Woodmont Grill feels effect of Marriott construction again

For the second time in as many months, work related to the Marriott International headquarters relocation in downtown Bethesda has impacted the restaurant next door, Woodmont Grill. This time, utility work for the HQ project being performed by Pepco damaged sidewalk pavers in front of the restaurant. The Marriott development partners say that the damage should be repaired by the end of this week. Last month, Marriott excavation work ruptured a water line leading to Woodmont Grill, which is the highest volume restaurant in downtown Bethesda.

Meanwhile, on good weather days (fortunately, I was able to get these photos just before the storm hit), there can be more than 200 dump truck trips to and from the Marriott site per day. Blasting and overnight work are both scheduled to commence on or after February 1, 2019.

Marriott HQ excavators broke a Woodmont Grill water line

The development team building the relocated Marriott International headquarters at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue acknowledge that their excavators broke a water line leading into Woodmont Grill, a restaurant adjacent to their construction site. Marriott HQ representatives say the water line was "previously unknown" to them, until it was ruptured during digging. They arranged to fix the broken water line overnight last night.

Woodmont Grill redirects patrons to public parking

After the closure of Woodmont Grill's convenient parking lot directly adjacent to the restaurant, patrons of the restaurant have been surprised on their first return visit to find the former amenity fenced off. Now the area favorite, which is known to do the highest volume of business of any downtown Bethesda restaurant. has posted some directions to nearby public parking garages. The lot closed due to the redevelopment of the land it sits on as the new Marriott headquarters.

Woodmont Grill parking lot shut down (Photos)

Woodmont Grill has lost its parking lot. The parking facility directly adjacent to the restaurant was abruptly closed and fenced off Friday. Their parking attendant is also out of a job for the moment, although their longtime attendant apparently retired a few months back.

The restaurant enjoys the highest volume of sales of any in downtown Bethesda. It certainly will be a step down for many diners, who are accustomed to parking in the convenient lot, to have to deal with the public parking garage across the street.

Patrons were already affronted twice in the last year by the partnership building Marriott's relocated Bethesda headquarters next door. First they started charging a parking fee to use the previously-free lot, then they cut the lot in half. Woodmont Grill did not own the lot; it is controlled by the owners of the Marriott site.

Woodmont Grill parking lot cut in half (Photos)

The customer parking for Woodmont Grill at 7715 Woodmont Avenue was cut in half yesterday. Half was fenced off, and the Wisconsin Avenue entrance to the lot was sealed. Woodmont Grill does not own or control their parking lot, so this was likely a closure related to the impending construction of the Marriott headquarters and hotel. The adjacent Bethesda Court Hotel was closed last week for the same reason.

Woodmont Grill's lot recently made news in another Marriott-related kerfuffle, as patrons found themselves suddenly being charged a parking fee. The parent company of Woodmont Grill did not have any say in that decision, either. Losing 50% of their parking is likely to have an impact on the restaurant, which is reputed to have the highest volume in sales of any dining establishment downtown.

Marriott's impending arrival means new parking fee at Woodmont Grill

Woodmont Grill, which some industry insiders say does the most business of any restaurant in downtown Bethesda, has recently lost a perk previously taken for granted by patrons: free parking. Some diners have told me they were surprised by the new $3 fee to park in the lot right next to the highly-popular restaurant.

A spokeperson for Woodmont Grill's parent company confirmed that it is the new owners of their parking lot, not Woodmont Grill, who are charging and collecting that new fee. Marriott Corporation is building its new headquarters adjacent to the restaurant, in a deal with original landowner Bernstein Cos. and partner Boston Properties. Hillstone Restaurant Group says the $3 charge is "something over which we have no control."

The Marriott team sought to acquire the Tastee Diner and Woodmont Grill properties as part of the redevelopment plan. They were able to come to terms with the diner, but the bonus space was ultimately not realized, as Woodmont Grill declined to sell.

Renovations, new sushi bar planned for Woodmont Grill in Bethesda

One of Bethesda's top restaurants will be getting an interior makeover soon. Woodmont Grill, located at 7715 Woodmont Avenue, plans to renovate its dining room. Among the updates will be a new sushi bar area and wait station.