South Block opening at Bethesda Row

South Block is coming soon to Bethesda Row. It will be located next to Equinox. "Blending soon" signage has just been installed in its future storefront. The juice bar serves fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, açaí bowls, and loaded avocado or banana toast. South Block already has a location at another Federal Realty property, Pike & Rose in Rockville.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bethesda Row

Egg nog hits the shelves before Halloween these days, and the elves at Bethesda Row are almost as fast. The main Christmas tree is now up on Bethesda Lane. Also popping up around the Federal Realty development are cascading lights and giant snowflakes, giving the impression of falling snow. Keep on the lookout for additional lights and displays at other spots on the property.

Ted's Bulletin "coming 2027" to Bethesda

Coming-soon signage has been installed for Ted's Bulletin at the vacant Woodmont Grill building at 7715 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The signs promote a 2027 opening of the upscale diner's newest location in the D.C. region. Woodmont Grill abruptly closed one year ago despite being one of the busiest and most successful restaurants in town for decades, beginning its life as Houston's. This past August, the building was acquired by restaurateur and entrepreneur Steve Salis, who owns Ted's, among many other regional brands. The move sets up a dramatic showdown between modern diner Ted's and the "genuine article" vintage Tastee Diner right next door.

Signage installed at Maten's entertainment center in Bethesda

The first permanent signage has been installed at the future Maten's entertainment center at 7500 Old Georgetown Road, at the Bethesda Metro Center. Featuring billiards, shuffleboard, and foosball, the business is being positioned as an "out-of-home" entertainment venue by founder Aaron Lippman. The 4000-square-foot space will also feature lounge areas and beverage sales. Maten's is currently expected to open in early 2027.

QToys closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

QToys has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It has been removed from the mall tenant directory. It's a surprising closure for two reasons: First, we are approaching the peak toy-buying season of the year. And second, QToys only opened this location one year ago. A Chinese collectible toy importer, QToys may have been overshadowed by recent competitors at the mall like Pop Mart and Kako Claw. On a larger scale, the Financial Times recently reported that the Labubu toy craze is showing signs of running out of steam.

Police respond to assault in Glen Echo

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in Glen Echo Thursday afternoon, October 29, 2026. The assault was reported in the 6100 block of Harvard Avenue at 2:45 PM. It took place in a commercial parking lot. That appears to be the U.S. Post Office and Town Hall lot.

Ruta Ukrainian restaurant closed in Bethesda

Ruta, the Ukrainian restaurant located at 4862 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda, was closed yesterday. A sign in the window informs prospective diners that the establishment is "currently closed." But no explanation of the reason for the closure is provided. No reopening date is mentioned, either. Ruta opened here in August of 2024.

T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs, Lilly Pulitzer reopen at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Three big names at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda have reopened after completing major renovation projects. T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs and Lilly Pulitzer are now open well ahead of Black Friday and the peak holiday shopping season. Lilly Pulitzer has been making over its stores recently to give them the aesthetic of a resort residence with Mediterranean-inspired, Palm Beach-style design and decor. T-Mobile has focused its renovations on transforming its stores from transactional retail outlets to experiential spaces with interactive displays. Both retailers are emphasizing a more open floorplan. Häagen-Dazs is...well, Häagen-Dazs.

Aerospace firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for 2nd headquarters

Colorado-based defense and aerospace firm Auria, following the model of Amazon with its HQ2, sought a location to establish a new East Coast corporate headquarters. You will be absolutely shocked to learn that the company came to the same conclusion as Amazon, and has chosen Fairfax County over Montgomery County. Auria announced it will open its HQ2 at 2000 Edmund Halley Drive in Reston. The headquarters will also contain research, development, and system integration facilities, which will enhance testing and product demonstration capabilities. Meanwhile, the Montgomery County Council will have to again save their ribbon cutting scissors for the next convenience store opening.

"We are proud to welcome Auria’s East Coast headquarters to Fairfax," Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said in a statement yesterday. She said the company's decision "reflects confidence in our business environment, strategic location, and our continued support of innovative aerospace and defense companies."

We could talk about the lower taxes and business-friendly environment of Northern Virginia compared to Montgomery County, which has the highest total tax and fee burden in the entire region. But let's look again at the critical factor of access to Dulles International Airport, essential for any serious international businessperson. The site chosen by Auria is an 8 minute drive away from Dulles. Montgomery County still lacks direct access to Dulles, thanks to the Montgomery County Council canceling the long-planned Potomac River crossing of I-370 to Route 28 in the Dulles area. Doh!

Sneak peek: Bob's Soup Dumplings & Bar in Bethesda

Here's our first look at the interior fit-out of the long-awaited Bob's Soup Dumplings & Bar at 7776 Norfolk Avenue in the ground floor of the Windsor Bethesda apartment tower. It appears complete, with decor, lighting fixtures, and furnishings in place. It's been just over a year since I broke the story of a new Bob's Shanghai concept opening in Bethesda. With that regionally-recognized dining pedigree, this could be one of the biggest restaurant openings of the year in Bethesda - and quite a boon for residents upstairs, and in the nearby apartment buildings.

Always Ice Cream to open at Westbard Square in Bethesda

Always Ice Cream continues its rapid expansion into Montgomery County. It just announced a new location will open at 5335 Westbard Avenue at Westbard Square in Bethesda. The Maryland-based chain manufactures over 250 handcrafted flavors in the state. Currently operating locations in the Annapolis area, Always Ice Cream is now opening locations at Pike & Rose in Rockville, and in Charles County. The Westbard Square shop is expected to open next spring.

