Cheesy Pizzi closes in Bethesda

Why are the pizzerias closing in downtown Bethesda? Anthony's, The Corner Slice, and now, Cheesy Pizzi. Yes, Cheesy Pizzi at 8021 Wisconsin Avenue has closed. Previously known as Pizza Tempo, the pizza parlor was already on the market for sale in March of 2024. Apparently there were no buyers, and the business has closed. Business owners continue to be simultaneously-squeezed by the moribund Montgomery County economy, and the anti-business policies of the County Council, particularly in the thin profit margin hospitality industry. 

French laser firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Say it isn't so! Montgomery County and Maryland have lost yet another economic development competition to Arlington County and Virginia. French laser firm Cailabs SAS wanted to move its U.S. headquarters out of Washington, D.C., but remain in the region. It announced yesterday that it had chosen the booming Rosslyn area of Arlington as the destination for the company's U.S. operations. Cailabs will move into 4,200-square-feet of office space at the gleaming Class A office building at 1530 Wilson Boulevard. The company will also add 16 new employees.

Many of Cailabs' employees hold PhDs, and the company has filed over 25 patents. It specializes in the design and manufacturing of advanced laser-light products for the defense, aerospace, telecommunications, and manufacturing industries. The Rosslyn location provides quick access to both Reagan National and Dulles International airports, as well as Metro and I-66. Montgomery County and Maryland could have had direct access to Dulles and I-66, but chose to cancel the new Potomac River crossing to Dulles, and the Northwest Freeway, which would have connected to I-66 in Rosslyn. Doh!

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin toasted his victory Wednesday, as Maryland Governor Wes Moore was declared America's "most-disappointing governor" by economist Anirban Basu, and Moore's chief-of-staff jumped ship as the state's fiscal crisis continues to slam up against its moribund economy and high crime. With plummeting poll numbers, Moore could only look on with envy, in the reflection of fellow White House aspirant Youngkin's stunning laser light show across the Potomac.

“Cailabs’ decision to relocate their U.S. headquarters to Virginia shows that the Commonwealth remains the premier location for global tech companies looking to expand their footprint in the Americas,” Youngkin said in a statement yesterday. “Virginia’s exceptional talent, reliable infrastructure, and proximity to key federal and defense partners gives companies like Cailabs a strategic advantage as they continue to innovate and expand. The Commonwealth is proud to support Cailabs’ mission of paving the way to a bright future with the power of lasers.” 

“When Cailabs first decided to open a U.S. office, they chose Washington. Two years later, when they decided to stay in the US, they chose Virginia. That decision speaks volumes,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura. “Logistically, economically, and strategically, Virginia remains the ideal location for tech companies looking to push boundaries and build a thriving business.” 

“Arlington cordially says ‘Bienvenue’ to Cailabs on their decision to establish their U.S. headquarters in Rosslyn, at the heart of our nation’s capital region,” Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said. “By choosing Arlington, Cailabs joins a community where the nation’s best-prepared, innovative and talented workforce meets exceptional quality of life in an open, welcoming and forward-thinking culture. We are excited to add a leading new technology business to the dense fabric of transatlantic partnerships that connect, strengthen and advance economies, people and values. We look forward to seeing Cailabs grow and succeed here in Arlington.” 

“I’m delighted that Cailabs has chosen to relocate its U.S. headquarters to Arlington County,” said Senator Barbara Favola. “Arlington has leveraged the investments made by the Commonwealth to create a 21st century workforce. In addition to proximity to major airports and our nation’s capital, Arlington offers a world class public education system, great transit options, and a park in every neighborhood. I am sure that Cailabs will feel ‘right at home’ in the diverse and caring Arlington community.” 

Fire at The Elm apartment tower in Bethesda (Photos)

UPDATE - 7:48 PM: MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer reports the cause was a malfunctioning microwave, and that there is no further fire or smoke present in the building.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel are responding to a fire at an apartment tower in downtown Bethesda. Around 7:00 PM this evening, a fire was reported in a unit on the 9th floor of the The Elm at 4710 Elm Street, one of the tallest residential buildings in Montgomery County. A ladder could be seen extending to an upper floor. The fire started in the kitchen of the apartment, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said. 

No injuries have been reported so far. More than a dozen units are at the scene. It's concerning that the years-long extended closure of Elm Street at Wisconsin Avenue hampers full ease of access to the building by emergency vehicles. This could be problematic in a major emergency event.

Pizzeria Da Marco to add Sunday brunch in Bethesda

Pizzeria Da Marco at 8008 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda will soon expand its operation to include brunch on Sundays. A banner outside the restaurant says the new Sunday brunch service is "coming soon." Currently, the pizzeria opens at 11:30 AM on Sundays, and does not offer any breakfast-oriented menu items. Pizzeria Da Marco is best known for its Neapolitan-style pizza.

