Bethesda construction update: 8001 Woodmont (Photos)

JBG Smith's 8001 Woodmont development remains on-schedule for a mid-year delivery. Tenants in the ground floor retail will include anchor Trader Joe's and Orangetheory Fitness.

 

Streetlamp pole falls on car on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda

The blustery day Friday took its toll on one streetlamp in downtown Bethesda. Around 2:00 PM, a street lamp on Woodmont Avenue near Old Georgetown Road fell onto a vehicle, causing significant window and body damage but no injuries. The pole was between the TD Bank and The Christopher condos, on the right side of the street heading toward Edgemoor Lane.

This is going to be
costly for taxpayers

Montgomery County will be on the hook for the damage, as these Bethesda streetscape lamps are under the jurisdiction of the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation, not Pepco. I was not aware that these were so flimsily-installed as to fall under winds far less than hurricane force.

Streetlamp pole seen
at far right, next to trash can,
before it fell

This is something new to consider when downtown. Is it windy? I wouldn't park near one of these in that case. But what if you are just walking or driving by? The integrity of each of these poles now needs to be checked by DPWT, as this is a real public safety issue. Thank God no one was hurt this time, and the incident may end up preventing future injuries or deaths, if the County uses this warning to secure the others.

Photos courtesy @jsteinerman/Twitter

Bottom photo from Google Street View

Peking Duck to open at Montgomery Mall

Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has announced that Peking Duck will open at the mall in the fall of 2020. The mall owner says the restaurant will specialize in the cuisine of Northern China. Peking Duck will be located on Level 1. Stay tuned for more details on Peking Duck.

Photo via Westfield

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana opening at Montgomery Mall

Coal-fired pizza appears to be the new trend in Bethesda. Less than two weeks after the opening of Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza in downtown Bethesda, Westfield has announced that the pizzeria touted as the "world's best" by many is coming to Montgomery Mall by the end of this year. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana will be located on Level 1 of the mall. The photo released by Westfield suggests the pizzeria will have an exterior storefront, which makes sense with the town center-style addition coming to the mall this decade.

Founded in 1925 in the beautiful town of New Haven, Connecticut, the pizza chain is still run today by Frank Pepe's descendants. Each location has a coal oven modeled after the original one Frank Pepe began using in 1929. All of their current pizzerias are in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, so this will be the first Pepe's outside of that region.

Pepe's has won the Best Pizza title numerous times from media outlets and dining guides. YouTuber Tarnation Bob swears by the mushroom pizza at Frank Pepe's, and their White Clam Pizza is known as their signature menu item. Soon it will be our turn to sample what we've been told is the World's Best Pizza at Montgomery Mall, and we're likely to see lines such as those in the photo above.

Photo via Westfield Montgomery Mall

Lego Store coming to Bethesda

New York may be getting Legoland this year, but Bethesda is getting a Lego Store. Westfield Montgomery Mall says a lease has been signed for a Lego Store, which will open this fall. According to Westfield, the store will offer products for Lego fans of all ages, and will be located on Level 1 of the mall.

Photo courtesy Westfield

Cubano's opens in Bethesda

Cubano's has opened at 4907 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda, formerly home to Louisiana Kitchen. They will be serving dinner only for the next two weeks, and then will add lunch service. Cubano's has an existing location in Silver Spring. Here's a look at the Cuban restaurant's Bethesda menu for the next two weeks:

Federal Realty expands leadership team

Mike Ennes

Rockville-based development firm Federal Realty Investment Trust - owner of multiple properties in Montgomery County, including Bethesda Row, Plaza del Mercado and Rockville Town Square - announced yesterday that it is expanding its leadership team. Vice-President, Residential Mike Ennes has been promoted to Senior VP, Mixed-Use Initiatives and Corporate Communications. Senior Director of Development Jay Brinson was also promoted, to VP of Development.

