106.7 The Fan vs. The Team 980 live at Bethesda Theatre on February 2, 2024

A special event at the historic Bethesda Theatre at 7719 Wisconsin Avenue this Friday night, February 2, 2024 will feature on-air personalities from two of Washington, D.C.'s top sports radio stations, 106.7 FM The Fan and 980 AM The Team. The event begins at 8:00 PM Friday, and the doors open at 6:30 PM for dinner.

An event announcement promises "a night of sports debate, laughs, and behind-the-scenes stories! It's 106.7 The Fan vs. Team 980 LIVE! What will the Commanders do in free agency? Who will they select with the #2 overall draft pick? How soon before they're actually good again? Plus, they'll preview the Super Bowl matchup and debate who will win. It's all off-air, on-stage, and uncensored! Featuring the Sports Junkies, Grant and Danny, BMitch and Finlay, Kevin Sheehan, Chris Russell, Craig Hoffman, and more!"

Tickets are available online. 

Java Point Cafe for sale in Bethesda

Java Point Cafe, a coffee shop located in the ground level of the Pinnacle Business Center office building at 10411 Motor City Drive in Bethesda, is for sale. The asking price is $135,000, according to the sale listing. Java Point Cafe is located directly next to The Rae apartments and the Home Depot Square shopping center, and only a block from Westfield Montgomery Mall. 

The location provides a large potential customer base, first and foremost from the people going and coming from the offices upstairs, many of whom will pass directly by the cafe next to the main entrance. Of course, you will also have to compete with the many other dining options in that immediate radius. The current owner has done that with high-quality food and excellent customer service, resulting in a 5-star rating on Yelp, and 4.8 stars on Google Reviews.

Bethesda construction update - Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown (Photos)

The lobby is now under construction inside the ground level of the Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown in downtown Bethesda. That lengthy branding is now written in stone - or at least, affixed to the glass of an entrance door. The door is much further along than the lobby itself, however. Hours for the leasing office have also been posted on the glass. The 22-story Washington Property Company-developed building will house 198 apartments, 1,500 square feet of retail space, and a four-level underground parking garage.

Montgomery County police chief announces retirement

Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones abruptly announced his retirement this morning, January 30, 2024. He has served the public for 38 years, the last four of them as chief. His retirement will be effective Monday, July 1.

“It has been an honor to lead such a dedicated and talented department of officers and professional staff. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident in the department’s continued success,” Chief Jones said in a statement. “Now is the right time to retire. I am grateful for the support I have received throughout my career. While I may be stepping down a few months earlier than originally planned, I won’t be far. You will still see me around, actively engaging in and contributing to the well-being of Montgomery County.”

A department press release states that the search for a new police chief will begin immediately. Chief Jones did not cite a specific reason for his retirement, nor for moving his retirement date up to July 1.

7-Eleven reportedly closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

A source tells me that the 7-Eleven at Westfield Montgomery Mall is closing. They report that the lottery machine had already been removed from the store Monday. An employee told them the convenience store would close tomorrow, Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Employees will reportedly be offered jobs at other local 7-Eleven stores. 7-Eleven opened at the mall in July 2020, after a 19-month construction process. 

Dig signage installed in Bethesda

Permanent signage has been installed at Dig, the the farm-sourced fast-casual restaurant opening soon at 4733 Elm Street in downtown Bethesda. The large sign over the storefront is already lit now after dark. Two smaller, unlit logo badges have been attached to the corner of the building. The restaurant has joined the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.

Bank branch on prime downtown Bethesda property to close

A prime piece of downtown Bethesda property could be back on the market soon. One reader who banks at the TD Bank at 8101 Wisconsin Avenue reports that they have received a branch closure notice for that location. It lists the closing date for the branch as April 26, 2024. The branch, directly across Wisconsin from The Bethesdan Hotel, opened on April 16, 2016.

While big banks have no shortage of funds, TD Bank did pour quite a bit of money into this branch. The property used to be a gas station, which had to be demolished and the land remediated from pollutants. Then the branch building and drive-thru had to be constructed. Now, after only eight years in operation, the bank is apparently closing. Of course, the highly-desirable location of the property will now activate many a hot stove discussion in the real estate-watching community.

Zuma by Chef Ninja locked out by landlord in Bethesda

Zuma by Chef Ninja has been closed during business hours for a couple of weeks, but has posted no explanation for the closure on its premises, website or social media accounts. In fact, its Instagram account has continued on autopilot, inviting customers to party at the lounge as recently as last night. However, property owner Greenhill Companies posted a sign on the front of the restaurant declaring it sealed late this past week, and warning that the police will be called if anyone tries to enter the premises without authorization. This action is typical when a tenant has failed to pay rent, or to comply with other requirements under their lease agreement.

