Below Zero opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Below Zero is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cold therapy skincare boutique missed its expected spring opening date, but is now here in time for fall and the holiday shopping season. Its products are targeted at those who want to look younger and extend their lives, which is just about everybody, right? The interior fit-out of the boutique is quite nice, with upscale marble finishes.

"Many animal species live longer at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures," Below Zero notes. "Researchers found that the sense of cold activates a genetic program that enhances lifespan. The research shows that enzymes and hormonal frameworks have a role in reactions to low temperatures, which affects aging and lifespan." Look for Below Zero on Level 2 of the mall, between California Pizza Kitchen and Avalon Nails-Hair-Lashes, right outside of Nordstrom.

Kami Ramen Bar coming soon to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kami Ramen Bar is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It will be opening its latest location in the mall's Dining Terrace food court, right next to Cinnabon. This will be at least the second try for a ramen bar inside the food court, with Ejji Ramen lasting just over a year. The description of Kami Ramen Bar provided by Westfield matches that of a small chain that currently operates four locations in Tennessee. Those spots get high marks from locals in the Volunteer State. Kami Ramen Bar says it offers a "true taste of Japan. We are crazy about making ramen noodles!"

Maman Joon Kitchen to open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Maman Joon Kitchen is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The authentic Persian kabob restaurant will be located in the space most recently home to Brio's Chicken, but best known as the longer-term home of Tara Thai. That is on Level 2 next to the entrance from the parking deck. Maman Joon has six existing locations, and this will be its second in Montgomery County.

Most of the spices employed in the dishes at Maman Joon are imported from Iran, the local chain says. The dishes are based on family recipes handed down through generations. They also offer catering services. As for the name of the restaurant, Maman means “mom” and Joon means “soul, spirit of life.”

The Heights food hall closes in struggling Friendship Heights

The Heights, a much-touted food hall at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Friendship Heights, has closed. The closure is the latest cannonball-to-the-gut for the once-fancy area, which has declined as the wealthiest residents of Montgomery County have fled to lower-tax jurisdictions in the area. Somebody has lost an incredible amount of money - or is getting a big tax write-off - as the construction for this food hall was long and expensive, and the opening was extensively promoted with advertising and media/influencer coverage. The food hall was targeted toward an upscale audience that, frankly, isn't there in the numbers it once was in this part of Chevy Chase.

The demise of The Heights is also another body blow to the Montgomery County Council, which is largely responsible for the policies and high taxes that have sent the ultra-rich packing. Prior to the debut of The Heights, Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who represents the area, had made the humorous claim to a credulous Washington Post reporter that Friendship Heights' big problem was a lack of "nice local places to grab a cup of coffee, to have a nice meal, to pick up some groceries and enjoy an evening out." That was farcical on its face at the time, as Friendship Heights has an abundance of all of those. But the collapse of The Heights - which included a full-service, sit-down restaurant, a speakeasy, and multiple stall tenant eateries - indubitably pounds the final heavy nail into the Friedson Theory coffin. Now running for County Executive, Friedson might find himself reminded of how wrong he was by opponents in next year's Democratic primary.

Having taken up over 10,000-square-feet of space at The Shops, Friendship Heights will now be left with yet another vacant storefront. That's been a familiar sight in the neighborhood, as the Wisconsin Avenue strip once described as "Montgomery County's Rodeo Drive" has in recent times become a corridor of empty storefronts and smashed-out bus shelters. The Collection at Chevy Chase underwent a major renovation, and the once-elite Mazza Gallerie mall was demolished. Out went Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton, and in came discount grocer Amazon Fresh and Potbelly Sandwich Works. 

The curtain falling on The Heights is merely the latest humiliation for our utterly-incompetent and corrupt County Council. They had received a stiff warning from their own professional staff about the massive amount of County revenue lost through the exit of just 25 high roller residents, but completely ignored it. The Council raised taxes massively on residents and businesses alike, giving Montgomery County the highest tax and fee burden in the region, and causing record numbers of business closures. At The Heights, the chickens came home to roost, went back out, and have come home to roost yet again. Daaaaaaaaamn. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Eat Sprout opening August 29 at Bethesda Row

Eat Sprout has set an opening date for its newest location at 4926 Elm Street at Bethesda Row. It will be this Friday, August 29, 2025. The growing Maryland-based chain offers ready-to-go meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Menu items include oat bowls, chia puddings, smoothies, and acai bowls, artisanal breads, and scratch-made salads and spreads. Entrées include honey pot chicken, herb-crusted salmon, and turkey sloppy joes. You can see their August menu on their website.

“Bringing Sprout to Bethesda is a milestone for us,” Eat Sprout founders Emily and Ryan Groll said in a statement. “From day one, we’ve believed healthy eating should be easy, delicious, and rooted in local goodness. Being recognized for both our food and our values—including sustainability and community impact—makes us proud to now share that same commitment with the Bethesda community.”

