Another theft inside Westbard Square garage in Bethesda

Thieves have struck again inside the parking garage at Westbard Square in Bethesda. Montgomery County police were called to the garage in the 5300 block of Zenith Overlook at 1:37 PM on Thursday, April 3, 2025. The victim reported property having been stolen from inside their vehicle. That follows the m.o. of those engaged in preying on vehicles in the garage, who seem to favor the afternoon for many of their crimes.

The latest theft came only two days after the last one. It was also the twelfth time police were called about a theft from a vehicle inside this garage since February 10. To date, we have not seen any surveillance camera footage showing any of the suspects in these cases being released to the public.

Bethesda protesters head to Hands Off! demonstration in D.C.

Protesters wrapped in Canadian and Ukrainian flags filed into Montgomery County Metro stations this morning. They were heading to the Hands Off! demonstration in Washington, D.C., where supporters are expecting 20,000 attendees. The protests are criticizing President Donald Trump, and the DOGE government waste initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk. Montgomery County Congressman Jamie Raskin and Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar are on the speaking list. 

The event is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Government Employees, Planned Parenthood, and the George Soros-funded Indivisible. A livestream of the event will be available on YouTube beginning at 12:00 PM today, April 5, 2025.

Westbard shooter(s) remain at large

Montgomery County police have issued their latest official crime report. It includes the shooting on Westbard Avenue shortly after midnight on March 29, 2025. Two victims were wounded in the incident. As shocking as the barrage of gunfire in a quiet, previously low-crime Bethesda neighborhood, is that nearly a week later, there have not only been no arrests announced in the case, but the crime report indicates that detectives do not yet even have a description of the suspect(s) involved. 

Surely the perpetrator(s) and the getaway car are on numerous surveillance and traffic cameras, including those at Bowlmor and at Westbard Square across the street. I also checked the public log for the new police department drone, and there is no record of the Bethesda-based drone being launched to pursue and locate the getaway vehicle following the initial report of shots fired. The vehicle was initially described as a "red Honda Accord." While the Montgomery County Council has weighed in on controversial national political events this past week, it has been silent on the Westbard shooting.

Henry's Sweet Retreat seeking buyer to extend success past 2025 in Bethesda

Henry's Sweet Retreat has been a success by any measure, surviving into its tenth year in downtown Bethesda, a tough market where some businesses fold after two or three months these days. The owners of the candy shop and dessert bar at 4823 St. Elmo Avenue would like to go out on a high note into retirement, but are hoping to find a buyer who will keep the store open beyond December 31, 2025, when its current lease expires. Founders Tom and Patty Craver have been Bethesda residents for 35 years, and have tried to maintain a community focus as part of their business model. "We would love to find someone who is similarly-minded," who can continue to build on a business that has been embraced by local residents, Tom Craver said. 

The store will operate through the end of the year regardless of whether a buyer emerges to extend its run, Craver promised. It would be ideal if that buyer acts sooner rather than later, however, as the deadline for an extension of the lease will pass significantly earlier than December 31. The business will require an energetic entrepreneur to take on the challenge of a competitive Bethesda market the way the Cravers have for so many years, as independent owners in a world of national chains.

Running the shop has been "a labor of love," Craver said, "and we'd like to see this continue." They would prefer not to let down their customers or their employees by having to close December 31. In addition to the throwback experience of the store itself, Henry's Sweet Retreat has also offered classes, birthday parties, and even a summer camp. The camp will go forward again this summer, as usual. Camp next summer will depend upon someone who wants to keep this community fixture going.

If you ever dreamed of owning a candy store, but didn't want to build a successful business from scratch, this could be the opportunity for you. Were the store to end up closing at the end of December, lasting a decade in Bethesda is certainly an impressive accomplishment to be proud of. Even celebrity chef José Andrés has now abandoned Bethesda. But we've seen too many mom-and-pop neighborhood shops close in recent years, and it would be a shame if Henry's Sweet Retreat joins them in 2026.

Rosetta Italian Bakery installs "baking soon" signage in Bethesda

Rosetta Italian Bakery has made it official: its first Washington, D.C.-area location will be here at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Of course, if you read this blog, you already knew this three days ago. In place of the standard "coming soon" message, signage installed in their future storefront's window yesterday promises the store will be "baking soon." Construction on the interior fit-out is expected to begin this spring.

