Saks Fifth Avenue to close in Chevy Chase, opening potential major redevelopment opportunity

Saks Fifth Avenue will close its store at 5555 Wisconsin Avenue in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase by the end of May. The high-end department store chain announced it will close 12 stores as part of its ongoing bankruptcy woes. This includes the Tysons location, as well as landmark stores on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, on Long Island, and at South Coast Plaza in Orange County, California. Saks' Chevy Chase outpost has been just such a landmark since it opened in 1964, as the grand department stores slowly realized the future - and their customers - were in the suburbs.

The departure of Saks will open a potentially huge redevelopment opportunity for property owner CCLC. With Amazon Fresh also having closed at the Collection at Chevy Chase development, the company is free to seriously consider knocking most or all of the retail and office structures down, and build a mixed use "town center" that would fall somewhere on the scale between their Chevy Chase Lake project and Federal Realty's Pike & Rose. The current Collection retail center was constructed at a time when community input and civic associations had a much greater role in development, leading to the low-density project that resulted.

Fast forward to 2026, and the zoning and density restrictions are wildly more liberal. Montgomery County government no longer listens to public input, civic associations, or even the once-decisive powers like Kenwood or the Columbia Country Club, having paid no price whatsoever at the ballot box for defying public or power-player opinion on matters like the Westbard sector plan, the Little Falls Parkway road diet and the Purple Line.

If you haven't noticed yet, the County has abandoned all of its "Smart Growth" propaganda pablum. Planners no longer regale attendees at community meetings with high-minded platitudes like "transit-oriented development," "quarter-to-half-a-mile from Metro," "eyes on the street," and "activate the streetscape." In 2014, the County said it just wanted the shopping centers for redevelopment. "We won't touch the neighborhoods." Ten years later, it announced it wouldn't just touch, but bulldoze the neighborhoods, with the County Council passage of Thrive Montgomery 2050. 

No more dancing around. No more apologies.

Yet, at the Collection, there is not only the land to do something big, but the property is literally at a Metro station. And thanks to the County Council driving the rich to move to lower-tax jurisdictions in the region, Friendship Heights is in decline. As a result, CCLC would actually have a pretty solid basis upon which to argue for an ambitious revitalization project. It doesn't mean CCLC will do it. But the potential is there to go big, and ask for even bigger. It's not 2006 anymore, and the obstacles of public opinion and community that bedeviled developers then have been utterly vanquished over the succeeding two decades.

Montgomery County Animal Services shelter reaches critical capacity for large dogs

The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) is issuing an urgent appeal for community support as the shelter faces an unprecedented space crisis. In a span of just three days—from March 4 to March 6—the facility took in 29 dogs, pushing the total canine population over 100 and exceeding the shelter’s capacity for care. The situation has reached a tipping point, threatening the shelter's long-standing commitment to animal welfare, and avoidance of euthanasia based solely on space limitations.

With dogs arriving faster than staff and volunteers can safely place them, available kennels have become extremely limited. MCASAC is calling on residents who are able to adopt a large dog to visit the shelter as soon as possible. Adoptions are completed on a first-come, first-served basis, and interested individuals should be prepared to take their new pet home the same day. Visitors are asked to bring a leash and collar to facilitate the process.

If you can take a big dog in for a short stay until the crisis is over, residents can join the MCASAC temporary foster program at no cost. The shelter provides all necessary supplies to those willing to open their homes to a large dog temporarily.

Visiting hours at the shelter are 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, and 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. The shelter is closed on Mondays. MCASAC is located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood.

Operated by the Office of Animal Services, MCASAC is Montgomery County’s only open-admission municipal shelter. It provides 24-hour emergency response and promotes responsible pet care through education and outreach. For more information on the adoption process or to view available animals, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices.

Renovations ahead for Equinox at Bethesda Row

A makeover is in the works for Equinox at 4905 Elm Street at Bethesda Row. This phase of the project will be limited to the ground level of the upscale fitness facility. The existing reception area will be replaced with a lounge. Work is anticipated to begin before summer.

Char'd opens at Pike & Rose, offering Ramadan specials

Char'd has opened at 11881 Grand Park Avenue at the Pike & Rose development on Rockville Pike. The fast-casual burger restaurant is also welcoming those breaking their Ramadan fast each evening. Through the end of Ramadan on March 19, the restaurant is offering complimentary dates and tea during Iftar hour, and will stay open until midnight each night. The Char'd menu is halal, including the grass-fed beef.