Jay Brinson

Ennes came to Federal Realty in 2015 from Tysons-based Hilton Worldwide. Federal's Pike & Rose property features a Canopy by Hilton hotel. "Mike was sourced from the hospitality industry to better integrate Federal's various residential offerings into its burgeoning mixed-use portfolio," Federal Realty's president and chief executive officer Don Wood said in a statement Wednesday.

Wood cited Brinson as "critical to the delivery of 909 Rose, our first trophy office building at Pike and Rose." Federal Realty is relocating its Rockville headquarters into that building.

Photos via Federal Realty/LinkedIn

Avenue Cafe opens in Bethesda (Photos+Menu)

Avenue Cafe has opened at 4924 Del Ray Avenue in downtown Bethesda. There is also a hookah lounge in addition to the restaurant. The menu is primarily crepes and a short list of nice desserts. Avenue Cafe is open from 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM, and the hookah lounge will be open until 2:00 AM, as well.

Fighter jets over DC, Montgomery County, N. Virginia after State of the Union rattle residents

Significant fighter jet activity over the Washington, D.C. area around 11:00 PM Tuesday night had many residents seeking answers, answers that are not forthcoming as of this writing. President Trump's State of the Union address had ended earlier, and the commander-in-chief was presumably already back at the White House by the time the jet flyovers began. It was not surprising to hear jets deployed, but they have not been heard to this extent following other recent State of the Union speeches.

The noise was somewhat reminiscent of the weeks following 9/11. It continued for about 15 minutes, paused for a few minutes, and then resumed for about 5 more minutes - at least over Montgomery County. Based on social media chatter, the jets were heard in the District and Northern Virginia, as well. Following the jet flyovers, commercial airliners were heard resuming landings at Reagan National Airport, in greater numbers than one usually hears along the Potomac after 11:00 PM.

A Google News search finds no news articles on the jet noise. In a tweet, Oriana Pawlyk, an air war reporter for Military.com, suggested the fighters may have been F-16s from Andrews Air Force Base.

WSSC work causes road closure

The WSSC returned to Woodmont Avenue last night for more mysterious work under the street. This time the road, rather than just certain lanes, was closed between Old Georgetown Road and Norfolk Avenue.

The lack of public announcement took drivers by surprise, including a J2 Metrobus driver who was shocked to find the bus route blocked last evening. However, while the closure was not announced in advance, the WSSC did tweet about the street closure on its Twitter account. The reason for the closure was not given.

Bethesda nightlife still going to the dogs

Another shuttered nightclub

to become doggy daycare

It's not the first time, and with the Montgomery County political cartel holding onto every seat on the County Council, it probably won't be the last. A new doggy daycare business has leased 4459 SF at 4936 Fairmont Avenue, formerly home to the Relic nightclub. This is the second shuttered nightspot to become a doggy daycare business in the last year. The larger square footage of nightclubs probably lends itself to such a use. But it's also a clear reflection of Bethesda's transformation from nightlife hub to sleepy bedroom community.

Despite being owned by Douglas Development, a powerhouse DC real estate firm, there haven't been any high-profile takers for 4936 Fairmont since the County Council's Nighttime Economy Task Force debacle ended with 18 nightspots closing their doors. Escape Quest is a current tenant. There was hope that three new Fairmont Avenue buildings (and a fourth on the way in the St. Elmo Apartments project) with ground floor space for restaurants might reactivate the streetscape and increase the appeal for a new bar or club here.

7770 Norfolk delivered in terms of evening restaurant hours with the very popular Medium Rare and Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza; The Bainbridge and Cheval, not so much. This stretch of Fairmont therefore remains dark and lonesome later at night. Until Montgomery County election results have less "quality control" changes after voters cast their ballots than Iowa, this will continue to be the case.