Dulce Crepes to open at Park Potomac

Dulce Crepes is coming to Park Potomac in 2025. It will be located at 12525 Park Potomac Avenue in Potomac. The 1595-square-foot restaurant will serve sweet and savory crepes, paninis, all-day breakfast, açaí bowls, and beverages that include coffee, smoothies, and milkshakes. A vegan menu will be available. Dulce Crepes is expected to open this spring.

“We are incredibly excited to bring Dulce Crepes to Park Potomac and introduce our signature crepes to the Maryland community,” Dulce Crepes Manager Francisco Aleman said in a statement. “We look forward to becoming a part of the Park Potomac community and serving our new neighbors.” Dulce Crepes has an existing location in Northern Virginia.

Who are the thieves stealing from vehicles in this Bethesda garage?

Who are the criminals who have been breaking into cars at a stepped-up pace inside the parking garage at the new Westbard Square development in Bethesda, and where exactly are they coming from? Shoppers parking in the garage sometimes return to find items have been stolen from inside their vehicles. The most recent theft was reported two days ago on April 1, 2025, at 1:39 PM. A number of the incidents have taken place in the afternoons, including one case where a vehicle was broken into, and two students' backpacks with laptop computers inside were stolen. 

So far in 2025, victims have called the police to report thefts from their vehicles inside this garage on April 1, March 27, twice on March 24, March 6, twice on March 4, February 28, February 21, February 20, and February 10. Last year, I received 3 emails from readers who were either directly impacted by a theft from their vehicle, or knew of a victim.

The incidents are obviously not on a daily basis, and property owner Regency Centers has a security officer on patrol. It's unclear how many of the theft cases have been closed, but it is puzzling where these thieves are suddenly coming from geographically, how they are making their getaways, and why such thefts from vehicles have increased in a low-crime neighborhood.

Now that a shooting has taken place in the same vicinity early last Saturday morning with two victims being injured, in which only luck prevented any passing drivers or pedestrians from being struck by what some residents have described as 20-30 rounds being fired, the public needs more transparency about where these criminals are coming from. And, clearly, more police patrols are required in the Westbard area. The Montgomery County Council has been asleep at the switch again. Maybe Councilmembers should spend less time coddling criminals and offering mere words at "public safety meetings," and actually do something about the shortage of police officers they created. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Woman's Club of Chevy Chase Community Art Show & Sale this weekend, April 4-6

The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase is gearing up to host its 49th Annual Community Art Show and Sale, a three-day event celebrating local artistic talent, this weekend, April 4-6, 2025 at the clubhouse, which is located at 7931 Connecticut Avenue. Free parking is ample, and located behind the club, off of Dunlop Street. The show will feature over 450 pieces of artwork from more than 130 community artists.

This weekend's exhibition will showcase a diverse range of mediums, with judged categories including Oil, Acrylic, Pastel, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Prints & Drawings, Photography, Smalls, and Other Media, which encompasses 2-D works in materials like glass, wood, metal, and paper. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase artwork using cash, check, or credit card.

The annual event not only provides a platform for local artists but also supports scholarships for aspiring art school students.

The art show will be open to the public, free of charge, during the following hours:

April 4: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

April 5: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

April 6: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

For more information, visit wcccmaryland.org/art-show.

Stage opens at Westbard Square in Bethesda (Photos)

The stage has opened to the public on The Green at Westbard Square in Bethesda. It has overhead lighting for after-dark performances. However, the stage is currently occupied by four chairs and a few small tables. The stage is expected to make its official event debut at a grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM both days. Makers Market at the Square will include live music and family-friendly activities.

Grocery stores take aim at antiquated Montgomery County liquor laws again

Several grocery chains in Montgomery County are once again enlisting customers in the struggle to overturn the antiquated liquor laws that prevent them from selling beer and wine in Maryland. Signage paid for by the Consumer Freedom Coalition prompts customers to contact their legislators in Annapolis to support bills that would allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine, but not liquor. However, once again, the machine is prevailing in the state capital, and those bills appear unlikely to pass during this session.

The effort had the support of Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was eager to back a popular cause to distract from the new taxes and fees in the FY-2026 state budget, but was opposed by powerful Democrats on committees that first had to approve the bills to move them to the floor for a wider vote. Harris Teeter was the loudest advocate for the change during the administration of previous Governor Larry Hogan, but the campaign stalled when the pandemic hit, and liquor law changes became focused on assisting bars and restaurants by allowing take-out cocktails, for example. Safeway has joined Harris Teeter in the 2025 push for the bills. Yet neither major corporation has been able to influence enough Maryland Democrats to sign on to supermarket sales, and those same Democrats have yet to pay a price at the ballot box for their continued defiance of the popular will on the matter.

