BOOKTOPIA CLOSES IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Booktopia, a shop offering children's books and a variety of toys and gifts, is the latest small business to close in the Bradley Shopping Center.

Previously, Bruce Variety left (they are now located a few blocks north at 8011 Woodmont Avenue - take Arlington to St. Elmo, and turn onto Woodmont), and Kae Robin Gifts closed.

Mostly Monograms has moved to the Westwood Center II at the corner of River and Ridgefield Roads.

So far, only 1 tenant has replaced a departed one, and that is Bradley Party and Variety.

EmbroidMe CLOSES IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Custom screen printing and embroidery shop EmbroidMe has closed in Bethesda. This is the latest small business to shutter in downtown Bethesda this year.

Everything must go - including the left arm of that black office chair, apparently! The shop was located at 7811 Old Georgetown Road.

HOSTESS PRODUCTS VANISH FROM BETHESDA SHELVES!

The demise of Hostess has sent Bethesda shoppers into a frenzy, snapping up the remaining supply of cakes, pies, and Wonder Bread from grocery shelves across town.

Hostess section at Bethesda Row
Giant Saturday night

Arlington Road Safeway

Hostess going out of business is unthinkable. A world without Twinkies and Wonder Bread?  Inconceivable. Is this a conspiracy masterminded by Michael Bloomberg?

Why wasn't Hostess too big to fail?

Ultimately, the end of Hostess was a major backfire and Pyrrhic victory for all involved.  I hope the union is satisfied; their 18,500 employees now have no jobs for Christmas.  Despicable.

As for the Food and Fun Police? They're surprising losers in this episode, too.  They said Hostess was failing, because Hostess Haters had convinced America to leave their cream-filled vices behind.  Instead, the mad run on Hostess documented in these photos proves Americans are still crazed about Ding Dongs.  The empty shelves prove the Fun Police have little public support, and should make a belated return to minding their own business.  Heckuva job, guys.

The Hostess name and brands are too beloved to stay gone for good. Fruit Pie the Magician and good old-fashioned Wonder Bread will be back on shelves before you know it.

Twinkie the Kid will ride again.

KNITS, ETC. IS CLOSING AT BETHESDA ROW

Bethesda Row boutique Knits, Etc. has announced it is closing.

I can't tell you what this portends for civilization as a whole, because I've never actually heard any woman mention the place.  I've never been inside.  Men are not exactly their target demographic.

But it's unlikely many women heard of it either, as a Google search turned up no website or Facebook for the shop.  Along with the combined rating of 1 star on Yelp, perhaps the closure was inevitable.

Have you ever patronized Knits, Etc.?  Are you going to miss the store?  Post a comment and let others know.