PANERA BREAD POSTS COMING SOON SIGNAGE AT FUTURE BETHESDA LOCATION (PHOTO)

A "coming soon" banner has been posted at the future Panera Bread at 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, in downtown Bethesda. Work continues inside.

BROTHERS SEW AND VAC MOVES INTO NEW BETHESDA LOCATION (PHOTOS)

Brothers Sew & Vac has moved into its new location in the ground floor of the Landow Building, along St. Elmo Avenue. And, yes, they brought "Grandma" along.

If you live in the Woodmont Triangle, and your vacuum cleaner just fizzled out for the last, you may be in luck - "sales and service" in walking distance. Assuming you're going to lug that thing along the sidewalks.

CRATE AND BARREL CLOSED AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Crate and Barrel has closed forever at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.  Mall patrons passing by were shocked to find a wall, where the home furnishing and decor giant once beckoned to the nation's richest homeowners.

The Illinois-based chain confirmed the rather-obvious closure, and directed CB customers to their Spring Valley, Washington, DC store at 4820 Massachusetts Avenue NW.

Why did Crate and Barrel close in Bethesda?

Frankly, it doesn't make much sense.  Westfield Montgomery Mall is undergoing a minor Renaissance, having added some promising tenants, and is in the midst of an aggressive physical expansion. A new wing, new restaurants, new cineplex and a transit center are scheduled to be built in the next few years.

And the real estate bubble never really burst in Bethesda.  Sales slowed, but prices stayed sinful. In fact, many lower-upper class residents refurbished and refurnished, rather than move to a new McMansion during the "down'' market.

So - theoretically - CB products should have been in demand.

Of course, CB did close an Orange County store a few years back. So closing stores in a wealthy area is not unprecedented at all.

Still, the closure was unexpected here. Are you a Crate and Barrel person? I haven't been a big shopper there - have you noticed less customers or other signs of a downturn there recently?

DEMOLITION OF BETHESDA SHOPPING CENTER IMMINENT (PHOTOS)

The classic, green strip center that housed popular restaurant Foong Lin and the One Plus convenience store in downtown Bethesda is near its demise.

Multiple John Deere vehicles have encircled the building, and parking is now prohibited alongside the shopping center, which wraps around the corner of Norfolk and Fairmont Avenues.

Evidence of utility-related digging adds to the air of finality. Once demolished, the site will become home to a 17-story mixed-use building by developer JBG.