VINCE & DOMINIC'S PIZZA CLOSES IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Shocking news from Auto Park Avenue in Bethesda - Vince & Dominic's Pizzeria has closed after 31 years in business. The restaurant closed yesterday, after Home Depot declined to renew its lease, according to the owners. It certainly didn't close because of a lack of popularity. Many people set on a pizza feast for dinner were in disbelief as they approached the shuttered pizzeria last evening. One family exiting Five Guys mentioned that they had originally come for pizza, but had gone into the burger restaurant upon finding Vince & Dominic's closed.

Known best for its giant slices of pizza, Vince & Dominic's is the latest Bethesda institution to get the boot from its longtime home, joining Ranger Surplus, Bruce Variety and Eastham's Servicenter in the 18 months alone.

PARTIAL CLOSURE OF LITTLE FALLS PARKWAY LOT TO IMPACT BETHESDA POOL PATRONS

A portion of the public parking lot just north of Arlington Road on Little Falls Parkway will close Monday, April 28. It will remain closed from tomorrow through December, while it is utilized as a staging area for WSSC contractors for the Bethesda Waterline Replacement project. That project itself has generated complaints from residents closer to the actual work.

One has to ask if this is an appropriate use of public property. The loss of parking spaces will surely be a problem when the Bethesda Pool opens in May, as the lot handles overflow parking for that Little Falls Parkway recreational facility. This is just the latest insult to users of Little Falls Stream Valley Park over the last few years, with the Hoyt/Betco property decision and results being the most notable.

BERRY YOGURT CLOSED IN BETHESDA? - LIGHT IS ON, BUT NOBODY'S HOME (PHOTOS)

Berry Yogurt, the Bethesda frozen yogurt spot known for its attempts to marry sushi, salads and bubble tea with its dessert menu, has been closed when I've passed by in recent days. Perhaps it has had limited hours, or as a small business, had to temporarily close for emergency reasons.

But the status of the Norfolk Avenue store remains unknown. Initially, the phone just rang and rang. Now when you call, a recording comes on to announce the phone has been disconnected. It also appears key items like the cash register have been removed. Yet the storefront sign continues to be brightly lit.

Stay tuned for further updates, but it does not look good for Berry Yogurt at the moment.

MORE CLOSURES AT WHITE FLINT MALL (PHOTOS)

The Dark Side of White Flint
Part 12:

Welcome to the latest installment of The Dark Side of White Flint, a candid examination of the not-so-wonnerful, wonnerful, wonnerful side of urbanizing the suburbs in Montgomery County. Click here to read Part 11: Bertucci's, and find links to past installments, and demolition photo galleries.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The latest stores to close at dying White Flint Mall are Expressions Hallmark, and White Flint Custom Tailor. Yesterday, I reported the closure of a major restaurant tenant, Bertucci's.

Expressions Hallmark began clearance sales at 20% this spring, 40% in May, and 75% off in the final weeks. Alas, the bell has now tolled, and no more Keepsake Ornaments will be purchased at White Flint Mall. Why does this matter? Collectors of the ornaments can tell you that ornaments sold out at Montgomery Mall, for example, might still be found at White Flint or Tysons Corner. Now that extra local inventory is lost, resulting in more driving, which is the opposite of what we were told the White Flint urbanization would do for the environment.

TAIPEI 101 APPEARS TO HAVE CLOSED IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

I stopped by Taipei 101 Tokyo Cafe several nights ago during dinner hours, and found it dark and closed. No one would answer the telephone either.

Having checked back consecutive nights since, I am fairly sure the restaurant has closed permanently. However, I will not say it's officially closed until the owner says so publicly.

But the evidence is suggesting Taipei 101 has closed: No one is answering the phone at any time of day during business hours. The restaurant has been closed every evening I've stopped by through Friday night. The shade is partially drawn. Contents of the restaurant appear to be gradually moving out to the white van in the photo.

Finally, the OPEN sign has been removed. And the restaurant itself is advertised as being For Lease on commercial real estate websites. With a notation that the space will be available "in 60 days."

So it definitely doesn't look good right now for Taipei 101.

COOKIES BY DESIGN HAS CLOSED IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

There goes another Bethesda small business.

After 17 years, Cookies by Design at 4913 Cordell Avenue has closed permanently.

