Message from the past on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda

The restaurant is gone, but a rogue endorsement remains etched in the sidewalk on the Cordell Avenue side of its former building in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. "Eat at Monte Carlo," the concrete message advises. Brasserie Monte Carlo used to be on the corner of Cordell and Norfolk Avenue. It was replaced by another French restaurant in 2016, the award-winning Duck Duck Goose.

Model homes open at new Toll Brothers development in Bethesda

Toll Brothers has opened model homes to the public at its new Amalyn development, now under construction on the former site of the WMAL transmission towers in North Bethesda. All homes in the development are priced over $1 million. The 75 acre community will include a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse, indoor and outdoor fitness facilities, club rooms for social events, a swimming pool with private cabanas, and more. Tours of the model homes are available at the Amalyn sales center, located at 6940 Greyswood Road.

"Our new Amalyn community is a rare find; it’s luxury living at its finest with expertly crafted homes and a resort-style living experience that home buyers have come to expect from Toll Brothers," Toll Brothers D.C. Metro Regional President Eric Anderson said in a statement. "Our Fairlane and Florin model homes showcase the refined modern finishes that truly distinguish this boutique community of luxury homes in Bethesda."

Photo courtesy Toll Brothers

New retail section, street open at Cabin John Village in Potomac (Photos)

The newly-constructed retail section at Cabin John Village in Potomac has opened to the public. It includes a new street with fresh paving and curbside parking. Yard after yard of new storefronts are lit up, awaiting new tenants. The addition is part of a massive update of the property, which included adding residential housing behind the retail area, and punching out several storefronts to create this connecting street and additional retail space.

Bethesda construction update: The Rae at Westlake apartments (Photos)

The Rae at Westlake apartments at 10401 Motor City Drive in Bethesda are really rounding into shape. Windows have been installed. The Tyvek is off some sections, and facade treatments have taken their place. Foulger Pratt's development is a shopper's paradise, located right by Westfield Montgomery Mall and the Home Depot Square shopping center. With 343 apartments, a fitness center, a coworking lounge, a pool, a pet spa, a club room, an interior courtyard, an outdoor fireplace, hammocks and barbecue grills, delivery of The Rae is anticipated for Q3 2023.

Rare Montgomery County test item Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder now on McDonald's menu nationwide

When fast food restaurants try out new menu items, their test markets are usually places like Ohio and Southern California, not Montgomery County, Maryland. Last year, McDonald's tested a Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder with two slices of American cheese, Roma tomatoes, Applewood smoked bacon, shredded lettuce and "smoky sauce" at several of their restaurants here in the county, including Bethesda (River Road), Rockville and Silver Spring. The burger was apparently well-received, as it has now been added to their menu nationwide for a limited time this month. Joining it is an Oreo Fudge McFlurry.

I'm only aware of one other time that a fast food chain has tested a possible menu item in Montgomery County, In the mid 1990s, McDonald's tested Mighty Wings. That iteration apparently wasn't ready for prime time, as a meatier and spicier version of Mighty Wings didn't get the green light for nationwide release until two decades later in 2013. Let's hope there will be more test items from McDonald's in the future, and that other fast food chains will recognize our usefulness as a test market.

Wool & Knots space now available for lease in Bethesda

The Wool & Knots retail space at 7801 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda is now available for lease. Wool & Knots announced it would be closing last month. They leave behind a highly-visible corner spot at one of the most heavily-traveled crossroads in Montgomery County.

Chicken on the Run to reopen in Bethesda

Chicken on the Run, which closed earlier this year at 4933 St. Elmo Avenue, is returning to downtown Bethesda. Brown paper has gone up over the windows of their space, which still has the restaurant's logos left behind on the glass. There is still kitchen equipment and even tables inside, so it probably won't take as long for them to get up and running as a whole new restaurant would.

Westbard Square construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the latest progress on Phase 1 of the Westbard Square development at 5400 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. Some of the first glass, plumbing and lighting has been installed, as well as more brick facade on parts of the building, which will house the new Giant grocery store along with additional retail, restaurants and a parking garage. You can also see the first sign of the use of quarry stone, one of the design elements that will reflect local aesthetics - stone like this, mined from a Potomac quarry, can be found on many old buildings and homes across Bethesda - even on part of the adjacent Westwood Shopping Center itself. All existing businesses at shopping center remain open during construction.

Foxtrot opens at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Foxtrot, an upscale market and cafe, opened yesterday at 7262 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. What can you expect to find there? Take a store tour through the photos below! 

You will find a mixture of standard and hipster convenience store foods and beverages on the shelves, prepared hot foods like breakfast tacos and coffee drinks, and a selection of beer and wine. That means you can shop for groceries and beer and wine at once, which you can't do at 7-Eleven or the grocery store, thanks to Montgomery County's archaic rules that prevent chain stores from selling alcoholic beverages. Those same government monopoly rules will prevent Foxtrot from adding any more locations within Montgomery County, unless they agree to not sell alcohol at those future stores.