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:

Cubano's closed for today in Bethesda to make "exciting changes"

Cubano's is temporarily closed for the day at 4907 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The Cuban restaurant says the closure is necessary to facilitate "exciting changes." Sounds of work can be heard from inside the restaurant, where unspecified "home improvements to better serve our guests" are being made, and music is still emanating from exterior speakers. Cubano's will reopen for normal business hours tomorrow, June 29, 2026.

Toolbox leases former Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle space in Bethesda

Toolbox, a Pilates and yoga studio with a Dupont Circle location in Washington, D.C., has leased the former Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle space at 4844 Cordell Avenue. Why such a large space? Maybe because the D.C. location doubles as an upscale event space after business hours. 

Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Iva Gotzev, the original Toolbox can host everything from corporate events to weddings, in a space that combines warm, natural surfaces with displays of art. If the same model is followed at the Bethesda location, it would be the second dedicated event venue to open in downtown Bethesda in as many years, following The Cordell at 4865 Cordell Avenue. A third, Bonvenue at 7615 Wisconsin Avenue, remains in limbo for now.

Flanagan's closed in 2020 after decades as a fixture in downtown Bethesda. What triggered the demise of a business that had weathered so many economic downturns of the past? The anti-business policies of the Montgomery County Council, and the Council's 2012 Nighttime Economy Initiative, delivered stiff body blows to every hospitality business in the County, with the latter leading to the closure of over 25 nightspots in downtown Bethesda over the ensuing years. At the time of the closure, the owner cited the County Council's Bethesda Streetery street closures, and the County's pandemic ban on live music, as the straws that broke the camel's back. The exit of Flanagan's saw Bethesda become one of the few towns in America without a single Irish pub, adding to its existing notoriety as one of the few towns in America without a St. Patrick's Day parade.