Daily Provisions opening Bethesda location this year

The Charles apartment tower has seen neighbor Hampden House's The Food Market, and is raising a Danny Meyer concept in response. Daily Provisions, an all-day dining concept from the Shake Shack founder, has signed a lease for a ground floor space in The Charles at 7340 Wisconsin Avenue. The restaurant will open this year. Meyer launched Daily Provisions in 2017 around the idea of what Manhattanites would want to buy on a daily basis, as opposed to a regional dining destination.

An initial three daily necessities Meyer identified were rotisserie chicken, breakfast sandwiches, and good coffee. Whole roasted Amish chicken became Daily Provisions' signature item, and the Bacon-Egg-and-Cheese and coffee have earned praise. But as often happens in business, an unexpected menu addition threatened to overtake even the chicken. Crullers baked at the original Gotham location became a viral sensation, drawing in donut lovers from far beyond 19th Street.

Daily Provisions will be the third Danny Meyer concept in downtown Bethesda by my count. Dig provides a similar dine-in/take-out bakery-restaurant model at 4733 Elm Street. Shake Shack is now under construction at the Element 28 apartment tower about three blocks from The Charles. Charles developer Greystar has successfully replaced an eyesore abandoned gas station with 310 apartments, and the dark blue exterior and hand-painted white font of Daily Provisions.

Silk Route to replace Tia Queta in Bethesda

The building that long housed Tia Queta at 4839 Del Ray Avenue in downtown Bethesda has been sold. But it is not going to be part of any redevelopment project in the near future. A new restaurant tenant, Silk Route, has just leased the building, and is hiring staff. The new restaurant already has a liquor license hearing scheduled for April 9 at 2:30 PM.

According to Maryland real estate records, the property sold for $2,100,000. The new owner is a shell company, Nimi China, LLC. Their address is a Dover, Delaware company that provides a Delaware address to foreign entities, and is used by over 100,000 overseas businesses.

Maryland Governor candidate Dan Cox proposes property tax limit

Dan Cox, a Republican candidate for Maryland Governor, has proposed placing a limit on property taxes in the state. The proposal would prevent the assessed property value calculated by the state from increasing above the price the current homeowner paid for the house at the time of purchase. Cox's running mate, Rob Krop, announced the platform plank on social media yesterday. "We need to stop taxing families out of their homes," Krop said. 

Coffee Republic "coming soon" to downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Coming-soon signage has been installed in the windows of the future Coffee Republic coffee shop, which will be in the ground floor of the Bethesda Place apartments at 7701 Woodmont Avenue. The shop be connected to the adjacent Lidl grocery store. All of Coffee Republic's globally-sourced beans are roasted at its flagship Mooresville, North Carolina location. In addition to signature coffee drinks, their shops also serve a variety of baked goods, wraps, quiche, and breakfast burritos. Construction is now underway, as evidenced by the Tyvek wrap on the storefront.

Assault at hotel in Friendship Heights

Montgomery County police were called to a hotel in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase last night, after someone was allegedly assaulted there. The 2nd-degree assault was reported in the 5500 block of Wisconsin Avenue at 8:20 PM Tuesday, March 3, 2026. A Courtyard by Marriott hotel is located at 5520 Wisconsin.

Reardon Sullivan to launch Montgomery County Council District 1 campaign March 5

Reardon "Sully" Sullivan, a Republican from Bethesda, will officially kick off his campaign for the District 1 seat on the Montgomery County Council tomorrow, March 5, 2026, at an event from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in downtown Bethesda. WMAL radio host and Town Hall editor Larry O'Connor will emcee the event. The exact location will be provided to attendees upon registration for the event.

Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase 50th Annual Community Art Show and Sale, March 20-22, 2026

Get ready to celebrate a major half-century milestone in our local arts scene. The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase is rolling out the red carpet for its 50th Annual Community Art Show and Sale. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just looking for that perfect piece to brighten up your living room, this is the event of the season. From Friday, March 20, 2026, to Sunday, March 22, the club will transform into a vibrant gallery featuring the work of 140 local artists. With over 400 original pieces on display, there will truly be something for everyone—at prices that won't break the bank.

This isn't just a show; it's a curated competition. This year, the club will welcome Dr. Jack Rasmussen, Director and Curator of the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, as their guest judge.

Artists will be competing and exhibiting across ten diverse categories:

• Traditional Media: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, and Pastel.
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• Modern Perspectives: Photography, Mixed Media, and Prints & Drawings.
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• Specialty Works: Portraits, "Smalls," and Other Media (including fine crafts like glass, wood, metal, and paper).

Beyond the beauty on the walls, this event has a heart. Proceeds from the show will go directly toward scholarships for art students, helping the next generation of creators find their voice. By taking home a piece of art, you’re investing in the future of the arts in our community.