The store received negative publicity on television and in newspapers last month, when it was briefly closed by county health inspectors, who reported finding mice and roaches.

Although the shop passed a second inspection, it has now closed by the owner's accord.

MAJESTIC BAR AND GRILLE CLOSES IN BETHESDA

The Majestic Bar and Grille has closed in Bethesda as of today, according to Chef Damon Hersh.

Open for about a year, the sports pub with gastropub aspirations will be remembered for bringing unusual regional favorites like poutine to Bethesda diners.

Formerly Gaffney's, restaurants have found the Wisconsin Avenue space challenging to succeed in. Both restaurants tried something different, and you have to give them credit for that.

CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL REPAIR WORK ADVISORY FOR BETHESDA AND WASHINGTON DC

The National Park Service has announced a major renovation of the B&O Railroad trestle that, today, carries the Capital Crescent Trail over Canal Road in Washington, DC.

Contractors will construct a temporary bridge for trail users, and will try to limit Canal Road closures to the 9 PM to 5 AM time period.

However, a 1-2 day period of 8-hour trail closures will be necessary for the demolition of the trestle's concrete deck, and again for the deck's reconstruction.

Work on the trestle should be completed by June.

A separate project to refurbish the trail's shoulders, and stormwater management system, will begin Monday, March 25 near Bethesda Row. Montgomery County Parks Department employees will work their way west, towards Washington, DC.

This work will also be completed by June, and cyclists are asked to please slow down when passing work crews on or alongside the trail.

BLASTING REQUIRED AT 4500 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY SITE, W LANE OF PEARL ST. TO CLOSE MARCH 12

The office building project at the former Bethesda McDonald's site (4500 East-West Highway) is about to get complicated.

If you work in one of the many office buildings nearby, or live in the Topaz House or Riviera and are at home during daytime hours, it's also going to get loud.

Workers excavating at the south end of the site have struck a layer of solid rock. An engineering study has clarified that blasting is necessary to continue excavation.

Blasting will begin in the coming weeks. If you live around Bethesda Row, you know the drill.

If not, here is the signal code explosive technicians will use during blasting at this site:

° Long horn blast warning, 5 minutes before detonation

° 3 short horn signal immediately before detonation

° "All Clear" long horn blast after explosion

Isn't that going to be fun?

The other big news, is that the western lane of Pearl Street will close "on or around" Tuesday, March 12, 2013.  Pearl Street, as I reported a few weeks ago, will become a southbound-only, one-way street for the duration of the building construction.

That western lane of Pearl will be sealed off with jersey barriers. And driver information signage will be placed along East-West Highway and Montgomery Avenue.

Support pile installation is now complete, and excavation will continue concurrent with blasting operations.

CRATE AND BARREL CLOSED AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Crate and Barrel has closed forever at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.  Mall patrons passing by were shocked to find a wall, where the home furnishing and decor giant once beckoned to the nation's richest homeowners.

The Illinois-based chain confirmed the rather-obvious closure, and directed CB customers to their Spring Valley, Washington, DC store at 4820 Massachusetts Avenue NW.

Why did Crate and Barrel close in Bethesda?

Frankly, it doesn't make much sense.  Westfield Montgomery Mall is undergoing a minor Renaissance, having added some promising tenants, and is in the midst of an aggressive physical expansion. A new wing, new restaurants, new cineplex and a transit center are scheduled to be built in the next few years.

And the real estate bubble never really burst in Bethesda.  Sales slowed, but prices stayed sinful. In fact, many lower-upper class residents refurbished and refurnished, rather than move to a new McMansion during the "down'' market.

So - theoretically - CB products should have been in demand.

Of course, CB did close an Orange County store a few years back. So closing stores in a wealthy area is not unprecedented at all.

Still, the closure was unexpected here. Are you a Crate and Barrel person? I haven't been a big shopper there - have you noticed less customers or other signs of a downturn there recently?

PEARL ST. TO BE ONE WAY DURING CONSTRUCTION AT FORMER BETHESDA MCDONALD'S SITE AT 4500 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY (PHOTO)

Pearl Street, between East-West Highway and Montgomery Avenue  in downtown Bethesda, will become a one-way street during construction of a Class A office building at the former McDonald's location.