Lululemon move postponed at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Lululemon is staying put in its current spot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for a little bit longer. The activewear company did not specify why its planned move is being delayed, but said it hopes to have a firm grand opening date by the end of August. In the meantime, their existing store remains  fully open for business. The new space, still walled off, is much larger than the current Lululemon store.

Victor Gallery closes in Bethesda

Victor Gallery has closed at 7034 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda.  The fine rug showroom opened here in 2023. As you can see, the interior has been totally cleared out. Founded by Victor Mashihi, Victor Gallery is a family rug enterprise that began in Egypt in 1916. Here, it may have been the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy, and the County Council's anti-business policies.

Neuhaus Chocolates temporarily closed at Bethesda Row

Neuhaus Chocolates at 7123 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row is temporarily closed. The shop is expected to reopen this Saturday, August 23, 2025. "Repairs" are the reason cited for the closure on a sign posted inside the front door. If you are in need of chocolates before Saturday, try Velatis, Bethesda Chocolates, or Henry's Sweet Retreat in downtown Bethesda.

Signage installed at Nesfield Performance in Bethesda

The permanent sign has been installed above the future storefront of Nesfield Performance at 7832-7834 Wisconsin Avenue, in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium in Bethesda. Nesfield Performance is a fitness, physical therapy, massage, and movement therapy business currently operating in Chevy Chase. The new Bethesda facility is expected to open before the end of summer. While the windows are covered, social media posts by Nesfield Performance have shown that extensive construction work has been ongoing inside all summer, so it should be just a matter of time before an opening date is announced.

8200 Wisconsin Avenue apartments in Bethesda rebranded as "8200W"

8200 Wisconsin Avenue, a landmark apartment tower on downtown Bethesda's "main street," has gotten a branding makeover. While the iconic "8200" numerals over the entrance remain the same for now, new logos posted at the building and on the internet have added a "W" to read "8200W." The new branding is also utilized on an updated website for the property. Of course, among longtime residents, just saying "8200" is enough that people know which building you are talking about. It's hard to think of another local building with that kind of street-number-only name recognition within a certain geographical area. The closest in my mind would be 5530 and 5454 Wisconsin in Friendship Heights, particularly if you are in the healthcare field as a professional or patient.

Framarini's opens in Bethesda

Framarini's is now open at 4931 Cordell Avenue in the Brown Building in downtown Bethesda.  "Framarini's is a modern yet traditional barbershop catering to men of all ages," the barbershop says in promotional materials. "We offer high-quality haircuts, beard trims, shaves, and grooming services in a welcoming and stylish environment. Our goal is to create a go-to grooming experience that builds customer loyalty and community engagement. Where we cut above the rest." 

You can see that the interior is more upscale than your typical barbershop. Operating hours for Framarini's are 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturdays. The shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Tasty Grills now open in Bethesda

Tasty Grills & Catering is now officially open at 7816 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda. It turns out the date portion of the sign posted last week was indeed correct, as opposed to the countdown portion. Tasty Grills has already earned a 5-star rating on Google reviews in only 48 hours of business. The restaurant brings Afghan flavors back to Bethesda that have been missed since the closure of Faryab Afghan Cuisine.

Rooftop lighting activated at Hampden House in Bethesda (Photos)

The new Hampden House apartment tower at 4700 Hampden Lane - like its next-door neighbor at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue - stands out in architectural design among the many "base-podium" buildings constructed since the Bethesda Downtown sector plan was passed in 2017. One of the features many have been waiting to see is the rooftop lighting of the building. That has now been activated, and was lit last night. Is this all there is, or is there more lighting yet to be lit up there? Let's hope so, so the fine architectural lines up there can fully pop at night, like they're supposed to. But it's a great start, and better than the nothing we are used to getting these days.

I suppose beggars can't be choosers, as many other buildings with distinctive rooflines like this in recent years have either been forced to entirely shut off their accent lighting, or have chosen not to install it from the beginning. The Darcy in Bethesda, and the Cambria Suites hotel in Rockville Town Center come to mind. Two things we need more of on the skylines of Montgomery County's urban areas: corporate headquarters logos, and lights, lights, and more lights! Imagine New York City's high-rises blacked out at night. Nuts!

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall Thursday afternoon, August 14, 2025. The assault was reported at the mall at 4:12 PM Thursday. This is the seventh assault police have responded to at the property this year. It had been a relatively quiet summer at the mall up until August 6, when the last assault took place during a shoplifting incident at a clothing store. There were 11 assaults reported at the popular retail center in 2024, 5 in 2023, and 12 in 2022, putting this year's numbers in line with last year's so far.

Claire's closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

It's a sad day in the piercing industry. Claire's is closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A closing sale is underway at the piercing and jewelry boutique. We can't blame the Montgomery County Council or their moribund County economy for this departure. Claire's has filed for bankruptcy, could wind up closing over 1000 locations nationwide. The company hopes to save itself via a sale of 800 other stores to a potential buyer, but if one can't be found, this could be the end of the line. Are they celebrating over at Piercing Pagoda?

