Cryptic Woodmont Avenue closure message puzzles Bethesda residents

A digital sign board placed on Woodmont Avenue between Elm Street and Bethesda Avenue has been displaying a message for several days. "Woodmont to be closed on or about 6/1/26." It doesn't specify why, for how long, or which segment of Woodmont it applies to. Over the last few days, I have combed through the Montgomery County Department of Transportation website news releases and projects page, and find no information about this closure. I've also reviewed the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center newsletters going back several weeks, and have found no mention of this. I asked MCDOT on X about the closure two days ago, and have not received a response as of this writing.

This will potentially be a major disruption to traffic in the Bethesda Row area and beyond. It will impact residents and businesses alike. And it is only a few days away. The public really needs to be informed by Montgomery County of the specifics of this closure.

Suspect arrested in North Bethesda Marriott hotel shooting death

Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect in the May 14, 2026 fatal shooting of a hotel guest outside of the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at 5701 Marinelli Road in Rockville. Terrance Brainell Williams, 41, has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Quentin Tyrone Davis. Police initially had reason to suspect the alleged shooter had fled on foot to the nearby White Flint Metro station. But after reviewing surveillance video, they identified a person seen walking from a car toward the hotel just prior to the shooting. That same person was seen returning to the vehicle immediately after the shooting, and driving away.

Detectives allege that individual is Williams. They also assert that Williams and Davis knew each other prior to the shooting. Williams is being held at the County jail pending a bond hearing.

Sneak peek: The Food Market in Bethesda (Photos)

Here's a sneak peek at the interior of The Food Market, the highly-anticipated restaurant opening at 4720 Hampden Lane, in the ground floor of the Hampden House apartment tower. As you can see, the interior fit-out is complete. Equipment and seating are in place, some with plastic covers still on. A plethora of artworks await hanging upon the beige walls of the dining room. This lease was quite a coup for developer Saul Centers.

It was way back in November 2024 that I broke the news that Chef Chad Gauss would be expanding his American cuisine concept from Baltimore and Columbia to downtown Bethesda. The Food Market specializes in steaks, seafood, inventive vegetarian dishes, stand-by appetizers like mozzarella sticks, and a number of international flavors ranging from tacos and pork belly to yellowfin tuna meatballs and red curry butternut squash soup. We don't have a Bethesda menu or opening date yet, but I can tell you that they are currently hiring for all positions.

Ed Hale racking up endorsements in Maryland governor race

Baltimore businessman Ed Hale has picked up the endorsement of several prominent Maryland Republicans as the June 23 primary election rapidly approaches. Delegate Kathy Szeliga (R - District 7a) and her district colleague Ryan Nawrocki (R) announced they are backing Hale at a press conference. Nawrocki picked up on one of Hale's signature issues, lowering utility bills, by noting that Governor Wes Moore's electric bill relief plan provides less than $13 a month to ratepayers. "Not even the price of a gumball," Nawrocki said.

Hale has also pulled off something of a coup in earning the endorsement of his biggest primary rival's own 2022 running mate. Gordana Schifanelli ran for lieutenant governor that year on a ticket with Dan Cox, who is running again this year with a different running mate, Rob Krop. Schifanelli not only isn't running alongside Cox this time, but has come out in support of Hale. An attorney from Queen Anne's County, Schifanelli retains a significant statewide following from that high-profile 2022 race and her own independent activism. 

At a separate press conference, Schifanelli touted Hale's "wisdom, his experience, his knowledge in business." Referring to Hale's rags-to-riches success story, and the moribund state of the Maryland economy, Schifanelli responded to the biggest critique of Hale by his primary opponents: his recent party switch from Democrat to Republican. "I don't care if he was a Democrat, or if he's a Martian, for that matter, if he has experience to fix this economic disaster," she said. Szeliga also took that attack line head-on, recalling that Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump were once Democrats.

Retail building for sale in downtown Bethesda

A partially-leased retail building in downtown Bethesda has hit the market for sale. 4707-4711 Chase Avenue is the former home of Besta Pizza and Hope Floats, the latter of which moved to a new spot at 7625 Wisconsin Avenue a few years ago. Those storefronts are vacant, but Autobody Dimensions is still located on the second floor. 

