BETHESDA METRO CENTER DUNKIN' DONUTS TARGETING WEEK OF JANUARY 27 FOR GRAND OPENING (PHOTOS)

Sticky farecard machine buttons could be as little as 3 weeks away at the Bethesda Metro station. The local Dunkin' Donuts franchise group adding two new stores in downtown Bethesda is targeting the week of January 27 to open its Clark Building location at Bethesda Metro Center, according to a spokesperson. When open, the store should become a popular stop for commuters running to and from Metro.

Renovations underway at future
Clark Building Dunkin' Donuts

Their second location, which will join Smashburger and Roof inside the new Norfolk-Cordell II building at Norfolk and Cordell Avenues, could open as early as the week of February 24. That store is supposed to also include a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop. The existing Bethesda Row Dunkin' Donuts will likely close this summer.

SMASHBURGER AND CAL TORT SQUARE OFF IN ENERGIZED WOODMONT TRIANGLE (PHOTOS)

The Woodmont Triangle area of downtown Bethesda has more energy since the opening of Smashburger this week. There seems to be a slight increase in activity, and possibly in the number of people, for some distance around that intersection of Cordell and Norfolk Avenues.

Some people are just looking in the windows to see what the new place is about. Others notice the employees of the soon-to-open Roof Bethesda scurrying to and fro, through the massive second floor windows of the Norfolk-Cordell II building. Last evening, Christmas music wafted down to the streets below as Roof hosted a corporate holiday party ahead of its December 20 opening.

That Steven Karr-designed building is lighting up what used to be a dark and dreary corner. Which is what I had expected. Just the night before, there was a test of the new LED light sculptures on the future plaza outside the Gallery Bethesda apartments. We're starting to get a very small sense of what's to come over the next 5 years in the transformation of the Woodmont Triangle.

One business noticing the new energy is California Tortilla. Smashburger has a sidewalk sign announcing, "NOW OPEN."

Cal Tort quickly responded with a humorous re-Tort: their own sign facing Smashburger's across Norfolk: "NOW OPEN ALSO."

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS - TAKEN FROM A ROOFTOP!

Construction continues at the Steven Karr-designed rooftop restaurant building on the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.

Check out these photos of the progress from high above the site.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Construction crews at the future site of a rooftop restaurant, at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues, are working furiously and making rapid progress.

The Norfolk-Cordell II Building, designed by renowned local architect Steven Karr, is scheduled to open this summer. While it will house retail and restaurants, the crown jewel will be the rooftop restaurant and bar.  When it opens, Bethesda will finally have a rooftop spot to rival DC and Clarendon.

A crane is now on site to assist raising the girders. In the photos below, you'll see one that shows a rendering of the finished building attached to the perimeter fence. Of course, if you're a regular reader, you've already seen the photo and 3-D flythrough animation I posted when I broke this story last year.

There's no better news in the middle of winter, than an update about a rooftop restaurant opening this summer!

BETHESDA BUILDING DEMOLISHED! EXCLUSIVE PHOTO GALLERY

"PHANTOM CONDO"

BUILDING KNOCKED

DOWN TO MAKE WAY

FOR

NORFOLK-CORDELL II

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

It was just two days ago that I exclusively broke the story here that 4901 Cordell Avenue was going to be redeveloped as Norfolk-Cordell II, and include a rooftop restaurant.

Less than 24 hours later, the large vehicle you saw in one of the photos surged forward and demolished much of the old brick building.

Here is an exclusive photo gallery surveying the scenes of destruction:

The old sign for the never-built luxury Veneto condos is
still attached to the building!

Debris cascades out the front door

Hope nobody's working late in that
upstairs office!

The only vehicle in Bethesda with a
sure parking space tonight

Pedestrians should take care in
this area.  Debris - including glass -
was not entirely contained

King of the mountain!

A pay phone?  This really is Old Town Bethesda!

Hope the Bros. made it out in time

Lord Vader, your backhoe is ready

When did old-fashioned wrecking
 balls go out of style, anyway?

Wide shot from across Norfolk

They're not kidding, folks!

NEW ROOFTOP RESTAURANT COMING TO DOWNTOWN BETHESDA!!

OPEN AIR RESTAURANT

AND BAR EXPECTED TO

OPEN IN MID-2013

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

One category that Bethesda has fallen behind DC and Clarendon in, is rooftop restaurants and bars.  Right now we have the Doubletree rooftop, and the upstairs patio at Tia Queta, and, well, that's about it.

That's going to change next year!

Regular readers may recall my ongoing coverage of the old, brick building on the northwest corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.  Its future has been an ongoing mystery for some time.  First it was going to be a luxury condo building called The Veneto.  That never happened.  There seemed to be a number of options floated on various signs attached to the building this year.

Recently, the latest signs disappeared, and some interesting activity began to take place - which I'll get to in a moment.

But you probably have guessed where I'm going with this:  Yes, I have now confirmed officially that 4901 Cordell Avenue/7940 Norfolk Avenue (one building, two addresses) is going to be reborn as...

Norfolk-Cordell II.

Rendering: Steven J. Karr AIA, Inc.

 I have to say, this is one of the few exciting projects underway in downtown Bethesda.  First of all, it is practically all glass around the facade.  It looks fantastic.  Second of all, it is going to house two, elevated dining patios - one on the second floor, and the main attraction, the rooftop restaurant and bar.

The building and rooftop are being developed by renowned Montgomery County architect Steven J. Karr.  Karr says the client he is building the two-floor restaurant/bar for is undisclosed at this time.  But with the multi-level size, I wonder if it could be a well-known national chain.

On the ground floor will be upscale retail space, and the lobby and elevator to reach the restaurant upstairs.  Floor 2 will house a 3,800 square foot, full-service restaurant with seating for 122, and a private dining room for 32 people.  The second floor will also contain the establishment's main bar, with 46 bar stools, and standing room for 71.  Last, but not least, there will be the second floor outdoor patio with 60 seats.

The best part is the rooftop.  1700 square feet of dining space for 156 people, and an 800 square foot rooftop bar with 19 stools, and standing room for 70.

Here's the cool part today:  You can fly in, over and around the rooftop restaurant like Superman (or Supergirl) with this 3D simulation that will start up when you click here. 

I'm excited about the design, and getting another rooftop in Bethesda.  This will be a low-rise structure, but the views should still be nice.

Of course, to get the new building is going to mean destroying at least a portion of the old building.  That's the "activity" I referred to earlier.

First, the lease signs vanished.  Then some work was going on.  Then a brace appeared on the back wall.  The next day, a bunch of braces.  Then a large construction vehicle.   Clearly a project was moving forward, and sure enough, the next day a fence went up around the building, and a demolition sign appeared outside.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

So I went in search of the answer, and here it is today.

Are you ready for a W Hotel rooftop experience in downtown Bethesda?  I knew you would be.