Gunman robs 2 Bethesda CVS stores, 2 cars stolen + more - Bethesda crime update (Video)

A wild and woolly Thursday kept Montgomery County police officers busy in Bethesda. The day was capped off by two armed robberies of CVS stores in downtown Bethesda, and two cars being stolen within blocks of each other. Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on January 26, according to crime data:

Stolen car. Old Georgetown Road at Woodmont Avenue.

Armed robbery. CVS Pharmacy, 6917 Arlington Road at 2:51 AM.

Black male, dark clothing,

armed with handgun, assaulted

CVS employee, fled with

undisclosed amount of cash

Security camera footage

Armed robbery. CVS Pharmacy, 7809 Wisconsin Avenue at 5:34 AM.

Police suspect the robberies are

connected. If you have any

information about either crime,

call the Major Crimes Division 

at 240-773-5070.  

Those who wish to 

remain anonymous may call 

Crimes Solvers of 

Montgomery County toll-free at 

1-866-411-TIPS (8477).  

Crime Solvers will pay a cash 

reward of up to $10,000 for 

information provided to them that 

leads to an arrest in this case.

Stolen car. 8100 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 8000 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft from vehicle. 4700 block Bradley Boulevard.

Theft from vehicle. 10300 block Westlake Drive.

Crane shuts down traffic on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda (Photo)

Here is a picture of the massive crane that shut down southbound Wisconsin Avenue for most of Saturday. It was brought in to raise some heavy equipment up to the roof of 8200 Wisconsin, the building behind the crane in this photo.

Spiro's Barber Shop closes temporarily in Bethesda (Photo)

Spiro's Barber Shop and Styling has temporarily closed at the Shops at Sumner Place in Bethesda. "We expect to reopen soon," says a sign on the front door. Spiro Hallas, the owner, passed away a month ago. No reason for the closure was given.

Photo: Justin Fidler

Pedestrian struck on Massachusetts Ave., burglary on Leland St. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on January 25, according to crime data:

Pedestrian struck. Jamestown Road and Massachusetts Avenue at 9:00 AM.

Burglary. Residential alarm triggered in 4300 block Leland Street.

Assault. Connecticut Avenue at East-West Highway.

Burglary. 7300 block Pinehurst Parkway.

Collision/property damage. 10400 block Motor City Drive.

Theft. 5200 block Tuckerman Lane.

Lucky Strike sets opening date in Bethesda

Lucky Strike Social, the new bowling and nightlife concept from Lucky Strike, is now scheduled to open on Friday, February 17, 2017, at Westfield Montgomery Mall, according to an employee at the new location. Featuring upscale food, bowling, live music and event space, Lucky Strike Social takes over the space formerly occupied by the mall's original movie theater.

Two SB Wisconsin Avenue closures to watch out for today in Bethesda (Photos)

Be prepared for lane closures on southbound Wisconsin Avenue between Battery Lane and Commerce Lane this weekend. Today, southbound Wisconsin will be closed between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM between Battery Lane and Cordell Avenue. This is the "rain date" for raising some heavy equipment up to the roof of 8200 Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, down between Norfolk Avenue and Commerce Lane, you may encounter the far right lane of southbound Wisconsin being closed, as demolition of the Connor Building proceeds.

Car stolen on Huff Ct., assault on Old Georgetown Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on January 24, according to crime data:

Assault. 8600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Vehicle burglary. 10100 block Grosvenor Place.

Vehicle burglary. 11100 block Rockville Pike.

Domestic violence assault. 11300 block Rolling House Road at 1:00 AM.

Stolen car. 11500 block Huff Court (Pike District).

Assault. 11600 block Nebel Street (Pike District).

Icebreaker clears out at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Icebreaker has closed at Bethesda Row, as I reported yesterday. The store at 4821 Bethesda Avenue was mostly cleared out on Thursday, with a stack of dummies left behind. Or was that just the Montgomery County Council meeting in closed session?

