Citizens Bank now open in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Citizens Bank has opened at 7637 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. It was previously an HSBC branch, and is one of 80 east coast HSBC locations acquired by Citizens last year. Note that the new bank does not have weekend hours. It is located in the Lionsgate condo building, and there is a public parking garage directly adjacent to the Lionsgate.

Montgomery County government liquor stores stop selling Russian vodka

The Montgomery County government monopoly liquor stores have stopped selling Russian-made spirits, the County announced in a press release on Sunday. Since the County is the only entity that can sell liquor in the jurisdiction, it is an effective ban on the sale of all imported Russian liquor products in Montgomery County "until further notice." The County statement indicated the move was "[i]n solidarity with the people of Ukraine." It is only one of many jurisdictions around the country attempting to boycott Russian products following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Shortly after the ban was issued, individual Montgomery County establishments began announcing they were dropping Russian vodka from their cocktail menus. Montgomery County-operated liquor stores will continue to sell alternative vodka brands such as Smirnoff (manufactured in Illinois, despite the name), Ciroc, Tito's, Absolut, Svedka, Grey Goose, SKYY, Ketel One, and New Amsterdam, the County press release said.

Photo courtesy Russian Standard Vodka

Bethesda bar drops Russian vodka, changes cocktail names to support Ukraine with donations

Caddies Bar and Grill at 4922 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda has joined a growing movement to damage Russian exports in announcing it will no longer purchase or serve Russian vodka. The announcement came hours after the Montgomery County government liquor monopoly, which controls all liquor sales in the county, stated it would stop selling Russian spirits. Caddies is going a step further, by renaming all of its Russia-themed cocktails with pro-Ukraine monikers. 

Beginning now, the Moscow Mule at Caddies is the "Kyiv Mule," the White Russian is the "White Ukrainian," and the Black Russian is the "Black Ukrainian." In addition, Caddies will donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of those renamed cocktails to the Ukrainian Children's Emergency Relief Fund.

New Bethesda Trader Joe's watch continues (Photos)

There's still no official opening date for the new Trader Joe's at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. Spotted inside the store: A new glass door at the top of the stairwell from the underground parking garage (accessed from 8001 Woodmont Avenue). You'll notice that virtually everything stocked on the shelves so far is non-perishable, which makes sense given that the store is still not immediately opening.

New glass door at the top of the
stairs leading down to the 
parking garage

I've noted a couple of times recently that there isn't even any wayfaring signage or aisle labeling yet inside the store. Sure enough, there is now a shopping bag with a note taped to it reading, "Signs for new Maryland stores." Mints and gum are now stocked at the checkout stands. Finally, a Trader Joe's shopping cart was caught "in-the-wild" out of its corral, as employees were putting it to use in their preparations.

At least 2 cars stolen from homes in Massachusetts Avenue corridor of Bethesda

At least two cars were reported stolen from homes in the Massachusetts Avenue corridor of Bethesda yesterday. The first vehicle stolen was parked on the street outside a home in the 6100 block of Overlea Road in the Fort Sumner neighborhood. A second vehicle was taken from the driveway of a home in the 5600 block of Knollwood Road in the Springfield community. The Massachusetts Avenue area continues to be an inviting target for auto thieves, so do what you can to make yours less-inviting, starting with locking all doors and never leaving your keys in the ignition or glove compartment.

Tacombi aiming for March opening in Bethesda

After many months of little-to-no activity at the future Tacombi at 4749 Bethesda Avenue, the company says it is now planning to open the fast casual tacqueria in March. The Bethesda location is currently still hiring staff. While the interior looks completed from a construction standpoint, more kitchen equipment needs to be installed, and the dining room isn't yet ready for seating guests. But if all goes according to schedule, New York City's "absolute best taco" (according to New York magazine) will face off against neighbors Fish Taco, Chaia and Mexicue in a taco battle royale starting next month.

Le Pain Quotidien closes at Bethesda Row

Le Pain Quotidien has permanently closed at 7140 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row. The Belgian-French bakery cafe has been at the development since 2008. It had struggled at times through temporary closures during the pandemic. 

While it had a great location, Le Pain Quotidien had also faced increasing competition in recent years from Paul Bakery and Fresh Baguette within a 2-block range. Le Pain locations in Friendship Heights and Wildwood Shopping Center remain open.

Progress at Butter Me Up in Bethesda (Photos)

The interior fit-out of Butter Me Up at Westfield Montgomery Mall continues in the former Aroma coffee shop space on Level 1. Butter Me Up will be a breakfast concept from the owners of HalfSmoke; in fact, there is already a Butter Me Up inside the Florida Avenue NW location of HalfSmoke in the District. HalfSmoke has doubled down on Montgomery Mall in the last week, with new plans to open a HalfSmoke kiosk in the Dining Terrace food court, a story I broke this past Monday.

St. Elmo Avenue demolition update (Photos)

Most of the top floor of 4928 St. Elmo Avenue is now gone, as demolition for the future St. Elmo Apartments continues in downtown Bethesda. As I reported earlier this week, the former Vuk and Chef Tony's have been razed, as has Bethesda TV & Appliance Co., Inc. on the Fairmont Avenue side of the site. The 276-unit luxury apartment tower is being developed by Duball, LLC and the Lenkin Companies, and is scheduled for a first-quarter 2024 delivery.

7000 Wisconsin Avenue apartment building branded as The Camille

The new development now under construction at 7000 Wisconsin Avenue has just gotten a name: The Camille. A 14-story apartment building, The Camille will house 181 residential units and 5894 square feet of retail/restaurant space. It's an all-local project, with Arlington-headquartered CBG as the developer, Bethesda-based SK+I Architecture as the designer, and Tysons-based Rappaport handling the leasing of the retail space. The Camille is scheduled for a September 2023 delivery.

Rendering courtesy SK+I Architecture

More signage, more stuff but no opening yet at new Bethesda Trader Joe's (Photos)

The question of when the new Trader Joe's at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue will open continues to vex grocery shoppers in Bethesda. Let me assure you once again that despite rumors elsewhere, this store is not ready to open yet. I would estimate about 10-14 days, and I've heard something similar to that from an employee at another Trader Joe's location. A lot of this simply depends on how much progress they make each day, delivery of construction materials and inventory, etc., which is why they are not yet announcing a fixed opening date. 

A bucket truck assists in the installation
of more signage at Trader Joe's yesterday

Yesterday, the staff was working hard to continue stocking the shelves and cases. Large cardboard shipping boxes were spread out on the floor all over the store, and many essential things like wayfinding signage are yet to be installed. What was installed yesterday was a new exterior sign above the entrance.

Trader Joe's is the anchor retail
tenant in the 8001 Woodmont development

Stocking cases - note that the
whole bottom section is completely empty

Does this look like a store ready to
open last week? Yesterday? Today? Tomorrow?

Not likely

Aldi opens today at White Flint Plaza (Photos)

Montgomery County's newest Aldi grocery store opens today, February 24, 2022 at 5110 Nicholson Lane in the White Flint Plaza shopping center. It replaces Shoppers Food Warehouse there, and is not far from the existing Rockville Aldi store at Congressional Plaza. Yesterday, workers were making final preparations for today's grand opening: 

Constellation opens kiosk at Montgomery Mall

Constellation Energy has opened a kiosk at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Baltimore-based company is enticing mall shoppers to switch their energy providers for electricity, natural gas and solar to Constellation,including a 100%-windpower option. It is offering those who do incentitives such as 20% off parts and labor costs for furnace and air-conditioning unit repairs, and monthly reward points that can be redeemed for shopping, dining, travel and gift cards. Constellation's marketing effort uses a distinctly Maryland theme: "Feeling Crabby about your energy bill?" the kiosk asks alongside a large photo of steamed crabs and unlabeled Old Bay seasoning.

Fairmont/St. Elmo Avenues demolition update (Photos)

A demolition contractor continues to make progress at the future site of the St. Elmo Apartments along Fairmont and St. Elmo Avenues in downtown Bethesda. Destroyed now are the former homes of Vuk and Chef Tony's along St. Elmo Avenue near the Bainbridge Bethesda apartment tower. Interestingly, the destruction of a wall from the former Bethesda TV & Appliance Co., Inc. on Fairmont has revealed windows and a hidden corridor at Bistro Provence.