2 Bethesda Metro Center renovations update (Photos)

Renovations are ramping up on the plaza behind 2 Bethesda Metro Center, as property owner Chevy Chase Land Co. continues to update the building for the current office market. You can see the new canopy being constructed between the rear entrance to the office tower and the annex on the plaza. The annex will now have two floors, and will house conference space and a new fitness center for tenant use.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Wednesday night, December 20, 2023, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The assault was reported at the mall at 9:40 PM Wednesday. This is the fifth assault reported at the mall this year, and the first since October 20. The mall is now virtually assured of ending the year with a major reduction in violent crime in 2023, as 12 assaults were reported there in 2022. This improvement may be attributed to Montgomery County police having opened a "resource room" at the popular retail center during last year's upward trend of assaults.

Bethesda Lidl construction begins (Photos)

Construction is now underway on the future Lidl grocery store in the ground floor of the Bethesda Place apartments in downtown Bethesda. What they've done so far is construct a cinderblock enclosure of some kind right inside the main store entrance. The space, located at 7625 Old Georgetown Road, was previously home to Safeway. After working to attract a replacement grocer for five years, real estate firm Polinger was successful in signing the rapidly-expanding German supermarket chain as its new anchor tenant.

Bethesda hotel LEDs go dark (Photos)

The LED accent lighting on the facade of the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel has been dark in recent weeks. Installed during a major renovation of the hotel property in 2017, the light strips can change colors, and represent holidays or seasons, such as green and red around Christmas. They can also cycle through multiple colors in an animation mode. It's unclear if they have malfunctioned, or the hotel is simply seeking to lower its power bill. Similar accent lighting is employed by the neighborhood office towers of 2 Bethesda Metro Center and Avocet Tower.

Alleged Westbard mail thief arrested; accomplice still at large

One of two suspects who allegedly stole multiple packages from an apartment building in the Westbard area of Bethesda last August has been arrested by Montgomery County police. Dawud Aubry Drayton, 19, of Oxon Hill is already free on bond, but during his brief time in custody, he was charged with burglary and theft. His alleged accomplice, not yet named by detectives, remains at large. Police also did not identify which of the two suspects pictured is Drayton.

Both men are accused of sneaking into the building in the 5400 block of Westbard Avenue behind a food delivery person at an undisclosed time on August 19, 2023. Once inside, they allegedly grabbed multiple parcels belonging to residents of the building, and fled on foot. 

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this crime or Draytons’ accomplice to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477.

Home broken into in Town of Somerset

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a break-in at a home in the Town of Somerset Monday night, December 18, 2023. The burglary was reported at a house in the 4700 block of Dorset Avenue at 9:26 PM Monday. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the home.

Bethesda Exxon station demolished as long-delayed redevelopment begins (Photos)

Heavy machinery has made short work of the long-shuttered Exxon gas station at 7340 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The station building and garage, and the brick walls around the property, are now piles of rubble on the prime site above the Bethesda Metro station. After years of delay, developer Greystar broke ground last month on its planned redevelopment of the site into a mixed-use tower.  The future building will include 315,000 gross square feet of development, 300 to 308 residential units, ground floor retail, and around 158 parking spaces. It will sit near the entrance to the Purple Line light rail, and between two entrances to Metro's Red Line subway.

 

Dig restaurant update in Bethesda (Photos)

Construction work has begun at the future home of Dig, the farm-sourced fast-casual restaurant coming soon to 4733 Elm Street in downtown Bethesda. Windows are entirely covered to block view of the interior work at the former Mexicue and Kraze Burgers space. But on the outside, new paint is being applied to the storefront and the patio surface. The Dig chain has buzz after receiving financial backing from Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer, who knows a little something about buzzworthy restaurants.

New fountain plaza revealed at Bethesda Row (Photos)

The construction walls around the new fountain plaza at Bethesda Row have come down, and we are getting our first close-up look at the new public gathering space. Landscaping has been installed, and you can see the accent lighting around the concrete bases. We're not likely to see the interactive fountain until next spring. Can this new plaza revive what used to be a crowded hang-out spot at the Federal Realty development? 

Woodmont Crescent renovations update

A renovation project that began last month at the Woodmont Crescent building at the corner of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues in downtown Bethesda continues. New exterior paint was among the first changes made in recent weeks. Among the next items on the list will be an addition of an elevator to the building, according to a person with knowledge of the plans. Up until now, access to offices on the second floor has been provided by a steep staircase. The building's ownership is making the changes and additions to attract new tenants to its vacant storefronts, potentially including upscale restaurants.

Police step up presence at Bethesda Row after mob robs Nike Store (Photos)

Montgomery County police increased their visibility at Bethesda Row this weekend, following the robbery of the Nike Store last Monday by a mob of young people. Two police cruisers were parked in prominent locations at the Federal Realty development. 

A police officer was posted right inside the door of the Nike Store at 7117 Arlington Road. The word "POLICE" on the back of his jacket was clearly visible to any potential thieves or robbers approaching the entrance. Shoppers wrapping up their holiday gift lists at the busy retail center appeared undeterred by recent events, with eight days to go until Christmas.

Artist Maggie O'Neill opens pop-up gallery at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Local artist Maggie O'Neill has opened a pop-up art gallery in the former Wentworth Gallery space at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Featuring last minute gifts of prints, sculptures and Vote for Your Daughter-inspired art and merchandise, the temporary boutique will be open 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM today, Sunday, December 17, 2023, and next Friday and Saturday, December 22 and 23, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 

You can also score a free print signed by Maggie O'Neill if you spend $200 anywhere in the mall. Look for the pop-up on Level 2 of the mall, outside of Nordstrom.

