Gorjana opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Gorjana has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A midsummer opening is perfect timing for this Laguna Beach-inspired jewelry boutique, even if you're more likely to be sporting pieces from your Gorjana haul at O.C., rather than in The O.C. New additions for this summer include scallop earrings, the Scallop Padlock Bay Necklace, and the 18K gold plated Crab Single Stud earring, all at surprisingly reasonable prices. Look for Gorjana on Level 1 of the mall, next to Sunglass Hut in the Nordstrom wing.

Alatri Bros. closing after today in Bethesda

Alatri Bros. will permanently shutter at the close of business tonight after ten successful years at 4926 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. The pizzeria's head chef, Wilber Melendez, tragically and unexpectedly passed away earlier this month. A GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and a final trip home to El Salvador for Wilber received tremendous support from the community, meeting its $15,000 goal with $295 to spare. The support by patrons of the restaurant continued yesterday, with diners packing the pizzeria for dinner. You have one last chance today and tonight to enjoy the flavors of Alatri Bros.!

Buffalo Wild Wings GO is coming to Bethesda

Just in time for football season, Buffalo Wild Wings GO will be opening a Bethesda location. It will be located at 4611-C Sangamore Road at the Shops at Sumner Place (a.k.a. Little Falls Mall). This is quite a coup for property owner W.C. & A.N. Miller, as you might have expected Regency Centers to reel in a big name like this for their nearby Westbard Square development. The Bethesda BWW GO will also be unusual in that the existing Montgomery County locations have all been on major thoroughfares. Perhaps the chicken wing chain is looking at the high traffic at this busy mall, as well as at the thousands of employees at the intelligence campus directly across the street. Even the Deep State eats lunch.

Buffalo Wild Wings' "GO" concept took off during the pandemic, when the chicken wings chain sought to capitalize on an explosion in demand for takeout orders, as well as a chance to muscle in on carryout-focused competitors like Wingstop. You'll find a slimmed-down menu at Buffalo Wild Wings GO, comprised of some of BWW's customer favorites. 

An "innovative cooking process" is able to churn out the same crispy wings you find at a regular BWW at a speedier pace, the company says. The interior set-up is designed to get customers in and out of the smaller-scale GO store as quickly as possible, especially when ordering ahead. GO also has some exclusive flavors not found at the full-size BWW. As you can see, construction is just getting started in the former Wild Bird Center space.

Agora restaurant opens in Bethesda

Agora has opened at 1 Bethesda Metro Center in the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel. This is the third location for the local Mediterranean restaurant chain, and its largest. The restaurant has a maximum capacity of 300 guests, including private rooms with space for up to 50, semi-private accommodations for up to 120, and a patio with room for 100 guests. Initially, Agora will be serving a dinner menu only, focused on the culinary traditions of Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon. Later this summer, breakfast, lunch, and brunch menus will be added.

Signature dishes include a slow-cooked lamb shoulder feast designed for sharing, grilled beef and lamb kebabs, grilled branzino and octopus, and traditional desserts like kunefe and baklava. Another signature at Agora is their exclusive use of Laconiko extra virgin olive oil, a premium Koroneiki olive oil recognized internationally for its exceptionally high polyphenol content, naturally low acidity, and outstanding flavor. 

Like 4-star General John Kelly, starting the day with a full breakfast is a non-negotiable must for me when traveling. The eventual addition of breakfast service here is going to be a real boon for guests at the hotel, as well as nearby residents. Dishes planned for the breakfast menu at Agora include gluten-free Mediterranean-Style Fried Eggs with asparagus, tomatoes, and mushrooms; Aegean Avocado Toast with organic poached eggs, sourdough bread, avocado, olive oil, paprika, pine nuts, and microgreens; and a Sunrise Porridge made with almond milk, pine honey, and orange zest.

Agora Restaurant Group, celebrating over 15 years of success in the region, is co-owned by husband and wife team Betul and Ismail Uslu. Ismail Uslu began his career in the hospitality industry at luxury resorts in Turkey, and sees his career coming full circle as his latest venture debuts in downtown Bethesda's most-prominent hotel. “Having spent many years working in hotels, opening Agora inside the Hyatt Regency Bethesda feels like a homecoming,” he says. “It brings together my passion for hospitality and our vision of creating a restaurant that serves both travelers and the local community.”

Fairmont Grill out before even opening in Bethesda

The long-awaited Fairmont Grill Dry Aged Kitchen won't be opening after all, at least not at 4940 Fairmont Avenue. A For Lease sign has now appeared in the window, before the restaurant even served its first steak. It's been 23 months since the Fairmont Grill announced it would be opening in this spot. With window coverings obscuring the interior all that time, it's unclear what construction work was performed, if any.

Barry's opening July 25 in Bethesda

Barry's, the fitness studio chain known for its high intensity cardio and strength classes, has set the opening date for its first Maryland location. The downtown Bethesda Barry's will open this coming Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. No more riding into D.C. for Red Room workouts. Special opening rates and membership packages are still available this week, including an $85 Bethesda 5-Pack that "can be used to bring guests" during the first month. Here's a sneak peek at the reception area:

Peeping Tom in Potomac

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a peeping Tom in Potomac late Friday night, July 17, 2026. The incident was reported in the 7900 block of Stable Way at 11:48 PM. That is a small townhome-style condo development at the northern terminus of Stable Way in the River Falls area.

Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too returning to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

One of the signs that the holiday shopping season isn't as far away as it seems is here once again at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too is announcing its annual return to the mall for 2026. Coming soon signage for the seasonal apparel store has been posted at the former Sleep Number space on Level 1, between Arc'teryx and Lululemon. The holiday pop-up tends to open in September, but recently made an earlier exit in January than its typical March departure.