Limon's Gems & Jewels building sells for $1.1 million in Bethesda

The Limon's Gems & Jewels building at 7909 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood has sold for $1.1 million. Chris Vondas and Alex Alperstein of commercial real estate firm advisoRE LLC in Bethesda brokered the sale. The building remains vacant since the closure of Limon's this past fall. While the transaction last week is too recent to appear in Maryland real estate records, I'm told the prime-location property was acquired by an investor.

Tako Grill closes in Bethesda

Tako Grill has closed at 4914 Hampden Lane at the Shoppes of Bethesda. The sushi restaurant had a successful ten-year run after moving to the Shoppes in 2015. An unidentified restaurant space at the property had recently been put on the market for lease, and now it's clear which space it is. "We are deeply grateful to our community for your loyalty and support over the years," Tako Grill said in a message to customers posted in the window. "It has been an honor to serve you."

Nordstrom Sunglasses Shop relocates at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

 

The Sunglasses Shop has relocated inside of Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It can now be found on Level 2 of the department store, between Handbags and Accessories. The shop carries the top sunglasses brands, including Ray Ban, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Oakley, and Versace. Another advantage of the shop is that, unlike many eyewear chains, Nordstrom has an unlimited return time period for most items, provided they are in original condition.

Old Georgetown Grille to reopen Monday after "deep cleaning"

Old Georgetown Grille at 7755 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda will reopen for business tomorrow, Monday, December 22, 2025, after a deep cleaning is completed this evening. The remediation effort this weekend was necessitated by the recent fire inside of the neighboring Colonial Opticians. That business was forced to permanently close due to smoke and fire damage inside its space. The OG Grille will also eventually permanently close, as the building will be torn down to make way for a new apartment building.

Vehicle stolen from Westbard Square in Bethesda

Montgomery County police are investigating the theft of a vehicle parked at the Westbard Square development in Bethesda during broad daylight business hours. The vehicle was stolen sometime between 12:40 and 12:55 PM on December 10, 2025, and has yet to be recovered. A rash of vehicle break-ins at the parking garage at Westbard Square earlier this year cooled off this fall after property owner Regency Centers installed surveillance cameras, which police were given access to.

Police investigate bomb threat at Bethesda office building

Montgomery County police were called to an office building in downtown Bethesda yesterday, December 19, 2025, after a bomb threat was reported there. The threat was reported at an office building in the 7200 block of Wisconsin Avenue at 8:28 AM Friday. The police department has not yet commented publicly on this incident as of this writing.

Aggravated assault in Kenwood

Montgomery County police responded to a very out-of-character event in the elite Kenwood neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, December 17, 2025. An aggravated assault was reported in the 6400 block of Garnett Drive at 3:49 PM. The incident was reported along the street, which backs up to the Kenwood Golf and Country Club.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda midday Wednesday, December 17, 2025, after an assault was reported there. The assault was reported at 12:26 PM Wednesday. This was the tenth assault reported at the mall this year. Eleven assaults were tallied at the popular retail, dining, and entertainment center in 2024.

Italian aerospace firm chooses Virginia for rocket motor manufacturing facility

 

Were Maryland and Montgomery County even courting global aerospace firm Avio S.p.A in its search for a site to build a $500 million solid rocket motor manufacturing facility? We may never know. But we do know that the Italian firm has selected Virginia as the winner for the high-tech factory. The 860,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility will produce solid rocket motors for defense tactical and strategic propulsion, as well as commercial space propulsion sectors. 

“I want to thank Avio USA for choosing Virginia,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “Today’s announcement marks another exciting milestone for our aerospace and defense industry. Avio USA’s decision to build a new rocket motor manufacturing facility here is both an important investment in America’s national security infrastructure and underscores Avio USA’s confidence in Virginia.”

“Avio looks forward to establishing on U.S. soil a solid rocket motor production facility to contribute in strengthening the U.S. industrial base by providing decades of experience in engineering and manufacturing,” Avio S.p.A. CEO Giulio Ranzo said. “In particular, we are thankful for the Commonwealth and local governments’ warm welcome for our project and count on their future support for effective execution.” 

Does Maryland and its counties extend a warm welcome to aerospace firms? Not in this century. The County Council tried to run the last remaining big aerospace firm - Lockheed Martin - out of the county not once, but twice, with radical legislation that made us look like idiots after the bills received national news coverage. "We don't need the Lockheed headquarters," former Councilmember Nancy Floreen declared in the summer of 2010. 

It's no surprise that the County has failed to attract a single major new corporate headquarters in over 25 years. Or that, thanks to the highest personal and corporate tax and fee burden in the Mid-Atlantic region, Montgomery County and Maryland have effectively been in a recession for much of this century. MoCo's crime rate has risen faster and higher than its business and job growth rates as a result. Once the economic engine of the region, Montgomery County is now at or near the bottom across every major economic benchmark tracked by the federal government. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Dave's Hot Chicken opening today in White Flint (Photos)

Dave's Hot Chicken will open today, December 18, 2025, at 11564 Rockville Pike, according to a sign posted at the restaurant, which was conducting training for employees last night. After a languid construction process, an inspired burst of energy over the last week got all the equipment and menus into place. Speaking of menus, I was not familiar with Dave's, and am delighted to see milkshakes and Hi-C Orange and Fruit Punch "Slushers" among the beverage choices. Operating hours are 10:30 AM to midnight, seven days a week.

Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel searching for Starbucks replacement

A for-lease listing online confirms that the closure of the Starbucks in the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel at 1 Bethesda Metro Center was a Starbucks corporate decision, not a Hyatt decision. That's because the listing is marketing the former Starbucks space as ideal for a coffee shop tenant. It certainly would be a score for a coffee operation to take advantage of Starbucks' expensive and high-quality interior fit-out at no cost - or minimal modification, if the brand-name is big enough. I'd like to suggest a few up-and-coming chains, but most of the fastest-growing companies are focused on drive-thru sales, which aren't possible at this location.

January 1 plastic bag ban looms over Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Council is known for doing little beyond raising taxes and the cost of doing business, and banning stuff. Councilmembers were able to do all three in their highest-profile ban of the 2025 legislative session, that of plastic bags. The ban takes effect on January 1, 2026, and impacted businesses across the county are now trying to prepare their customers to buy paper bags (remember how paper bags were causing deforestation, so we were told to use plastic?!) or reusable bags, or - ew! - reuse dirty reusable bags teeming with e coli, salmonella, and God knows what else. Ironically, Safeway, whose customer alert signage is pictured here, got its start as the Sanitary Grocery Company.

Sidewalk reopens in front of The Charles in Bethesda ahead of January opening

The Wisconsin Avenue sidewalk has reopened in front of The Charles, the new apartment tower nearing completion at 7342 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. It had been closed for about two years. The building is now leasing. First residents of The Charles are expected to move in on January 19, 2026, if all goes according to schedule.

Kids' gym to open at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Friendship Heights

A children's gymnasium is coming soon to the Friendship Heights neighborhood of Chevy Chase. It will be located at 5406-D Wisconsin Avenue at The Shops at Wisconsin Place. Used most recently as a restaurant, the space has been subdivided into two retail suites. 

Bethesda Dental Group moving

Bethesda Dental Group is relocating to new offices north of downtown Bethesda. They are currently located at 7508 Wisconsin Avenue, near the Bethesda Metro Center. Their new location will be at 5415 W. Cedar Lane, Unit 205, in the Georgetown Doctors Park. The moving date has not yet been announced.

Vehicles ransacked in Massachusetts Avenue corridor of Bethesda

Two thieves targeted vehicles in neighborhoods along Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda during broad daylight on December 3, 2025, Montgomery County police report. They were successful in obtaining stolen property and cash from inside of unlocked vehicles on Massachusetts Avenue itself, on Wapakoneta Road in Mohican Hills, and on Falmouth Road in Spring Hill. The thefts took place between 9:00 AM and 12:46 PM. 

Police describe one suspect only as a Black male of unknown age, and have no physical description of the second suspect. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Construction underway at Rosetta Bakery in Bethesda

Work is underway on the interior fit-out for Rosetta Bakery at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue in Bethesda. The Miami-based chain seeks to be "an official ambassador of the Italian art of baking." A central feature of the completed interior will be a glass wall that will provide a clear view of the bakers at work in the kitchen. Try their signature Rosetta bread sandwiches, their famous croissant, and authentic bombolones.

Just Salad, Inspire Nail Bar to open at Residences at Mazza in Friendship Heights

Just Salad and Inspire Nail Bar are the latest businesses to sign leases for retail space at the Residences at Mazza at 5300 Wisconsin Avenue NW in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C. They join Total Wine, Wonder - a food hall (yeah, that ship has sailed, folks), and TJ Maxx at the redeveloped site of the Mazza Gallerie mall. A luxury mall - demolished!

Just Salad is similar to Sweetgreen and CHOPT, but with a more expansive menu that makes it the best of the three for people who don't want "just salad" for lunch.  They have dinner plates that look more like restaurant entrees than salads, and promote sustainability with returnable, reusable bowls. A nail bar is, well, a nail salon. The chain has many area locations, and specializes in waxing as well as nail services.

The additions continue the effort to recalibrate Friendship Heights downmarket after the flight of the rich to lower-tax jurisdictions tanked "Montgomery County's Rodeo Drive" of high-end boutiques, malls, and restaurants. So go get that salad, a Potbelly sandwich, and grab a six-pack at Total Wine, and think of the Montgomery County Council. Yee-haw!

Native Arts opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

 

Native Arts is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. If you are searching for unique holiday gifts, this may be the place to start. The store carries Native American-inspired art, clothing, and accessories. Shop here to find baja sweaters, ponchos, t-shirts, blankets, backpacks, and more. Look for Native Arts on Level 2 of the mall, between Laderach and LensCrafters.

Sweeteria opens in Bethesda

Sweeteria is now open at 7525 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda. That's right across the street from the Bethesda Metro station. The family-owned, Thai-inspired dessert cafe is known for its creative menu items like honey butter toast, Thai tea custard buns, and Taiwanese cheesecake. Sweeteria has an existing location in Silver Spring.

Sephora sets opening date at Bethesda Row (Photos)

The interior fit-out of Sephora at 7271 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row is now complete. Employees are now in the process of stocking the shelves and displays inside the store. Sephora has announced an opening date of January 2, 2026. The cosmetics and beauty retailer replaces Spanish Diner at the Federal Realty development. Here is a sneak peek inside:

Citibank opens "Bethesda Row" branch

Citibank has opened a new downtown Bethesda branch at 4760 Bethesda Avenue, in the ground floor of the Flats at Bethesda Avenue apartments. They are referring to this as the "Bethesda Row" branch, even though it is not in the Bethesda Row development across the street. Citibank is constructing a second new downtown Bethesda branch at 8101 Wisconsin Avenue. That one should be opening soon, as well.