Bethesda construction update: Philz Coffee at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Here's where things stand inside the future Philz Coffee at 7247 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. You can see pillar artwork remaining from previous tenant Vino Volo. There's a long way to go here yet.

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MoCo Council to hear testimony on proposed outdoor dining smoking ban today

The Montgomery County Council will hear testimony on Bill 35-18 today at 1:30 PM, a new law that would forbid smoking and vaping in all outdoor dining areas in the County. A similar bill was already passed by the City of Rockville.

Some Rockville restaurateurs spoke out against the city law at the time. One reason opposition was more vocal in that case, was that the city ban did not apply to direct dining competitors outside of the city limits.

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Rockville resident Adam Zimmerman, who spearheaded the Rockville ban effort, is also supporting the proposed County law. In an advance copy of his testimony, Zimmerman notes that restaurant revenues increased 7% in Montgomery County in the six months after the Council passed its indoor smoking ban that applied to restaurants in 2003. He says Montgomery would join 300 municipalities and 4 states which have banned smoking in outdoor dining areas.

Tirepalooza in downtown Bethesda

The poor condition of Montgomery County roads has led to a boom in tire retailers and service centers in recent months. Full replacement signage now been installed at NTB, which recently took over the Merchant's tire and repair center at 7851 Old Georgetown Road.

We now also have official confirmation of my scoop regarding a new retail tire concept from Goodyear on Elm Street. Signage was just installed for Roll by Goodyear, the brand name the tire giant trademarked just months ago.

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South Street Steaks papered over in Bethesda

Paper has been put up over the windows at South Street Steaks on Cordell Avenue. The restaurant has been closed since June 25, when it was condemned by a Montgomery County inspector for structural damage, after a car struck the side of the building.

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This is the second time this decade the restaurant has closed after a car ran into it. They managed to reopen the first time. Rumors at this time remain pessimistic about its survival. I had also heard that the owners would have to have received a successful insurance claim to be able to repair the damage. Stay tuned. In the meantime, try the cheesesteak at Peter's Carry-Out on Wisconsin Avenue...

Utility work continues in the Woodmont Triangle

Work crews are closing lanes and digging up streets day and night in downtown Bethesda. The curb lane of Woodmont Avenue behind 8200 Wisconsin, the DoubleTree hotel, the Bethesda Medical Building and the "apartment building for homeless people" was closed down Monday afternoon.

Disabled and elderly patients were unable to easily access the rear entrances at the medical building. I observed three seniors with walkers being obstructed trying to access the building in only 15 minutes. A greyish slime resembling cement was gurgling down the gutter and edge of the street as workers used large saws to cut into the asphalt.

After nightfall, another crew started working in one of the hotspots for utility problems, Old Georgetown Road north of Cordell Avenue.

Montgomery County proposes to sell land parcel to Glen Echo Fire Department

The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 1:30 PM regarding the proposed sale of a County-owned land parcel adjacent to 5920 Massachusetts Avenue to the Glen Echo Fire Department at less than market value. County Executive Ike Leggett has authorized a Declaration of No Further Need for the parcel, which must be approved by the Council.

Maryland's State Highway Administration deeded the parcel to the County on July 14, 2017. The deed stipulates that the land can only be used for a public purpose. If the County or GEFD were to propose a private use of the property, the SHA could reclaim the parcel outright under the 2017 agreement. A sale price of $4,425 has been specified.

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The GEFD will use the land as part of the renovation and expansion of its current fire station, including the addition of a third truck bay. That project is already nearly 20 years behind schedule, and won't even get design funding from the Council until FY-2020. The fire station house is over sixty years old, and the GEFD will have to service all of the additional residential and retail development planned in the Westbard sector over the next decade.

Truck traffic at Marriott construction site to increase in coming weeks

Marriott International headquarters development partners The Bernstein Companies, Boston Properties and Hensel Phelps say they expect truck traffic in and out of the construction site at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. A phasing plan has been prepared to ease the impact of the additional trucks on traffic.

