Circus coming to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this June

The Do Portugal Circus will present its Cirque show under the big top next month at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Tracing its roots back to 1911, the Mexican circus troupe has been touring with this show around the world for 25 years. You won't see elephants or tigers, but you will see just about everything else you expect from a circus starting June 9, 2023 and continuing through June 25: Trapeze artists, magicians, roaring motorcycles in the Cage of Death, and more.

Tickets to all performances are available now online, and VIP seats are an option for the biggest circus aficionados. No outside food or drinks will be allowed, but the circus will have its own concessions with hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, pickles, cotton candy, snow cones, soda, water, juice, Powerade, coffee and hot chocolate.

Photos courtesy Do Portugal Circus

Altar'd State closing today at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Altar'd State is closing permanently at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, at the close of business today, May 21, 2023. The Christian women's apparel boutique opened here in April 2018. This closure we can blame on Montgomery County's hostile business climate and County Council, as the brand is neither going bankrupt, nor closing stores elsewhere in the country. In fact, a company press release exactly one month ago described Altar'd State as "a rapidly growing women's fashion brand with 123 Altar'd State stores, 25 Arula boutiques, six Vow'd boutiques and two Tullabee boutiques in 38 states."

MCPS art show at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Artwork by Montgomery County Public Schools elementary school students was displayed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The annual All-County Art Show is designed to show the results of visual arts studies by MCPS students. Here is a sample of works that were on display:

Luggage Plus relocating at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Luggage Plus is the latest tenant of Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda to enter the game of musical chairs. It will be moving from its current location outside of Nordstrom on Level 1. The new space will be on Level 2, next to Ricky Alessandro. Signage has been installed outside the new location, but as you can see here, the process of moving has just begun. Luggage Plus is the traveler's destination for the travel items and accessories you need, and the luggage to carry them in.

Greek Aroma closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Greek Aroma Mediterranean Grill has closed in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Their space has been walled off. Greek Aroma opened in November 2022. The small local chain has two other locations, in Frederick and Riverdale, Maryland.

Lush opens temporary location at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The tenant musical chairs game continues at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Lush has opened a temporary store location at the mall. The cruelty-free and ethically-sourced bath, bodycare, skincare and haircare boutique will be here while construction is completed on its new space. It looks pretty posh for a pop-up shop. Find the temporary Lush store next to 2 the 9s, on Level 2 of the mall.

Nordstrom reducing window displays "to lessen our environmental impact" at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda says it is increasing its efforts to be more environmentally-sensitive. One step it is now taking "to lessen our environmental impact" is to reduce the number of window displays. At one window inside the mall, trash is now part of the display. "This display was partially sourced from our store's recyclable waste," a sign explains. 

This is apparently such a new development that there has not even been any company-wide announcement or press release about it yet. The window display initiative does not appear on the chain's environmental sustainability webpage. It's certainly an unusual tack for an upscale department store.

Pickpocket strikes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Watch your wallet at the mall. Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda the evening of April 18, 2023, after a pickpocketing incident there. The theft was reported at 9:47 PM at the mall.

Liljenquist & Beckstead to relocate inside Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Liljenquist & Beckstead will be relocating inside Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this summer. It's a move that will be measured in inches, as their new location will be right next to their current one on Level 2. Store manager Mohammad Khan says it will be a brand new showroom, not an expansion of the existing one. Renderings of the new showroom have just been posted on the future storefront. 

Liljenquist & Beckstead was founded in 1978 by Tom Liljenquist, President, and Sidney Beckstead, Vice President. It has four locations in the region, including their flagship store in Tysons. Liljenquist & Beckstead is an authorized retailer for Rolex sales and repairs, as well as several other luxury watch brands.

Montgomery County sheriff orders restaurant to vacate at Montgomery Mall

Butter Me Up, a breakfast-themed restaurant, has been evicted from Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda less than a year after opening. A "final notice" from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is posted outside the restaurant ordering the business to "vacate premises." It states that "The Sheriff will use whatever force necessary to gain entry into the premises for immediate removal of all persons and property." Behind the closed storefront gate, the contents of the restaurant have been left behind.

The restaurant group that owns Butter Me Up also owned the HalfSmoke kiosk in the mall's food court. It has also closed. These developments raise serious questions as to whether the company's long-delayed HalfSmoke location at Rockville Town Square will ever come to pass. No construction inside that location has taken place in the three years since the Rockville outpost was announced.

HalfSmoke closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

HalfSmoke has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Its kiosk in the Dining Terrace food court has been totally cleared out, and signage removed. How this didn't work is a mystery, as they had a short but great menu. This venture opening and closing in the time since a long-delayed Rockville Town Square location of HalfSmoke was first announced does not bode well for that larger restaurant coming to fruition. No construction activity has been observed at the Rockville HalfSmoke space since "coming soon" signage was installed over the windows in November 2020(!!).

DJ Watch & Engraving opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

DJ Watch & Engraving has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. In addition to engraving services, and watch repairs and battery/wristband replacement, it also offers crystal repairs, link removal, pins, and new batteries for your car remote. Service is provided while you wait. Look for DJ Watch & Engraving on Level 2 of the mall, next to Elite Jewelers.

Wild Custom Apparel, Ebere by Alpha open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Two new apparel boutiques have opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Wild Custom Apparel is a custom printing business similar to the t-shirt shops you would find on the boardwalk at Ocean City. A selection of graphic designs are posted on the wall, and can be printed on shirts, pillows, and other items. Find Wild Custom Apparel on Level 1 of the mall, next to Journeys. Ebere by Alpha has also opened its first full boutique after a promising start as a kiosk at Prince George's Plaza; you'll find it on Level 2, next to BeautyBOSS.

Arhaus, Jolly Yolly, Melashops & The Kashmir Collection open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Four new businesses have opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Arhaus, an heirloom-quality furnishings store has made its debut on Level 1. But wait, there's more. Melashops has also opened on Level 1, having moved out of Lakeforest Mall before the mall permanently closed Friday evening. Jolly Yolly Kids has opened on Level 1 next to The Cheesecake Factory. Finally, The Kashmir Collection has opened next to Psycho Bunny, and across from Lilly Pulitzer.

Melashops moving to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Melashops is moving from Gaithersburg to Bethesda. The fashion market has closed its Lakeforest Mall store, as the mall itself is closing March 31, 2023 and is in its final days. On April 1, Melashops will open at its new home, Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Melashops carries apparel, jewelry, and accessories from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Afghanistan, and more. Look for Melashops on Level 1 across from Urban Outfitters.