BROWN PAPER COVERS WINDOWS AT NOW-CLOSED MAGGIE'S IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

The brown paper is up, meaning something else will be replacing the now-shuttered Maggie's on Cordell Avenue in the near future. Meanwhile, as I reported yesterday, the owner of Maggie's is seeking a new location to reopen the sports bar.

MAGGIE'S MAY REOPEN IN NEW LOCATION (PHOTO)

Maggie's, which just closed in downtown Bethesda, may not be finished yet. The owner is attempting to find a new location to reopen the sports bar, which has an almost-65-year-old history in the DC area.

MAGGIE'S CLOSED IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

Just before the biggest day of the year for sports bars, Maggie's has closed at 4914 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. I noticed Maggie's had been dark for a few nights, and now it is confirmed that they have closed.

While Maggie's had not been in Bethesda that long, the location and name have a history. The restaurant space was formerly Wing Hub, and Maggie's kept a good selection of wings and sauces on the menu, to retain wing fans from the old business. But Maggie's goes back further than that. Phil Magenello opened the original Maggie's in Tenleytown, DC, in 1950. In 1964, Magenello sold the business to Joe Trilling. Maggie's closed in DC around the turn of the century. It was Joe's son, Jeff Trilling, who decided to bring back the Maggie's tradition in Bethesda.

Bethesda is a tough market, with rising rents and many sports bars to compete with. But I suspect we'll hear of another location or concept from the owner in the future. I thought the outdoor Tiki Bar was a great concept, even if things have not worked out as planned in the end.

MAGGIE'S FINISHED OUTDOOR TIKI BAR (PHOTOS)

A while back, I posted the first photo of the new outdoor tiki bar at Maggie's on Cordell Avenue.

But now the bar is actually finished, and it's time to have a look at the final product.

It's not just a wood framework anymore!

The finishes tell you this isn't your
great grandfather's tiki bar

The brackets hold large flatscreen
TVs when the bar is open

By the way, Maggie's Tiki Bar is actually the second outdoor tiki bar to open this year in downtown Bethesda.  The first?  The tiki bar at Black's Bar and Kitchen on Woodmont Avenue.

MAGGIE'S OF BETHESDA OFFICIALLY OPENS ON CORDELL AVE. (PHOTO)

Maggie's of Bethesda

It's official:  Tenleytown favorite Maggie's is now open in downtown Bethesda.  Fans of former tenant Wing Hub need not worry - your favorite chicken wings are still on the Maggie's menu.

Last night, Maggie's celebrated its official grand opening.  In addition to wings, and the original Maggie's pizza recipe, other options I found interesting on the menu included The Original Dash (a crispy chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise), and Maggie's "Signature Spuds," particularly the Garlic Parmesan and Lemon Pepper variations.

Maggie's is yet another newcomer with potential on Cordell, a street undergoing a major makeover aesthetically, and tenantwise.   And also quickly becoming the street with the most variety in cuisines in "Old Town" Bethesda.

Maggie's, 4914 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda.  301-907-9466.