According to the developer of 4500 East-West Highway, the southbound lane of Pearl Street will be closed indefinitely "on or about" February 18, 2013.

For the duration of the building construction, Pearl Street will be a one-way, southbound-only street. Drivers will be unable to turn left onto Pearl from Montgomery Avenue.

Reader Diarmaid McGleenan submitted this aerial-view photo of the former East-West Highway McDonald's site.  The restaurant was demolished a while ago.  At the top of the lot is the auger that just finished drilling for the installation of the steel I-beams you see around the perimeter of the growing hole.

The excavation machine is already filling dump trucks, and eventually a crane will arrive onsite.

BRUCE VARIETY ADDS NEW ITEMS AS IT LIQUIDATES WAREHOUSE (PHOTOS)

Even as the sad story of the closing of Bruce Variety continues to unfold, the venerable store continues to restock its shelves with new items.

Loyal customers are making a "Last Gas" pit stop, snapping up supplies, materials and other unique odds and ends.  But "Bruce's" wants the community to know that "just one more trip" may just turn up something you didn't see last time.

That's because they are bringing in new items which had been in their warehouse previous to now.

Among useful items I saw yesterday: snow shovels.  Predictions suggest those will really come in handy this winter.

WHY BRUCE VARIETY IS CLOSING (VIDEO COMMENTARY)

Bruce Variety is closing. But what circumstances and government policies lead to a successful and popular business closing?

I give my frank assessment in this video, as well as share some Bruce Variety and Bethesda memories.

UPDATE TO WISCONSIN AVENUE SIDEWALK UPDATE (PHOTO)

Since I posted the update on Bethesda sidewalk repairs over the weekend, another section of Wisconsin Avenue sidewalk was closed.

This closure is just north of Pumphrey's Funeral Home, on the northbound side.

FOONG LIN RESTAURANT: HAULING AWAY BETHESDA HISTORY - PHOTO

FURNITURE GOING OUT

THE DOOR AFTER

25 YEARS IN BETHESDA

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Foong Lin is officially closed now, and the contents of the restaurant are being hauled away.

I happened to be there just as the dining room chairs were loaded into the back of this pickup truck.  Moments after this photo was taken, the truck sped away.

BETHESDA MCDONALD'S ON EAST-WEST HIGHWAY CLOSES FOREVER - PHOTO GALLERY EXCLUSIVE!

AN ERA ENDS,

DEMOLITION BEGINS

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Several weeks ago, I reported on the plan to redevelop the current site of the downtown Bethesda McDonald's, on East-West Highway at Pearl Street.  But the actual closing date of the long-operating store was unknown.

That day came yesterday.

Although a number of downtown restaurants have been forced out by developers in the last few weeks, this one hits close to home for me.  I've had many a meal from this McDonald's over a lifetime.  Talk about "Living in the 90s."  Were you there for the Jurassic Triple Cheeseburger, the Super Hero (a tie-in with one of my favorite movies, Batman Forever), and the Arch Deluxe?

Students at BCC High School, workers in nearby office buildings, and residents who thought the Golden Arches would always be a few steps away, had a rude awakening Tuesday.  Even when these photos were taken, loyal customers were still pulling in.  "It's closed? It's closed?"  "Yes."  "It's closed," the man said to himself again audibly, with a stricken expression, as reality sunk in.

No more Big Macs, no more America's Favorite Fries.  Just super-size developer profits.

And then there was one.

There is now literally only one fast food restaurant operating in the entire town of Bethesda - the other McDonald's on River Road.  Why fast food restaurants are unofficially banned from opening in Bethesda, remains a mystery government officials have yet to share with citizens.

Do you really have freedom of choice, when there are no choices?

It's the end of an era.  The Golden Arches have stood along America's highways for decades, beckoning to hungry travelers.  So it was here on our East-West Highway.

It will be missed.

The famous Golden Arches sign has been torn down,
but McDonald's fans kept arriving for dinner anyway

The doors are locked tight

Here's all that's left of the Golden Arches
sign on East-West Highway

Left side of restaurant

Interior of the abandoned restaurant.  Note many ceiling tiles are
already missing.  A lone mystery man works on a
laptop at a table by the far windows

Ronald has left the building

No more coffee deals; Starbucks has the monopoly in
downtown Bethesda again

The End

BETHESDA PLACE CUSTOMERS GET MORE CONFUSING SIGNS DURING GARAGE CLOSURE

"HUH?"

