The Blue House to relocate in Bethesda in 2022

The Blue House is moving to a new home in early 2022. A source tells me the store will relocate from its current location to the space just vacated by Brook Taylor Interiors at 7833 Woodmont Avenue in the Fairmont Plaza condo building. That's a diagonal move across Woodmont from where it is today, in the Woodmont Crescent building. Bethesda Magazine and a Marriott construction office recently vacated their spaces in Woodmont Crescent, which is anchored by a ground floor Starbucks.

Assault at Bethesda Library

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a second-degree assault at the Connie Morella Library (a.k.a. Bethesda Library) at 7400 Arlington Road on Wednesday afternoon, December 22, 2021. The assault was reported at 12:10 PM, according to crime data.

Another second-degree assault was reported in downtown Bethesda later that evening. Police were summoned to the 7700 block of Woodmont Avenue to investigate that assault at 6:30 PM.

Westbard Citgo update (Photos)

Signage has been removed at the Westbard Citgo gas station at 5471 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. The demolition of the gas station hasn't really started yet; fuel pumps and tanks were removed, and the garage was cleared out, over the last few months. 

It is being torn down along with the Westwood Center II mini mall to make way for an assisted-living development. I've already heard from a few readers who are lamenting the loss of the only full-serve gas lane in the area, which was patronized by senior citizens and anyone else who needed assistance filling up their vehicle. I predicted the Montgomery County Council would not address that concern back in 2014, and once again my prediction came true. However, for gas and auto repairs, Westbard Citgo II remains open for business down the street at 5335 Westbard Avenue.

Madewell to open Bethesda Row boutique in 2022

Madewell will open a new boutique at Bethesda Row in the summer of 2022, property owner Federal Realty announced. The 3080 square foot store will be located at 4838 Bethesda Avenue. "We look forward to bringing our high-quality denim, timeless staples and top notch customer service to the Bethesda Row neighborhood,” Madewell Senior Vice-President Garrett Putney said in a statement.

In addition to its popular apparel, Madewell also participates in sustainability and community initiatives at each of its locations. These include Hometown Heroes, a program that spotlights local creatives, and their new jean resale platform, Madewell Forever.

“As a one stop shop for effortless and timeless fashion, Madewell is an ideal fit the Bethesda Row neighborhood and an exciting addition to our assortment of curated retail shops,” Federal Realty Senior Vice-President of Regional Leasing Stuart Biel said. Madewell has an existing Bethesda location at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Photo courtesy Madewell

Armed robbery at same Bethesda shopping mall where man was killed Monday

An armed robbery was reported yesterday afternoon at the same Bethesda shopping mall where a homicide occurred Monday. A man armed with a gun entered Posh Nails in the Shops of Wisconsin at 5:25 PM, robbed victims of iPhones and purses, and then fled the scene. The robbery was first reported by MoCoPGNews on Twitter.

About two hours earlier, another armed robbery was reported at the Walgreens store in the Bradley Shopping Center a few blocks away. No further information about either incident has been released by Montgomery County police at this time.

Montgomery County sets new record for homicides

Montgomery County tied its 1994 homicide record of 34 this week, with the brutal stabbing death of a man in a stairwell at the Shops of Wisconsin in Bethesda. Last night, the County's record was broken with a homicide reported at 6:35 PM in the 19300 block of Circle Gate Drive in Germantown. The record was smashed just as it was revealed that the County police force has shrunk by 56 officers since February 2021. Response times have suffered, and the annual number of police traffic stops plunged from 106,075 in 2019 to only 39,412 in 2020.

Defunding of the police department by the County Council accounts for only 27 of the 56 lost officer positions. The others have resulted from retiring officers not being replaced, and from reduced morale. Perhaps the only relief for County officials who have to own the new record of 35 homicides, is that there are only seven more days in 2021.

D'browstudio opening new Bethesda studio

D'browstudio, a microblading studio and academy, is moving into the space vacated by Home Care Assistance last spring at the corner of Norfolk and Del Ray Avenues in downtown Bethesda. The business was founded by Daniela Velasquez, who is certified to practice in Maryland and Las Vegas. D'browstudio uses the Diamond Mapping brow shaping technique, and Tina Davis permanent makeup pigments. Its current location at 7944 Norfolk has been open for two years.

Police identify teenagers charged in Bethesda homicide, victim

Blaise Uchemadu is one of three
suspects charged in the death
of Lawrence Richard Wilson, Jr.

Montgomery County police detectives have identified the three suspects charged in the death of 33-year-old Lawrence Richard Wilson, Jr. at the Shops of Wisconsin on Sunday, December 19, 2021. 16-year-old Antonio Lawrence, 17-year-old Joshua Wright, and 18-year-old Blaise Uchemadu, all residents of the National Center for Children and Families shelter on Greentree Road in Bethesda, have been charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery. All three are being held without bond.

Detectives revealed that Wright turned himself in at the 2nd District police station on Rugby Avenue the next day. He identified the other two suspects, and police took them into custody, after which they allegedly confessed to their roles in the killing.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070 or call 240-773-TIPS. Police only released a mugshot for Uchemadu.

Bethesda homicide investigation leads to 3 arrests

Montgomery County police have arrested three suspects in connection with the homicide that occurred at the Shops of Wisconsin at 6831 Wisconsin Avenue the evening of December 20, 2021. Officers responding to the scene at 8:15 PM that night found a deceased male in a stairwell at the mall, which houses a Target and Trader Joe's grocery store. The victim's identity has not yet been released by police.

