Aerospace firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for 2nd headquarters

Colorado-based defense and aerospace firm Auria, following the model of Amazon with its HQ2, sought a location to establish a new East Coast corporate headquarters. You will be absolutely shocked to learn that the company came to the same conclusion as Amazon, and has chosen Fairfax County over Montgomery County. Auria announced it will open its HQ2 at 2000 Edmund Halley Drive in Reston. The headquarters will also contain research, development, and system integration facilities, which will enhance testing and product demonstration capabilities. Meanwhile, the Montgomery County Council will have to again save their ribbon cutting scissors for the next convenience store opening.

"We are proud to welcome Auria’s East Coast headquarters to Fairfax," Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said in a statement yesterday. She said the company's decision "reflects confidence in our business environment, strategic location, and our continued support of innovative aerospace and defense companies."

We could talk about the lower taxes and business-friendly environment of Northern Virginia compared to Montgomery County, which has the highest total tax and fee burden in the entire region. But let's look again at the critical factor of access to Dulles International Airport, essential for any serious international businessperson. The site chosen by Auria is an 8 minute drive away from Dulles. Montgomery County still lacks direct access to Dulles, thanks to the Montgomery County Council canceling the long-planned Potomac River crossing of I-370 to Route 28 in the Dulles area. Doh!

Sneak peek: Bob's Soup Dumplings & Bar in Bethesda

Here's our first look at the interior fit-out of the long-awaited Bob's Soup Dumplings & Bar at 7776 Norfolk Avenue in the ground floor of the Windsor Bethesda apartment tower. It appears complete, with decor, lighting fixtures, and furnishings in place. It's been just over a year since I broke the story of a new Bob's Shanghai concept opening in Bethesda. With that regionally-recognized dining pedigree, this could be one of the biggest restaurant openings of the year in Bethesda - and quite a boon for residents upstairs, and in the nearby apartment buildings.

Always Ice Cream to open at Westbard Square in Bethesda

Always Ice Cream continues its rapid expansion into Montgomery County. It just announced a new location will open at 5335 Westbard Avenue at Westbard Square in Bethesda. The Maryland-based chain manufactures over 250 handcrafted flavors in the state. Currently operating locations in the Annapolis area, Always Ice Cream is now opening locations at Pike & Rose in Rockville, and in Charles County. The Westbard Square shop is expected to open next spring.

Lil Sweet Treat opening at Bethesda Row

The "ultimate destination for candy connoisseurs" is coming soon to downtown Bethesda. Lil Sweet Treat will be located at 7129 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row. That is the space recently vacated by longtime tenant Luke's Lobster. Now your sweet tooth will drop anchor at a shop loaded to the gills with a curated selection of the best candies from around the globe. Imports will include treats from Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. 

Police respond to assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police officers responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall last night, October 24, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 7:00 PM Saturday. This assault is the second to be reported at the retail center since Westfield instituted a 3:00 PM juvenile curfew on September 28. It is the ninth assault reported at the mall this year. Twelve assaults were recorded at the property in 2025.

Israeli defense firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Israeli defense firm Smart Shooter has selected the location for its new U.S. headquarters, and - surprise! - it's Northern Virginia, not Montgomery County. The company, known for its rifle-mounted and hand-held fire control systems, chose Dulles Office Park in Herndon for its U.S. operations center. As you might surmise from the property name, the site is 5 minutes from Dulles International Airport, an essential amenity for international businesspeople. Montgomery County infamously lacks direct access to Dulles, by virtue of County elected officials cancelling the long-planned new Potomac River crossing from I-370 in Gaithersburg to Route 28 in the Dulles area. "I coulda been a contender!" Womp, womp.

Photo courtesy Fairfax County Economic Development Authority/Nikolai Roster

Our Mom Eugenia, Method Room "coming soon" to Westbard Square in Bethesda

Our Mom Eugenia and Method Room are "coming soon" to Westbard Square in Bethesda, according to signage posted at the development at 5400 Westbard Avenue. The former is a well-reviewed, family-owned local Greek restaurant chain with multiple locations in Northern Virginia. Now Our Mom Eugenia is crossing the Potomac to set up shop in the "Canal House" building that faces The Square public space at the Regency Centers property. Reformer-based Pilates fitness studio Method Room has signed on to fill the final ground-level space in the existing Giant building at the property, right next to Voorthuis Opticians.

Tesla returns to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tesla has returned...sort of...to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The electric vehicle manufacturer had a strong partnership with the mall for many years. It leased a prominent space for a showroom, and for a row of charging stations in the parking garage off the Nordstrom wing. There were ambitious plans to build a Supercharger station on the mall property. But after Elon Musk enraged many in the region with his involvement in the DOGE initiative, Tesla became a target for protest, and its mall showroom abruptly closed.

The return of Tesla is quite underwhelming compared to what came before. A single vehicle on display as you often see from other auto dealerships. A simple display. A white logo cube with a bottle of hand sanitizer on top. As competitor Rivian readies a Bethesda Row showroom, and superior options from China are held off by Detroit lobbyists hoping the free enterprise dam won't burst, is a display car enough to compete in one of the biggest EV markets in the country?

Assault reported at Bethesda Elementary School

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Bethesda Elementary School at 7600 Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda yesterday afternoon. The assault was reported at the school at 3:10 PM Wednesday. No further information about the incident is available at this time.