Rosetta Italian Bakery to open in Bethesda

Rosetta Italian Bakery is coming to downtown Bethesda. It will be located at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue, in the space vacated by Pitango Gelato last September. Rosetta, or michetta, is an Italian white bread roll often used for sandwiches. The bakery chain was founded in 2015 with the vision of becoming "an official ambassador of the Italian art of baking." Customers in the bakery's communal dining area will be able to watch bakers at work in the kitchen, with authentic ingredients imported fresh from Italy, through a large observation window.

The Rosetta menu includes focaccia, sandwiches on a variety of breads, pizza, desserts, and coffee. It also has seasonal holiday items for Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter. The chain currently has locations in Florida, Georgia, New York, and New Jersey.

Two 2025 Bethesda trends are reflected in Rosetta's planned expansion here. First, an unusual number of bakery cafes have opened, or are opening in the near future, in downtown Bethesda. Rosetta will have one advantage, in that most of the competitors are French bakeries. Secondly, Rosetta has a partnership with the Best Buddies organization, like Max's Best Ice Cream, which will be opening about a block away from the bakery this summer. Construction on Rosetta Italian Bakery is expected to commence before the end of spring.

Norfolk Avenue Starbucks renovation update (Photos)

The Starbucks at 7700 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda has missed a couple of reopening dates as it continues to undergo a major renovation. New signage has now been installed above the storefront, and as suspected, Starbucks has dropped the "Coffee" portion of its brand name. Somebody will have to buff out the "Starbucks Coffee" still visible where the previous signage letters were pried off.  

Inside the store, well, there's still a ways to go. The renovation is clearly behind schedule. A large "curved custom banquette" was just delivered to the store from Amtrend, a luxury upholstery shop in Fullerton, California. A number of other shipping crates have been delivered, as well. I notice that Starbucks is currently hiring a shift supervisor and baristas for this store.

Signage installed at Rails at Bethesda Row

Permanent signage has been installed above the future storefront of Rails at Bethesda Row. The men's and women's apparel retailer will be located at 4852 Bethesda Avenue, in the space vacated by Allbirds last fall. How soon will the boutique open? The windows are covered, preventing a view of the construction progress inside. However, I notice that a store manager has been hired, as that position has been removed from the job page on the Rails website. They are still hiring an assistant store manager, a part-time sales associate, a full-time keyholder, and a part-time keyholder.

Babycat Brewery adding mural at Bethesda location (Photos)

Here is a brief update on the continuing construction of Babycat Brewery at 4829 Rugby Avenue in Bethesda. My report last week noted that the exterior of the brewery's space in the ground floor of the Gallery Bethesda II apartments was being painted in a greyish silver color. It turns out there is also a wraparound mural being painted onto the exterior. That explains the seemingly-random leaf that had been painted onto the building last week.

Bethesda Lidl posts store hours...and that's it

The future Lidl grocery store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road at Bethesda Place has sat frozen in time for many months, missing its expected 2024 opening date. Nothing has moved inside the store, but I can report that a sign listing the store's operating hours has just been affixed to a larger sign at the property's public parking garage entrance off Woodmont Avenue. 

Those store hours will be 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week. This schedule should not be confused with the garage hours that are posted directly above it - which is pretty darned confusing for drivers simultaneously trying to navigate the entrance and read the signage. Those are pretty limited hours compared to chains like Giant and Safeway, but appear to be consistent with other Lidl locations.

Shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda (Video + Photos)

UPDATE - 7:17 PM: Montgomery County police have confirmed that there were two victims in the shooting. Both had non-life-threatening injuries, but one had to be transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police also confirmed that no suspects are in custody at this time.

Montgomery County and Maryland-National Capital Park police responded to a report of a shooting in the 5300 block of Westbard Avenue in Bethesda early this morning. The shooting took place near the intersection of Westbard Avenue and Zenith Overlook, in the vicinity of the Bowlero bowling alley, shortly after 12:00 AM. According to @DCNewsLive on X, an adult female victim was grazed in the face by a bullet, and the alleged shooter fled the scene in a red Honda Accord. Police radio communications referred to a "rifle."