McDonald's introduces new breakfast chicken sandwiches

McDonald's has dramatically scaled back its limited-time special menu items in recent months. After a holiday season which saw a Sugar Cookie Latte, Snickerdoodle McFlurry, and the return of Donut Sticks and the BBQ Bacon Burger, there was nothing new for January. No new lunch or dinner items have been introduced for February so far, either. But two new breakfast chicken sandwiches have been added to the morning menu.

The McChicken Biscuit is just about what it sounds like - the existing McDonald's Chicken Biscuit with the premium crispy chicken breast swapped out for a McChicken patty, with the addition of butter brushed onto the biscuit. Another simple item, Chicken McGriddles, puts a crispy chicken breast between two McGriddle pancakes.

You can get both sandwiches for only $3. Let's hope there is a new burger or dessert on the way soon, as well. McDonald's has been testing a new chicken sandwich it touts as a competitor to Chick-fil-A and Popeyes, but has not given it a nationwide release date yet.

WSSC repairs water main break on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda

A WSSC crew responded to a minor water main break on Woodmont Avenue early Monday evening, in front of the Woodmont Grill, and near the Marriott construction site. Three lanes were closed during the work, which did not appear on any WSSC alert on social media or their emergency map, again suggesting it was not a major incident.

Spas play musical chairs at Montgomery Mall, one caught when music stops

EJJI Ramen closure official,

Luxury Beauty & Nails and

Pinnacle Pictures open

Two spas played musical chairs over the weekend at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. When the music stopped, one no longer has a spot. And a third spa opened. UASIS Day Spa has closed permanently. However, I'm told that the stylists at UASIS have moved to UA Salon and Day Spa, Ricky Alessandro Salon, and Avalon Lifestyle Nail Salon & Spa, all of which are located in Montgomery Mall.

Infinite Beauty closed on Level 2. But Infinite Beauty has another location by Nordstrom, Boutique Spa by Infinite Beauty.

Infinite Beauty's alternative
location - Boutique Spa by Nordstrom

Can't find your old stylist or technician at the new locations? Find someone new at the brand-new Luxury Beauty and Nails, in between Jamba Juice and Candy World.

Luxury Beauty and Nails
just opened

Finally, there's more bad news on the closing front at the mall. The closure of EJJI Ramen became official this weekend, when Westfield erected a wall around their former space in the Dining Terrace.

Can we end with some good business news, often in short supply thanks to our anti-business Montgomery County Council? Pinnacle Pictures has opened at the mall. Annoy our corrupt County Council by supporting local business and dropping a few bills on photo products here.

Kenwood Professional Building tenant burglarized in Bethesda

A brazen office burglary in the normally-quiet Kenwood/Westbard area of Bethesda has Montgomery County detectives in search of the suspect, who was caught in the act on video. On January 11, 2020 around 5:30 AM, an intruder allegedly broke into the seventh-floor suite of Corewood Care at 5272 River Road. After taking undisclosed property, the individual left the building.

Detectives warn that an issue with the surveillance camera and room lighting falsely make the suspect's coat appear purple, and hat pink, in some of the images; it is actually brown as shown below. The video showed the invasion after police responded to Corewood employees' report of a burglary the following Monday morning.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this burglary is asked to call the 2nd District Investigative Section at 240-773-6710. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Bethesda construction update: 7-Eleven at Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Construction on the new 7-Eleven at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has been creeping along for months. Long past several expected timelines for opening, the future store now has a sharp 7-Eleven logo clock near the ceiling inside. You can also see shelving and counters in place, for self serve food and drink items. Refrigerated cases are visible in the background, as well. Stay tuned for an opening date.

Military Road NW resurfacing, sidewalk work expected in coming weeks

Drivers who use Military Road NW to enter the District can expect to encounter some road work over the next two weeks. The DC Department of Transportation will be sealing cracks in the roadway between Nebraska Avenue NW and 13th Street NW during that time, weather permitting.

Workers will also be repairing and reconstructing sidewalks along Military Road between Nebraska and Oregon Avenue NW. No specific hours of work have been announced.

Photos via DDOT