Bethesda Land Rover repair business moving to White Flint area

One of downtown Bethesda's most unique auto repair shops is relocating to North Bethesda. Independent Land Rover Specialists will shortly move its Bradley Boulevard Liberty gas station and River Road facilities into a new 12500 SF space at 5334 Marinelli Road in the White Flint area. The new location is within walking distance of the White Flint Metro station.

Aside from its proximity to one of the largest clusters of Land Rover owners in the region, Independent established its business servicing just Land Rovers, and every Land Rover - whether you own a 1948 or a 2020 Range Rover Velar. Rover aficionados will miss seeing the varied collection of vehicles parked outside their Liberty shop, but then again, you'll see quite a few every day on the streets of 20816 and downtown Bethesda.

Tirepalooza in downtown Bethesda

The poor condition of Montgomery County roads has led to a boom in tire retailers and service centers in recent months. Full replacement signage now been installed at NTB, which recently took over the Merchant's tire and repair center at 7851 Old Georgetown Road.

We now also have official confirmation of my scoop regarding a new retail tire concept from Goodyear on Elm Street. Signage was just installed for Roll by Goodyear, the brand name the tire giant trademarked just months ago.

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Merchant's Tire and Auto Center becomes NTB

One household brand name in tires has been replaced with another in downtown Bethesda. Merchant's Tire and Auto Center at 7851 Old Georgetown Road has just been rebranded as NTB. This is not a change limited to Bethesda, however. TBC, which owns both Merchant's and NTB, has been rapidly dropping the Merchant's brand this year across the country.

NTB, or National Tire and Battery, was formerly part of Sears until the struggling retail giant sold the division off to TBC in 2003. NTB was formed by Sears in 1997, to consolidate the Tire America and National Tire Warehouse (more commonly known at NTW) brands it acquired in its 1988 purchase of Western Auto Supply.

Merchant's logo vanished
from this still-lit roadside sign

It's good to know another vestige of Sears will remain with us beyond the closure of the Bethesda Sears store next spring. Tires are becoming a hot commodity in Montgomery County, likely due to the Third-World road conditions resulting from Montgomery County Council neglect to maintain our streets - and the many nails found on Bethesda streets from uncontrolled construction activity spilling beyond construction site borders.

The market has clearly taken note of the surging demand for new tires in the County, and is rising to the occasion. Two new tire stores by Goodyear are opening on Elm Street and at Rockville Town Square, highly unusual tenants for inline urban retail spaces.

Passersby and drivers alike were stunned and confused yesterday to see the Merchant's signage missing from the building, and from the lit roadside sign, and replaced by NTB signage over the garage doors. Patriotic Sears aficionados, by contrast, were seen walking with an extra spring in their step around the property. Hopefully the NTB logo will also be added to the empty roadside sign in the coming hours.

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.