Grocery stores take aim at antiquated Montgomery County liquor laws again

Several grocery chains in Montgomery County are once again enlisting customers in the struggle to overturn the antiquated liquor laws that prevent them from selling beer and wine in Maryland. Signage paid for by the Consumer Freedom Coalition prompts customers to contact their legislators in Annapolis to support bills that would allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine, but not liquor. However, once again, the machine is prevailing in the state capital, and those bills appear unlikely to pass during this session.

The effort had the support of Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was eager to back a popular cause to distract from the new taxes and fees in the FY-2026 state budget, but was opposed by powerful Democrats on committees that first had to approve the bills to move them to the floor for a wider vote. Harris Teeter was the loudest advocate for the change during the administration of previous Governor Larry Hogan, but the campaign stalled when the pandemic hit, and liquor law changes became focused on assisting bars and restaurants by allowing take-out cocktails, for example. Safeway has joined Harris Teeter in the 2025 push for the bills. Yet neither major corporation has been able to influence enough Maryland Democrats to sign on to supermarket sales, and those same Democrats have yet to pay a price at the ballot box for their continued defiance of the popular will on the matter.

Montgomery County police corral 5 shoplifters in "retail blitz" at Bethesda Safeway

Montgomery County police officers conducted a "retail blitz" at the Safeway store at 5000 Bradley Boulevard in downtown Bethesda last Thursday, March 20, 2025. Over the course of just one afternoon, they were able to catch five shoplifters in action. At 12:30 PM, police say, a man and woman entered the store. The man took items and the two left without paying. Officers stopped them, and both gave false identities.

The man was found to have items belonging to the Safeway on his person, and officers determined that the woman was in conspiracy with him to steal from the store. Police also found he was in possession of drug paraphernalia. They were eventually able to identify the two suspects as Shelon Emmanel Johnson, 34, of no fixed address, and Dequita LaShawn Jones, age not given, of Gaithersburg.

Johnson and Jones were taken into custody and transported to the County jail. Johnson was charged with theft $100 to under $1,500, possession of drug paraphernalia, false statement to peace officer and obstructing and hindering. Jones was charged with conspiracy to commit theft $100 to under $1,500 and released on her own recognizance.

About a 90 minutes later, Daniel Mossing Troen of Kensington, entered the store. Police did not provide his age, either. Officers observed Troen allegedly taking items, and leaving without paying. They issued Troen a trespass notice, and a criminal citation for theft less than $100. Troen was released after signing both documents. 

Less than an hour later, 39-year-old James Baker, 39, and 19-year-old Kristchelle Aniya Wedge, 19, both of Washington, D.C., entered the Safeway and also proceeded to shoplift items and flee. Baker and Wedge were pursued to the Bethesda Metro station, where they were initially arrested. But they were ultimately issued trespass notices and criminal citations, and were released from custody.

Bethesda Redbox machine soldiers on after shutdown (Photos)

A Redbox machine in Bethesda has defied the mandate of the New World Order to shut down. This movie machine at the Safeway at 5000 Bradley Boulevard is still plugged in, and its screen is operational. A sign on the machine indicated it would no longer be in service after July 22, 2024. But someone forgot to tell the machine. The irony is that the loss of Redbox in Bethesda was largely irrelevant, compared to the impact in America's "flyover country," and in rural areas with poor internet options. Don't tell Klaus Schwab!

Christmas break-in at Safeway in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a burglar alarm at the Safeway store at The Shops at Sumner Place in Bethesda on Christmas night. The store, which would usually be open at that hour, was closed for the Christmas holiday. Officers were dispatched to the scene at 9:22 PM. Upon arriving at the supermarket, they found evidence of forced entry.

Why is that Acme truck going to Safeway? (Photos)

An Acme truck squeezes into the
909 Thayer Avenue Safeway store in
Silver Spring

The invasion of the Acme trucks into Montgomery County began last fall. But what are they doing here? There are no Acme grocery stores in Montgomery County! And why is an Acme truck going into my neighborhood Safeway's loading dock?

An Acme 18-wheeler heading south on
Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda

Three things have brought the great Acme fleets to places like Bethesda and Silver Spring, even though neither has an Acme store. First, Acme's parent company bought Safeway about seven years ago. Then, last year, that company merged Mid-Atlantic Safeway operations into the Acme unit headquartered in Pennsylvania. Finally, the Safeway distribution center on Leeland Road in Upper Marlboro was shuttered, and its operations relocated to - not surprisingly - Pennsylvania.

Silver Spring

So your Safeway groceries are now being trucked in from Acme's distribution center in Pennsylvania. That is a larger, mechanized distribution center near Lancaster. Thus, you are seeing Acme trucks hauling those groceries in many cases.