Looks like the last
remaining supporters
of the Montgomery County Council
decided to have a meet-up

Vet clinic coming to Pike District in North Bethesda

A former office supply retail space that has been home to pop up Halloween stores in the Pike District is getting a new, longer-term tenant. Once a Staples, the 8000 SF storefront at 11503 Rockville Pike is currently being converted into a veterinary clinic. The shopping center it is in is owned by Saul Centers, which plans to eventually demolish it for a new mixed-use development.

Theft from vehicle on Bradley Blvd., assault on Randolph Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on January 23, according to crime data:

Theft. 4800 block Hampden Lane.

Accident/property damage. 4500 block N. Park Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 7500 block Bradley Boulevard.

Vehicle burglary. 8100 block Connecticut Avenue.

Theft. 10600 block Montrose Avenue.

Assault. 5400 block Randolph Road (Pike District).

Experimac opens in Bethesda (Photos)

Experimac, a new shop that specializes in service and sales of pre-owned Apple computers, tablets and phones, has opened in the ground floor of the Bainbridge Bethesda luxury apartment tower. They also carry Apple and Mac accessories, and can upgrade your existing Apple computer, as well. Experimac is located at 4915 Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

Demolition permit requested for interior of the Apex Building

As I predicted, the interior of the Apex Building will be demolished before the actual building comes down. A demolition permit marked "Interior Only" has been requested from Montgomery County. This may rob us of a money shot with a movie theater visible from the outside, as the building comes down around it.

Icebreaker, Wetzel's Pretzels close in Bethesda (Photo)

An empty Wetzel's Pretzels
kiosk yesterday

Icebreaker Touchlab has closed at Bethesda Row. The store had been holding a 50% off sale over the last couple of weeks. The apparel chain's website has deleted the Bethesda Avenue location from its "Find a Store" database.

Meanwhile, Westfield Montgomery Mall continues to be rocked by business closures. Just days after I broke the story that Dining Terrace anchor Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria will shutter Saturday night, Wetzel's Pretzels has cleared out. The pretzel kiosk was empty during regular business hours at the mall on Wednesday.

Class 520 Thai ice cream roll shop to open in Bethesda

Class 520, a Thai ice cream roll shop that already has a location in Rockville, is expanding to Bethesda. Also known as stir-fried ice cream, the unique preparation style and presentation originated in Thailand. Class 520's Bethesda location will be on Elm Street.

Here is a video that shows how Thai ice cream rolls are made and served.

Police release description of armed robber who struck twice just over D.C. line; sex assault on Johnson Ave. + more - Bethesda crime update

The Metropolitan Police Department has released a description of a suspect believed to be involved in several recent armed robberies in Spring Valley and the Palisades, just over the D.C. line, and his vehicle.

Police describe the suspect as being black, in his 20s, slim but athletic build, and 5'8"-5'10" in height. He was wearing a black jacket, a grey hat or grey hoodie, and dark pants. His vehicle is a dark, four-door sedan, which police say may be an Audi.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on January 22, according to crime data:

Disorderly conduct. 4900 block St. Elmo Avenue.

Assault. 7200 block Woodmont Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 4400 block Montgomery Avenue.

Drug arrest. Fairfax Road at Wilson Lane.

Burglary. 7100 block Glenbrook Road.

Theft. 5300 block Western Avenue.

Sexual assault. 5800 block Johnson Avenue (around 1:00 AM).

Domestic violence assault. 10200 block Grosvenor Place.

Theft. 5100 block Pooks Hill Road.

Assault. 6700 block Democracy Boulevard.

See artists' inspiration and process close-up at Waverly Street Gallery in Bethesda next month

Waverly Street Gallery member artists and guests will participate in a special exhibit and events dedicated to the creative process next month. The "Process and Inspiration" guest artist roster will include Pat Autenrieth, Robert Cwiok, Judith Ahistrom, Cookie Kerxton, Janet Berry, Andrei Kushnir, Kathleen Byrnes, Lisa Schumaier, Sukjin Choi, Jowita Allen, Ellen Kreiger, Sandra Sedmak Engel, Kristina Penhoet, Ann Leonard, Di Stovall, Joanne Miller, Elroy Williams and Susan Main.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, February 10, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. And an artist talk and demonstration will take place on Sunday, February 26, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Both events are free and open to the public. The exhibit itself will run from February 7 to March 4, 2017.