Detectives have arrested and charged a 16-year-old male, a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male with first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Kevin Lewis of ABC 7 reports that the three suspects currently reside at the National Center for Children and Families' shelter on Greentree Road in Bethesda. Montgomery County is one homicide short of an all-time record this year, having now tied the 1994 high of 34, Lewis noted.

Signage installed at Marriott Bethesda Downtown hotel (Photos)

Signage has been installed at the new Marriott Bethesda Downtown hotel at 7707 Woodmont Avenue. There's still some Tyvek-like material covering the edge of the canopy below the large logo sign above the hotel's main driveway, suggesting something more will be installed or uncovered there. In related news, Bethesda Beat reports that the hotel's opening date is now targeted as March 1, 2022, instead of January.

Two Cordell Avenue properties available for sale, lease in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle

Two Cordell Avenue spaces are creating opportunities for future retail and restaurant use in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. The storefont at 4916 Cordell Avenue is now available for lease. Current tenant Fine Consigns Bethesda will be moving to an as-yet-unannounced new location, and a closing sale is underway.

Meanwhile, 4935 Cordell Avenue, a two-story building previously home to Tragara, George's Chophouse, and 4935 Bar and Kitchen is for sale. The building has a lot of potential to house multiple tenants for rental income, or as a redevelopment opportunity. No asking price is stated, but the property is assessed at $4,306,600.

Shake Shack opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Shake Shack opened yesterday at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The burger chain continues to favor the I-270 corridor over downtown Bethesda or Rockville Town Center. A third Shake Shack is planned for the Kentlands in 2022; an existing location is open now at Cabin John Village in Potomac. Look for Shake Shack in the Dining Terrace food court near Cinnabon.

New traffic pattern on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda (Photos)

New lane striping and a new bike lane have resulted in a new traffic pattern for Woodmont Avenue between Norfolk Avenue and Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda. An unprotected bike lane - which is actually more of a bikeway, as it has two lanes allowing for two-way bike travel with a yellow line in the center - and a striped divider that runs parallel to it, replace the right travel lane on the west side of the street. What was the center through lane on Woodmont at the Old Georgetown intersection heading towards Bethesda Row is now the right turn lane. The left through lane is now the only lane at that intersection that allows you to continue on Woodmont past Old Georgetown towards Bethesda Row. 

Left turns are still not allowed onto the one-way segment of Old Georgetown between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenue. Street parking in front of the Lionsgate condos, Black's Bar + Kitchen, etc., is now gone. Meters are still in place but display a message that parking is not allowed.

It sounds more confusing in text form than it is in real life. For now, simply approach the block and intersection with caution until you adjust to the new configuration, and watch for bikes on your passenger side when making a right onto Old Georgetown. There will soon be a mid-block traffic signal governing the crosswalk between the new Marriott hotel and the Woodmont Corner garage across the street.

8000 Barber Shop posts coming soon signage at future Bethesda space

8000 Barber Shop is planning to move from 8000 Wisconsin Avenue down to 7830 Wisconsin, as I reported back in October. "Coming soon" signage has now been posted in the window of the future location. "7830 Barber Shop" doesn't have quite the same ring to it, but the sign reads "8K Barber Shop." It's unclear if that will be the new name, or if it simply was shortened to fit onto the sign. 

Bethesda HSBC bank branch to become Citizens Bank in February

The HSBC bank branch at 7637 Old Georgetown Road in the Lionsgate condo building is changing hands. As of February 17, 2022 at 3:00 PM, the bank will become Citizens Bank. Providence, Rhode Island-based Citizens acquired 80 East Coast branches of HSBC earlier this year, including this one.

Montgomery County police to target violations of move-over law on River Road December 21

If you have a habit of ignoring the move-over law while driving, get in the habit by tomorrow afternoon if you plan to use River Road in Bethesda. Montgomery County police officers will be conducting a high-visibility enforcement operation on River Road between Wilson Lane and Burdette Road on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 from noon to 3:00 PM, targeting drivers who fail to comply with that 2018 mandate.

The Maryland move-over law requires that drivers approaching an emergency, towing, utility or transit vehicle stopped in a traffic lane or on a shoulder to either move over one lane, or slow to a "reasonable and prudent speed" if remaining in the lane adjacent to the stopped vehicle. Tuesday's special operation is an annual effort to not only increase awareness of the rule, but to remember County Officer Noah Leotta, who was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver while he was making a traffic stop.

Brook Taylor Interiors closes downtown Bethesda store

Brook Taylor Interiors has closed at 7833 Woodmont Avenue in the Fairmont Plaza condo building. The mother-daughter team says they are moving away from retail sales to focus on the interior design side of their business. Brook Taylor opened here in September 2016, and was previously located in Chevy Chase. Their space has now been cleared out. The owners can be reached for design services at 301-448-2146.

Avocet Tower light show over downtown Bethesda (Photos)

The new Avocet Tower Class A office building at 7373 Wisconsin Avenue put on a light display high above downtown Bethesda Friday night. Lights on the tower's roof deck cycled through a rainbow of colors. A faint beam of light appeared to project from the roof across Wisconsin Avenue, perhaps enhanced by the humid conditions.

Capital Crescent surface trail goes green by Bethesda Row (Photos)

People transitioning from cars to bikes is supposed to be "green." The new protected bike lane on Bethesda Avenue is really green, though. Montgomery County workers yesterday applied a new green surface to the bike lane, which is also a leg of the Capital Crescent surface trail that was meant to replace the shuttered Capital Crescent Trail east of Bethesda Avenue during Purple Line construction. Of course, this being Montgomery County, the surface route will probably be complete about the same time as the Purple Line is finished.

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