Bradley Party & Variety burglarized in Bethesda (Video)

Bradley Party & Variety was burglarized by a man on August 26, 2017 around 1:30 PM. The suspect entered the store in the Bradley Shopping Center like any other customer, Montgomery County police say. But then he snuck into an employees-only area in the back of the store, broke through a locked door, and stole money. He then walked out the front entrance of the store, but not before his heist was caught on a surveillance camera.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about this burglary is asked to contact the 2nd District Investigative Section at 240-773-6710.  To be eligible for a reward, tipsters may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or enter a tip online. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment of the suspects.  Tipsters will remain anonymous.

Bradley Party & Variety is fully stocked for Halloween (Photos)

Now the only variety store left in Bethesda, Bradley Party & Variety is going all-out for the Halloween season, aiming to be the headquarters for costumes, decorations, accessories, party goods and more. Stop by between 3:00 and 7:00 PM daily to see the gargoyle in the front window put on a scary performance complete with sound and billowing smoke. Want to buy it for yourself? That will set you back $3999 for this movie-quality prop.

It's just a stone
gargoyle, right?

Wait a minute, the
eyes just lit up

Now it's starting to
belch more smoke
than a VW diesel 

Costumes range from Zoolander to Superman to a high-tech Godzilla get-up that's probably going to be more realistic and entertaining than the Matthew Broderick version. Every type of ghoul imaginable to haunt your home or haunted house is here, along with an army's worth of party supplies, dinnerware, welcome mats, and scary invitations.

With no pop-up mega-Halloween stores in downtown Bethesda, Bradley Party & Variety is going to come in handy for the serious Halloween fanatic and last-minute costume shopper alike. Bradley Party & Variety is located in the Bradley Shopping Center at 6922 Arlington Road.

BRADLEY PARTY AND VARIETY WINS BEST OF BETHESDA AWARD

Bradley Party & Variety has received the 2014 Best of Bethesda award in the Party Store category from the Bethesda Award Program. The awards are given to Bethesda small businesses "that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community," the award organization said in a press release. "These exceptional companies help make the Bethesda area a great place to live, work and play."

Among the other 2014 winners of the Best of Bethesda award is business software and consulting firm BroadPoint. The winners are determined by information the Bethesda Award Program organization gathers internally, and from third party data.

"We appreciate our customers and the people in the community who voted," Bradley Party & Variety's Brian Dimock said yesterday. The store is located at 6922 Arlington Road, in the Bradley Shopping Center next to Strosniders.

BRUCE VARIETY DOUBLES DOWN ON SIGNWALKERS IN FRONT OF RIVAL'S STORE (PHOTOS)

A follow-up on last week's report on the sign man Bruce Variety had posted on the sidewalk in front of then-not-yet-open rival Bradley Party & Variety.

BP&V is now open. The Bruce Variety sign man is not only still manning the sidewalk, but has been joined by a second signwalker.

I've seen many a sign holder, sign waver and giant fish out in front of their own associated businesses along Rockville Pike over the years.

But this is the first case I can recall of a rival store advertising directly in front of a competitor. It is a public sidewalk, and therefore not part of the actual shopping center property.  I assume it wouldn't be happening if it wasn't legal.

I'm not being critical of the sign strategy, or endorsing it. Rather, I'm genuinely curious why no one has done it before, if this is legal to do. It would be something for other businesses to employ. For example, Walgreens could have several people stand outside of CVS holding Walgreens signs. Or Whole Foods at Harris Teeter. Or Guapo's at Uncle Julio's. What's stopping them? This could be a whole new marketing tactic.

BRADLEY PARTY & VARIETY OPENS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Bradley Party & Variety had its long-awaited opening yesterday, in the legendary Bruce Variety space at Bradley Shopping Center.

The revamped interior - by the Bethesda architectural firm of Bruce Lawson - retains a retro atmosphere, but is brighter and more colorful and spacious. Most notably, exposed hardwood floors play an integral part in the design.

New automatic front doors are a nice touch, as well as being practical when carrying large shopping bags out to the car.

Bradley Party & Variety's hours are:

Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Regular readers will recognize the new BP&V logo, chosen in a design contest sponsored by the owners, which I gave you an exclusive preview of months ago.

Now the competition begins in earnest. With the original Bruce Variety open at 8011 Woodmont Avenue, both stores will compete for your business.

Feel free to post your opinions in the comments below. Have you visited both stores? Which one comes out on top for interior design, prices, customer service, and inventory? Or is it a draw?