4600 East-West Highway

301-951-9441

Little Falls Library reopening now postponed until Spring 2017, Davis on target for Spring

 While the Montgomery County Department of Libraries has yet to detail an itemized list of the damage to the Little Falls Library caused by a burst pipe last month, they are now saying the planned January opening is being pushed back to Spring 2017. In recent days, a trench has been dug down the incline from the street level up to the rear parking lot grade to the left of the building. A large pipe could be seen in the trench.

Meanwhile, a second Bethesda library closed for renovations - the Davis Library - is also on-track for a Spring opening. New flooring is down, new restrooms are completed, and the first floor of the building has been repainted, according to Anita Vassallo, the former manager of the library.

WAS Gallery opening at Westwood Center II in Bethesda

While the Westwood Center II is facing demolition at some point in the next three years, owner Regency Centers has brought in a nice addition to the neighborhood. WAS Gallery is a new art gallery that will be hosting exhibits in its space at 5110 Ridgefield Road in Bethesda. The 475 SF exhibit space will adjoin three artist studios, and the gallery is expected to remain open until the demolition of the shopping center.

Their first show will be appropriately called "WAS opens," and will feature works by the gallery's three current artists-in-residence, Jenna North, Fabiola Alvarez Yurcisin and Joumana Moukarim.  An opening reception will be held on Saturday, February 4, from 6:30-9:00 PM at the gallery, and the exhibit will run through March 10. Regular hours at the gallery will be Wednesday – Saturday, 12:30 – 5:30 PM, or by appointment.

The diverse artists' works have themes that resonate with current issues both national and local. North sometimes works as her alter ego, Wendy Well, a "fracking-obsessed Post-Apocalyptic Interior Decorator." Maryland is in the midst of debate over whether to allow fracking in our state, and North says the election of Donald Trump has made the apocalypse seem closer. In response, "Wendy wants to prepare us by offering a tasteful glimpse into domestic bliss in space," in one work featuring an outer-space-themed room.

Alvarez addresses the environmental and human impact of the technology we leave behind, incorporating VHS tapes and typewriter ribbons into panels, cages and nets. As an artist who splits her time between Bethesda and Mexico City, she is also keenly attuned to the symbolism of borders and boundaries.

And at a time when Bethesda residents are expressing anger against our elected officials for failing to provide sufficient public space and parkland in the developments they approve, Moukarim is a new resident and new mom who is finding solace in the spaces that do exist around town. The native of Lebanon photographs these spaces, prints them out, and then creates layered paintings juxtaposing the private and public spaces in her life.

Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria to close at Westfield Montgomery Mall Saturday night

A source tells me Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria in Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will close permanently at the close of business Saturday night. The closure is one of many in the mall's new Dining Terrace over the last year, but perhaps the biggest blow yet, after that of Met Bethesda upstairs. Both restaurants were brought in to anchor the new, upscale dining area.

Met Bethesda had visibility issues being tucked away on an upper floor, but Naples had prime real estate and an exterior entrance. The mall still has its biggest dining draw, The Cheesecake Factory, and another large restaurant tenant that was part of the multimillion dollar relaunch of the mall, CRAVE. Taking the mall upscale also included the opening of a 16-screen ArcLight Cinemas theater.

It will be interesting to see what Westfield does with these two large restaurant spaces - bring in even-heavier-hitting brands and chefs, or convert them to smaller or other uses.

Connor Building demolition begins (Photos)

Days after the Marriott Corporation confirmed the site of the Connor Building would be its choice for a new headquarters and hotel, demolition of the venerable retail building has begun. They waste no time, although the project isn't expected to deliver until 2022.