Photos courtesy Eat Sprout

Bethesda's Greenhill Companies acquires 4731 Elm Street

The commercial retail building at 4731 Elm Street has been acquired by Bethesda-based real estate firm Greenhill Companies, a source tells me. Currently home to Potbelly Sandwich Works, Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Salsa with Silvia, the 1994 building is directly adjacent to the corner property at 4733 Elm Street (anchored by Dig), which is also part of Greenhill's portfolio. The sale price is not known, as it has not yet been recorded in the public Maryland real estate records. Douglas Development is the most recent recorded owner of the 4731 Elm property. 

4731 Elm has been a very stable, low-tenant-turnover building, prominently located across from Bethesda Row. Once Elm Street reopens from the far-behind-schedule Purple Line construction, it will be a much-heavier traffic street for vehicles and pedestrians than it has been for the last decade. Looking further into the future, 4731 and 4733 will present an excellent redevelopment opportunity, even moreso if the Barking Dog lot were assembled with it. The site will be a 1-minute walk from entrances to the Metro Red Line and Purple Line when those station access points are completed.

Signage installed at The Bunny Hive in Bethesda

Permanent signage has been installed and activated at The Bunny Hive in downtown Bethesda. It is located in the ground floor of the 4909 Auburn apartments in the Woodmont Triangle. The Bunny Hive is "a social club designed for families with little ones." It will host events like birthday parties and baby showers, as well as summer camps and classes. The Bunny Hive is expected to open this fall.

Armed robbery at Target in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Target store at 6831 Wisconsin Avenue, at The Shops of Wisconsin Avenue, on August 16, 2025. Police allege the suspect entered the store and stole merchandise while displaying an unspecified weapon at 5:05 PM. Marcus Shell, 41, of Bethesda was arrested. His mugshot has not been released as of this writing.

Shell has been charged with felony armed robbery, felony 1st-degree assault, 2nd-degree assault, felony 2nd-degree assault of a law enforcement officer/fire EMS personnel, possession of a dangerous weapon with the intent to injure, and theft. He is being held without bond at the County jail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in the case for September 12, 2025 in District Court in Rockville.

Coffee Fi Roastery close to opening in Bethesda

Coffee Fi Roastery looks like it is very close to opening at 4929 St. Elmo Avenue at the St. Elmo's Cove shopping center in downtown Bethesda. All the equipment seems to be in place, though it's unclear how much seating there will ultimately be inside. There are many, many competitors in the area, including the new Paris Baguette Bakery Cafe that just opened on the same block. Coffee Fi's angle is offering single-origin Ethiopian coffee "from our farm to your cup."

New Metro pylon installed at Bethesda Metro station (Photos)

Transit agency WMATA has begun installing new Metro pylons at the Bethesda Metro station. This one is on Woodmont Avenue. The primary change is the use of a colored circle to designate the Metro line(s) that operate through each station. Letters - in this case, "RD" for Red Line (not Robert Dyer) - have been placed inside the circle for riders who are color blind. I have posted a photo of the classic stripe design below for comparison purposes. The new design is - like most changes WMATA has made over the last decade - a step down in aesthetics, though not as glaring as the operating room-esque lighting that has wrecked the dramatic original lighting effect inside stations. Surprised and relieved they didn't drop the classic brown for lemon yellow, at this point. Nuts!

Old design, for comparison

Cheesy Pizzi closes in Bethesda

Why are the pizzerias closing in downtown Bethesda? Anthony's, The Corner Slice, and now, Cheesy Pizzi. Yes, Cheesy Pizzi at 8021 Wisconsin Avenue has closed. Previously known as Pizza Tempo, the pizza parlor was already on the market for sale in March of 2024. Apparently there were no buyers, and the business has closed. Business owners continue to be simultaneously-squeezed by the moribund Montgomery County economy, and the anti-business policies of the County Council, particularly in the thin profit margin hospitality industry. 

French laser firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Say it isn't so! Montgomery County and Maryland have lost yet another economic development competition to Arlington County and Virginia. French laser firm Cailabs SAS wanted to move its U.S. headquarters out of Washington, D.C., but remain in the region. It announced yesterday that it had chosen the booming Rosslyn area of Arlington as the destination for the company's U.S. operations. Cailabs will move into 4,200-square-feet of office space at the gleaming Class A office building at 1530 Wilson Boulevard. The company will also add 16 new employees.

Many of Cailabs' employees hold PhDs, and the company has filed over 25 patents. It specializes in the design and manufacturing of advanced laser-light products for the defense, aerospace, telecommunications, and manufacturing industries. The Rosslyn location provides quick access to both Reagan National and Dulles International airports, as well as Metro and I-66. Montgomery County and Maryland could have had direct access to Dulles and I-66, but chose to cancel the new Potomac River crossing to Dulles, and the Northwest Freeway, which would have connected to I-66 in Rosslyn. Doh!