Friday night

The closure sign was visible Friday night. But 24 hours later, someone had ripped it down. The lights in the darkened restaurant were turned on last night, but it was still closed, and no one appeared to be inside. 

Friday night

Saturday night

Assault at Bethesda convenience store

Montgomery County police were called to a convenience store in downtown Bethesda early Friday evening, January 26, 2024, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The incident was reported at 6:05 PM Friday at the 7-Eleven at 7820 Wisconsin Avenue. Police reported that there was also damage to property there.

Bethesda restaurant bans students during early lunch hour

It's been a rough week for Montgomery County Public Schools, ranging from an imploding leadership structure in disarray to a violent assault, and the media coverage that results from such events. The week isn't ending on a high note, as one Bethesda restaurant has banned students during the early lunch hour. Bite of Asia, located at 7613 Wisconsin Avenue, has posted a notice that no students under the age of 18 are permitted inside the restaurant between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. The ban appears targeted at students from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

Signage installed at Ala in downtown Bethesda

The first permanent signage has been installed at the future Ala restaurant, opening soon at 4948 Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Featuring a modern twist on the legendary cuisine of the Levant, Ala will be joined in the large building by Tabriz Cafe & More. Ala's existing Dupont Circle location was added to the prestigious Michelin guide, often a first step for the later awarding of a star or Bib Gourmand designation.

Aventino, AP Pizza Shop make final preparations for January 31 opening in Bethesda (Video+Photos)

Aventino and AP Pizza Shop are making their final preparations for opening day next Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 4747 Bethesda Avenue. Yesterday, a new animated neon sign was installed in the front window of AP Pizza Shop, which touts the pizzeria's New Jersey-style deck oven pizza. Sister Italian restaurant Aventino was closed for training, with "friends and family" diners putting the new employees to the test. Both concepts are from chef-owner Mike Friedman, the man behind Red Hen in Washington, D.C.

All elevators go out of service at Metropolitan public parking garage in Bethesda

Old Georgetown Road Metropolitan
Public Parking Garage 49 elevators frozen
Thursday night, completely shutting down
all elevator access to and from the 
Montgomery County-owned public parking garage

UPDATE - 9:05 AM: All elevators are still out of service this morning. 

It's incredible enough that one bank of elevators at the Montgomery County-owned Metropolitan Public Parking Garage 49 in Bethesda have been out of service for over four years. But last night, a reader reports, all elevators were out of commission. No signs were posted explaining the outage. The garage is now fully out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Two sets of Montgomery County Councilmembers have banned things and raised taxes over these four years, but haven't moved a muscle to restore elevator service and ADA compliance at this garage under their oversight.

Robin Ficker endorses Donald Trump for President

Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Robin Ficker (R) has endorsed Donald Trump for President, the Boyds resident and attorney announced in a press release timed to coincide with Trump's second consecutive victory of the 2024 primary season. The endorsement isn't likely to help Ficker much in the general election, in a state where Trump has some of his lowest popularity numbers in the nation. But, barring former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan coming to his political senses, Ficker has a very good chance to be the GOP nominee in the race this November. He is the only declared Republican candidate in the race with statewide name recognition, as both a former elected member of the House of Delegates and a notorious Washington Bullets superfan seen on TV reports from coast to coast over the decades.

"It's time for us to coalesce behind the only Presidential Candidate capable of restoring logic to our government," Ficker said in a statement. "President Trump is the only candidate with a proven track record of historically low unemployment, safer communities, and lower energy prices. Together, President Trump and I will secure our Southern border. Together, President Trump and I will stop the flow of fentanyl across our border and onto our streets. President Trump and I will take swift and decisive action to protect our communities and secure our border.

"President Trump and I will bring the country into a new, prosperous economic age and help the United States become energy independent again, pursuing an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach to our energy sector. President Biden has failed in every one of these categories. The choice is clear. Reject Biden's policies in the ballot box this November and vote for Donald J. Trump!"

Aventino/AP Pizza Shop set opening date in Bethesda

Aventino and sister pizzeria AP Pizza Shop have been looking ready to open any day now at 4747 Bethesda Avenue, and now there is an opening date. Chef-owner Mike Friedman announced on Instagram that both will open next Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Aventino will feature Italian cuisine - specifically, that of The Eternal City. New Jersey deck-oven pizza will be the specialty of AP Pizza Shop, by the pie or by the slice, with a walk-up takeout window on Bethesda Avenue for the aspiring John Travoltas of Bethesda. Go ahead and stack the slices - no judgement!

