Bethesda Archives - Page 191 of 266

Baskin Robbins Officially Returning to Potomac

Published July 23, 2022 at 7:46AM

Back in late February Baskin Robbins closed its doors at Cabin John Village, announcing plans to return to nearby Potomac Woods Plaza in the spring (it will be replaced by The Scoop). Many fans of the 31 flavors were disappointed that there was no word of a return well into the summer, but Baskin Robbins will be coming to 1079 Seven Locks Rd, in the space that’s currently home to Ibhana Creations.

According to a Store Reporter report, “Ibhana owner Meena Tharmaratnam, who has signed a new lease across from Panera on the back side of Rockville’s Federal Plaza. She hopes to vacate her current space on Aug. 9 and reopen in Rockville by the 15th.” Construction at Baskin Robbins is expected to begin immediately following Ibhana’s exit, but an opening timeframe is not yet available.

HalfSmoke Now Open in Montgomery Mall, First Bar Ever in the Montgomery Mall Food Court

By Patrick Herron

Published July 21, 2022 at 8:21PM

HalfSmoke is now open in Montgomery Mall. The restaurant is located in a kiosk in the food terrace that was the former home of Coldstone Creamery and more recently Gelato Galaxy. Though there have been separate restaurants off of the food court that served alcohol (ex: Slade’s), this is the first restaurant/bar that’s actually located in the food court to serve alcohol.

The menu consists of the best selling sausages and sides from their DC location, as well as boozy milkshakes and a funnel cake bar. HalfSmokes sister restaurant Butter Me Up opened its Montgomery Mall location in May.

MoCo’s Katie Ledecky Wins Awards for Best Female Athlete and Best Olympian at 2022 ESPYs

By Patrick Herron

Published July 21, 2022 at 1:03PM

MoCo native Katie Ledecky won ESPN ESPYs (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards) for “Best Athlete-Women’s Sports” and the “Best Olympian-Women’s Sports” at last night’s annual award show. Ledecky has won 7 Olympic gold medals and 22 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer. She is also the world record holder in the women’s 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle (long course), and holds the fastest-ever times in the women’s 500-, 1000-, 1500-, and 1650-yard freestyle events.

Ledecky attended Little Flower School through eighth grade and graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in 2015. Ledecky’s current home base is in in Gainesville, Florida. You can view a Ledecky’s acceptance speech below:

(July 2022 Edition) What’s Opening, Closing, and Coming Soon to Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Published July 20, 2022 at 9:51PM | Updated July 30, 2022 at 10:17AM

Lazzaro’s confirmed its closing on Sunday morning when owner Larry Lazarro wrote the following in response to a post on the Support MoCo FB page: “Thank you for all you and everyone has done on this page. Business was great and so was the feedback. It was a personal family health matter. But this is not the end I’m looking to move into a brick/ mortar. This place fell into my lap. Goin into the mall was never my first choice. lol Thank you to everyone we’ll miss seeing your beautiful faces every day! We love you and appreciate what everyone has done for us in this group! And the family is doing fine now.” The restaurant featured imported cold cuts that are cut fresh daily, homemade meatballs, cannolis, and more. Owner Larry Lazzaro told us his family owned Lucia’s Deli on University Blvd in Wheaton back in the 80’s. The business was eventually sold and the company became what is now Mamma Lucia.

The menu consists of the best selling sausages and sides from their DC location, as well as boozy milkshakes and a funnel cake bar. HalfSmokes sister restaurant Butter Me Up opened its Montgomery Mall location last week. Butter Me Up is located in the old Aroma Espresso Bar location, which is downstairs near the Old Navy entrance and features “instagrammable” decor, will offer a menu that consists of a variety of breakfast sandwiches, toasts, sides, bowls, smoothies, and juices.

Toys “R” Us Returning to MoCo

By Patrick Herron

Published July 19, 2022 at 10:52AM | Updated July 19, 2022 at 11:40AM

Macy’s will be adding Toys”R”Us store-in-store shops to all of its U.S. locations over the next few months. The shops will range from 1,000-10,000 sq. feet, depending on the size of the Macy’s and will expand during the holiday season to offer a wider assortment of products. There are currently Macy’s locations in Lakeforest, Montgomery, and Wheaton Malls.

