Squatter discovered in downtown Bethesda home

A squatter was found inside a vacant home in downtown Bethesda yesterday afternoon, August 3, 2026. The squatter was discovered at 5:28 PM Monday inside a home in the 4800 block of West Lane. According to Montgomery County police, the suspect gained entry to the home through a window, and had been living inside for an unspecified period of time. Nothing was stolen from inside the home, police said, but they did not indicate if the suspect managed to get away.

Call Your Mother opens in Bethesda

Call Your Mother has opened at 4828 St. Elmo Avenue in Bethesda. This is the popular local deli chain's second Montgomery County outpost, with the first having opened several years ago at Pike & Rose in Rockville. It's actually their fourth in Maryland, where they also have locations in Annapolis and Riverdale Park. You can check out the menu below, which includes their most popular signature items, but also sleepers like the Chicago Dog on a pretzel bagel bun.

Montgomery County Council seeks to remove neighborhood veto power on "benefit performances"

The Montgomery County Council is proposing to strip residents of their existing veto power over "benefit performances" staged in their residential neighborhoods. Currently, entities and organizations - with a few exceptions, such as fire departments and religious institutions - who propose to hold a live music event, carnival, festival, or other performance to raise charitable funds must obtain consent from 75% of residents whose homes are within 600 feet of the performance site. Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-11: Temporary Uses - Benefit Performances would entirely eliminate this veto authority from neighbors. If passed, the ZTA would merely require that those residents be notified that they are going to be treated to a benefit performance, whether they like it or not. The performances could last as long as 15 days(!!).

I would venture to say that few Montgomery County residents are even aware that they currently possess this veto authority, much less that the Council is conniving to relieve them of it. The move continues a trend for the Council - when they're not banning stuff or raising taxes, they're systematically removing residents' ability to express objection or input on controversial matters they want to ram through, from development and road diets to bike lanes, bus depots, landfills and jails. A public hearing on the ZTA is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.

Demolition imminent at site of future apartment tower in Bethesda

Preparations are being made for the first demolition of structures at the site of a new apartment tower at the southeast corner of Old Georgetown Road and St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Demolition fencing has been erected around vacant storefronts at 4938 and 4940 St. Elmo. Other properties on the assembled site that will also be demolished include the office building with Old Georgetown Grille and Colonial Opticians on the ground floor, and the former Bethesda Florist and Jewelry Exchange buildings. The apartment tower to be constructed by developer Stonebridge will be 175' tall, with 240 residential units, and 6000-square feet of retail and restaurant space on the ground floor.

Fashion Q returning to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Red alert! Fashion Q is making a triumphant return to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Los Angeles-based fashion wholesaler closed almost exactly one year ago at the mall, after less than a year in business, a victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy. Now they're giving it another go, this time in the former Forever 21 space on Level 1, across from Build-A-Bear. 

Fashion Q traces its roots back to the 1980s. It chose its "Q" logo because a one-letter sign was cheaper than using the whole brand name. The cost savings extend to its merchandise, which is purchased wholesale here and abroad.

Call Your Mother deli prepares for August 3 opening in Bethesda

Staff at Call Your Mother deli at 4828 St. Elmo Avenue in Bethesda are making final preparations for the opening of the local chain's newest location on August 3, 2026. A final addition to the exterior is a lit logo sign that has already been activated. Inside, the chain describes the interior design as "a fun house that feels like Boca in your backyard. All of the signature bagel sandwiches CYM is known for will be on the menu, including the Jetski, the DelRay Club, and the Suncity. 

Suncity sandwich with bacon

"Bethesda has always felt like home for us," co-founder Andrew Dana said in a statement. "It's a community where people care deeply about supporting local businesses. We received so much love the first go round that we knew we needed a bigger space, and we're so excited to welcome folks back and meet new friends!"

Sneak peek: Shake Shack in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Shake Shack is expected to open next month at 7535 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda, in the ground floor of the Element 28 apartment tower. The burger chain got overly optimistic this spring in announcing a June 24 opening date, but as you can see, the interior fit-out of the restaurant is now complete. Equipment and supplies are now being loaded in, while seating and ordering kiosks are now mostly already in place. The neon signage has been lit, drawing burger lovers to peer into the windows, which you can do virtually below: