Coming soon signage for European Wax Center in Bethesda (Photos)

European Wax Center has posted Coming Soon signage for its future location at 7804 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda. This is a new storefront being constructed in the old BlackFinn nightclub building.

Bethesda construction update: Former BlackFinn building (Photos)

The former BlackFinn nightclub building at 4901 Fairmont Avenue has been gutted and reconfigured into smaller retail spaces. One will be home to De Tapas, a new small plates restaurant concept from the owners of Bold Bite around the corner. Another has been leased to European Wax Center, a waxing salon chain.

Work has come along substantially since my last update. You can see that the new facade design contains much more glass than the original.

Design for the new retail center was done by the local architecture firm of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. Sigal Construction is the contractor.

Renovation permits requested for former Fresh Grill building in Bethesda

Construction contractor Sigal Construction has filed for permits from Montgomery County to begin renovation and repair of the buildings at 4905 and 4909 Fairmont Avenue in Bethesda. They will be fixing structural damage blamed on nearby excavation, and revamping the buildings for future retail/restaurant tenants based on a plan developed by the architecture firm of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc..

Former tenants Fresh Grill and Dansez! Dansez! were forced to vacate several years ago, when the building was condemned due to structural concerns. That led to a lengthy legal dispute, and the ultimate decision by property owner Greenhill Capital to remake its larger lot, "Lot 667", into a new retail-restaurant (and possibly office) complex along Fairmont, Norfolk and St. Elmo Avenues.

De Tapas to open in Bethesda (Photos)

The brothers behind Bold Bite Burgers Half Smokes and Salads are venturing into small plates in their newest downtown Bethesda venture. De Tapas will open in one of the new storefronts being created out of the shell of the former BlackFinn Bethesda bar at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue.

Alonso and Alvaro Roche have leased the Greenhill Capital space facing Norfolk Avenue. Local architecture firm Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. is designing a new street entrance for the restaurant, among other modifications to this and one other future storefront. The construction contractor for the $500,000 project will be Sigal Construction. As the signs suggest, a Spring 2016 opening is planned.

The brothers have only teased the concept by posting signage with the name, so it's too early to speculate if this will be a traditional Spanish tapas restaurant. Perhaps with their Venezuelan heritage, they might provide a new twist on the Spain-oriented concept already well-established at Jaleo and the nearby Guardado's. Stay tuned.

Bethesda construction update: Homeless shelter to restaurant conversion on Cordell Ave. (Photos)

The front glass is now installed at the future restaurant space at 4848 Cordell Avenue, the most obvious progress since my last update. This was formerly the Bethesda House men's shelter, operated by Catholic Charities.

BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: HOMELESS SHELTER TO RESTAURANT CONVERSION (PHOTOS)

Here is the latest progress at 4848 Cordell Avenue, formerly home to Catholic Charities' Bethesda House men's shelter, which has relocated to the Pike District (a.k.a. White Flint). The building is being converted into a future restaurant space, based on architectural designs by local firm Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. Sigal Construction is the contractor.

For a sense of the timeline, here is how it looked last month, work began in October, and it was only 13 months ago that the initial design was revealed.

Click on any photo to enlarge for greater detail:

BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: HOMELESS SHELTER TO RESTAURANT CONVERSION (PHOTOS)

The conversion of the former Catholic Charities men's shelter on Cordell Avenue to a restaurant space is making tremendous progress. Sigal Construction is the contractor, working from designs by Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc.

CONVERSION OF HOMELESS SHELTER TO RESTAURANT BEGINS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The process of converting the former Catholic Charities-operated men's shelter into a restaurant space has begun at 4848 Cordell Avenue. Sigal Construction is the contractor.

An overhaul of the exterior and interior designed by the architecture firm of Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. will raise the building's height, add more glass to the facade, and modernize the overall structure. There will also be a public art mural on the wall facing the adjacent parking lot.

Heads up if you park in Public Parking Lot 28 though, as construction is taking up several parking spaces, including one handicapped space.

Bethesda House has moved out to White Flint.