Arby’s closed its last Montgomery County location at 11710 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda back in May of 2021. McDonald’s will be its replacement and a permit valued at $1.15 million was issued earlier this fall. Construction has now begun.
A lot of work was completed today already and we were told it should be ready to open later this year. In June 2021 Washington Business Journal (WBJ) reported that Shake Shack would be moving into the 11710 Rockville Pike space, but the deep negotiations fell through and the space has remained vacant for more than three years.
Employees from the existing McDonald’s at 11564 Rockville Pike, which was recently renovated and is just one block from this upcoming location, have consistently told us they believe that location would close when the new one opens. The major difference is that the new store at the old Arby’s location will have a drive-thru while the existing McDonald’s does not.