Voorthuis returning to Chevy Chase

Voorthuis Opticians, a longtime tenant of Mazza Gallerie in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase, is returning to the area. Their new location will be in the former Santa Maria Novella space at 5454 Wisconsin Avenue, outside the Barlow Building.

Voorthuis opening today at Westfield Montgomery Mall, Stride Rite closes (Photos)

Stride Rite

The new Westfield Montgomery Mall location of Voorthuis Opticians will open this morning at 10:00 AM. It is located on Level 2, next to Tommy Bahama in the Nordstrom wing. In other mall news, eyebrow-threading studio Brow Art 23 has moved into a new space near its old kiosk. Finally, Stride Rite has closed altogether.

Brow Art 23

Marbles closes at Westfield Montgomery Mall, Voorthuis coming soon, Yum Crepes is....? (Photos)

Marbles: The Brain Store, as expected, has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, perhaps reflecting the lower academic standards adopted by Montgomery County Public Schools in 2015. Apparently, we're just not smart enough anymore for a brain store, nor for Smart Toys, which also closed a few months ago.

In other mall news, Yum Crepes is closed again in the Dining Terrace. What that means is unclear. The kiosk has been closed every day I have been to the mall this past week, including Saturday. However, it is not cleared out, and Yum has done this before, only to open a few days later. Stay tuned.

Finally, Voorthuis Opticians has put up some "coming soon" signage at their new mall space.

Voorthuis expanding to Westfield Montgomery Mall, Marbles closing (Photos)

One of the region's top eyewear retailers is expanding to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Voorthuis Opticians will take over the recently-vacated Freddy space. 

In sadder mall news, Bethesda may risk growing a bit dumber, as "the brain store" Marbles is closing. "Nothing held back!" Kind of like the journalism on this news site. But Marbles is holding something back, as 20-40% off is not a true liquidation sale.

LIGHTED SIGN INSTALLED AT VOORTHUIS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The lighted storefront sign has been installed at the future Voorthuis Opticians in the Bradley Shopping Center in downtown Bethesda.

Work continues on the interior, including WSSC water system modifications for 2 sinks required by the new store.

VOORTHUIS OPTICIANS TO OPEN IN FORMER BOOKTOPIA SPACE AT BRADLEY SHOPPING CENTER (PHOTOS)

Voorthuis Opticians has leased the vacant space formerly home to Booktopia in the Bradley Shopping Center.

Voorthuis is a longtime, local chain of vision centers, including 3 locations in Bethesda: Westbard, Westfield Montgomery Mall and the Wildwood Shopping Center.

The Kae Robin Gifts space is the only remaining vacancy in the 53-year-old shopping center.