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin toasted his victory Wednesday, as Maryland Governor Wes Moore was declared America's "most-disappointing governor" by economist Anirban Basu, and Moore's chief-of-staff jumped ship as the state's fiscal crisis continues to slam up against its moribund economy and high crime. With plummeting poll numbers, Moore could only look on with envy, in the reflection of fellow White House aspirant Youngkin's stunning laser light show across the Potomac.

“Cailabs’ decision to relocate their U.S. headquarters to Virginia shows that the Commonwealth remains the premier location for global tech companies looking to expand their footprint in the Americas,” Youngkin said in a statement yesterday. “Virginia’s exceptional talent, reliable infrastructure, and proximity to key federal and defense partners gives companies like Cailabs a strategic advantage as they continue to innovate and expand. The Commonwealth is proud to support Cailabs’ mission of paving the way to a bright future with the power of lasers.” 

“When Cailabs first decided to open a U.S. office, they chose Washington. Two years later, when they decided to stay in the US, they chose Virginia. That decision speaks volumes,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura. “Logistically, economically, and strategically, Virginia remains the ideal location for tech companies looking to push boundaries and build a thriving business.” 

“Arlington cordially says ‘Bienvenue’ to Cailabs on their decision to establish their U.S. headquarters in Rosslyn, at the heart of our nation’s capital region,” Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said. “By choosing Arlington, Cailabs joins a community where the nation’s best-prepared, innovative and talented workforce meets exceptional quality of life in an open, welcoming and forward-thinking culture. We are excited to add a leading new technology business to the dense fabric of transatlantic partnerships that connect, strengthen and advance economies, people and values. We look forward to seeing Cailabs grow and succeed here in Arlington.” 

“I’m delighted that Cailabs has chosen to relocate its U.S. headquarters to Arlington County,” said Senator Barbara Favola. “Arlington has leveraged the investments made by the Commonwealth to create a 21st century workforce. In addition to proximity to major airports and our nation’s capital, Arlington offers a world class public education system, great transit options, and a park in every neighborhood. I am sure that Cailabs will feel ‘right at home’ in the diverse and caring Arlington community.” 

Fire at The Elm apartment tower in Bethesda (Photos)

UPDATE - 7:48 PM: MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer reports the cause was a malfunctioning microwave, and that there is no further fire or smoke present in the building.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel are responding to a fire at an apartment tower in downtown Bethesda. Around 7:00 PM this evening, a fire was reported in a unit on the 9th floor of the The Elm at 4710 Elm Street, one of the tallest residential buildings in Montgomery County. A ladder could be seen extending to an upper floor. The fire started in the kitchen of the apartment, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said. 

No injuries have been reported so far. More than a dozen units are at the scene. It's concerning that the years-long extended closure of Elm Street at Wisconsin Avenue hampers full ease of access to the building by emergency vehicles. This could be problematic in a major emergency event.

Pizzeria Da Marco to add Sunday brunch in Bethesda

Pizzeria Da Marco at 8008 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda will soon expand its operation to include brunch on Sundays. A banner outside the restaurant says the new Sunday brunch service is "coming soon." Currently, the pizzeria opens at 11:30 AM on Sundays, and does not offer any breakfast-oriented menu items. Pizzeria Da Marco is best known for its Neapolitan-style pizza.

Lululemon move postponed at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Lululemon is staying put in its current spot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for a little bit longer. The activewear company did not specify why its planned move is being delayed, but said it hopes to have a firm grand opening date by the end of August. In the meantime, their existing store remains  fully open for business. The new space, still walled off, is much larger than the current Lululemon store.

Victor Gallery closes in Bethesda

Victor Gallery has closed at 7034 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda.  The fine rug showroom opened here in 2023. As you can see, the interior has been totally cleared out. Founded by Victor Mashihi, Victor Gallery is a family rug enterprise that began in Egypt in 1916. Here, it may have been the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy, and the County Council's anti-business policies.

Neuhaus Chocolates temporarily closed at Bethesda Row

Neuhaus Chocolates at 7123 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row is temporarily closed. The shop is expected to reopen this Saturday, August 23, 2025. "Repairs" are the reason cited for the closure on a sign posted inside the front door. If you are in need of chocolates before Saturday, try Velatis, Bethesda Chocolates, or Henry's Sweet Retreat in downtown Bethesda.

Signage installed at Nesfield Performance in Bethesda

The permanent sign has been installed above the future storefront of Nesfield Performance at 7832-7834 Wisconsin Avenue, in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium in Bethesda. Nesfield Performance is a fitness, physical therapy, massage, and movement therapy business currently operating in Chevy Chase. The new Bethesda facility is expected to open before the end of summer. While the windows are covered, social media posts by Nesfield Performance have shown that extensive construction work has been ongoing inside all summer, so it should be just a matter of time before an opening date is announced.