WMATA puts Bethesda-Chevy Chase to Rockville T2 Metrobus route on chopping block

A major bus route connecting the Friendship Heights and Rockville Metro stations is among 67 Metrobus lines WMATA is proposing to eliminate under its "doomsday" budget. The T2 Metrobus travels along the River Road and Falls Road corridors, most of which lack proximity to Metro subway service. If you want to connect to Metrorail beyond the Westbard and West End areas of Bethesda and Rockville, respectively, the T2 can be either one of the few options or the only option to reach a Metro station. 

The T2 is also useful for reaching the judicial and government centers of Montgomery County in Rockville Town Center, as well as Amtrak and MARC service via the Rockville Metro station. WMATA's strategy is not novel, however. Governments and transit agencies often release doomsday budgets prior to asking taxpayers to shell out more to avoid the painful cuts proposed. 

Anglo Dutch Pools & Toys in Bethesda to close forever December 17, 2023

It's the end of an era for Anglo Dutch Pools & Toys at 5460 Westbard Avenue at the Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. After 38 years in operation, the family-owned business will permanently close as of tomorrow, Sunday, December 17, 2023. It is one of several small businesses in the shopping center that will not make the transition to the new Westbard Square development on the same property. While the store was originally to close November 30, landlord Regency Centers apparently had a change of heart and allowed Anglo Dutch to stay open longer during the critical holiday shopping season.

"We wanted to say our goodbyes, since our store will be shutting down as of December 17, 2023," owner Solie Darvish posted in a farewell message online. "At the same time, we want to thank all of our customers for your kindness and love you have shown us. Thank you and lots of hugs from the crew at Anglo Dutch." Independent toy stores are a rarity these days - as are toy stores, in general - so the closure is quite a loss. 

Assault at Bethesda Metro Center

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Bethesda Metro Center on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. The assault was reported in a parking area at the complex at 2:45 PM Wednesday.

Montgomery County Liquor & Wine cleared out at Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda

The Montgomery County government-owned Liquor & Wine store at 5432 Westbard Avenue at the Westwood Shopping Center has closed. Its space has been cleared out, except for shelving left behind. The store will reopen in the adjacent Westbard Square development in early 2024 as one of the County's Oak Barrel & Vine liquor store concepts. Longtime residents will recall this space in the shopping center was previously home to a decent-sized hardware store, an amenity lost to the neighborhood. 

Bethesda's JBG Smith biggest winner in D.C.'s potential loss of Capitals, Wizards

The Montgomery County Council and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore may have been asleep at the switch during the tug-of-war over the future home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, but a company in their jurisdiction may pull off the biggest win in the teams' potential move to Virginia. Bethesda's JBG Smith is the landowner of the proposed Potomac Yard arena and mixed-use development sites in Alexandria. If the teams relocate as envisioned by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and team owner Ted Leonsis, the real estate development firm will stand to be ultimate victor from a business standpoint. Those potential big profits might still benefit the county and state revenue coffers in Maryland, even if the gaudy bragging rights to the actual teams will accrue to Virginia. 

Successful relocation of the teams to Potomac Yard, and the related development, dovetail perfectly with JBG Smith's existing plans and vision for the National Landing area. The firm will be able to sell the proposed sites to a Virginia sports development authority, and would be the developer of the corporate Monumental Sports Entertainment headquarters, arena, media studio, performing arts venue, and e-sports facility proposed as part of the overall plan. And the sports-related growth at Potomac Yards would boost the earning potential for JBG Smith's other National Landing properties, of which Amazon's HQ2 is the crown jewel.

Of course, HQ2's ultimate benefit to Northern Virginia remains to be seen, as Amazon has not been exempt from the work-from-home revolution and other stresses on its businesses. How many jobs and how many square feet of office space Amazon will eventually need at National Landing is up in the air at this point. How much Virginia taxpayers will shell out for a billionaire to move his sports teams is also not set in stone today. But the additional development opportunities the move would provide could not have come at a better time for JBG Smith.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is in the unenviable position of not only possibly losing two of the city's professional sports teams at once, but of having had to make a desperate bid of $500,000,000 at the 11th hour that doesn't appear to have persuaded Leonsis to stay. Such a two-team exit is a potential nightmare for Moore in Maryland, as he tries to keep the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Orioles in the state. His cringeworthy pitch to the Commanders in a VIP suite in "Raljon," as recounted by The Washington Post, did not reflect the bargaining prowess his Wall Street resume would lead us to believe he would have. Moore's inabililty to find immediate success in attracting major companies to Maryland over the past 11 months, despite a Rolodex filled with celebrity and Fortune 500 friends, has raised eyebrows among those closely watching Maryland's economic development efforts.

The fact that Moore was not in the conversation regarding the Wizards and Capitals, when the firm at the center of the intrigue is in his own state, is unlikely to reduce those whispered doubts in the business community. But the silver lining in this case is that JBG Smith - and Montgomery County and Maryland, if they actually get their share of the firm's increased revenue - will likely gain financially, even if Virginia ends up overpaying for the teams, as the company will still profit regardless. Virginia's elected officials could look like suckers a decade from now, but the real winner would still be at 4747 Bethesda Avenue.

Construction begins on new Ourisman Kia dealership in Bethesda (Photos)

Construction is underway outside and inside of a future Ourisman Kia showroom at 6700 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The new showroom will share space with Ourisman Jeep at this dealership in the ground floor of the Adagio condos. This will be the first Kia dealership in Bethesda. It joins Ourisman's other brands downtown here and on Arlington Road: Jeep, Volkswagen and Volvo.