Best Buy shelves growing bare as promised 2024 phaseout of physical media begins (Photos)

The DVD and Blu-Ray shelves are growing spare, if not quite bare, at Best Buy stores nationwide. The big box electronics chain announced last fall that it would phase out such physical media in 2024, and it's one New Year's resolution that's being kept. While 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD movies are still being manufactured, Best Buy won't be stocking them as they're released anymore. You can see the policy change beginning to take effect at this Best Buy store at 10901 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton. 

It's been a long time since I've bought a physical copy of a movie. For me, it wasn't so much the convenience of digital or streaming films, but the fact that fewer and fewer releases came with deluxe packaging and collectible items inside. When all you get is an expensive steelbook case and the disc(s) inside, there's little incentive to buy the physical product anymore. And behind-the-scenes features on many discs seem to get illegally uploaded to YouTube eventually, where they can be viewed for free.

Bethesda's M&N's Pizza named one of the top 100 restaurants in America by Yelp

Manoj Mehta, co-owner of M&N's Pizza at 4914 Del Ray Avenue in downtown Bethesda, contacted me with some incredible news: His pizzeria was just named one of the Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2024 by Yelp users. The accomplishment is even more impressive when you consider that there are no other Montgomery County establishments on the list, and only two other restaurants in the entire DMV region appear on it. Dishes from the eatery's Indian-inspired menu highlighted by Yelp are the Aushak Pizza, the Dal Makhani Pizza, Chicken Vindaloo, and Achari Lamb.

"You absolutely can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas here!" Yelper Haley S. of Kensington wrote in her review, which was chosen as a representative of the many M&N's raves for the annual list. "We try to get a new pizza each time, since there are seriously no pizzas that are bad. So far though, our favorites are the Spicy Chicken Curry (it’s actually spicy, which is appreciated), the Bharta (an excellent vegetarian option), and Spicy Peri-Peri (I want to order this one every time). Plus, the owners are really friendly and kind."

Asbestos removal project begins at Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda

Westbard Square property owner Regency Centers is preparing for demolition of the 1959 Westwood Shopping Center strip mall in Bethesda. One of the preliminary steps is removal of asbestos from the building. That project has just gotten underway, according to a notice posted on the window of the former Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor/Anglo Dutch Pools & Toys space at 5460 Westbard Avenue. 

The remediation project is anticipated to be completed by February 9, 2024. Giant, the last tenant in the structure, is scheduled to move out at the close of business tomorrow night. It will reopen Friday in its brand-new space atop the adjacent Westbard Square building. The strip mall will be replaced with an apartment building with retail and restaurant space on the ground floor, which is expected to open by 2027.

The Shop Salon relocates in Bethesda

The Shop Salon has opened in its new location at 7700-G Wisconsin Avenue, at Bethesda Place, in downtown Bethesda. Its former home, 8231 Woodmont Avenue, is now available for lease. As the sign in the photo below indicates, the hair salon has been operating since 2006, an impressive record for any business in downtown Bethesda.

 

Kelly's Cajun Grill to open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kelly's Cajun Grill is "coming soon" to the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, according to signage there. We're kind of late to the party with this franchise, as several malls in our region already have, or have had, a Kelly's Cajun Grill. There's an Asian element woven into what otherwise sounds like a typical - if rather short - Louisiana menu. 

Bourbon Chicken is the specialty of the house at Kelly's Cajun Grill. It's "world famous," they say, and has been its signature dish since the first location opened in Florida in 1991. They also have Blackened Chicken, Shrimp Etouffee, and Blackened Fish. For every spring roll or noodle, there's still a side of rice and beans or Cajun fries. If Popeyes has indeed closed for good, Kelly's Cajun Grill can gar-on-tee that there will still be Louisiana flavors in the food court at Montgomery Mall.

Giant sending out mailers ahead of January 26 Westbard Square grand opening

Giant is sending out mailers to Bethesda residents about the grand opening of its new grocery store at Westbard Square on January 26, 2024. It touts some of the features of the store that were not at the existing Giant in the adjacent Westwood Shopping Center, including the pharmacy, a sushi bar, and a Starbucks. There's one additional item of interest on the mailer - the store's address, 5320 Zenith Overlook, which officially confirms the first internal street name at the new Regency Centers development.