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The partners acknowledge that too many meters around the site have been improperly bagged, taking them out of commission and hurting nearby businesses. They say they are working with Bethesda Urban Partnership and Montgomery County parking enforcement to reduce the number of bagged meters where possible.

Marriott continues to be blamed by some for utility problems in the vicinity of the construction. The partners say all of those disruptions and glitches are the fault of utility companies working on their own projects in the area, and that none were related to the Marriott site work underway. You can now watch the site 24 hours a day, and in time lapse, on a webcam set up by the Marriott HQ team.

Sidewalk at 7900 Wisconsin Ave. closed through Nov. 30, lane closure ahead

Add another construction-related sidewalk closure in downtown Bethesda to the list. The sidewalk in front of 7900 Wisconsin Avenue has closed. According to the posted sidewalk closure notice, it will remain closed at the JBG Smith construction site through November 30. Give the company credit for actually posting the required closure information sign - many construction sites around town in recent years have failed to do so.

The curb lane will also close for construction staging and site access for an unspecified length of time, sure to add to the commuting woes on already-jammed Wisconsin. Workers will demolish the existing sidewalk and covered pedestrian shelter during this next phase of construction.

Purple Line work at Columbia Country Club today

Members and guests at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase will have visitors today. Contractors with the Purple Line light rail project are scheduled to be on the club's premises to construct new underpasses between 7:00 AM this morning and 5:00 PM this evening. Expect similar work to continue on weekends through November.

Anthropologie & Co., Terrain Cafe now open at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Three floors of shopping successfully opened in the former Barnes & Noble space at Bethesda Row yesterday. The turnout at Anthropologie & Co. was quite good, and diners were still trying out the department store's Terrain Cafe near 10:00 PM last night. A holiday theme is already setting the tone for Christmas shopping and winter wardrobes.

The cafe is helmed by Chef Kevin Ettenson, a veteran of Red's Table (where he was most recently executive chef), Arcuri, Sonoma, and Mad Fox Brewing Co. While the menu generally follows those of the other cafe locations around the country, you'll notice local ingredients exclusive to this outpost of Terrain, such as Maryland crab meat. This is the fifth Terrain Cafe nationwide.

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Store photos: Robert Dyer
Terrain Cafe and food photo: Andrew Sample

Drybar to open at Pike & Rose

Drybar will round out the retail spaces in the ground floor of the Canopy by Hilton hotel at Pike & Rose. The popular blowout salon will open at 11861 Grand Park Avenue next spring. Their 1705 SF space will be next to Sunday Morning Bakehouse and UNIQLO.

This will be only the fifth Drybar in the D.C. area. Drybar pioneered the trend of having adult beverages at salons, which required an update to Montgomery County and Maryland's archaic liquor laws, which became known as "the Drybar bill" when it passed in Annapolis.

Photos courtesy Drybar

Kusshi to host soft opening at Pike & Rose next week

Be one of the first to experience Kusshi at Pike & Rose when they hold their soft opening next week. The Japanese restaurant will open to the public this Monday, October 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM. Soft opening hours will continue through 10:00 PM on October 25.

Kusshi is named after the "ultimate" Japanese oyster, and that namesake delicacy will be available on the menu. Sushi is also on the menu, along with other Japanese specialties, sake and cocktails. Food will be 40% off during the soft opening.

The restaurant is located at 11826 Trade Street - park in the Trade Street garage, and you can walk right out onto the plaza in front of Kusshi from the elevator.

Capital One bank branch closes in Chevy Chase Trust building

Capital One continues to downsize in Bethesda. The latest branch to close is in the iconic Chevy Chase Trust building at East-West Highway and Wisconsin Avenue. This closure has some additional significance, in that this building was the headquarters of Chevy Chase Bank, which was acquired by Capital One ten years ago. Most Chevy Chase Bank branches were converted into Capital One branches.