HOAMGAR OPENS IN BETHESDA; BOUTIQUE IS CHINESE LABEL'S FIRST OUTSIDE OF ASIA (PHOTOS)

The discerning Bethesda fashionista, who wants to wear something none of her friends or coworkers have, has a new hot spot in Bethesda.

Hoamgar, a popular fashion house that has produced lines sold exclusively in China, Mongolia and Singapore for the last two decades, has opened its first boutique outside of Asia right here at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

The clean white interior of the store puts all the attention on the clothes, until now unavailable in America.

Stop by and check it out.

HOAMGAR TO OPEN IN BETHESDA, BOUTIQUE WILL BE CHINESE LABEL'S FIRST IN AMERICA (PHOTO)

Bethesda is getting a very unique new boutique. Hoamgar is one of the best-selling fashion lines in China. For twenty years, their high-end women's apparel has been sold only in China, Mongolia and Singapore.

Now the company has decided to expand beyond Asia, and the city they've chosen above all others in the world to conquer first is...

Bethesda, Maryland!

The boutique will open this spring in Westfield Montgomery Mall.

When Hoamgar says, "exclusive high fashion," they're not kidding. You'd have to take a mighty long plane trip to get these outfits and accessories - until now.

This is another coup for Westfield, but the company is so new to America, they don't even have a website yet.

Here's another bit of interesting Hoamgar Bethesda trivia: the store employees are reportedly undergoing training for 2-3 months in China.  It sounds like the company is serious about making a good impression, and having a successful American launch, to take such a hands-on approach.

FOONG LIN RESTAURANT: HAULING AWAY BETHESDA HISTORY - PHOTO

FURNITURE GOING OUT

THE DOOR AFTER

25 YEARS IN BETHESDA

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Foong Lin is officially closed now, and the contents of the restaurant are being hauled away.

I happened to be there just as the dining room chairs were loaded into the back of this pickup truck.  Moments after this photo was taken, the truck sped away.

DUMPLING DOJO OPENS IN BETHESDA AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL

SON OF HOLLYWOOD EAST OWNER

LAUNCHES MALL'S EFFORT TO

IMPROVE DINING OPTIONS

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Get ready for bao sandwiches, Bethesda!  Dumpling Dojo is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall, in the food court.

Dumpling Dojo - Westfield Montgomery Mall

Montgomery Mall's food court has always had surprisingly decent Chinese and Japanese chain restaurants.  But expectations are far higher for Dumpling Dojo, as owner Jeffrey Yu is the son of Janet Yu, owner of Wheaton's famed Hollywood East Cafe.  In recent years, Hollywood East has moved into "Restaurant Row" at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall, and into Washingtonian magazine's "Top 100 Restaurants" list.

So it's somehow appropriate that Jeffrey Yu's venture would make a big splash at our Westfield mall in Bethesda.  Is there a Top 100 listing in Dumpling Dojo's future?  Hollywood East proved it's possible.

Dumpling Dojo's main menu offerings are a wide selection of dumplings, bao sandwiches and rice bowls.  The most interesting are the sandwiches.  Bao (pronounced "bow" as in "pow" or "cow") are steamed soft rolls, which originated in Cantonese cuisine.  As you can imagine, there is no shortage of geographic variations.

Earlier this year, Westfield promised an ambitious renovation of the food court, new dining options, a new multiscreen cineplex, and an all-new Transit Center.

While those projects will take several years to complete, it's no surprise that Westfield would turn to one of the restaurant royal families of Montgomery County, to give patrons a hint of what the future holds.

So if you're heading to the mall to do some shopping soon, stop by Dumpling Dojo while you're there.