WSSC finally addresses water main break at Old Georgetown Rd. & Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda

A water main break in the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue was finally tackled by a crew from the WSSC water utility last night. The leak was now being measured in weeks rather than hours or days, and had caused persistent pooling of water in the intersection. WSSC repaired a significant water main break only a couple of blocks away on Wisconsin Avenue last week, where the roadway was in such bad shape that the utility had to resurface the street in the affected area.

Indigo Octopus opens at Bethesda Row

Indigo Octopus has opened at 7126 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row. It's really a move south, as the beach lifestyle apparel boutique's Wildwood Shopping Center location has closed. For those still wanting the full beach shopping experience, their Fenwick Island store at 101 Coastal Highway remains open for business from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM seven days a week. Operating hours at the Bethesda Row boutique are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays. Indigo Octopus carries women's dresses, denim, tops, jewelry, swimwear, shoes and accessories from labels like Anine Bing, Free City, Byredo, Frankies, Spell, and Mother.

Simona Cafe opens in Bethesda

Simona Cafe has opened at 4520 East-West Highway in downtown Bethesda. They are initially in a soft-opening mode, so hours and days of operation will temporarily be limited. The restaurant will be open today, August 14, 2025, and tomorrow from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It will then be closed on Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17. They will reopen next Monday through Friday, August 18 to 22, again from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Regular hours, and the addition of beer and wine, will be announced in the near future.

Rheinmetall chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. corporate HQ

Montgomery County and Maryland are experiencing another total humiliation on the economic development front. While both have failed to attract a major new corporate headquarters this century, Fairfax County and Virginia have just beaten them once again in the high-stakes contest for yet another major defense firm HQ. This time it is Rheinmetall, the German defense giant that is experiencing off-the-charts boom times, as it is arguably the biggest winner in Germany's push to rearm and create Europe's largest and strongest military. It is also one of the companies producing the most equipment for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Rheinmetall has just leased 10,000-square feet at Metro Place II at 2600 Park Tower Drive in Merrifield in Fairfax County, where it will not only locate its U.S. hub, but also one of its U.S. subsidiaries, American Rheinmetall Munitions, Inc.

Beyond the lighter tax and regulation burden of Northern Virginia, a look at the 2600 Park Tower Drive site itself tells much of the tale of Montgomery County's loss. Metro Place II sits directly beside the highway interchange of the Capital Beltway and Interstate 66, along both of which Virginia has invested enormously in tolled Express Lanes. The Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station is directly across the street from the new Rheinmetall HQ. Just south of the site are US 29 and US 50, as well as the enormously-successful Mosaic District with its retail, restaurants, and movie theater. 

A short drive southeast of the new Rheinmetall HQ in Fairfax is perhaps Montgomery County's biggest and most-humiliating economic development loss to Northern Virginia of this century, the Northrop Grumman headquarters. And zooming out on the map, we find one of the biggest factors that brought both defense firms to Fairfax County: direct access to Dulles International Airport. It's the only airport in the region to boast the variety of essential global business destinations - and the frequency of direct flights to them - demanded by international business executives.

One can only shake one's head, and wonder what could have been, had Montgomery County and Maryland had smarter and more-competent leadership this century. Imagine if we had built the new Potomac River crossing, to give all of our increasingly-empty office parks in the I-270 corridor the same kind of direct access to Dulles that Virginia has. Imagine if we had built the Rockville Freeway through North Bethesda, White Flint, Aspen Hill, and Layhill, connecting I-270 with MD 355 and the InterCounty Connector, and passing directly by the many Executive Boulevard area office parks and Pike & Rose. Imagine if we had made our tax and fee burden more competitive with our rivals in the region, and our leaders had used the time they spend opining on national politics on attracting business to our county and state.

Virginia doesn't have to imagine. It's where economic development dreams regularly come true, thanks to the humiliatingly-weak and bumbling efforts on our side of the river. Montgomery County? It's where business goes to die - or flee to nearby jurisdictions before it does.

"We are proud to welcome Rheinmetall to Merrifield in Fairfax County," Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay said in a statement. "Our community is a place where groundbreaking innovation, national security, and global collaboration intersect, and this investment represents a powerful statement about the future of defense and technology in our region. Rheinmetall brings a bold vision and cutting-edge capabilities that align with our community’s commitment to supporting mission-driven industries and advancing solutions that keep our nation secure. We are deeply honored that Rheinmetall has chosen Fairfax County as the hub for their continued growth, as this investment will not only strengthen the strategic national security partnerships that are so vital to global progress, but also the resiliency of our local and regional economies."

"Rheinmetall’s decision to establish significant presence in the Merrifield area of Fairfax County reinforces our position as a premier destination for global defense leaders seeking proximity to federal partners, a deep bench of tech talent, and a collaborative business environment," Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins said. "The opening of our new Washington, D.C., region office spaces underscores our rapid growth and committed investment in Rheinmetall’s U.S. operations," American Rheinmetall Defense CEO Stephen Hedger added.