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Bethesda Place, an apartment, retail and restaurant complex in downtown Bethesda, had said earlier this week it was closing the property's public garage through Tuesday morning.

But now an additional sign has been posted, directing Safeway customers to the store's alternate entrance on Old Georgetown Road.  And a valet service is being offered.

The Woodmont garage entrance remains blocked and closed for Labor Day weekend.

Frankly, I would just go to Giant or the Safeway at Arlington and Bradley.  This is not a customer-friendly thing to do, and ultimately the businesses lose money, because the building management chose to close off parking access.  I don't do business where I have to solve a Rubik's Cube just to get in the store.

WARNING: SIDEWALK CLOSURES BY CVS ON WISCONSIN AVENUE - BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Sidewalks around the Bethesda CVS are closed, as they are being upgraded to ADA standards.  This is the CVS at Wisconsin Avenue and Cheltenham Drive, across from 7-Eleven and Fairmont Plaza.

View from Cheltenham Dr. alongside CVS property; that's
Starbucks on Norfolk and Woodmont Aves. in the distance

In front of CVS facing north on Wisconsin Ave.; there is
no easy pedestrian approach to CVS at this time

Please be advised, the area is tricky to navigate for senior citizens and the physically-challenged.  Approach by car into the lot, or consider using one of the many other CVS locations downtown.  The most convenient for those with mobility issues would be at Arlington Road and Bradley Boulevard.

Can't get there from here:
Cheltenham, facing Wisconsin Ave., and the
Landow and Fairmont Plaza buildings

Facing south on Wisconsin

Of course, if you just need prescriptions, the CVS does have a drive-thru at the affected location.

This open section could encourage jaywalking
across Wisconsin

This situation is something drivers should be aware of as well, as more pedestrians may jaywalk across Wisconsin to reach the CVS.

BETHESDA ROW APPLE STORE CLOSED: EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

As was first and exclusively reported on this blog, the Bethesda Row Apple Store is currently closed for secret "renovations."  

In these exclusive pics taken Monday, you will notice the classic matte black storefront coverings that are an Apple trademark.

Monday evening, I saw contractors carrying plywood into the front door.  Inside, I could see plastic coverings over everything.  The big question, of course, is what are they doing in there?  Yesterday, I suggested some of the possibilities based on recent closures of this length at other Apple stores.

The most intriguing fact so far?  I checked the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services records, and there are no permits applied for, or issued to, the Apple Store's Bethesda Avenue address.  So, unless they're getting special privacy treatment from the MoCo government (which would raise questions itself), the renovations do not involve anything the county requires a permit for.  Hmm.  Is that even possible?  I guess we'll find out this weekend.

Apple isn't talking.  The company is known for its secrecy as much as for its incredible products.

The store reopens Saturday.

GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST!

MORE DOWNTOWN BETHESDA

PUBLIC PARKING TO CLOSE!

Sometime this month, the public lots across from Barnes and Noble at Bethesda Row are scheduled to close. This will cause a parking catastrophe. The only actions taken by the county to help have been to place a space-vacancy sign at the Bethesda Ave. garage, designate more spaces for Bethesda Row patrons within it, and suggest that the public park in distant garages/lots and take the Bethesda Circulator back to Bethesda Row.

Now we find out that an entire one of those lots is closing around February 15!! Forever!!!

Great Caesar's Ghost! Who is making these decisions?

Public Parking Lot 39 on Del Ray Avenue is being sold to a for-profit developer for mixed-use development. Now, that's all fine and dandy, but this is going from bad to worse.

And raising a lot of questions.

In my opinion, the imminent parking situation is going to have a far greater impact on visitors and businesses than we are being told.

The fact that the county owned all 3 parking facilities makes that reality unconscionable.

Why did the county council and Planning Board approve the sale of the Bethesda lots without first developing a real-world alternative parking plan?

Second, why would they time a third lot's sale, condemnation and redevelopment approval for precisely the month in which we are to lose the other two lots?

If the BCC Chamber of Commerce has said something about this, it certainly wasn't very loud.

I think residents, patrons, and business owners and employees in downtown Bethesda deserve better.