Police investigate explosives possession at Bethesda gas station

Montgomery County police were called to a gas station in downtown Bethesda Friday night, October 17, 2025 to investigate a report of explosives possession. The incident was reported to police in the 5000 block of Bradley Boulevard at 9:23 PM Friday. That is the Bradley Liberty gas station at 5001 Bradley Boulevard at the Bradley Shopping Center.

Boll & Branch close to opening at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Here's a sneak peek inside Boll & Branch at 7270 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. Construction has been underway for a month inside the space, which was formerly home to CHIKO. It looks like the construction phase has now ended, and merchandise is now being placed on the shelves and displays. The upscale bedding retailer appears to be very close to opening.

Gold Bunny Donut opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Gold Bunny Donut is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It will be taking over the end space just vacated by another donut shop, Donutchew, in the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2 of the mall. At Gold Bunny Donut, the donuts will be handmade fresh each morning, and each afternoon. You can check out the flavors here.

"Gold Bunny Donut transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary," the mall said in a statement. "The goal is to lead the new wave of donut innovation, offering a premium and delightful dessert experience you can feel good about sharing with your loved ones."

"Gold Bunny Donut believes in creating moments of joy with every bite. With donuts that are crafted with unique textures and flavors, especially the signature creamy varieties that elevate the traditional donut experience. Gold Bunny Donut is dedicated to using only the finest ingredients, free from preservatives and artificial additives, ensuring that treats are not only delicious but also safe for everyone, including your little ones."

"The inspiration comes from a desire to provide clean and wholesome desserts. The bunny symbolizes purity and care, reflecting our commitment to quality and family-friendly treats." 

Andy's Pizza opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Andy's Pizza is speeding up its expansion within Montgomery County. The award-winning pizzeria that has had tremendous success in downtown Bethesda will soon open a second Bethesda location at Westfield Montgomery Mall. It will be in the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2, in between CAVA and Chipotle. A third MoCo Andy's Pizza shop will be opening soon at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg.

Mystery Mansion Adventure at The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase Oct. 31 & Nov. 1, 2025

Listen, friend. I’ve seen things. Things you wouldn’t believe. And the truth is, Chevy Chase has a secret. We're talking about the annual Mystery Mansion Adventure put on by The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase. It’s not just your typical haunted house.

If your little monsters are between the ages of 3 and 10, they are the target audience for the show. Bring 'em on down. But bring the parents as well, because every good ghost story needs witnesses, right? And if you're one of those grown-up fans who still likes the shiver but can skip the genuine terror—you're welcome here, too. The door is wide open.

The fun starts when the shadows get long: October 31st and November 1st, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Costumes are encouraged for kids and adults. Swing by before or after the big sugar grab of Trick or Treating, or just use it to finish off the whole Halloween shebang. It's the perfect nightcap... or maybe the perfect appetizer.

Look, you don't want to get shut out, standing there in the cold, so buy those timed entry tickets in advance at www.MysteryMansion.org. Trust me, disappointment is a ghoul you want to avoid.

For one low price—a flat $20 for any age—you get the whole creepy carnival:

1.  Entry to the Mystery Mansion: Wander the unique halls of their indoor, family-friendly haunted house. It’s strange. It’s fun. It’s exactly where you need to be.

2.  The Hall of Portraits: Rub elbows (or maybe just skeletal remains) with assorted characters and get those perfect, spooky photo-ops. Say cheese! Or maybe say "boo!"

3.  Artisan Alley: This year they have a new spot for you to let your creative side out—a crafting workshop where you can leave your own little mark.

And if you get a little hungry, a little thirsty from all that excitement, they will have food and drinks for sale, including s'mores kits. Oh, yes. Firepits will be crackling away, waiting for you to tell your own whispered tales. The address, if you're looking for the house at the end of the lane? It’s The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase clubhouse at 7931 Connecticut Ave in Chevy Chase. Parking is available in the lot behind the clubhouse.

Photo courtesy Woman's Club of Chevy Chase

Agora "coming soon" to Bethesda Metro Center

Agora is "coming soon" to the ground floor of the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel, at 1 Bethesda Metro Center, according to signage posted outside the space. It is located where the former Daily Grill restaurant was. Agora will feature a mezze-style menu inspired by the traditional cuisines of Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon. Signature dishes will include flame-grilled kebabs, house-made künefe, and pistachio soufflé, alongside vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. As the signage notes, the restaurant is expected to open next spring.

MDSHA updating River Road bike lanes in Bethesda (Photos)

Maryland State Highway Administration contractors are updating the bike lanes along River Road between Brookside Drive and Little Falls Parkway in Bethesda. Single-lane closures will be implemented between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and overnight, between now and the end of October. New pavement markings and green surface paint are being applied to the lanes. Flexposts will be installed alongside the lanes.

