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.

Tesla confirms closure at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tesla Motors has confirmed it has permanently closed its showroom at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. However, the company is terming the exit from the mall as a "move," and is directing potential customers to its Rockville dealership at 1300 Rockville Pike, and to its showroom in Georgetown at 3307 M Street NW. A peek inside the shuttered Montgomery Mall store finds a lone Tesla Cybertruck remaining of the cars that were on display until the operation abruptly closed, without explanation, early last week. 

The company is not yet publicly declaring the reason for the Bethesda closure. Tesla facilities and individual Tesla vehicles have been the target of vandalism and violent attack across the country in recent weeks, by opponents of Elon Musk's executive branch DOGE initiative within the administration of President Donald Trump. Outside the mall, a large Tesla billboard remains in place on a parking garage.

Strong-arm robbery on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in the Westbard area of Bethesda on March 20, 2025. The robbery was reported in the 5300 block of Westbard Avenue at 8:43 PM. That would be somewhere between Bowlero and Crown Street.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were once again called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this past weekend, after a report of an assault. The assault was reported at a department store inside the mall at 5:33 PM on Saturday, March 22, 2025. This was the third assault reported at the mall so far this year. There were 11 assaults reported at the popular retail center in 2024, 5 in 2023, and 12 in 2022.

St. Elmo Deli closed in Bethesda

St. Elmo Deli at 4818 St. Elmo Avenue in Bethesda was closed during normal Monday business hours today, March 24, 2025. The interior appears largely cleared out. There's no seating, shelves (such as where you would typically see chip bags lined up) are empty, and the menu displays have been taken down. Signage is still up out front, but there's no note to customers explaining the reason for the closure. St. Elmo Deli has been around since 1997 - an impressive, almost thirty-year run - so it would be sad if this is a permanent closure.

Merlo Point, De Clichy closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The super-short run for Merlo Point at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda is approaching an end, according to signage at the store, which opened shortly before Christmas. A closing sale is now underway at the local retailer, which carries European-inspired furniture, art, and home decor. Look for Merlo Point on Level 1 of the mall, between Calzedonia and Kickz.

Also exiting soon is De Clichy. The menswear boutique has been around significantly longer than Merlo Point, having opened here in 2022. It, too, is holding a closing sale. Find De Clichy and savings on Level 2, next to LensCrafters.

Dunkin' Donuts opens at Chevy Chase Lake (Photos)

Dunkin' Donuts has opened its newest Montgomery County location at the Giant gas station at 8500 Connecticut Avenue at Chevy Chase Lake. It is located by the future Purple Line bridge over Connecticut, and in front of the Crescent at Chevy Chase apartments. Operating hours for the store are 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week. That will cover donuts and coffee for both rush hours, and potentially some sticky fingers aboard the Purple Line - whatever year it opens.