Paws & Relax Cat Lounge opening in Bethesda

Paws & Relax Cat Lounge is coming to downtown Bethesda early next year. It will be located at 8227 Woodmont Avenue. The lounge will be a pet cafe where visitors can remote work or just hang out, while meeting adoptable rescue cats. It will aim to provide a mutually beneficial service for the community, creating a therapeutic environment for human patrons, while providing a place for rescue cats and ultimately facilitating their adoption. Paws & Relax is targeting a late winter/early spring 2027 opening.

Ooh La La Bakery closes in Bethesda

Ooh La La Bakery has closed its downtown Bethesda location at 8231 Woodmont Avenue. The French-inspired bakery continues to serve customers at its original shop at 2600 University Boulevard West in Wheaton. It opened this second location only eight months ago. Customers gave the Bethesda bakery pretty high marks, with 4.2 stars on Google Reviews, 5 stars on Facebook, and 3.7 stars on Yelp.

South Block opening at Bethesda Row

South Block is coming soon to Bethesda Row. It will be located next to Equinox. "Blending soon" signage has just been installed in its future storefront. The juice bar serves fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, açaí bowls, and loaded avocado or banana toast. South Block already has a location at another Federal Realty property, Pike & Rose in Rockville.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bethesda Row

Egg nog hits the shelves before Halloween these days, and the elves at Bethesda Row are almost as fast. The main Christmas tree is now up on Bethesda Lane. Also popping up around the Federal Realty development are cascading lights and giant snowflakes, giving the impression of falling snow. Keep on the lookout for additional lights and displays at other spots on the property.

Ted's Bulletin "coming 2027" to Bethesda

Coming-soon signage has been installed for Ted's Bulletin at the vacant Woodmont Grill building at 7715 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The signs promote a 2027 opening of the upscale diner's newest location in the D.C. region. Woodmont Grill abruptly closed one year ago despite being one of the busiest and most successful restaurants in town for decades, beginning its life as Houston's. This past August, the building was acquired by restaurateur and entrepreneur Steve Salis, who owns Ted's, among many other regional brands. The move sets up a dramatic showdown between modern diner Ted's and the "genuine article" vintage Tastee Diner right next door.

Signage installed at Maten's entertainment center in Bethesda

The first permanent signage has been installed at the future Maten's entertainment center at 7500 Old Georgetown Road, at the Bethesda Metro Center. Featuring billiards, shuffleboard, and foosball, the business is being positioned as an "out-of-home" entertainment venue by founder Aaron Lippman. The 4000-square-foot space will also feature lounge areas and beverage sales. Maten's is currently expected to open in early 2027.

QToys closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

QToys has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It has been removed from the mall tenant directory. It's a surprising closure for two reasons: First, we are approaching the peak toy-buying season of the year. And second, QToys only opened this location one year ago. A Chinese collectible toy importer, QToys may have been overshadowed by recent competitors at the mall like Pop Mart and Kako Claw. On a larger scale, the Financial Times recently reported that the Labubu toy craze is showing signs of running out of steam.

Police respond to assault in Glen Echo

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in Glen Echo Thursday afternoon, October 29, 2026. The assault was reported in the 6100 block of Harvard Avenue at 2:45 PM. It took place in a commercial parking lot. That appears to be the U.S. Post Office and Town Hall lot.

Ruta Ukrainian restaurant closed in Bethesda

Ruta, the Ukrainian restaurant located at 4862 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda, was closed yesterday. A sign in the window informs prospective diners that the establishment is "currently closed." But no explanation of the reason for the closure is provided. No reopening date is mentioned, either. Ruta opened here in August of 2024.

T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs, Lilly Pulitzer reopen at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Three big names at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda have reopened after completing major renovation projects. T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs and Lilly Pulitzer are now open well ahead of Black Friday and the peak holiday shopping season. Lilly Pulitzer has been making over its stores recently to give them the aesthetic of a resort residence with Mediterranean-inspired, Palm Beach-style design and decor. T-Mobile has focused its renovations on transforming its stores from transactional retail outlets to experiential spaces with interactive displays. Both retailers are emphasizing a more open floorplan. Häagen-Dazs is...well, Häagen-Dazs.