Christian Science Reading Room closes in Bethesda

Reading room relocates

to church in Chevy Chase

The Christian Science Reading Room at 4520 East-West Highway in downtown Bethesda has closed. You can now access a Reading Room at the nearby church itself, First Church of Christ, Scientist, which is located at 7901 Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase. On foot, you can take East-West Highway to Connecticut, and the church is about a block-and-half north of East-West, across from the Columbia Country Club.

Christian Science Reading Rooms have existed for over 100 years, and are designed to provide a quiet place to read and reflect on the Bible and Christian Science literature. The loss of the downtown location is certainly a blow for the church in reaching a larger number of workers and residents.

2 BURGLARIES ON EAST-WEST HWY, VEHICLE BREAK-IN AT YMCA - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on April 7, according to crime data:

Theft. 7600 block Old Georgetown Road (downtown Bethesda).

Vehicle burglary. 7900 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Burglary. 4500 block East-West Highway.

Burglary. 4300 block East-West Highway.

Theft. 4300 block East-West Highway.

Assault. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue (Friendship Heights).

Vehicle burglary. YMCA, 9401 Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. Walt Whitman High School.

Theft. 5300 block Tuckerman Lane (near Meridian at Grosvenor Station).

Theft. Lord and Taylor at White Flint Mall.

Vehicle burglary. 11400 block Rockville Pike (White Flint).

BETHESDA MCDONALD'S ON EAST-WEST HIGHWAY CLOSES FOREVER - PHOTO GALLERY EXCLUSIVE!

AN ERA ENDS,

DEMOLITION BEGINS

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Several weeks ago, I reported on the plan to redevelop the current site of the downtown Bethesda McDonald's, on East-West Highway at Pearl Street.  But the actual closing date of the long-operating store was unknown.

That day came yesterday.

Although a number of downtown restaurants have been forced out by developers in the last few weeks, this one hits close to home for me.  I've had many a meal from this McDonald's over a lifetime.  Talk about "Living in the 90s."  Were you there for the Jurassic Triple Cheeseburger, the Super Hero (a tie-in with one of my favorite movies, Batman Forever), and the Arch Deluxe?

Students at BCC High School, workers in nearby office buildings, and residents who thought the Golden Arches would always be a few steps away, had a rude awakening Tuesday.  Even when these photos were taken, loyal customers were still pulling in.  "It's closed? It's closed?"  "Yes."  "It's closed," the man said to himself again audibly, with a stricken expression, as reality sunk in.

No more Big Macs, no more America's Favorite Fries.  Just super-size developer profits.

And then there was one.

There is now literally only one fast food restaurant operating in the entire town of Bethesda - the other McDonald's on River Road.  Why fast food restaurants are unofficially banned from opening in Bethesda, remains a mystery government officials have yet to share with citizens.

Do you really have freedom of choice, when there are no choices?

It's the end of an era.  The Golden Arches have stood along America's highways for decades, beckoning to hungry travelers.  So it was here on our East-West Highway.

It will be missed.

The famous Golden Arches sign has been torn down,
but McDonald's fans kept arriving for dinner anyway

The doors are locked tight

Here's all that's left of the Golden Arches
sign on East-West Highway

Left side of restaurant

Interior of the abandoned restaurant.  Note many ceiling tiles are
already missing.  A lone mystery man works on a
laptop at a table by the far windows

Ronald has left the building

No more coffee deals; Starbucks has the monopoly in
downtown Bethesda again

The End