Bethesda Boxing & Kickboxing Academy reopens after move

Bethesda Boxing & Kickboxing Academy has completed its move in downtown Bethesda, and is once again open for business. It was a short move, right across the street to 4927-A St. Elmo Avenue, at the St. Elmo's Cove shopping center. Their old space is being demolished to make way for a new apartment tower, necessitating their relocation. BBKA welcomes people of all ages and all skill levels to join their kickboxing community in Bethesda.

Toolbox leases former Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle space in Bethesda

Toolbox, a Pilates and yoga studio with a Dupont Circle location in Washington, D.C., has leased the former Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle space at 4844 Cordell Avenue. Why such a large space? Maybe because the D.C. location doubles as an upscale event space after business hours. 

Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Iva Gotzev, the original Toolbox can host everything from corporate events to weddings, in a space that combines warm, natural surfaces with displays of art. If the same model is followed at the Bethesda location, it would be the second dedicated event venue to open in downtown Bethesda in as many years, following The Cordell at 4865 Cordell Avenue. A third, Bonvenue at 7615 Wisconsin Avenue, remains in limbo for now.

Flanagan's closed in 2020 after decades as a fixture in downtown Bethesda. What triggered the demise of a business that had weathered so many economic downturns of the past? The anti-business policies of the Montgomery County Council, and the Council's 2012 Nighttime Economy Initiative, delivered stiff body blows to every hospitality business in the County, with the latter leading to the closure of over 25 nightspots in downtown Bethesda over the ensuing years. At the time of the closure, the owner cited the County Council's Bethesda Streetery street closures, and the County's pandemic ban on live music, as the straws that broke the camel's back. The exit of Flanagan's saw Bethesda become one of the few towns in America without a single Irish pub, adding to its existing notoriety as one of the few towns in America without a St. Patrick's Day parade.

Barry's opening July 25 in Bethesda

Barry's, the fitness studio chain known for its high intensity cardio and strength classes, has set the opening date for its first Maryland location. The downtown Bethesda Barry's will open this coming Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. No more riding into D.C. for Red Room workouts. Special opening rates and membership packages are still available this week, including an $85 Bethesda 5-Pack that "can be used to bring guests" during the first month. Here's a sneak peek at the reception area:

Renovations ahead for Equinox at Bethesda Row

A makeover is in the works for Equinox at 4905 Elm Street at Bethesda Row. This phase of the project will be limited to the ground level of the upscale fitness facility. The existing reception area will be replaced with a lounge. Work is anticipated to begin before summer.

Barry's coming soon to downtown Bethesda

Barry's, the fitness chain formerly known as Barry's Bootcamp, is expanding to downtown Bethesda. It will be in the ground floor of The Elm apartment tower at 4710 Elm Street. Barry's offers high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with 50% treadmill cardio and 50% strength training in their signature red-lit facility. I've heard a lot of positive things about Barry's from people who are members at their Washington, D.C. locations, so this should be a nice addition, especially for residents of The Elm, Hampden House, and The Charles.

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. 

Nesfield Performance sets opening date in Bethesda

Nesfield Performance has set the opening date for its new downtown Bethesda facility. It will open on Saturday, September 27, 2025, according to a sandwich board sign placed outside its storefront. Nesfield Performance is located at 7832-7834 Wisconsin Avenue, in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium in Bethesda. It is a fitness, physical therapy, massage, and movement therapy business that has previously been operating in Chevy Chase.

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.

Club Studio opening in White Flint

Club Studio is coming soon to 11416-A Rockville Pike. The gym will take over the vacant second floor space that previously belonged to L.A. Fitness in the NoBe Market apartment tower. Like L.A. Fitness, Club Studio is a national chain of fitness centers. It offers Reformer Pilates, CS4 cardio and strength workouts, spin classes, a boxing studio, traditional and hot yoga, and low-impact 45-minute cardio trampoline classes. A wait list for the Rockville location is now accepting online registration.

Nesfield Performance to open downtown Bethesda location

Nesfield Performance, a fitness, physical therapy, and massage and movement therapy business currently operating in Chevy Chase, will open a Bethesda studio this summer. It will be located at 7832-7834 Wisconsin Avenue, in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium. Nesfield also offers an infrared sauna and nutrition advice.

Founding memberships are currently being offered on their website. "Coming soon" signage has been installed in the storefront windows. On May 18, Nesfield will be sponsoring the Metro Move Fest event at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The family-friendly event will include races, fitness and wellness activities, food, music, and local vendors. Registration and more information is available online.

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.

New fitness studio to fill yoga space in downtown Bethesda

A former hot yoga studio space in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium building in downtown Bethesda will soon have a new tenant, and it won't be a radical change of use. The vacant space will become home to a personal training and physical therapy gym. Located at 7832 Wisconsin Avenue, and encompassing several adjoining storefronts, the space has been home to yoga and hot yoga studios for over a decade in the past. Interior fit-out of the new gym is anticipated to begin by this spring.

YogaSix opening studio at Cabin John Village in Potomac

A new fitness option is coming to the neighborhood around Cabin John Village in Potomac. YogaSix has leased a space in the shopping center at 7951-D Tuckerman Lane. The chain touts its commitment to providing accessible instruction for total beginners. Each of its locations in the region are operated by independent franchisees. The Cabin John studio is anticipated to open this spring; "coming soon" signage has been posted in the windows of its future storefront.

Signage installed at StretchLab at Bethesda Row

The sign is up at StretchLab, opening soon at 4906 Hampden Lane, next to The Salt Line at Bethesda Row. Last night, it was already lit. Windows are still covered, retaining the mystery of the progress on the interior fit-out of the fitness studio. The one-on-one stretching chain has an existing location at Chevy Chase Lake. This particular building was previously home to Super Cleaners USA.

Sweathouz opening at Pike & Rose

Sweathouz is coming soon to North Bethesda. The contrast therapy spa will be located at 11564 Old Georgetown Road at Pike & Rose. During an appointment, Sweathouz - a.k.a. SWTHZ - moves clients from its infrared sauna into a cold plunge. A private contrast therapy suite also offers an en-suite Vitamin C shower. Sweathouz says its treatments help clients manage pain and inflammation, boost immunity, and burn calories.

Groundworks Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu opening in Bethesda

Groundworks Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is coming to downtown Bethesda. The Team Yamasaki-affiliated gym is opening a new location at 7920-C Norfolk Avenue. That space opened up when Soldierfit relocated to White Flint in 2022. Groundworks has an existing location in Tenleytown. Classes can help you achieve whatever your goal is, whether it be learning this martial art, fitness, self-defense, or to compete in mixed martial arts. The sign is up and lit at the Bethesda location.

SEV Med Spa, RTR Pilates opening at Chevy Chase Lake

Two new lifestyle tenants are opening soon at the Chevy Chase Land Co.'s new Chevy Chase Lake development. SEV Med Spa and RTR Pilates will both be in the ground floor of The Claude apartments at 3820 Chaplin Place. "Coming soon" signage has been installed in both storefronts. SEV and RTR are expected to open this summer.

SEV Med Spa was founded in 2010 by Sevana Petrosian in Glendale, California, and specializes in laser hair removal. As word of mouth spread, Petrosian began to gain a following among celebrities from nearby Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Her first celebrity clients were the Kardashians, who have since been joined by Rita Ora, Sofia Richie, and Eva Longoria.

Alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers used by SEV are safe for all skin tones, and a cooling feature minimizes discomfort. SEV is medically-accredited and employs specialized nurses. Prices range from $25 to permanently get rid of your mustache, to a $600 full body hair removal.

RTR Pilates is a local chain of fitness studios founded by Reina Offut in 2006. Over the last two decades, it has grown to what will be six locations when Chevy Chase Lake opens this summer. There are classes at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. All classes utilize Allegro II reformer machines. Under Offut's leadership, Potomac Pilates donates more than $5000-worth of services to schools, charities and organizations each year. RTR's existing Shops at Wisconsin Place location in nearby Friendship Heights has earned a perfect 5-star rating on Google Reviews, with nearly 250 reviews submitted, suggesting clients are clearly satisfied with their results.

StretchLab "coming soon" to downtown Bethesda, Stretch Zone now open at Westbard Square

Is Bethesda stretched out enough yet? Apparently not, as StretchLab is "coming soon" to 4906 Hampden Lane. There is an existing StretchLab location at Chevy Chase Lake. The one-on-one stretching studio is expected to open later this summer, and is currently hiring staff. You may remember this building, which is right next to The Salt Line at Bethesda Row, was previously home to dry cleaning firm Super Cleaners USA.

But if you're ready to stretch like Stretch Armstrong right now, Stretch Zone is now open at 5400 Westbard Avenue at the new Westbard Square development in Bethesda. Stretch Zone brings a high-profile celebrity endorsement via former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, a business partner in the venture. It is similar to StretchLab in offering one-on-one, practioner-assisted stretching. 

1to1 Fitness coming soon to Westbard Square in Bethesda

1to1 Fitness is the latest tenant to sign on at the new Westbard Square development at 5400 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. Way back when redevelopment plans were first proposed for the Westwood Shopping Center by developer Equity One, a large national-chain gym was rumored to be one of the tenants lined up. That original plan did not come to pass, and developer Regency Centers ultimately received approval from Montgomery County for a slightly-scaled-down redevelopment proposal.

Now you'll still have a chance to work out at Westbard Square, but it will be more of a one-on-one, personal trainer experience with 1to1 Fitness. Many people may prefer that individualized attention and format. On-site and virtual training options will be available, as well as nutrition coaching. 

Your exercise plan will be tailored to you, your goals, your schedule and your medical history. This will be 1to1's second Montgomery County location, with the first already open in Potomac. "We are looking forward to helping the Bethesda community achieve their health and fitness goals!" 1to1 Fitness said in a comment on Facebook.

Photo courtesy Regency Centers/1to1 Fitness

Orangetheory Fitness Bethesda is fit for the Super Bowl (Photos)

Orangetheory Fitness Bethesda at 7955 Woodmont Avenue is ready for Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11, 2024. Their lobby is decorated with a pigskin tablecloth, honeycomb paper footballs and an inflatable goalpost. A cardboard running back thunders across a tabletop toward the end zone. Of course, barring a shocking incident of another sort, this Sunday's game will be remembered as the Taylor Swift Super Bowl. Sure enough, the disembodied cardboard heads of Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift and a cat grace the window of the gym.