The Korean Dessert Fruit Ice Cream opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The Korean Dessert Fruit Ice Cream is opening at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is a freestanding kiosk located on Level 2 near Snipes in the Macy's Home wing. It will be serving fruit-shaped ice cream with a thin shell coating on the outside. Considered a viral dessert on TikTok some time ago, it is now arriving at the mall.

Kusshi Sushi to replace Passion Fin at Sumner Place in Bethesda

Kusshi Sushi is continuing its successful growth in the region with a second Bethesda location. It will be at 4611-H Sangamore Road in the Shops at Sumner Place (a.k.a. Little Falls Mall). There it will take over the Passion Fin space next to ATI Physical Therapy. Passion Fin had a successful run by any measure, surviving fourteen years, but was dark during normal business hours last night. The venerable shopping center has been upping its dining game recently, and Kusshi can be seen as another example of that.

Always Ice Cream "coming soon" to Pike & Rose

Always Ice Cream is coming soon to Rockville Pike, according to signage posted in its future storefront. It will be located at 11802 Rockville Pike at Pike & Rose. The Maryland-based chain manufactures over 250 handcrafted flavors in the state, but has attracted the attention of national media. Always Ice Cream is expected to open this fall. Most of its scoop shops are located in the Annapolis area, but the brand is now expanding into Montgomery and Charles counties.

Le Creuset opens in Friendship Heights

Le Creuset has arrived in Friendship Heights. It is located at 5481-B Wisconsin Avenue, in the Collection at Chevy Chase development. The store will host a grand opening celebration from September 10-13, 2026. There will be free refreshments, and a free Le Creuset apron for the first 10 customers each of those days. A purchase of $250 or more will get you a free pumpkin butter dish, while supplies last.

PacSun returning to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

When I reported nearly a year ago that PacSun would be returning to Westfield Montgomery Mall, there were some doubting Thomases who could not believe it. After all, the California-inspired surf and skate-wear retailer had just closed at the mall two years earlier. But PacSun has now made its return to the popular retail center official with coming-soon signage. PacSun will be located between Carter's and T-Mobile on Level 1 of the Old Navy/Cheesecake Factory wing.

Pop Mart opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Pop Mart has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The blind bag and stuffed-labubu toymaker previously tested a vending machine at the mall to gauge interest. That experiment was clearly a success, as the Chinese brand is now returning with a permanent storefront. Look for Pop Mart on Level 1 of the mall, next to Bath & Body Works.

Sushi Masato opens in Bethesda

Sushi Masato has opened at 4914 Hampden Lane in downtown Bethesda at the Shoppes of Bethesda. The Japanese restaurant has taken over the former Tako Grill space. That storefront has been divided into two, with the other part soon to open as The One Cake bakery. But you can get a preview of it from the dessert menu at Sushi Masato.

Bethesda lines up for PopUp Bagels opening

Bagel lovers and the merely curious alike turned out in force for today's grand opening of PopUp Bagels at 7607 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. The line to get in still stretched out the door and around the block over four hours after it opened this morning. Among the draws was the chance to taste the Bethesda-exclusive Chesapeake Spice Cream Cheese schmear, which might have been worth taking the Acela south for the PopUp completist. PopUp Bagels arrived from the bagel capital of the world, New York City, with tremendous hype. Now we'll see if that hype can be sustained as the out-of-town chain confronts the local competition of Bethesda Bagels, Call Your Mother, and Georgetown Bagelry.

Volume Hair Salon opening in Bethesda

Volume Hair Salon will soon join the many hairstyling options in downtown Bethesda. The salon will be located at 7030 Wisconsin Avenue, next to Town Jewelers. Services offered will include haircuts and styling, shampoo and blowout, base bump/root shadow, toner & gloss, highlights, custom color, and balayage. Operating hours will be 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday. According to a sign in the window, they are currently hiring staff.

Ay! Mama Taqueria opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Ay! Mama Taqueria has officially opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. You can check out the menu in the photos below. If you are shaken up by $20 burritos, you'll be relieved that Ay! Mama's burritos are $13-14. Look for Ay! Mama in the Dining Terrace food court, next to Chick-Fil-A.

Ay! Mama Taqueria opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Ay! Mama Taqueria is heading to Bethesda. It will be located inside Westfield Montgomery Mall. The taqueria has leased a space in the Dining Terrace food court, right by Chick-fil-A. Ay! Mama started as a tenant inside the ill-fated Solaire Social food hall, which abruptly closed last fall, evicting all tenants. A true family business, Ay! Mama is best known for their rich birria recipe, as well as their fresh corn chips and breakfast menu.

Call Your Mother opens in Bethesda

Call Your Mother has opened at 4828 St. Elmo Avenue in Bethesda. This is the popular local deli chain's second Montgomery County outpost, with the first having opened several years ago at Pike & Rose in Rockville. It's actually their fourth in Maryland, where they also have locations in Annapolis and Riverdale Park. You can check out the menu below, which includes their most popular signature items, but also sleepers like the Chicago Dog on a pretzel bagel bun.

Fashion Q returning to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Red alert! Fashion Q is making a triumphant return to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Los Angeles-based fashion wholesaler closed almost exactly one year ago at the mall, after less than a year in business, a victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy. Now they're giving it another go, this time in the former Forever 21 space on Level 1, across from Build-A-Bear. 

