Firefighters investigate smoke in wooded area on Goldsboro Rd. in Bethesda

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel responded to a report of smoke on Goldsboro Road near River Road in Bethesda this afternoon. The smoke was spotted rising from a wooded area behind Concord-St. Andrew's United Methodist Church at 5910 Goldsboro Road after 3:00 PM. Firefighters attempted to locate the source of the smoke from the church property side, and the Goldsboro side. MCFRS spokespersons have not commented on the incident yet. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.

Home invasion in East Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a home invasion in East Bethesda on September 10, 2024. The break-in was reported in the 4500 block of Middleton Lane at 1:52 PM. A male suspect damaged a screen door, and then kicked the locked back door of the home until it gave way, destroying the door frame and damaging part of the wall. The man fled after an occupant of the home began shouting and called police.

Two occupants of another East Bethesda home were seriously injured during a home invasion last month, when they were beaten by the suspect who had broken into their house. The suspect in that case has been arrested and charged. Police have not yet released a description of the suspect in the September 10 home invasion. If you have any information about the Middleton Lane incident, or can help identify and locate the suspect, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Dunkin' Donuts reopens at Bethesda Metro Center

Dunkin' Donuts has reopened at the Bethesda Metro Center. The store temporarily closed for renovations earlier this month. It appeared to have permanently closed at that time, as there was no message to customers posted, the windows were covered with paper, and Dunkin' Donuts removed the location from its national website. The Bethesda Metro Center store has now reappeared on the website's "Find Your Nearest Dunkin' Location" page.

NIghttime lane closures ahead at Chevy Chase Lake

Watch for nighttime lane closures on Connecticut Avenue between Jones Bridge Road and Dunlop Street in Chevy Chase beginning tomorrow night, September 15, 2024. The Purple Line construction-related closures will take place as needed for about three weeks. Crews will be completing utility work under the Purple Line bridge at Chevy Chase Lake during that time. Work hours will be from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

Downtown Bethesda construction site burglarized

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a construction site in downtown Bethesda early Thursday morning, September 12, 2024. The burglary was reported at a construction site in the 4700 block of Montgomery Lane at 7:13 AM. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry to the site. No word yet on what, if anything, might have been stolen by the burglar(s). 

Nada closes at Pike & Rose

Nada has closed at 11886 Grand Park Avenue at Pike & Rose. The Mexican restaurant had a decent run, opening in November 2018 in the ground floor of The Henri apartments. Nada appears to be down to three remaining locations, with two in its home state of Ohio, and one in Indiana. A Nashville location closed about 7 months ago. 

Gateway Newsstand space available for lease at Bethesda Metro Center

The vacant space previously home to Gateway Newsstand (or "Newstand," as the sign spells it) in the Bethesda Metro Center bus bays area is now being marketed for lease. Despite the name, and the sound logic of a newsstand located at a subway station, the business was more of a coffee bar and convenience store than a newsstand. The space continues to be a great location if you have a product or service of interest to morning and evening commuters. 

I would like to see a real newsstand here. But just as the opening of new fast food restaurants in Bethesda has apparently been banned by Montgomery County government, so too has the opening or operation of any place where you can purchase print editions of major newspapers from cities around the United States or the world. This is less surprising when you learn that the vandalism-style paint around the rim of the plaza at the Metro Center is what passes for "art" in our time. We are a civilization in decline.

Bethesda construction update: 7340 Wisconsin Avenue apartment tower (Photos)

Several more floors have been added to the apartment tower rising at 7340 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda since my last update. The structural framework of the tower's "base," an architectural feature found in nearly all of the high-rises constructed since passage of the 2017 Bethesda Downtown master plan, is nearly complete. At completion, a 310-unit apartment building with ground floor retail space will have replaced a long-vacant Exxon gas station atop the Bethesda Metro station. 

Developer Greystar anticipates the first residents moving in during Q4 2025, and delivery of the completed project in early 2026. Construction has been moving ahead full steam, without delay, by all visible indications.

