Shelves cleared at Chocolate Moonshine Co. at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The shelves are empty at Chocolate Moonshine Co. in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Packing boxes are visible inside the space. There was no sign indicating what is going on; the candy business has relocated inside the mall once before. However, I notice that Chocolate Moonshine Co. no longer appears on the mall's official website.

Janie and Jack's new storefront ready at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Janie and Jack could be making the switch any day now at Westfield Montgomery Mall. In fact, the children's clothing boutique's new location - next to California Pizza Kitchen on Level 2 - has already been updated on the mall website. If the usual location is closed when you arrive, just look across the corridor for the new spot. Signage has been installed above the new storefront. Inside, inventory is visible on the shelves.

Final 3 days for Forever 21 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

If you want to go on one last shopping spree at Forever 21 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, you'd better hurry. There are only three days left to shop. As you can see from the photos here, inventory is being snapped up at 60-80% off. Shelves near the front door that held store fixtures for sale are bare. Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy, and all of its stores nationwide are expected to close by May 1, 2025.

Peeping Tom, pickpocket strike at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were kept busy at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on Thursday afternoon, April 17, 2025. At 3:10 PM, officers were called to investigate a Peeping Tom at the mall. About three hours later at 6:20 PM, a mall patron called police to report that their pocket had been picked. Remember to keep your wallet securely in a front pocket, if possible, and do not leave purses unattended while shopping.

Thai Express opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Thai Express is now open in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall. If something seems familiar about this, it's because Thai Express has filled the spot just vacated by Ruby Thai Kitchen as 2025 began. Like Ruby Thai, Thai Express features combo meals on the entree menu. Thai Express has a few additional side items, but one less soup option than Ruby Thai offered. Operating hours for Thai Express are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday; they are closed on Sundays. 

ECCO closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

ECCO has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The comfort shoe retailer's space has been sealed off, and signage has been removed. A number of stores are swapping locations inside the mall, but I noticed that ECCO has been removed from the mall website, and this location has been removed from the store locator on the ECCO website. ECCO still has a Tysons store at 1961 Chain Bridge Road at Tysons Corner Center.

UNIQLO construction advances at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

UNIQLO is going to be a large store when it opens at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda later this year. The latest stage of construction also suggests it may have a new exterior entrance punched through the mall's wall. Several new tenants at the mall over the last decade have obtained permission for this outward-facing feature. It's ironic that stores like Target at Westfield's Wheaton mall have reduced their number of access points recently, likely as a shoplifting deterrent, while it looks like UNIQLO may be increasing the number of entrances to guard.

Tesla confirms closure at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tesla Motors has confirmed it has permanently closed its showroom at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. However, the company is terming the exit from the mall as a "move," and is directing potential customers to its Rockville dealership at 1300 Rockville Pike, and to its showroom in Georgetown at 3307 M Street NW. A peek inside the shuttered Montgomery Mall store finds a lone Tesla Cybertruck remaining of the cars that were on display until the operation abruptly closed, without explanation, early last week. 

The company is not yet publicly declaring the reason for the Bethesda closure. Tesla facilities and individual Tesla vehicles have been the target of vandalism and violent attack across the country in recent weeks, by opponents of Elon Musk's executive branch DOGE initiative within the administration of President Donald Trump. Outside the mall, a large Tesla billboard remains in place on a parking garage.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were once again called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this past weekend, after a report of an assault. The assault was reported at a department store inside the mall at 5:33 PM on Saturday, March 22, 2025. This was the third assault reported at the mall so far this year. There were 11 assaults reported at the popular retail center in 2024, 5 in 2023, and 12 in 2022.

Merlo Point, De Clichy closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The super-short run for Merlo Point at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda is approaching an end, according to signage at the store, which opened shortly before Christmas. A closing sale is now underway at the local retailer, which carries European-inspired furniture, art, and home decor. Look for Merlo Point on Level 1 of the mall, between Calzedonia and Kickz.

