Rooted3 sets opening date in Bethesda

Rooted3, the new fast-casual vegan restaurant and market at 4916 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, now has an opening date. It will open this Saturday, January 27, 2024. Hours for the grand opening will be 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Rooted3 touts itself as the only restaurant in the D.C. area with a "fully plant based and top 9 allergen free menu." Check out the menu here.

Parte Haus opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Parte Haus has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The "ultimate party hub," as the company calls itself, carries a wide selection of party supplies and balloons. As you can see in these photos, those include cups, plates and party hats. If you've always wished your one-stop-shopping here could include party planning, look no further than Parte Haus. You will find it on Level 1 of the mall, next to Relax Station. 

Popeyes closed again at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda...is it the end this time?

Popeyes has been closed in recent days in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Yesterday, it was indeed closed during normal operating hours, as seen here. Popeyes has closed for short periods in the past, only to reopen for business. 

One reader reports that the owner has retired, and that this closure is for good; Google is also stating that this Popeyes is "permanently closed." What's certain is that Montgomery County is in desperate need of a Popeyes with a drive-thru.

Two more EV-charging stations to be added to Westbard Square garage

Plans to have four electric vehicle charging stations in the Phase 1 parking garage at Westbard Square in Bethesda were announced two years ago. Two additional vehicle charging spaces will now be added on the second level of the garage, which is located at 5400 Westbard Avenue. The building's second floor tenants are primarily administrative (including property owner Regency Centers' own offices) and professional (healthcare) or educational (Kumon Math & Reading Center) in nature. Anchor tenant Giant has the top floor, where it will open its newest grocery store January 26, and retail spaces on the ground level are filling up at an increasing pace.

New Wisconsin Avenue traffic signals fully-operational in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

The new traffic signals at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) and Middleton Lane are now fully-operational, the culmination of a years-long advocacy effort by residents in East Bethesda. Pedestrian button controls have been uncovered, and are functioning. The new signals were installed by the Maryland State Highway Administration with the primary goal of making it safer for pedestrians to cross in this area. Pedestrians attempting to cross MD 355 can activate a red signal for Wisconsin; the lights otherwise function like any standard traffic signal, with a green, yellow and red cycle governing traffic entering the intersection from both streets.

Signage installed at Aventino in Bethesda (Photos)

Permanent signage was installed at Aventino, the Roman-Italian restaurant opening soon at 4747 Bethesda Avenue. In font and appearance, it definitely captures a Roman Empire vibe. But unless additional lighted signage is added, as it stands now, Aventino is playing second banana to the AP Pizza Shop it will be sharing this space with. The pizzeria's lighted blade signage is much more attention-getting for pedestrians and drivers alike at the moment - and Bethesda pizza lovers might say that's the way it should be.

Bethesda sidewalk stragglers run out the clock as next snow arrives (Photos)

Cordell Avenue at Norfolk Avenue

Property owners with uncleared sidewalks in downtown Bethesda were able to run out the clock last night. While Fairmont Avenue's sidewalk was now well-cleared Thursday morning, a half-job was done on the sidewalks surrounding the vacant properties associated with the 8000 and 8008 Wisconsin Avenue redevelopment projects along Cordell and Woodmont Avenues, north of Bethesda Chocolates. 

"Missed a spot" is an understatement on
Cordell between Woodmont and Wisconsin Aves.

A narrow path was shoveled on the Woodmont side by Thursday evening, and ice stretched across the entire width of the sidewalk in some spots on the Cordell side. Yet to be cleared was the southeast corner of the intersection of Cordell and Norfolk Avenue. Alas, the next snowstorm began about five hours ago, and has effectively turned the hourglass back over again for the sidewalks of Bethesda.

33% effort on Woodmont Avenue

Firefighters respond to report of smoke at 8001 Woodmont apartments in Bethesda (Video + Photos)

Smoke in the parking garage of the 8001 Woodmont apartments in downtown Bethesda drew a large response from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel, temporarily closing down Woodmont Avenue in the vicinity of St. Elmo Avenue shortly after 9:00 PM tonight. Firefighters eventually cleared the scene, but no further information about the incident has been released by MCFRS as of this writing, including whether there was a fire at all. It's also unclear why a ladder was extended to an upper floor of the building at one point.

A witness reported that a few minutes before the fire response began, a man in a small cleaning vehicle was working on the ramp of the garage. He reportedly drove the vehicle away after firefighters arrived at the scene. Was this a "dustbuster" truck that may have stirred up clouds in the garage that resembled smoke? 

Update on new French Press coffee shop in Bethesda (Photos)

Permanent signage has been installed over the storefront at French Press, the new coffee shop opening soon at 4918 St. Elmo Avenue, in the Bainbridge Bethesda apartments. The logo presents an interesting juxtaposition of a coffee invention that is over 100 years old with the modern takeaway coffee cup of more recent times. It's a clever way of appealing to both the coffee purist and the Starbucks crowd at once. In addition to morning coffee, breakfast items and baked goods, French Press will also serve the lunch crowd with soup, salads, and sandwiches. It will certainly be a new perk for residents of the apartment tower.