Pickpocket strikes at Bethesda Safeway

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a pickpocket at the Safeway at 5000 Bradley Boulevard in downtown Bethesda Tuesday afternoon around 2:00 PM. Crime data indicates that the pickpocket then attempted to use a credit card taken from the victim at a clothing retail store.

Safeway ready for winter weather in Bethesda

Winds brought December-like temperatures to Bethesda Halloween night, and the Safeway at 5000 Bradley Boulevard was thinking that far ahead with a display of winter weather supplies. Everything from deicer to salt to fireplace logs was available, even as there were many hours of Halloween left to go Thursday. Safeway isn't the only grocer getting a head start on winter; rival Giant had egg nog on shelves last weekend,

Rappaport imagines "Bethesda Market" use for vacant Bethesda Place Safeway store

The former Safeway grocery store space under the Bethesda Place apartments continues to sit vacant month after month at 7625 Old Georgetown Road. It's quite odd, considering there is a captive audience upstairs for groceries, as well as many other residential buildings surrounding the site. There are parking spaces reserved for retail use at the building, so that shouldn't be the issue. Perhaps some retailers find the visibility somewhat lacking for drivers passing by.

Real estate firm Rappaport Co. is now trying to re-energize the demand for the space with new marketing materials. They present a vision of a Bethesda Market. 

Do grocery stores consider there is too much competition right now, with another grocery store on the way next year at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue, just two blocks away? Walmart has a Neighborhood Market format that fits this space exactly (~40,000 SF), but has closed at least nine of those stores this year, it must be noted. Lidl stores are only 20,000 SF, so one would fit here, as well.

What else is about 40,000 SF that would fit here? Dave & Buster's. Maybe that could give downtown Bethesda's dead nightlife a small shot in the arm.

Rendering via Rappaport Co.
All rights reserved.

New electric vehicle charging station in Safeway garage (Photos)

You don't have to wait for the Green New Deal to find new electric vehicle charging stations in downtown Bethesda. Here's a new one that was just installed in the garage underneath the Safeway store at 5000 Bradley Boulevard.

Charge your EV for up to two hours free while shopping at Safeway. The charging station is operated by Volta Charging, which currently has 33 stations across the D.C. region.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf gift baskets at Safeway in Bethesda

We still don't have a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shop in Bethesda. But you can find Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf gift baskets at Safeway at 5000 Bradley Boulevard.

Safeway to add free electric vehicle chargers at downtown Bethesda store

Electric vehicle owners in Bethesda may soon have another reason to shop at Safeway. The grocery chain's 5000 Bradley Boulevard store in downtown Bethesda is installing electric vehicle chargers that will allow shoppers to charge up for free. Costs of electricity are covered by digital advertising displayed at the charging stations.

The chargers will be from the San Francisco-based firm Volta. According to the firm, their charging stations are Level 2 chargers with J1772 connector plugs. Volta stations can provide up to 6 kW power delivery. This should provide about 20 free electric miles per hour of charging, depending on your EV model.

Former Safeway cleared out in Bethesda (Photos)

Here's a look at the stripped space that until recently was a Safeway store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. Still no indication as of this morning as to the existence or identity of a next tenant.

Montgomery County has suffered a net loss of over 2100 retail jobs since 2000, according to the Maryland Retailers Association, and the local media is now admitting what I've been reporting for years - Montgomery County's economy is officially moribund. The County's debt is so large, that if it were a department, it would be the third-largest department in the County government. We're in real trouble, folks.

Final hours of the Old Georgetown Rd. Safeway in Bethesda (Photos)

Location removed from

Safeway website

The Safeway store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda that is scheduled to close this month appeared to be in its final hours last night. Although it was open, a sign standing near the door said, "Your closest store is now 5000 Bradley Boulevard," a message you would ordinarily see once a business had closed. The Safeway website no longer lists the store as of this morning, suggesting it has officially closed - or that they don't want the average potential customer to go to this location.

Old Georgetown Safeway closing sale now 50% off (Video+Photos)

Supermarket

Sweep

The Safeway store closing in March at 7625 Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda has just upped the savings in its store closing sale. Everything is now 50% off, "restrictions and exemptions apply - see store manager for details." As you can see, many shelves are already empty. You have to have signed up for the Safeway Club Card to get the savings (type in your phone number if you don't have your physical card).

Lost seasons lead to sale prices for Redskins, Ravens at Safeway

I saw these Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens shirts recently on sale at 50% off, at the Safeway at 5000 Bradley Boulevard. The Redskins official website yesterday floated the possibility of the team drafting Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen.