Police arrest 3 in White Flint robbery, assault

Montgomery County police have arrested three suspects in the November 16, 2024 strong-arm robbery in White Flint. The robbery took place at 7:52 PM that evening. According to police, the three suspects allegedly assaulted the two adult male victims in the 11600 block of Rockville Pike (MD 355), and took unspecified property from them. Tyshon Evans, 18, of Gaithersburg, Kiarra Twyman, 18, of Gaithersburg, and an unnamed juvenile male, 16, of Rockville were arrested in connection with the robbery.

Evans has been charged with felony robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and two counts of 2nd-degree assault. He posted $5000 bond, and has been released. Twyman does not appear in Maryland court records, despite being an adult, but no charging information regarding the 16-year-old juvenile will be made public, either.

WSSC work ahead on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda

Water utility WSSC has a project scheduled to begin in the Woodmont Triangle of downtown Bethesda next week. A small stretch of Woodmont Avenue in front of Pizzeria Da Marco at 8008 Woodmont will be impacted, and there will be no street parking on that side during the work. The project is scheduled to begin at 7:00 AM on Monday, December 2, 2024, and end by 5:00 PM on December 5. Violators in the affected parking spots will have their vehicles towed, the utility says. 

Trader Joe's construction begins in Friendship Heights

Construction is now underway on the new Trader Joe's grocery store at 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Friendship Heights. The store is in the Chevy Chase Pavilion mall. It will be the new anchor tenant for the property, replacing H&M. Located in Washington, D.C., it will be allowed to sell beer and wine, unlike grocery chains that operate under Montgomery County's antiquated liquor laws.

20,000 SF of retail could be deleted from Westbard Square development in Bethesda

A decade after some residents questioned the level of demand for high-rent retail on Westbard Avenue, a developer partner for the Westbard Square project is vindicating their skepticism. Greystar, which plans to construct the mixed-use residential building for which master developer Regency Centers already has approval for, is now seeking to slash the amount of retail space in the ground floor by half. A proposed site plan amendment would reduce the retail space from 40,000-square-feet to 20,000 SF. It would also eliminate a garage entrance off of Westbard Circle, and make minor design revisions to the residential building, including reducing the number of private courtyards for residents from four to two.

Previously-approved site plan

If approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board, the plan would retain the same number of residential units (200) in the building. Parking would be reconfigured from the previously-approved 332-511-space range to a total of 393 spaces. 261 of the spaces would be for rental apartment occupants, 102 for patrons of the retail and restaurant tenants, and 30 would be for condo owners. Project documents do not indicate how the residential units have changed, but the conversion of some to condos suggests some might now be larger in size.

Proposed new site plan

The addition of Greystar to the Westbard Square project is a positive in light of the company's track record on its 7340 Wisconsin Avenue high-rise development so far. Greystar moved immediately to break ground on that project once it had all the necessary approvals. The construction process has been so efficient, that the building may even be ahead of schedule. Of course, construction contractor John Moriarty & Associates deserves credit for that, as well. 

While the reduction in retail at Westbard Square could impact how many essential neighborhood services like dry cleaners or pet supplies might return to the site, the plan does retain the critical retail space fronting onto the "town square." That's important because there aren't many more opportunities to add a larger, sit-down family restaurant to take advantage of the adjacent outdoor seating alongside the square, like Millie's in Spring Valley and Chef Geoff's in Foxhall. 

Images courtesy Greystar

Rangoni Firenze Shoes to make short move in Friendship Heights

Rangoni Firenze Shoes will soon be relocating its store in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase. It will be moving one block down MD 355 to the Highland House apartment building at 5480 Wisconsin Avenue (a.k.a. The Highlands of Chevy Chase). Rangoni Firenze has followed the example of Brooks Brothers, which moved diagonally across the street to The Collection at Chevy Chase. The current Rangoni Firenze Shoes location is at 5518 Wisconsin, in the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

Black Friday 2024 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The biggest shopping day of the year at Westfield Montgomery Mall is tomorrow, November 29, 2024. Black Friday hours at the mall this year will be 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. In contrast to past years, the Black Friday deals are not listed on the mall's website. Westfield advises you to instead download their app from the Google Play or Apple store, which it says will display the deals available Friday. 

Montgomery County deploys camera robot at Bethesda Row

Montgomery County has deployed a surveillance camera robot at Bethesda Row ahead of the biggest shopping weekend of the year. The camera has been placed on the plaza outside of Anthropologie & Co. This is a new camera, number 2320783, not just a relocation of the cameras that have been deployed earlier in the Woodmont Triangle across town. The camera joins an already stepped-up police presence around the Bethesda Row development.

Nail Supply Bethesda space back on market for lease

Nail Supply Bethesda's prominent corner space at 7891 Old Georgetown Road is now available for lease, according to signage posted in the window. The nail and beauty supply shop moved in this past spring. Perhaps the limited hours of the store - 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays only, according to the posted schedule - cut out potential customers who are at work during that time. The building is at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Bethesda, making it a prime spot for the right tenant.

Signage installed at Livewell Animal Hospital in Bethesda

Permanent signage has been installed at Livewell Animal Hospital, opening soon at 7000 Wisconsin Avenue in The Camille apartments in Bethesda. They've also got a QR code and Instagram account posted in the front window. Walk-in appointments will be welcomed at the facility, which will be a full-service animal hospital, although it will not be open 24 hours a day. Operating hours will be 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Livewell is expected to open before the end of the year.

Kokee Tea opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kokee Tea has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The bubble tea kiosk added one novel design touch just before its debut: a giant bubble tea cup that lights up. "Kokee Tea is a cozy and modern bubble tea cafe that offers a variety of delicious and refreshing drinks," the company said in a statement. "Whether you’re looking for a classic milk tea, a fruity smoothie, or a creamy latte, we have something for you. You can also customize your drink with different toppings, such as tapioca pearls, jelly, pudding, or popping boba. Our drinks are made with high-quality ingredients and brewed fresh daily."

The bubble tea chain has added seven new locations this year, including Montgomery Mall. Ashburn, Baltimore, Centreville, Lorton, Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News, and Urbana are the others. Look for Kokee Tea on Level 1 of the mall, outside of Macy's.

Abercrombie & Fitch opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Abercrombie & Fitch has been as much of the typical mall experience since the 1990s as Auntie Anne's or Cinnabon. How appropriate, then, that the once-controversial apparel retailer has returned to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Just in time for Black Friday, and with Abercrombie Kids for the younger people on your shopping list. Look for - and, perhaps, smell? - Abercrombie & Fitch on Level 2 of the mall, next to the Apple Store.

Fashion Q opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Fashion Q has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Los Angeles-based company traces its roots back to the 1980s. It chose its "Q" logo because a one-letter sign was cheaper than using the whole brand name. The cost savings extend to its merchandise, which is purchased wholesale here and abroad. "We refuse to give our customers B.S. markups," Q declares. Look for Fashion Q on Level 1 of the mall, right outside of Macy's.

Bark Social closes at Pike & Rose

Have we passed peak "pet parent" in Montgomery County? The demise of Bark Social at 935 Prose Street at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda may require us to ponder this question for the first time. Bark Social has filed for bankruptcy after an expected round of new financing fell through, the company announced as it - in its own words - "abruptly" closed all of its locations Thursday. 

A cross between a dog park and a bar, with a border-crossing-checkpoint design aesthetic, Bark Social appeared as if it could do no wrong when it opened in 2021. Pandemic-weary Americans were eager to embrace any new outdoor venues, and dog owners in the many apartment buildings around Bark Social had limited exercise options for their pets to take advantage of. The steady decline of alcoholic beverage sales was also briefly reversed, as lockdowns, pandemic restrictions, and a botched rollout of vaccines led some to turn to adult beverages to pass the empty hours.

Investors apparently have since turned (Karelian) Bearish on the concept. Have cats overtaken the dogs? Has inflation made expensive dog ownership too much of a luxury expense at this point? This is the time for all "plant parents" to seize the zeitgeist!

Sports merchandise kiosk opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Hello, sports fans! A new kiosk has opened just for you at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It carries a variety of merchandise and decor for professional and college teams. But the selection is not limited to local teams. In fact, rivals outnumber the Washington Commanders in some of the NFL displays. Kind of like in the stands at Northwest Stadium! 

Look for the kiosk on Level 1 in the Old Navy/The Cheesecake Factory wing of the mall, near Häagen-Dazs - - and be sure to wear your Bob Knight "game face."

Signage installed at The Cordell in Bethesda

Permanent signage has been installed at The Cordell at 4865 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The event space is scheduled to open before the end of the year. "The Cordell will bring your vision to life, creating truly unforgettable memories," the business' new website promises. "A space to celebrate social gatherings, formal events [and] corporate functions." The long-vacant restaurant space was previously home to Lucy. 

Kitchen & bath remodeling showroom to open at The Seasons in Bethesda

Home improvement and furnishing businesses continue to find a niche in Bethesda. The latest addition will be a new kitchen and bath remodeling showroom at 4710-A Bethesda Avenue. That is in the ground floor of The Seasons apartment tower. The space was most recently home to the short-lived Cubasi Bistro.

More Lidl signage pops up at Bethesda Place (Photos)

All signs point in the direction of the new Lidl supermarket opening soon at 7625 Old Georgetown Road at the Bethesda Place development in downtown Bethesda. This time, it is more tenant monument signage on heavily-traveled Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355). The monochrome sign doesn't currently light up, and does not particularly stand out well at night as a result. Only two tenants at the property are listed so far - the German grocery store, which will now serve as the anchor retail tenant, and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL).

Westfield brings in new leadership at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the owner of Westfield Montgomery Mall, has replaced several key leaders at the property just before the busiest shopping time of the year. Jason Dyer has been hired as the mall's Senior General Manager, Catherine Brady has been named the new Marketing Director, and Montgomery County Public Schools veteran Joe Damaia will be the new Facilities Director for the sprawling property. Dyer and Brady have successful track records at other Westfield malls, and Damaia was at MCPS for over 14 years of his more than three decades in mechanical and facilities operations.

Dyer's career has found him working with major brands like Victorinox, Sears, PAPYRUS, and GAP, in national and international markets, before joining URW in 2017, taking on management roles at Westfield malls on both coasts. He is bringing this experience to Montgomery Mall with the key goal of "delivering memorable customer experiences that foster loyalty and repeat engagement," URW said in a statement.

“I’m excited to collaborate with Catherine and Joe as we work to elevate Montgomery’s premier retail, dining and entertainment destination,” Dyer said in a statement. “With our varied expertise and established success in the industry, we’re well-positioned to continue shaping Westfield Montgomery into a vibrant hub for dining, retail, and cultural life in Montgomery County.”

Baruch Cafe Express construction advances in Bethesda

Signage has been installed at Baruch Cafe Express, opening soon at 4800 Auburn Avenue, in the Gallery Bethesda development. One sign depicts a croissant and a piping-hot beverage. Construction has advanced to the point where kitchen and counter equipment have been installed, and interior seating has been brought in. Obviously, it will be a few months before the cafe can take full advantage of its outdoor seating space on the plaza between Gallery's two apartment towers.