Admission is free and the public is invited to explore the gallery over these three days:

• Friday, March 20 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Saturday, March 21 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Sunday, March 22 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase is located at 7931 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Free parking is available off Dunlop Street, behind the clubhouse. Need more information? Reach out at wcccartshow@gmail.com or visit wcccmaryland.org.

CNN host diagnoses an embarrassing Montgomery County Council fiscal problem

CNN host Fareed Zakaria stirred controversy last week when he delivered straight talk on why many jurisdictions like Montgomery County have become simultaneously unaffordable while operating on fiscal thin ice. He mentioned a number of familiar factors, but he articulated a particular problem quite well: The fact that the growth of Montgomery County's budget and spending outstrip every other relevant growth factor from business growth and school enrollment to population growth. We know the County spends way too much, as evidenced by our structural budget deficit and the shocking doubling of the budget's size over just the last decade. But when you compare the lack of growth in these other benchmarks to the steadily ballooning amount of spending, the County Council's reckless budgeting looks truly ridiculous.

For example, looking at the supersizing of the County budget, you would think that Montgomery County was enjoying rapid population growth. But even as the budget has reached one record high after another, MoCo's population has actually been shrinking. The County experienced a net loss of more than 9500 residents between 2020 and 2022, and an additional net domestic migration loss of another 11,153 people between 2022 and 2023. And of course, as we know, the very rich are exiting, and the majority of the people moving in are low-income.

"The arithmetic is brutal," Zakaria said in describing a similar population loss (relative to size) over the same period in New York City. "A larger [tax] bill is divided among fewer payers."

Likewise, the budget of Montgomery County Public Schools has grown to obscene heights, even as enrollment has plummeted this decade. And the more generous the Council is with our taxpayer money toward MCPS, the worse the performance outcomes are. It's literally money flushed down the toilet.

"New York already sits at the extreme end of the American tax spectrum," Zakaria noted. So does Montgomery County, whose residents shoulder the highest total tax and fee burden in the Washington, D.C. region. Incredibly, the County Council is currently proposing to raise property taxes yet again this year, and to massively increase the already-gargantuan real estate recordation tax. Both play a role in the unaffordable housing market. Property taxes have become the equivalent of a second mortgage, and high recordation taxes already dissuade homeowners from selling their properties, reducing supply even further while jacking up prices for struggling buyers. Heckuva job, Brownie!

In Europe, Zakaria adds, the NYC and MoCo-level of extreme taxation earns you perks like "free" healthcare, university education, and "amazing infrastructure." In Montgomery County, you get an unfinished master plan highway system, an unbuilt Potomac River bridge, an unbuilt M-83 Highway, an unbuilt Corridor Cities Transitway rail system, an unbuilt Montrose Parkway East, and no bus service to Damascus on weekends and holidays. Trash collection is down to once a week, and is picked up at the curb, requiring homeowners to do most of the job by hauling bins down to the street and back. Snow from a January storm is still melting on many streets.

Jurisdictions like NYC and Montgomery County, Zakaria concluded, "are out of control, promising more, spending more, delivering less and pushing off the fiscal problems to some future date." And then he dispensed this well-worded diagnosis of a central problem in Montgomery County's "leadership:"

"Unaffordability is what happens when government becomes a machine that grows faster than the society it governs." That is exactly the situation in Montgomery County. In a County that hasn't attracted a single new major corporate headquarters in over 25 years, the only booming growth industry is Montgomery County Government, and the best position to be in is either an elected office chair, or one of the many cronies and crooks in the Montgomery County cartel who receive financial kickbacks of taxpayer funds in the bloated County budget.

Assault at Bethesda Library

A 2nd-degree assault at the Connie Morella Bethesda Library drew a significant police response yesterday afternoon. The assault was reported at the library, which is located at 7400 Arlington Road, at 4:56 PM Sunday. A reader reports that five Montgomery County police cruisers responded to the incident. 

The assault took place at a peak library time for children and families during daylight hours. What a sad statement about the ultra-low quality-of-life standards applied by our feckless Montgomery County Council in the 21st-century. Bethesda residents are paying too outrageous a level of taxes to have to put up with this [garbage], much less have their kids exposed to it.

Citibank to open new Bethesda branch March 11

Citibank will open its newest Bethesda branch on March 11, 2026. The new branch is located at 8101 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. This is actually a branch move, as the existing Citibank at 8001 Wisconsin (pictured below) will close March 6 at 1:00 PM, and relocate to the new location. Citibank did recently add a downtown branch over at the Flats at Bethesda Avenue apartments.