The crime scene quickly expanded in size as the morning went on. Officers combing the area around the bowling alley noticed there was also evidence in the street, and ordered Westbard Avenue closed to traffic. Police appeared to recover several shell casings from the road in front of the Westwood Tower property next to the bowling alley. There is no word yet from Montgomery County police on the condition of the victim, or on this incident in general, as of this writing. The suspect(s) presumably remain at large.

Pink Moon opening this spring in Bethesda

Pink Moon, a self-care community for moms, will open this spring at 7610 Old Georgetown Road, above Chipotle at the Metropolitan apartments in Bethesda. "Pink Moon is a welcoming self-care community for moms," the founders said in a promotional statement online. "We provide fun fitness classes, convenient onsite childcare, social and educational events and resources, support groups and cohorts, self-care pop ups, and unique activities for moms and their families. Our goal is to empower moms to prioritize their own health and wellbeing and ensure they feel seen, supported, and connected throughout motherhood."

The space was previously home to fitness studio Moxie, until it closed in December 2022. Pink Moon is currently offering Founders memberships. These memberships, available for a limited time, will offer the holder a chance to lock in the lowest rates, access to exclusive pre-opening events, 2 guest passes per month, and 10% off retail purchases.

Bethesda Paul Bakery space to be filled with...a bank

April Fool's Day isn't until next week, so I'm afraid the truth is real, and it's going to hurt. One of the prime vacant storefronts in downtown Bethesda is going to be filled by yet another bank. Paul Bakery closed in December 2023 at 4760 Bethesda Avenue in the Flats at Bethesda Avenue apartment building, and its large space has sat empty since then. It has now been leased by Citibank for the purpose of opening a new bank branch. Over the last few months, the Corner Slice pizzeria was lost to a bank, and now we are getting a bank in exchange for a charming French bakery. Mon Dieu!

Construction begins on Babycat Brewery in Bethesda

Work is underway inside and outside of the future Babycat Brewery at 4829 Rugby Avenue, at the Gallery Bethesda II apartment tower. A lot of progress has been made on the exterior painting of the facade. For a sample of what is in store for Bethesda here, visit Babycat Brewery's existing location at 10241 Kensington Parkway in Kensington.

Montgomery County police corral 5 shoplifters in "retail blitz" at Bethesda Safeway

Montgomery County police officers conducted a "retail blitz" at the Safeway store at 5000 Bradley Boulevard in downtown Bethesda last Thursday, March 20, 2025. Over the course of just one afternoon, they were able to catch five shoplifters in action. At 12:30 PM, police say, a man and woman entered the store. The man took items and the two left without paying. Officers stopped them, and both gave false identities.

The man was found to have items belonging to the Safeway on his person, and officers determined that the woman was in conspiracy with him to steal from the store. Police also found he was in possession of drug paraphernalia. They were eventually able to identify the two suspects as Shelon Emmanel Johnson, 34, of no fixed address, and Dequita LaShawn Jones, age not given, of Gaithersburg.

Johnson and Jones were taken into custody and transported to the County jail. Johnson was charged with theft $100 to under $1,500, possession of drug paraphernalia, false statement to peace officer and obstructing and hindering. Jones was charged with conspiracy to commit theft $100 to under $1,500 and released on her own recognizance.

About a 90 minutes later, Daniel Mossing Troen of Kensington, entered the store. Police did not provide his age, either. Officers observed Troen allegedly taking items, and leaving without paying. They issued Troen a trespass notice, and a criminal citation for theft less than $100. Troen was released after signing both documents. 

Less than an hour later, 39-year-old James Baker, 39, and 19-year-old Kristchelle Aniya Wedge, 19, both of Washington, D.C., entered the Safeway and also proceeded to shoplift items and flee. Baker and Wedge were pursued to the Bethesda Metro station, where they were initially arrested. But they were ultimately issued trespass notices and criminal citations, and were released from custody.

UNIQLO construction advances at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

UNIQLO is going to be a large store when it opens at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda later this year. The latest stage of construction also suggests it may have a new exterior entrance punched through the mall's wall. Several new tenants at the mall over the last decade have obtained permission for this outward-facing feature. It's ironic that stores like Target at Westfield's Wheaton mall have reduced their number of access points recently, likely as a shoplifting deterrent, while it looks like UNIQLO may be increasing the number of entrances to guard.