Forbright Bank available for lease in Bethesda

The vacant Forbright Bank space in downtown Bethesda is now being marketed for lease. Forbright's Bethesda branch at 4801 Montgomery Lane closed earlier this year. Washington, D.C. real estate firm Miller Walker is the broker for the property, which is steps away from the Bethesda Metro station but has limited redevelopment potential, being hemmed in by 2 Bethesda Metro Center and East Lane. Chevy Chase-based Forbright Bank is still in business, with full service branches in Potomac, Rockville, and Herndon. Its headquarters is located at 4445 Willard Avenue in Friendship Heights.

BT's Bethesda "coming soon"

"Coming soon" signage has been posted at the future location of BT's Bethesda at 4866 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. This has previously been home to Zuma by Chef Ninja and Brickside Food & Drink. The sign promises "Burgers, drinks, and family fun." An Instagram account for the restaurant is now live, as indicated on the sign.

Moby Dick House of Kabob burglarized in Bethesda

A burglar victimized Moby Dick House of Kabob at 7023 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda on August 26, 2024. According to Montgomery County police, a suspect entered the Persian restaurant outside of business hours around 6:00 AM. Officers responding to the scene found no evidence of forced entry, meaning that the burglar either had a key or entered through an unlocked door or window. The suspect stole unspecified merchandise and fled.

Police describe the suspect only as a Black male of unknown age. No surveillance camera images have been released at this time. If you have any information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

New traffic signals installed on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda

Traffic signals have been installed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation on Westbard Avenue at the future intersection with Zenith Overlook in Bethesda. The signals are not yet operational. It's unlikely they will be activated before construction of Zenith Overlook is completed. Zenith Overlook is an interior street within the new Westbard Square development. 

Zenith Overlook under construction

Ooh La La Bakery "coming soon" to Bethesda

Ooh La La Bakery is "coming soon" to downtown Bethesda, according to signage posted at its future home at 8231 Woodmont Avenue. This will be the French bakery's second Montgomery County location. The first has been open since November 2020, at 2600 University Boulevard West in Wheaton. In addition to authentic French breads and pastries, Ooh La La Bakery sells a variety of breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu items like crepes, sandwiches, salads, and quiche.

Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan's 100th tour stop is Montgomery County

Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan (R) notched the 100th stop on his Strong Independent Leadership tour in Montgomery County yesterday. His choice for the campaign milestone was Silver Spring. Hogan attended the Saints Constantine & Helen Church Greek Fest at 721 Norwood Road. "We enjoyed some great food and had the chance to meet so many members of our Greek community," Hogan tweeted last night. 

The former Maryland governor ended last week with a strong endorsement by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, after a Gonzales poll showed his Democratic opponent Angela Alsobrooks moving 5 points ahead of him following a well-received speech at the Democratic National Convention last month. Hogan is leading Alsobrooks by ten points among independent voters, the poll showed, and eleven percent of those surveyed told pollsters that they are still undecided on the race.

Photos courtesy Hogan for Maryland, Inc.

Porsche Studio Chevy Chase nears completion in Friendship Heights

The new Porsche Studio at the Collection at Chevy Chase is nearing completion in Friendship Heights. Construction workers could still be seen at work inside the art gallery-inspired interior of the showroom late last week. Design touches range from the modern - furniture and a flatscreen video display in the front window - to the whimsical (a children's ride-on toy Porsche). Porsche Studio Chevy Chase is located at 5471-C Wisconsin Avenue, and is affiliated with the Porsche Bethesda dealership further up MD 355 at Pike & Rose.

Lunch is back at La Panetteria in Bethesda

Lunch service is now again being offered at La Panetteria at 4921 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. The longtime Italian restaurant was operating only during dinner hours recently. La Panetteria will be open for lunch from Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Dinner is served from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. La Panetteria is closed on Mondays.

New elevator completed inside Starbucks space at Woodmont Crescent building in Bethesda

The addition of a new elevator to the Woodmont Crescent building in downtown Bethesda is now complete. An elevator lobby can now be seen next to the Starbucks on the building's ground level at 7700 Norfolk Avenue. Achtung! There are multiple signs warning Starbucks customers that this door is no longer an entrance to Starbucks, which lost part of its interior to the new elevator and walk-in-closet-sized lobby.