The asking price is not provided in the online listing, which does note that the prospective buyer will be subject to a ground lease, which has 36 years remaining on it. We don't know the specifics of this situation, or what adjustments might be made in negotiations with a prospective buyer, but ground leases can complicate matters for the buyer and seller. 

Foremost, under the typical ground lease arrangement, it means that 36 years from now, the property and all improvements the new owner might make revert to the ground lease holder. So your investment as the buyer is depreciating over time, while the property continues appreciating for the ground lease holder over the next four decades.

True Food Kitchen space being marketed as available for lease in Bethesda

Is True Food Kitchen on the way out in Bethesda? The restaurant's space at 7100 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda is now being marketed for lease, with immediate availability. True Food Kitchen opened there, in the ground floor of the Solaire Bethesda apartment tower, in June of 2017. Assuming a 10-year lease, this is a year short of the termination date. The proposed monthly rent for the 6500-square-foot space is available upon request, according to the online listing. True Food Kitchen remains open for business at this time.

EUG Apparel closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

EUG Apparel has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The sportswear and streetwear boutique launched a thousand discussions about its name, which appeared as Embrace Ur Greatness on the storefront, but which Westfield listed as EUG Apparel in its directories. Was the latter simply 3 initials - and if so, what did they stand for? - or a Trumpesque "Yuuuuuuuuge"? But as Jesse Jackson once declared, "The question is moot." The signage is gone, the space is cleared out, and the storefront windows are now blacked out. EUG opened here for the holiday shopping season in November 2024, and that's a pretty impressive run to last almost two years in Montgomery County's anti-business climate and moribund economy.

Pop Mart "coming soon" to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Pop Mart is "coming soon" to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, according to signage posted across its future storefront. Specifically, the massively hyped and viral Labubu and blind box toy retailer is coming this fall, the signage promises. It will be located on Level 1 of the mall, next to Bath & Body Works. And there's nothing Bono Vox's attorney can do about it!

Kokosh relocates at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kokosh has moved within Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cosmetics boutique debuted in the Macy's wing next to Purple back in December of 2023. It has stayed on Level 2, but now it is across from Uniqlo, next to LensCrafters. Carrying many of the top skincare products from South Korea has been a recipe for success for Kokosh at the mall, at a time when that country has become the standard for beauty and skincare across the globe. Kokosh also carries a line of jewelry reflecting the latest minimalist K-fashion trends in Seoul.

Third Space for Kids opens in Bethesda

Third Space for Kids has opened at 7801 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda, above Veterans Park. What is it? A community hub for families with children centered around play and activities. "Inspired by the idea of a 'third space,' a place beyond home and school, Third Space for Kids offers a warm, casual environment where children ages toddler through elementary school can engage with each other," their website says. "We have an infant room for your convenience. Third Space for Kids includes an activities area, a reading room, and a climbing playroom for inclement weather." 

The facility can also host parties. Hours of operation are 10:00 AM-5:00 PM on Thursdays, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Fridays, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays, and 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Sundays. Third Space for Kids says "Friday and Saturday extended hours are meant to give families a place to bring dinner and enjoy a game night together. It’s a fun, kid-friendly option for weekend evenings!"

Toastique opening in Friendship Heights

Toastique is coming soon to the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase. It will be opening at 5310 Western Avenue at The Shops at Wisconsin Place. Toastique is a fast-casual, health-conscious all-day cafe chain. Not surprisingly, their signature menu item is their Gourmet Toast with toppings like Avocado Smash, Spicy Crab, Tuscan Tuna, and PB Crunch. Also on the menu are healthy bowls, fresh juices, iced collagen lattes, smoothies, wellness shots, waffles, and sweet baked goods.

The local chain was founded by Brianna Keefe. She opened the first Toastique in Southwest Washington, D.C. Today, there are locations in 25 states. Besides being healthy, the menu items are consciously designed to be photogenic for social media. Construction on Toastique is expected to begin by summer.