Retail building for sale in downtown Bethesda

A partially-leased retail building in downtown Bethesda has hit the market for sale. 4707-4711 Chase Avenue is the former home of Besta Pizza and Hope Floats, the latter of which moved to a new spot at 7625 Wisconsin Avenue a few years ago. Those storefronts are vacant, but Autobody Dimensions is still located on the second floor. 

The asking price is not provided in the online listing, which does note that the prospective buyer will be subject to a ground lease, which has 36 years remaining on it. We don't know the specifics of this situation, or what adjustments might be made in negotiations with a prospective buyer, but ground leases can complicate matters for the buyer and seller. 

Foremost, under the typical ground lease arrangement, it means that 36 years from now, the property and all improvements the new owner might make revert to the ground lease holder. So your investment as the buyer is depreciating over time, while the property continues appreciating for the ground lease holder over the next four decades.

Consider It Done building for sale in Bethesda

The retail building at 7806 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda has been put on the market for sale. Currently occupied by luxury dinnerware boutique Consider It Done, the 1933 structure is 1,054-square-feet in size. The asking price is not posted in the online listing. Friend Commercial Real Estate of Millersville is the broker handling the listing.

Bethesda church for sale, a potential redevelopment target

A church property in the elite 20816 zip code of Bethesda could become the next cookie cutter townhome or - even more controversial - apartment development. Washington Baptist Church at 5144 Massachusetts Avenue has just listed its property as available for sale. The asking price for the 2.15-acre plot is $14,995,000. While a Montessori school tenant and cell service antenna leases can provide short term revenue to the purchaser, the online sale listing notes the redevelopment potential of the site, which is in the exclusive Westmoreland Hills neighborhood. 

One must wonder if this planned sale was a driving force behind including Massachusetts Avenue in the zoning text amendment rammed through last year by the Montgomery County Council. According to the ZTA map, this property is eligible for multifamily housing.

Such redevelopment would be contentious, but the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board have established a rock-solid track record in recent years of steamrolling over resident opposition, ignoring civic associations who don't sell their membership out to the Council, and paying zero price at the ballot box for doing so. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" 

Rare single-family home near Bethesda Row, Metro comes on the market for sale

A property in downtown Bethesda that held out against redevelopment for decades is holding out no more. 4829 West Lane is a 2000-square-foot single-family home that was converted into a two-level office space. The property owner declined to sell the .115 acre lot to the developer of The Chase condos, forcing the condominium complex to be built around it. MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services is listing the property at an asking price of $2.8 million.

Western Market property for sale in Bethesda

An iconic landmark on Western Avenue at the border of Maryland and Washington, D.C. has just hit the market for sale. The Western Market property at 4840-4842 Western Avenue could be yours for $1,375,000. That's relatively cheap, when you consider what new residential housing at a prime location like this would sell for - and that's what's likely to replace the market, as its exemption to operate a retail market here has expired.

The 8000-square-foot site is zoned R-60, for single-family detached housing. It is walking distance from the Friendship Heights Metro, the commercial areas of Friendship Heights and Spring Valley, and Fort Bayard Park. As always, check with Montgomery County and a good land use attorney to determine what is, and is not, possible here. Bethesda-based AMR Commercial, LLC is marketing the property, with brokers Sam Farnum and William Montrose.

Photos courtesy AMR Commercial, LLC

Pines of Rome building for sale in Bethesda

A building housing one of Bethesda's longest-operating and most-beloved restaurants has just hit the market. 4918 Cordell Avenue has been home to Pines of Rome since it moved there from 4709 Hampden Lane in October 2017. It includes not only the restaurant, but also some additional land and vehicle parking space. 

Pines of Rome is still open for business, and cannot be forced out, as the restaurant owners purchased the property in 2016 prior to relocating here. Maryland real estate records indicate that the property has not be resold since. What will happen to the restaurant and its famous white pizza if the building changes hands is unclear at this time. The asking price for the property is $3,750,000, according to the online sale listing. While the listing does not name the restaurant, the square footage, date of construction, and - most obviously - the street address match Pines of Rome.

Owning the property means that the astronomical rents most Bethesda restaurants struggle under are not an issue. However, the current property tax valuation of $2,888,500 would represent an astronomical property tax payment due annually. And massively hiking property taxes is far from the only burden the anti-business Montgomery County Council has piled onto business owners (and residents) in the County. In the years since Pines of Rome moved to this location, the Council has put the minimum wage on steroids, and raised a variety of taxes and fees. And all Montgomery County restaurants and bars still must buy all their alcoholic beverages from the County government liquor monopoly, unlike their competitors across the D.C. line and the Potomac River.

