Tara Thai closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tara Thai has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Signage has been removed from the exterior of the restaurant. This ends a long run in Bethesda by the local Thai chain, which was at Bethesda Row until 2015, when it relocated to the mall. Tara Thai's Rio location in Gaithersburg has also closed. The only good news is that this opens up a fairly large restaurant space at the mall for a new tenant. Which restaurant chain would you like to see here?

Tara Thai sets opening date at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Tara Thai's new Bethesda location at Westfield Montgomery Mall will open on May 1, according to an employee at their Montrose Crossing restaurant. The finishing touches are being put on the interior of the restaurant, which is relocating here from its original Bethesda Row location.

In other mall news, the Apple Store has set a closing date for its expansion project. The store will close on May 8, as the often crowded store expands into a larger space. Customers are being redirected to the Bethesda Row Apple Store during the closure. No reopening date has been announced yet for the mall store.

Bethesda construction update: Tara Thai (Photos)

Tara Thai looks close to finished at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The restaurant, which moved here from Bethesda Row, will have outdoor patio dining available. Signage has been installed with the familiar fonts and logos.

Bethesda construction update: Tara Thai (Photos)

The construction of Tara Thai is also transforming the exterior of Westfield Montgomery Mall around the restaurant's facade. There will be patio dining here when the restaurant opens.

Bethesda construction update: Tara Thai (Photos)

Last week, I showed you the outdoor facade and patio of the future Tara Thai under construction at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Today, here's a look at the interior dining room build-out. You can see a few final interior design touches, such as the stone surface along the front of the bar.

Bethesda construction update: Tara Thai at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

One change I've noted previously regarding the new direction Westfield has taken at its Montgomery Mall property, is that new restaurant additions now get more of an exterior presence. For some, this includes signage, architectural branding and/or an exterior entrance.

For others, including the future Tara Thai, outdoor patio dining is a major design element. Here, construction continues alongside a mall entrance on an upper garage level near California Pizza Kitchen and Sears.

It appears this new location will be quite a step up from its former storefront at Bethesda Row, and its other nearby location in Spring Valley, in terms of the space.

Bethesda construction update: Tara Thai at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Work continues on the future location of Tara Thai at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The restaurant is moving to the old Legal Sea Foods space after leaving its previous home at Bethesda Row earlier this year. 

They have also applied for their liquor license from Montgomery County. Their hearing will be on November 5.

Tara Thai posts Coming Soon signage at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Tara Thai, which closed at Bethesda Row earlier this year and is moving to Westfield Montgomery Mall, has posted Coming Soon signage at its future space. That large restaurant space was formerly occupied by Legal Sea Foods.

Construction fencing has been placed around the exterior walls of the restaurant, where you can expect outdoor seating will be added, in line with the current trend at the mall. Tara Thai will open in late fall.

Inside the demolition of Parker's and Tara Thai at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Parker's and Tara Thai are being demolished on Bethesda Avenue. The wall between them is being knocked out, so the restaurants can be combined into one larger retail space for Williams-Sonoma. Tara Thai will reopen this fall at Westfield Montgomery Mall.