Signage installed at Char'd at Pike & Rose

The sign is up at Char'd at 11881 Grand Park Avenue at Pike & Rose. It's already hooked up and lit after dark. However, it looks a bit undersized for the amount of space available above the storefront. What's not undersized is the steady popularity of burger startups in Montgomery County, with the Char'd announcement generating immediate enthusiasm among hamburger lovers familiar with the brand. The burger fad has remained strong for over a decade, with a Steeze Burger and Z-Burger entering for every Kraze Burger and Bobby's Burger Palace that has exited. Let's have a moment of silence for Hamburger Hamlet and Fuddruckers, though.

Maryland is 2nd-worst state to start a business, study finds

Maryland is the second-worst state in America in which to start a business, a study by WalletHub found. Rhode Island is rated the worst of all. The latest ignoble recognition for the Old Line State is compounded by other recent rankings showing Maryland is #46 out of 50 in tax competitiveness, according to the Tax Foundation, and is way down at #36 on the list of best states to retire in - also compiled by WalletHub.

Montgomery County has the highest overall tax and fee burden in the region. What else makes Maryland a terrible place to start a business? A poor business environment, WalletHub says. That includes measurements of current small business growth statistics, job growth, variety of industries, startups per capita, five-year business survival rate, share of fast-growing firms, and the entrepreneurship index. 

Another criteria examined was the cost of doing business. Beyond high County and State taxes, that takes into account the cost of living, the cost of office space, labor costs, employer-based health insurance costs, and the corporate tax rate. Not surprisingly, Maryland scores poorly across the board on business costs.

Also considered were access to capital and a skilled workforce. This includes the amount of venture capital being invested in Maryland businesses, rankings of colleges and universities in the state, and growth of the working age population.

Which states are the best to start a business in? According to WalletHub, Florida, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, and California. Better start voting for better-qualified elected officials, or rent a moving truck for your business to relocate to greener pastures.

Imagine if they had factored in the exorbitant cost of energy in Maryland! We might have dropped to dead last. As it is, we're in real trouble, folks. How many more miles can Montgomery County and Maryland go down the road with tape over the Check Engine light on the economic development dashboard? Heckuva job, Brownie!

Foot Locker reopens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

 

Better late than never. Foot Locker has reopened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in a new, larger space. The new store includes a Kids Foot Locker. A fall 2025 opening date blew past, but one of the top sporting goods destinations at the mall is finally open for business again.

No Regrets to Go pizzeria opening in Bethesda

No Regrets Pizza is expanding from White Flint to downtown Bethesda. No Regrets to Go will be located in the ground floor of the new Sophia Bethesda apartment tower at 4924 St. Elmo Avenue. The new location will sell beer and wine. The owner has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the application has been scheduled for March 19, 2026 at 10:30 AM.

Town Jewelers burglarized in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at Town Jewelers at 7028 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda in the early morning hours of January 25, 2026. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the business. Merchandise was stolen from inside the store. 

Police have no suspect descriptions at this time, and did not indicate how the suspect(s) managed to avoid appearing on surveillance camera footage. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Washington Gas still working after major leak in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Washington Gas continues to work on multiple sites within an area of downtown Bethesda that Montgomery County police cordoned off during a major gas leak last Monday night. While Montgomery County officials publicly pinpointed a valve box as the source of the leak near the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and St. Elmo Avenue Tuesday morning, a Washington Gas crew was seen working on Cordell Avenue two days later. Yesterday, another team from the utility was performing extensive work on gas infrastructure underneath Old Georgetown Road, again within the boundaries of the area impacted by Monday's leak, and reducing Old Georgetown to one lane in each direction. Neither the County, nor the utility, has commented on the extended work since the initial incident.

Super Bowl Sunday goes all day at Pike El Diamante in Bethesda

If you want to stretch out your Super Bowl celebration all day and into the late night, but don't want to do any shopping, hosting, or cooking, Pike El Diamante at 4906 St. Elmo Avenue in Bethesda has just the itinerary for you. Start the day with a Super Bowl Brunch from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. At 3:00 PM, you're invited to their Super Bowl Day Party, with live music by Unique Minds Band until 7:00 PM. You'll be well-positioned for the big game itself Sunday evening, with appetizer and drink specials. See the full list of prices below:

Bethesda Florist announces new location ahead of March move

Bethesda Florist has identified the location of its future storefront, and the anticipated date it will relocate there. It will continue to operate at its longtime location of 4934 St. Elmo Avenue until March 1, 2026, upon which date it will open at 8125-C Wisconsin Avenue, which actually faces Maple Avenue, a Bethesda street so quaint it ends in a cul-de-sac at Lynbrook Park. There is a Montgomery County public parking lot directly adjacent to the new Bethesda Florist location. One way to think about the move is that you'll be ordering Valentine's Day flowers from the usual St. Elmo location, and Easter, Passover, and Mother's Day arrangements from the new Wisconsin Avenue spot.

Current location still operating until March 1

Sunset on Midsummer opening this spring in Bethesda

Sunset on Midsummer is coming to the Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda this spring. A true local, small business startup by founder Lindsey Wolf, the boutique will carry chic apparel, accessories, and gifts aimed toward tweens, teens, and young adults. Sunset on Midsummer will offer on-site embroidery and heat-press personalization, in a 1,759 square-foot space located between Fish Taco and Irresistibles. Wolf, whose father grew up near the Wildwood Shopping Center, is currently aiming for a Saturday, April 18, 2026 opening.

“Wildwood is the perfect location for Sunset on Midsummer,” Wolf said in a statement yesterday. “As a Montgomery County native with personal ties to the area, Wildwood naturally attracts the brand’s core audience and supports experiential retail concepts that encourage connection.” “Wildwood is pleased to welcome Lindsey and Sunset on Midsummer, a new local business to the Bethesda community,” Federal Realty Vice-President Vanessa Mendoza said in announcing the lease Friday. “Small businesses have always been at the heart of Wildwood, and we’re excited to see Sunset on Midsummer thrive at this popular shopping destination.” Federal Realty owns the Wildwood Shopping Center, and has indeed made room for small businesses to grow there over the years.

Sunset on Midsummer sounds like a concept that could enjoy such growth. Hiring of staff will begin soon, and a website for the boutique is online. You can sign up online now to get on The Sunset List ahead of the grand opening.

Alo "coming soon" to Bethesda Row (Photos)

We knew Alo was coming to Bethesda Row this spring, and now we know where. It will be in the space just vacated by Room & Board at 7236 Woodmont Avenue. Last evening, workers were busy inside completing demolition of the interior. Alo sells "high-performance, fashion-forward clothing" for yoga, movement, recovery, and the wellness-focused lifestyle.

Signage installed at Rosetta Italian Bakery in Bethesda

The sign is up at Rosetta Italian Bakery at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. Usually I can report that the sign is connected and lit after dark, but in this case, the installers had it lit up already during daylight hours Wednesday. Rosetta, or michetta, is an Italian white bread roll often used for sandwiches. The bakery chain was founded in 2015 with the vision of becoming "an official ambassador of the Italian art of baking." Customers in the bakery's communal dining area will be able to watch bakers at work in the kitchen, with authentic ingredients imported fresh from Italy, through a large observation window. The Best Buddies logo on the sign reflects the Florida chain's commitment to hiring staff through that organization.