Also exiting soon is De Clichy. The menswear boutique has been around significantly longer than Merlo Point, having opened here in 2022. It, too, is holding a closing sale. Find De Clichy and savings on Level 2, next to LensCrafters.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on March 14, 2025. The incident was reported at 3:47 PM at the mall. This is the second assault at the mall so far this year. There were 11 in 2024, 5 in 2023, and 12 in 2022.

Tesla closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The Tesla store has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Signage has been removed from above the storefront. Tesla opened this showroom in 2013. It just recently had begun to display the Launch Edition of the new Model Y. The store is still on the mall website map, and no reason for the closure has been given as of this writing. 

Tesla Model Y Launch Edition on display at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The new Tesla Model Y Launch Edition is now on display at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is parked inside the Tesla Store alongside other electric vehicles from the company. The Launch Edition is a fully-loaded version of the popular crossover EV. It features the full-self-driving system (FSD), a tow hitch, and has a range of 327 miles.

A key selling point for the new Model Y is the quieter and smoother driving experience. This was achieved via an updated tire and wheel package, and redesigned body castings that reduced gaps. The interior is all-new in design and materials. Pet owners leaving an animal in the car unattended can activate Dog Mode to maintain a safe interior temperature at all times. The display model at the mall is in Ultra Red color.

Forever 21 closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

It started off as an "everything must go" sale, but now the signs have gone up announcing "store closing" at Forever 21 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. What began as a handful of scattered reports about locations like this one has evolved into announcements of hundreds of layoffs and hundreds of store closures nationwide. According to the Los Angeles Times, even the company's corporate headquarters is going to close. As predicted, savings will escalate as the closing sale continues.

UNIQLO aiming for May 2025 opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

UNIQLO is aiming for a May 2025 opening at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The target date appears on a sign at a recruiting table set up inside the mall to hire employees for the popular apparel store. The Japanese casual wear retailer will be located on Level 2, in the space just vacated by Express and Express Men. If you can't wait until May, UNIQLO has an existing store nearby at Pike & Rose.

Lululemon to move this summer at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Lululemon will move to a new location inside Westfield Montgomery Mall this summer. It will be a very short move. Currently located on Level 1 next to the Tesla store, the activewear boutique will make a diagonal move on the same level to the vacant space next to Sleep Number. Judging from the width of the "coming soon" wall at the future location, the move is going to be for additional space compared to the existing one. Lululemon opened at the mall eleven years ago.

Police respond to robbery, assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

A streak of robberies at Westfield Montgomery Mall at the beginning of 2025 has now extended to four. The latest incident was a strong-arm robbery that was reported at 8:05 PM last Friday night, February 21. Just five minutes earlier, Montgomery County police had received a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the mall. That was the first assault reported at the property in 2025. 

Police had taken a more-visible role in security at the mall two weekends prior, following the robberies on January 26 and 27, and February 4. Eleven assaults were reported at the mall last year, five in 2023, and twelve in 2022. Montgomery County police announced the opening of a resource room at the popular retail center in 2022. The mall's ownership replaced the leadership team for the property last November.

Below Zero opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Below Zero is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cold therapy skincare boutique is targeted at those who want to look younger and extend their lives. That's a pretty large potential clientele for their "Swiss Science" skincare products and devices.

"Many animal species live longer at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures," Below Zero notes. "Researchers found that the sense of cold activates a genetic program that enhances lifespan. The research shows that enzymes and hormonal frameworks have a role in reactions to low temperatures, which affects aging and lifespan." Below Zero will open this spring on Level 2 of the mall, next to California Pizza Kitchen.

Marvel Adventure Lab relocates at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Face front, true believers! The Marvel Adventure Lab kiosk has moved at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It was formerly located in the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2. Look for it now outside of Forever 21. The Marvel Adventure Lab is a photo booth that allows you to pose with your favorite Marvel Comics superhero, or insert yourself into a page from a comic book. The final product prints out for you to take home. Excelsior!

Pop Mart Robo Shop opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The Pop Mart Robo Shop is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Essentially a vending machine, it is located outside of CAVA. Pop Mart has over 2000 of these vending machines in operation, dispensing licensed blind bag collector toys and labubu. U2 should probably be contacting their lawyer.