Some Bethesda sidewalks remain shovel-ready 2 days after snowstorm (Photos)

UPDATE - 2:07 PM:  The sidewalk on Fairmont Avenue has been cleared (see photo at bottom)

Two days after the snowstorm, pedestrians in downtown Bethesda are still finding some dangerous stretches of sidewalk. Montgomery County requires property owners to clear sidewalks abutting their property within 24 hours of the conclusion of snowfall. Shown here are several spots along Woodmont, Cordell and Fairmont Avenues. Perhaps not surprisingly, the vacant properties associated with the 8008 and 8000 Wisconsin redevelopment projects are among them. 

Leaving sidewalks unshoveled actually becomes more dangerous as time goes on, as snow that initially may provide some traction for the able-bodied begins to melt. It then refreezes as visible or black ice, causing pedestrians to fall, or to walk into traffic in the adjacent roadway to get around it. While one of the properties on Woodmont is a former Montgomery County public parking lot, ownership of that lot transferred from the County to the 8000 Wisconsin developer last year.

A look back at Bethesda's crossroads circa 1962 in art (Photos)

A limited-edition print by a local artist depicts a Bethesda intersection that was the focal point of our town for much of the 20th century. "You Were Mine at the Time" renders the crossroads of Wisconsin Avenue, Old Georgetown Road and East-West Highway as they appeared in 1962. Rockville native Houston Hancock brings Hot Shoppes, People's Drug, the Bank of Bethesda and Pumphrey's Funeral Home to life in pastel hues. 

From its opening through the 1980s, Hot Shoppes was the gathering place to see and be seen. By the 1990s, the Bethesda Metro Center - which replaced People's Drug and other properties - became the urban nexus where commuters started and ended their day, where families and couples twirled on the ice rink (R.I.P.), where burger lovers could buy a flame-grilled Whopper for lunch (...also R.I.P.), and where events ranging from July 4th fireworks to Christmas tree lightings were held (...you get the idea).

The historic art deco Bethesda Theatre, and even the tower of the Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), can be seen in the distance. Period vehicles navigate the streets, along with pedestrians who are - let's be honest - more nattily-dressed than they would be in 2024. The print is #12 of only 500 produced, and is for sale on eBay for $125. I can smell the Mighty Mo - and the leaded gasoline fumes - from here!

Black's Bar + Kitchen in Bethesda to be closed on Sundays through March 10, 2024

Black's Bar + Kitchen will be closed every Sunday between now and March 10, 2024. The closure is necessary to complete significant renovations to the popular Bethesda restaurant, which is located at 7750 Woodmont Avenue. Black's did not specify what the renovations will entail in its announcement of the temporary Sunday closure. Coincidentally, the Woodmont Crescent building next door to Black's is also undergoing major renovations.

Party Mania building available for lease in Bethesda

The clock is ticking to take advantage of the closing sale prices at Party Mania, the family-owned party supply business at 4910 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Struggling since the pandemic hit in 2020, the store announced it would be closing in "early 2024." Now, "for lease" signs have appeared in the front window. Located on one of the busiest streets in Bethesda, the space holds great opportunity for another business looking for major pedestrian traffic outside its door. Leasing is being handled by Bethesda's AMR Commercial, LLC.

Silver & Sons BBQ to open at Westbard Square in Bethesda

Silver & Sons BBQ is the latest tenant to sign on at the new Westbard Square development in Bethesda. The newest food-truck-to-bricks-and-mortar success story is brought to us by chef-owner Jarrad Silver, a veteran executive chef with the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. His Silver & Sons BBQ truck has developed a following with regular stops in Cabin John, Sumner, Rock Spring and his home town of Kensington. 

Future location of Silver & Sons

Silver grew up in Bethesda, and Silver & Sons combines the classic BBQ entrees you would expect with Jewish and Mediterranean culinary influences. Ingredients are fresh and local, and even the wood used in cooking is chopped by Silver himself. Along with the recently-announced addition of Piccoli Piatti Pizzeria, the signing of Silver & Sons suggests property owner Regency Centers is initially focusing on brands from independent local restaurateurs, as opposed to national chain restaurants. The Westbard Square location will be next to the Westwood Barber Shop.

Snow continues to fall in Bethesda ahead of second storm (Photos)

This morning's snowstorm continues to punch above its weight in Bethesda tonight. It started earlier than forecast, and then ignored predictions that it would conclude before 11:00 AM to continue blanketing the area with a modest accumulation. However, I've noticed that the snow is changing tonight. Where it could be shoveled away earlier, shoveling now leaves an icy coating on pavement that cannot be scraped away. As a result, be careful walking and driving. 

There is expected to be a break in the snowfall sometime between 1:00 and 4:00 AM, according to Accuweather. The next storm will then move over the area, and is expected to end around 10:00 AM. Temperatures will plunge to a low of 14 degrees early Wednesday morning, so don't expect any melting before Thursday.