Australian based jewelry chain Lovisa is coming to the lower level of Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. According to its website, “We are the fashionable on-trend jewelry specialist. See our latest styles & curated range for every occasion. From earrings, necklaces, rings & more.”
Additional jewelry stores in Montgomery Mall include Elite Jewelers, Francesca’s, Gold Palace, Icing, Jewelry Corner, Kay Jewelers, and Pandora. No opening date for Lovisa has been announced.
Sneaker Boutique KICKZ is holding its grand opening today, October 29, at Westfield Montgomery Mall. According to KICKZ Instagram page, “the first 25 people inside the store will receive a $25 store credit at the door and all purchases that include both a sneaker and a clothing item will receive $50 for the first 50.”
KICKZ has an additional location inside of Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News, VA which opened in 2021.
The 22nd Annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition will be held on Monday, November 21 at The Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln) in Bethesda. Sixteen schools will compete in 7 different categories that include salsa, cha cha, and bachata. The event is open to the public and tickets go on sale November 1. Additional details below courtesy www.strathmore.org:
“The annual MCPS Latin dance competition has been taking place at the Music Center at Strathmore since 2010 and is the culmination of Montgomery County’s elite high school Latin dance program which started back in 1999 at Seneca Valley High School. The main objective is to strengthen the social emotional well being of our students and promote health, exercise, and unity through Latin dance education. Students compete in the Junior and Senior categories showcasing their choreographies in Duets/Partner: Salsa, Chacha, Merengue, Bachata, Jack and Jill, Parent/Student, and Best in Show (Group). This event is not presented by Strathmore.”
District Falafel has announced it will open its first brick and mortar location on November 1. The restaurant will be taking over the spot that was most recently home to The Wok Chinese Kitchen and previously home to longtime favorite Fu Shing Cafe at 10315 Westlake Drive in the Westlake Crossing shopping center, located next to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.
Through the course of the investigation, and with the assistance of L.A. Fitness, detectives developed Samba as a suspect and a warrant was obtained for his arrest charging him with Second-Degree Rape, Fourth Degree Sex Offense, and two counts of Second-Degree Assault. On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Samba was arrested at his home in Silver Spring.
Detectives determined that Samba has been to several L.A. Fitness gyms throughout Montgomery County and Prince George’s County and believe that there may be additional victims. Anyone with information regarding this suspect or additional victims is asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5050.
Bethesda based clothing line Collars & Co. will be featured on the November 11 episode of Shark Tank on ABC. According to their website, Collars & Co.’s mission is to “provide men and women with extremely high quality clothing that not only looks great, but feels amazing as well.” Their signature item is the “Dress Collar Polo”, a buttery soft polo with a standard English spread collar that is said to be more comfortable than a normal collard shirt. Additional information about the episode below, courtesy ABC:
“Peter Jones CBE, global investor and Dragon on BBC’s “Dragon’s Den” returns to the Tank. First into the Tank is an entrepreneur from Bethesda, Maryland, who presents his luxury apparel line designed to elevate one’s office look and help them escape the office feel. An entrepreneur from Spokane, Washington, pitches his portable solution to enjoying beverages on tap and take the party wherever one goes; while an entrepreneur from San Diego, California, hopes the Sharks go bananas for his stylish fruit preservation device. A husband and wife from Plano, Texas, hope to get the Sharks buzzing in the Tank with their re-imagined, higher-alcohol level, fruit-infused wine collection on an all-new episode of “Shark Tank” airing FRIDAY, NOV. 11 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EST), on ABC. Watch episodes on demand and on Hulu the day following the premiere.
Montgomery County Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at the Bethesda Row Apple Store in Bethesda on Saturday evening. According to MCPD, “On Saturday, October 22, 2022, at approximately 5:59 p.m., 2nd District officers responded to the 4600 block of Bethesda Ave., for the report of an armed robbery. The unknown suspect, armed with a handgun, entered the Apple store and took an unknown amount of merchandise. No injuries were reported. The suspect is not in custody.
Detectives provided the following suspect description: Black male, approximately 5-feet, 7-inches tall to 5-feet, 8-inches tall, thin build, in his early 20s, wearing a red Nike hoodie and surgical mask. This is an active and ongoing investigation. ”
The Washington Business Journal recently released its list of the “Fastest Growing Companies in Greater D.C.” (ranked by average percent change over the course of the last two years). Six Montgomery County businesses made the list, ranked between #8 and #48. The Montgomery County businesses are listed below:
8- Lafayette Federal Credit Union, headquartered at 2701 Tower Oaks Blvd. in Rockville, saw a 134.92% average percent change in revenue from 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021. John Farmakides is President/CEO of the federal credit union.
Last December we let you know that Kruba Thai would be coming to Park Potomac. Instead, Pama Thai has arrived. The new Thai restaurant comes from the owners of Kruba Thai, which has a location at 301 Water St. near Nationals Park in Washington, DC. Their menu offers traditional Thai dishes, but we are told will not offer sushi like DC”s Kruba Thai (aside from one appetizer roll). Pama Thai had a soft opening earlier in the week and has since listed that it will be open from 11:00am-9:30pm, 7 days a week. It is located at the former Wine Harvest location at 12525 Park Potomac Ave B.
The menu offers a variety of appetizers ranging from $7-$13, that includes chicken satay, chive dumplings, curry puffs, and more. Pama signature dishes range from $18-$20, and include pineapple fried rice (featured photo), clay pot shrimp, crispy eggplant, and more. Entrees, curries, noodles, and fried rice dishes all come in at $15 a piece, and four different desserts are available, ranging from $5.95-$9.95.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:43 AM on October 20, 2022. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5’8″ tall, average build, in his late 20s or early 30s. The suspect wore a black dura (close-fitting headscarf) or dread sock (possibly covering long dreads or braids), blue sweatshirt, light-colored jeans, and black and white Nike sneakers. The suspect appears to have a beard that was partially covered by a light-colored surgical mask.
We are offering a $50,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of this suspect who robbed a USPS Letter Carrier on yesterday morning in the 7600 blk of Coddle Harbor Ln. in Potomac, MD. Call us at 1-877-876-2455, callers may remain anonymous! pic.twitter.com/xSTdssqAro