Kabob Zone opening in Bethesda

Kabob Zone is expanding to Bethesda. The local Afghan restaurant chain will open its first Maryland location at 4924-A Del Ray Avenue in downtown Bethesda. That is the former Avenue Cafe space in the Woodmont Triangle. Kabob Zone has two existing Northern Virginia locations, in Woodbridge and Manassas. This will be the second Afghan restaurant to open in Bethesda this year, with the first being Tasty Grills & Catering, which opened last month.

Fire in garage at Ellis Bethesda apartments (Photos)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel responded to a fire at the Ellis Bethesda apartment tower at 4918 St. Elmo Avenue this afternoon. Around 3:20 PM, a vehicle fire was reported in the building's underground parking garage. Firefighters located the vehicle on a lower level of the garage, and extinguished the fire. However, a significant amount of smoke remained in the garage.

MCFRS personnel remained on-scene to assist in ventilating smoke from the garage. Very little smoke entered the residential floors of the building, so there was no need to evacuate the tower, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said. No injuries were reported. As a high-rise incident, the response from MCFRS and other departments was substantial, including at least one unit from the nearby National Institutes of Health. 

Warby Parker holding grand opening event Saturday at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Warby Parker will celebrate its arrival at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this week with a special grand opening event this Saturday, October 18, 2025. The eyewear boutique will be open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday. This is Warby Parker's second Bethesda location; the first is located at Bethesda Row. Look for Warby Parker on Level 1 of the mall, across from Vineyard Vines in the Nordstrom wing.

Immersa Edutainment VR game experience opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Immersa Edutainment has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The virtual reality game hub has been set up on Level 1 of mall, near the LEGO Store and Build-A-Bear in the former Sears wing. VR machines available to play include the TRON light cycle-esque 360 Moto VR ($11.99-$15.99 for 7 minutes), Car Simulator VR ($11.99-$15.99 for 8 minutes), and the UFO Experience space exploration adventure game ($11.99-$15.99 for 6 minutes). The UFO game has 5 seats for a multi-player experience.

Immersa is operating on a soft opening basis right now. The full experience will begin on October 31, 2025 for the holiday season. Immersa is combining gameplay with STEM learning, and will be offering educational workshops in the future.

Police arrest suspects in Bethesda pizzeria robbery spree

Montgomery County police have arrested two men in connection with a recent string of pizzeria robberies in Bethesda and Glenmont. Terrance Barfield, 22, and Jaylen Cunningham, 18, both of Washington, D.C., were arrested in a traffic stop in Chevy Chase shortly after they allegedly robbed Manny and Olga's at 8118 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda on October 8, 2025. Detectives say they have determined Barfield and Cunningham were also the robbers of Domino's Pizza at 4817 St. Elmo Avenue on September 23, of Pizza Hut at 12335 Georgia Avenue in Glenmont on September 28, and of Papa John's at 7200 47th Street in Bethesda on October 1.

Barfield and Cunningham were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where they were charged with armed robbery, motor vehicle theft, and related offenses. Both are being held without bond. Their mug shots have not been released to the public.

Za'Atar Shawarma & Pizza opening in Bethesda

Za'Atar Shawarma & Pizza is opening at 8021 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Their menu will feature Middle Eastern cuisine and artisanal pizza. The restaurant will replace Cheesy Pizzi, which closed in August. Work is underway inside the space.

Sweeteria Cafe opening Bethesda location

Sweeteria Cafe is expanding to downtown Bethesda. The family-owned, Thai-inspired dessert cafe in Silver Spring is known for its creative menu items like honey butter toast, Thai tea custard buns, and Taiwanese cheesecake. The Bethesda location will be at 7525 Old Georgetown Road, right across the street from the Bethesda Metro Center. That space has been vacant for a while, and has seen a lot of turnover in the last fifteen years. Sweeteria's Silver Spring location has had a good six-year run, so maybe they can make it work.

Uchiko "coming soon" to Bethesda

Uchiko is "coming soon" to downtown Bethesda, according to signage posted in the windows of its future space at 7315 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. An offshoot of chef-owner Tyson Cole's Uchi concept, the restaurant will feature a "fire forward" interpretation of Japanese cuisine. It will have 200 seats indoors, a dedicated sushi bar where diners can watch sushi chefs work, a separate cocktail bar, and two private dining rooms. Smoky flavors will infuse the seafood and meat dishes, and live fire cooking will add an element of drama to the proceedings. The restaurant is expected to open before the end of the year.

Dave's Hot Chicken "coming soon" to White Flint

Dave's Hot Chicken is "coming soon" to Rockville Pike, according to a banner posted on the restaurant building. It will be at 11564 Rockville Pike in White Flint. That was formerly an old-style McDonald's restaurant, until the golden arches moved a short distance north to the old Arby's site. Before expanding to Montgomery County, Dave's Hot Chicken was best known to Marylanders as the fast food company that promoted itself via influencer videos on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Other Maryland locations have already opened in White Oak and Waldorf.