Henry's Sweet Retreat seeking buyer to extend success past 2025 in Bethesda

Henry's Sweet Retreat has been a success by any measure, surviving into its tenth year in downtown Bethesda, a tough market where some businesses fold after two or three months these days. The owners of the candy shop and dessert bar at 4823 St. Elmo Avenue would like to go out on a high note into retirement, but are hoping to find a buyer who will keep the store open beyond December 31, 2025, when its current lease expires. Founders Tom and Patty Craver have been Bethesda residents for 35 years, and have tried to maintain a community focus as part of their business model. "We would love to find someone who is similarly-minded," who can continue to build on a business that has been embraced by local residents, Tom Craver said. 

The store will operate through the end of the year regardless of whether a buyer emerges to extend its run, Craver promised. It would be ideal if that buyer acts sooner rather than later, however, as the deadline for an extension of the lease will pass significantly earlier than December 31. The business will require an energetic entrepreneur to take on the challenge of a competitive Bethesda market the way the Cravers have for so many years, as independent owners in a world of national chains.

Running the shop has been "a labor of love," Craver said, "and we'd like to see this continue." They would prefer not to let down their customers or their employees by having to close December 31. In addition to the throwback experience of the store itself, Henry's Sweet Retreat has also offered classes, birthday parties, and even a summer camp. The camp will go forward again this summer, as usual. Camp next summer will depend upon someone who wants to keep this community fixture going.

If you ever dreamed of owning a candy store, but didn't want to build a successful business from scratch, this could be the opportunity for you. Were the store to end up closing at the end of December, lasting a decade in Bethesda is certainly an impressive accomplishment to be proud of. Even celebrity chef José Andrés has now abandoned Bethesda. But we've seen too many mom-and-pop neighborhood shops close in recent years, and it would be a shame if Henry's Sweet Retreat joins them in 2026.

Downtown Bethesda cafe for sale

A downtown Bethesda cafe is being marketed for sale as a turnkey business opportunity. From the photos and description, it appears to be the French Press coffee shop at 4918 St. Elmo Avenue, in the ground floor of the recently-renamed Ellis Bethesda apartment tower. The online sale listing touts a gross sales projection of $450,000 this year, with an asking price of $220,000. A plan by the owner to move out-of-state is given as the reason for the sale, but the purchaser will receive 2 free weeks of training before that happens.

Bethesda Medical Building being marketed for sale

The venerable Bethesda Medical Building at 8218 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda has hit the market for sale. Currently only 50% leased, the 1954 commercial office structure is managed by Bethesda-based The Donohoe Companies. The asking price in the investment sale is $8,000,000, according to the online listing. 

In the short term, there is growth potential in adding more healthcare tenants. For example, a doctor on one floor can send a patient to a specialist or lab on another floor. Longer term, the greatest value of this property would be assembling it with the adjacent gas station and Monocle Building for redevelopment as a high-rise.

7809 Woodmont Avenue for sale in Bethesda

7809 Woodmont Avenue, a four-story mixed-use building with several tenants, is now being offered for sale. This is the latest impact of the collapse of a redevelopment plan that would have constructed the tallest building in downtown Bethesda on that block. The temporarily vacant EagleBank building next door at 7815 Woodmont was recently leased to Burke & Herbert Bank, once the ownership realized it would not be demolished in the near future. 

7809 was one of the properties that the prospective tower developer had wanted to include in that project. It is 100% leased to several tenants, including Fitness Generation, Le Bustiere, and Clinical Solutions. The asking price for the building is not being publicly posted in the online listing.

Bank of America building for sale in Potomac

The Bank of America building has just hit the market for sale at 10000 Falls Road in Potomac. Built in 1973, the 3-story, 27408-square-foot building is anchored by a Bank of America flagship branch that has been there since 1993. It is now 100%-leased, but also represents a tremendous future redevelopment opportunity for a buyer in position to hold onto the property long-term. Imagine what could be charged for multi-family residential housing at this Potomac location at that later date, as the final remaining restraints on density and growth continue to be removed by the Montgomery County Planning Boad and County Council.

Ten Thousand Falls Road, LLC, which owns the building, has retained Avison Young U.S. Capital Markets Group to advise it and market the property. Tenants range from retail to healthcare, and there are 86 parking spaces. The asking price for the building has not been publicly listed. 

10000 Falls Road sits at the busy intersection of Falls Road and River Road. More than 19,000 vehicles pass the property each day, and the commercial area is patronized by the wealthiest residents of Montgomery County in Potomac.

