!

If developer JBG has allowed them to stay longer, and they can make money during that time by reopening, it makes perfect sense why they would do so.

Will they be open tonight for dinner?  I guess we'll find out in a few hours...

THIS IS IT: BETHESDA INSTITUTION FOONG LIN TO SERVE FINAL MEALS TONIGHT

A sad weekend for Bethesda diners in the Woodmont Triangle area:  After 25 years, Foong Lin will serve its last dinners tonight.  Then the restaurant will close its doors forever.  One day in the near future, developer JBG will demolish the restaurant to make way for a new residential building.

The double whammy this weekend, is that neighboring Haandi will mark its own final day on Sunday.

Will you be one of the final diners at Foong Lin today or tonight?

PEPCO PROBLEMS SHUT DOWN FAIRMONT AVENUE

A utility pole malfunction wreaked minor havoc on Fairmont Avenue last night.

Spectators gather after police shut down Fairmont Avenue

Yellow police tape blocks Fairmont, as authorities await arrival of
Pepco crew to fix transformer on pole at upper-left corner of photo

The first floor of popular bar BlackFinn was dark after a partial power outage occurred.  Bethesda Urban Partnership and Montgomery County Police officers arrived quickly to block off the area around two utility poles.  A Bethesda UP SUV was parked as a temporary roadblock, while officers rushed to rope off the street in front of Bold Bite, and the vacant Fresh Grill, with police tape.

Officers told approaching drivers and pedestrians they could not go down Fairmont.  Crowds began to gather, and BlackFinn employees assessed the situation from in front of their main entrance.

Speculation was cleared up when a Pepco truck arrived.  Police helped the truck enter the taped-off area, and a Pepco lineman rose into the air to a pole on the north side of Fairmont Avenue.

Apparently, that wasn't the problem.  Then he moved to the pole on the opposite side of the street.

Finally, the problem was diagnosed so repairs could be made.

Unfortunately, that required turning off power to the Foong Lin restaurant.

The Pepco employee explained to a Foong Lin staff member that he would need to turn off their power for about 10 minutes.  Now, that's actually reasonable in most circumstances, but as you can imagine, it's a nightmare for a restaurant.  Diners are dining in an AC-cooled dining room.  Meals are in the middle of being cooked.  Potential customers will go elsewhere if they walk up to a dark restaurant.

"Are you ready?" asked the Pepco worker.

"I'm ready, and I'm not ready," replied the Foong Lin gentleman, who then turned back into the restaurant and called out instructions to employees.  With the restaurant having taken exterior damage from the storm of two weeks ago, this was probably the last problem they wanted to deal with.  A tarp covers the portion of the sign that was torn off by an 80 MPH wind shear; the sign now reads, "Lin Restaurant."

With some irony, Foong Lin has been offering a special cocktail since reopening:  the Dark and Stormy.  I suggest you stop by and try one.

Pepco went into action, and soon power was restored.

Have you heard of Christmas in July?  This was Black Friday in July.  Friday the 13th.  Hmm...

BETHESDA STORM SHOTS: PHOTOS FROM THE STORM OF THE CENTURY

Here are photos from around Bethesda, in the aftermath of the Storm of the Century:

80 MPH wind shear hit Foong Lin restaurant
"Uh oh, better get MAACO!"

Stop means stop - except in Bethesda!

Bethesda natives know to head to Talbert's on River Road
for ice when power goes out - the line was out the door!

River Road was closed between Springfield Drive and
Ridgefield Road due to storm damage.

This is River Road, looking [south]east towards Washington, D.C.
T2 Metrobuses joined all traffic on Ridgefield Rd. detour.

Another victim of 80 MPH wind shear was this tree
just north of downtown Bethesda [Photo: David Heyman]

Police tape prevents drivers from turning at
dark intersection of Wisconsin and Norfolk Avenues.

Ice Truckers of Bethesda!  Business was booming for
this truck selling ice at 7-11 on Fairmont Avenue.

Soccer fans arriving at Union Jack's for Euro Cup 2012 finals
were greeted by these signs announcing the bar
was closed due to power outage.

By the evening of July 2, most power in downtown Bethesda had
been restored.  This was the view looking north on Norfolk Ave.

Bold Bite, BlackFinn and Veterans Park
were ready for the summer crowds.

A Florida Light and Power crew that just finished a job in Bethesda
rushes to batten down the hatches as a thunderstorm hits on July 3.

A Bethesda resident's helpful note directing Pepco to a
dangerous situation off River Road.