Lil Sweet Treat opening at Bethesda Row

The "ultimate destination for candy connoisseurs" is coming soon to downtown Bethesda. Lil Sweet Treat will be located at 7129 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row. That is the space recently vacated by longtime tenant Luke's Lobster. Now your sweet tooth will drop anchor at a shop loaded to the gills with a curated selection of the best candies from around the globe. Imports will include treats from Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. 

Police respond to assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police officers responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall last night, October 24, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 7:00 PM Saturday. This assault is the second to be reported at the retail center since Westfield instituted a 3:00 PM juvenile curfew on September 28. It is the ninth assault reported at the mall this year. Twelve assaults were recorded at the property in 2025.

Israeli defense firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Israeli defense firm Smart Shooter has selected the location for its new U.S. headquarters, and - surprise! - it's Northern Virginia, not Montgomery County. The company, known for its rifle-mounted and hand-held fire control systems, chose Dulles Office Park in Herndon for its U.S. operations center. As you might surmise from the property name, the site is 5 minutes from Dulles International Airport, an essential amenity for international businesspeople. Montgomery County infamously lacks direct access to Dulles, by virtue of County elected officials cancelling the long-planned new Potomac River crossing from I-370 in Gaithersburg to Route 28 in the Dulles area. "I coulda been a contender!" Womp, womp.

Photo courtesy Fairfax County Economic Development Authority/Nikolai Roster

Our Mom Eugenia, Method Room "coming soon" to Westbard Square in Bethesda

Our Mom Eugenia and Method Room are "coming soon" to Westbard Square in Bethesda, according to signage posted at the development at 5400 Westbard Avenue. The former is a well-reviewed, family-owned local Greek restaurant chain with multiple locations in Northern Virginia. Now Our Mom Eugenia is crossing the Potomac to set up shop in the "Canal House" building that faces The Square public space at the Regency Centers property. Reformer-based Pilates fitness studio Method Room has signed on to fill the final ground-level space in the existing Giant building at the property, right next to Voorthuis Opticians.

Tesla returns to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tesla has returned...sort of...to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The electric vehicle manufacturer had a strong partnership with the mall for many years. It leased a prominent space for a showroom, and for a row of charging stations in the parking garage off the Nordstrom wing. There were ambitious plans to build a Supercharger station on the mall property. But after Elon Musk enraged many in the region with his involvement in the DOGE initiative, Tesla became a target for protest, and its mall showroom abruptly closed.

The return of Tesla is quite underwhelming compared to what came before. A single vehicle on display as you often see from other auto dealerships. A simple display. A white logo cube with a bottle of hand sanitizer on top. As competitor Rivian readies a Bethesda Row showroom, and superior options from China are held off by Detroit lobbyists hoping the free enterprise dam won't burst, is a display car enough to compete in one of the biggest EV markets in the country?

Assault reported at Bethesda Elementary School

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Bethesda Elementary School at 7600 Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda yesterday afternoon. The assault was reported at the school at 3:10 PM Wednesday. No further information about the incident is available at this time.

Sugared + Bronzed sets opening date in Bethesda

Sugared + Bronzed is opening very soon at 4939 Elm Street, in the Shoppes of Bethesda. The hair removal and spray tan salon chain has scheduled the grand opening for November 2, 2026. Permanent signage has just been installed above the storefront. "S+B is a one-stop shop to prepare for any vacation, wedding, red carpet event — or to simply feel like your best self," the company says on its website. "We’re extremely passionate about providing exceptional services in beautiful, upbeat, and welcoming spaces that make your appointment something to look forward to. No matter the occasion, S+B promises that you’ll leave with immaculately smooth skin and a natural faux glow."

Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition to deliver petition to Montgomery County today

Excavation underway at 5204 River Road in 2020

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition will deliver a petition signed by almost 1000 people to the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services in Wheaton this afternoon. It is a petition asking DPS to suspend the Certificate of Occupancy for the new self-storage building at 5204 River Road, behind the McDonald's restaurant in Bethesda. The occupancy permit was issued to project developer 1784 Holdings of Arizona.

Cemetery advocates have been engaged in an ongoing legal dispute with the developer and Montgomery County government over alleged destruction of possible human remains and funerary objects during excavation of the site, which is directly adjacent to the Moses African Cemetery. The developer's archaeological expert certified that no such remains or objects were discovered during the dig. BACC disputes this. During the approval process for the building, concerns were raised that African-American cemeteries like Moses often lacked clear boundaries delineated by fencing, leading to potential burials outside the property lines. This led the developer to engage the services of the archaeological expert to oversee the excavation, which was also monitored from outside the property by representatives of BACC.

"Our ancestors are still being treated as chattel, non-human - transactional 'things' that can be destroyed and used at the economic or social pleasure of those in power," BACC President Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo said in a statement this morning. "It is only through blatant corruption and disregard for the rule of law that Montgomery County can provide the certificate of occupation with the permit violation allegations before the court. Developers who follow the rules should also be outraged if the Permitting Office provides the Arizona company with a certificate of occupancy."

BACC representatives will be joined this afternoon by representatives of the Maryland Green Party, Black United Front, Montgomery County Democratic Socialists of America, the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the African Communities League. "Voters across the state are angry that their politicians don’t care about them. The inspiring thing is people are joining together, rising up, and fighting back," Maryland Green Party gubernatorial nominee Andy Ellis said. "BACC has long been at the forefront of that, and I am excited to join them on Wednesday and push for justice and accountability." 

Smoke BBQ closes in Bethesda

Smoke BBQ has permanently closed at 4858 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. "Smoke BBQ is permanently closed," a sign in the window Monday said. "Thank you to the community for all your support over the past fourteen years." Smoke BBQ opened here in January 2013, and it was an impressive run in a tough business environment.