Photo courtesy Avison Young

Westlake Wine & Beer for sale or sublease in Bethesda

Westlake Wine & Beer at 10442 Auto Park Drive at the Home Depot Square shopping center in Bethesda is being marketed for sale. The asking price is $589,000. Alternatively, the store's space is available for sublease, if you don't fancy operating a beer and wine store. But the store has a twenty year history and loyal customers, as well as a Maryland lottery retail license. According to the sale/lease listing, the space can be available in 30 days.

Tia Queta building for sale in Bethesda

The building that has been the longtime home of popular Mexican restaurant Tia Queta at 4839 Del Ray Avenue in Bethesda is now on the market. It is available for sale, or for lease, according to the online real estate listing. The building has a feature that continues to be a rarity in downtown Bethesda: an open-air rooftop level. A roof canopy provides more weather flexibility than a standard rooftop deck.

H&R Retail's listing does not mention the asking price, lease rate, or date of availability. Developers have coveted this property for many years, but the family-owned business was not inclined to sell up to this point. Tia Queta remains open for business at this time.

Bethesda Avenue retail building for sale

The retail building currently leased to Cork 57 at 4910 Bethesda Avenue is now on the market for sale. Cork 57 has three years left on its lease, with a five-year renewal option after that. The asking price for the building is $2,313,988, according to the online listing. Built in 1948, the property includes two parking spaces right outside the storefront.

Landmark downtown Bethesda building for sale

Three months after a historic building at a major Bethesda crossroads sold at a loss, the owner of a landmark building at another busy downtown crossroads is hoping for a better result. The iconic PeriPoint Building at 5001 Wilson Lane is now on the market. Interested parties must contact Bethesda-based real estate firm RELM, Inc. to inquire about the asking price, which is not given in the online listing. 

The PeriPoint is currently fully-leased, although the listing does not detail the tenants, nor the duration of their leases. It sits at the intersection of Wilson with Old Georgetown Road, Arlington Road, and St. Elmo Avenue near Bethesda Elementary School. Longtime residents will recall the PeriPoint's early years, most likely for the vacuum cleaner repair shop it housed for many years. Additional stories and a rooftop space were added to the one-story building in 2008, creating an architectural gem in the process. The original base structure is nearly 100 years old.

The Corner Slice building for sale in Bethesda

The former home of The Corner Slice at 7901 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda is now available for sale. AMR Commercial, LLC of Bethesda has listed the property at an asking price of $1,000,000. The 850-square-foot building was constructed in 1960, and sits at a prominent corner in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. 

Competitor Andy's Pizza - or a fan of Andy's Pizza - has put an additional sign on the window of The Corner Slice, hoping to woo disappointed New York-style pizza aficionados over to that pizzeria at 4600 East-West Highway. "This is a reliable + excellent alternative to the now-closed Corner Slice," self-described "pizza guide" Rob advises on the lid of an Andy's Pizza box.

Cheesy Pizzi for sale in Bethesda

Your dream of owning your own pizza parlor can now come true. Cheesy Pizzi at 8021 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda is being offered for sale. The asking price for the business, which includes equipment but not inventory, is $80,000 according to the online sale listing. Cheesy Pizzi remains open for business.

Bethesda apartment building for sale (Photos)

A small, four-unit apartment building at 4535 Avondale Street in Bethesda is for sale. The asking price is $3,500,000. Located just off of Wisconsin Avenue, city views from the units include the former Chevy Chase Bank building at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, The Whitney, and the historic Wilson Store and Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Home. Exterior views of the 1950 brick quadplex are deceptive, as the interiors of the apartment units have been tremendously upgraded, as you can see in the online listing.

Java Point Cafe for sale in Bethesda

Java Point Cafe, a coffee shop located in the ground level of the Pinnacle Business Center office building at 10411 Motor City Drive in Bethesda, is for sale. The asking price is $135,000, according to the sale listing. Java Point Cafe is located directly next to The Rae apartments and the Home Depot Square shopping center, and only a block from Westfield Montgomery Mall. 

The location provides a large potential customer base, first and foremost from the people going and coming from the offices upstairs, many of whom will pass directly by the cafe next to the main entrance. Of course, you will also have to compete with the many other dining options in that immediate radius. The current owner has done that with high-quality food and excellent customer service, resulting in a 5-star rating on Yelp, and 4.8 stars on Google Reviews.

Renato's restaurant for sale in Potomac

Renato's at River Falls at 10120 River Road in the Potomac Village Shopping Center is being marketed for sale. The asking price for the popular Italian restaurant is $400,000. Whoever purchases the business could keep Renato's going, or open a new restaurant or retail concept in the space. 

Renato's remains open for business. According to the sales listing, the owner passed away two years ago and "no management has been in place" since. The condo's size is 2500-square-feet.