Depending on the success of the Macy’s version of Toys”R”Us, the company could consider bringing back standalone stores. The former Toy”R”Us location at 600 Frederick Rd in Gaithersburg has remained vacant since the company closed all its stores in 2018. Did you know the first ever Toy’s “R” Us opened in Rockville?

MacGuffins Bar to Open Soon at AMC Theater in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Published July 18, 2022 at 5:52PM

A representative from Westfield Montgomery tells us that MacGuffins bar is very close to opening inside of AMC Theaters at the mall. MacGuffins is AMC’s in-house bar that offers beer, wine, and mixed drinks to moviegoers. According to AMC, “the term “macguffin,” coined by Alfred Hitchcock, refers to a plot device that propels a movie forward. Our specialty cocktails, craft beers and premium wines will be just the thing to turn this movie experience into a story worth remembering.”

A Drink Mighty Enough for a God!

Malia’s Kitchen to Open in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Published July 18, 2022 at 5:23PM

Popular local food truck Malia’s Kitchen will be opening up inside the Montgomery Mall food court, taking over the space that was previously occupied by Lazzaro’s Authentic Italian Deli and Big Al’s Sub Shop. Malia’s Kitchen serves soul food and seafood, which they describe as the best “homemade” down home cooking in the DMV. Items on their menu includes crab cakes, fried chicken, fried fish, and BBQ. No opening date has been announced.

Lazzaro’s confirmed its closing on Sunday morning when owner Larry Lazarro wrote the following in response to a post on the Support MoCo FB page: “Thank you for all you and everyone has done on this page. Business was great and so was the feedback. It was a personal family health matter. But this is not the end I’m looking to move into a brick/ mortar. This place fell into my lap. Goin into the mall was never my first choice. lol Thank you to everyone we’ll miss seeing your beautiful faces every day! We love you and appreciate what everyone has done for us in this group! And the family is doing fine now.”

Update: Juvenile Identified in Church Vandalism and Arsons

By Patrick Herron

Published July 18, 2022 at 3:27PM

Lazzaro’s Authentic Italian Deli Closes in Montgomery Mall, Hopes to Reopen Elsewhere

By MCS Staff

Published July 17, 2022 at 6:37AM

Lazzaro’s Authentic Italian Deli opened in the Montgomery Mall Food Court back in May, in the space previously occupied by Big Al’s Sub Shop. Earlier this week the stall in the food court was closed and mostly cleared out and Google listed the restaurant as permanently closed.

Early this morning there was confirmation that the food court location has closed, but hope of a reopening in a brick and mortar locations, when owner Larry Lazarro wrote the following in response to a post on the Support MoCo FB page: “Thank you for all you and everyone has done on this page. Business was great and so was the feedback. It was a personal family health matter. But this is not the end I’m looking to move into a brick/ mortar. This place fell into my lap. Goin into the mall was never my first choice. lol Thank you to everyone we’ll miss seeing your beautiful faces every day! We love you and appreciate what everyone has done for us in this group! And the family is doing fine now.”

Teenager Pleads Guilty to Murder for the Death of a Man Outside Bethesda Target

By Patrick Herron

Published July 15, 2022 at 7:27PM

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Joshua Wright, 17, of Bethesda, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the death of Lawrence Wilson Jr. on December 19^th, 2021. According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, Wright faces a maximum of 40 years in prison and is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on October 12^th, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. Co-defendant, Antonio Lawrence, is set for trial beginning February 6, 2023.

Lawrence Richard Wilson, Jr. was a 2006 graduate of Watkins Mill High School in Montgomery Village.

Montgomery County to Develop Affordable Housing, Add Parks and Operate Parking Garage in Downtown Bethesda

By Patrick Herron

Published July 15, 2022 at 7:11PM

Per Montgomery County:

On Thursday, County Executive Marc Elrich announced an innovative new development project that would transform two Bethesda Parking Lot Districts (PLD), Lots 25 and 44, to almost 300 affordable and deeply affordable housing units. The project is a joint venture with private partners and will also include a greenway between Highland and West Virginia Avenues as envisioned in the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan. The County Executive was joined at the announcement by Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, whose district includes this area.