Fashion Q traces its roots back to the 1980s. It chose its "Q" logo because a one-letter sign was cheaper than using the whole brand name. The cost savings extend to its merchandise, which is purchased wholesale here and abroad.

Toolbox leases former Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle space in Bethesda

Toolbox, a Pilates and yoga studio with a Dupont Circle location in Washington, D.C., has leased the former Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle space at 4844 Cordell Avenue. Why such a large space? Maybe because the D.C. location doubles as an upscale event space after business hours. 

Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Iva Gotzev, the original Toolbox can host everything from corporate events to weddings, in a space that combines warm, natural surfaces with displays of art. If the same model is followed at the Bethesda location, it would be the second dedicated event venue to open in downtown Bethesda in as many years, following The Cordell at 4865 Cordell Avenue. A third, Bonvenue at 7615 Wisconsin Avenue, remains in limbo for now.

Flanagan's closed in 2020 after decades as a fixture in downtown Bethesda. What triggered the demise of a business that had weathered so many economic downturns of the past? The anti-business policies of the Montgomery County Council, and the Council's 2012 Nighttime Economy Initiative, delivered stiff body blows to every hospitality business in the County, with the latter leading to the closure of over 25 nightspots in downtown Bethesda over the ensuing years. At the time of the closure, the owner cited the County Council's Bethesda Streetery street closures, and the County's pandemic ban on live music, as the straws that broke the camel's back. The exit of Flanagan's saw Bethesda become one of the few towns in America without a single Irish pub, adding to its existing notoriety as one of the few towns in America without a St. Patrick's Day parade.

Gorjana opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Gorjana has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A midsummer opening is perfect timing for this Laguna Beach-inspired jewelry boutique, even if you're more likely to be sporting pieces from your Gorjana haul at O.C., rather than in The O.C. New additions for this summer include scallop earrings, the Scallop Padlock Bay Necklace, and the 18K gold plated Crab Single Stud earring, all at surprisingly reasonable prices. Look for Gorjana on Level 1 of the mall, next to Sunglass Hut in the Nordstrom wing.

Buffalo Wild Wings GO is coming to Bethesda

Just in time for football season, Buffalo Wild Wings GO will be opening a Bethesda location. It will be located at 4611-C Sangamore Road at the Shops at Sumner Place (a.k.a. Little Falls Mall). This is quite a coup for property owner W.C. & A.N. Miller, as you might have expected Regency Centers to reel in a big name like this for their nearby Westbard Square development. The Bethesda BWW GO will also be unusual in that the existing Montgomery County locations have all been on major thoroughfares. Perhaps the chicken wing chain is looking at the high traffic at this busy mall, as well as at the thousands of employees at the intelligence campus directly across the street. Even the Deep State eats lunch.

Buffalo Wild Wings' "GO" concept took off during the pandemic, when the chicken wings chain sought to capitalize on an explosion in demand for takeout orders, as well as a chance to muscle in on carryout-focused competitors like Wingstop. You'll find a slimmed-down menu at Buffalo Wild Wings GO, comprised of some of BWW's customer favorites. 

An "innovative cooking process" is able to churn out the same crispy wings you find at a regular BWW at a speedier pace, the company says. The interior set-up is designed to get customers in and out of the smaller-scale GO store as quickly as possible, especially when ordering ahead. GO also has some exclusive flavors not found at the full-size BWW. As you can see, construction is just getting started in the former Wild Bird Center space.

Agora restaurant opens in Bethesda

Agora has opened at 1 Bethesda Metro Center in the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel. This is the third location for the local Mediterranean restaurant chain, and its largest. The restaurant has a maximum capacity of 300 guests, including private rooms with space for up to 50, semi-private accommodations for up to 120, and a patio with room for 100 guests. Initially, Agora will be serving a dinner menu only, focused on the culinary traditions of Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon. Later this summer, breakfast, lunch, and brunch menus will be added.

Signature dishes include a slow-cooked lamb shoulder feast designed for sharing, grilled beef and lamb kebabs, grilled branzino and octopus, and traditional desserts like kunefe and baklava. Another signature at Agora is their exclusive use of Laconiko extra virgin olive oil, a premium Koroneiki olive oil recognized internationally for its exceptionally high polyphenol content, naturally low acidity, and outstanding flavor. 

Like 4-star General John Kelly, starting the day with a full breakfast is a non-negotiable must for me when traveling. The eventual addition of breakfast service here is going to be a real boon for guests at the hotel, as well as nearby residents. Dishes planned for the breakfast menu at Agora include gluten-free Mediterranean-Style Fried Eggs with asparagus, tomatoes, and mushrooms; Aegean Avocado Toast with organic poached eggs, sourdough bread, avocado, olive oil, paprika, pine nuts, and microgreens; and a Sunrise Porridge made with almond milk, pine honey, and orange zest.

Agora Restaurant Group, celebrating over 15 years of success in the region, is co-owned by husband and wife team Betul and Ismail Uslu. Ismail Uslu began his career in the hospitality industry at luxury resorts in Turkey, and sees his career coming full circle as his latest venture debuts in downtown Bethesda's most-prominent hotel. “Having spent many years working in hotels, opening Agora inside the Hyatt Regency Bethesda feels like a homecoming,” he says. “It brings together my passion for hospitality and our vision of creating a restaurant that serves both travelers and the local community.”