What's happening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for holiday shopping season 2022 (Photos)

The countdown to Black Friday 2022 is on at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Many favorite holiday decorations have been brought back, alongside some new ones we haven't seen before. An elf was seen testing Santa's chair, to make sure everything is just right for Father Christmas when he arrives. Here are some of the exciting events and new features the mall has planned for 2022:

Jingle Lounge

A new Christmas-themed seating area called the Jingle Lounge has been set up, with upscale white chairs, sofas and tables, near Talbots on Level 1. Nutcrackers stand guard, and a pillow promises "Christmas cheer here." From November 18 to December 24, the Jingle Lounge will offer pizza delivery from Frank Pepe's Pizza, and cocktails, along with scheduled activity events.

Jingle Lounge

Jingle Lounge

Jingle Lounge

Mario Lopez

Speaking of events, the mall will start the holiday shopping season with a bang this coming Sunday, November 20, with Mario Lopez hosting a Home for the Holidays Kickoff Concert from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The concert is free, but you are being asked to RSVP online. By RSVPing, you also could win a meet-and-greet with Mario Lopez. Consider making a generous donation when you RSVP, as 100% of the proceeds will go to the Children's National Medical Center, and the Seacrest Studios at CNMC.

Westfield has partnered with CNMC. The company will match donations up to $10,000 during the holiday campaign, so your $10,000 donation would turn into $20,000-worth of benefit for the hospital. Find the concert in the Center Court on Level 1.

If you can't get out of bed for Sunday's concert, keep your pajamas on and head to the mall on Saturday, November 26 for a Holiday Pajama Party with the legendary Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys R Us, which has a shop inside Macy's this holiday season. Take a selfie of yourself in your pajamas and tag @WestfieldMontgomery on social media for a chance to win a $250 gift card from Macy's. RSVP online, and you could win a free children's birthday party performance by Zucchini the Great. The pajama party will be held in the Center Court on Level 1 .

Windsor to reopen today at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Windsor had to close early yesterday at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda "due to unforeseen circumstances," according to a note posted on their storefront. The note did not explain what those circumstances were. It did say that Windsor will reopen this morning at 11:00 AM, and operate until the usual Sunday closing time of 5:00 PM.

See's Candies opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, Lily Pulitzer deals with "maintenance issues"

See's Candies has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The seasonal candy store has a variety of chocolate assortments in gift boxes. There are also Christmas-themed gift bags on display. Look for See's Candies on Level 1 of the mall, next to Journeys.

Lily Pulitzer was temporarily closed at the mall yesterday. According to a sign posted at the store, the closure was due to "maintenance issues." No reopening date was specified on the message.

See's Candies returning to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for the holidays

Black Friday is practically around the corner at this point, and here's another sign. See's Candies is preparing to open its seasonal store again at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. See's just turned 100 last year, and some of their candies still use Mary See's original recipes from 1921. Look for See's this holiday shopping season on Level 1, next to Journeys.

Greek Aroma opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos + Menu)

Greek Aroma is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The Greek and Mediterranean grill restaurant's meats are all halal. See the menu in the photos below. Look for Greek Aroma in the Dining Terrace food court, between Panda Express and J. Chow's.

Lovisa to open boutique at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Lovisa is opening a boutique at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The fast-fashion jewelry brand was founded in Sydney, Australia by billionaire Brett Blundy in 2010. Since then, Lovisa has grown to a chain of over 400 stores worldwide. Lovisa will be on Level 1, next to Journeys, and is now hiring (use the QR code in the picture at bottom to apply).

Vera Bradley closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Vera Bradley has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Their space has been cleared out. Vera Bradley opened here in June 2012. That's an impressive run, but apparently not enough to survive the moribund Montgomery County economy that has claimed so many victims in recent years. 

Assault reported in parking garage at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Tuesday evening, October 18, 2022. The assault was reported in a parking garage at the mall at 6:21 PM. This is the 11th assault reported at the mall since May 18.

Sheepskin Gifts and Alpaca Too opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Sheepskin Gifts and Alpaca Too has returned to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for another winter and holiday shopping season. What is alpaca? According to an explanation on display at the store, "alpaca fiber is warmer, weighs less and is more durable than wool. It is soft like cashmere, but stronger and a highly-natural product. Because alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic, most people [allergic to] wool items can wear alpaca. Alpaca garments...are stain resistant. Precipitation does not readily penetrate an alpaca garment, and they are naturally windproof."

This alpaca apparel from Peru gives a warm feeling, not only against the cold, but also that the holidays are approaching very soon. Look for the alpaca outside their storefront on Level 1, next to Intimissimi.

Under Armour store is "bigger and better" at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Under Armour has moved back to its original spot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The sporting goods store gave up its larger, custom-designed storefront on Level 1 for a few months so it could be remodeled, and moved to a smaller space upstairs. Now it has reopened downstairs again, and the updated store is "bigger and better" than ever before, according to the Baltimore-based retailer.

Socks to Be You opens store at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Socks to Be You has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The sock chain has popped up in malls all over America in the last few years, selling themed and character socks for all ages and nearly all interests. Theme categories currently available include Halloween Socks, Cannabis Socks ("sock" a pair away for Election Night, when Maryland voters are expected to overwhelmingly approve legalization of marijuana in the state), Politics Socks, Outdoor Socks and Mom and Dad Socks. 

All Socks to Be You socks are 80% cotton, "100% odor free," and made with environmentally-sensitive materials. Individual sock pairs include Cookie Monster, Make America Sane Again, Going Country or Going Home and OK Boomer. Look for Socks to Be You on Level 2 of the mall, right across from Auntie Anne's.

Psycho Bunny opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Psycho Bunny has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The New York-based men's apparel brand boasts that it invented the "perfect polo," and then went on to create an expansive line of t-shirts and shorts. Their products have been sold at Nordstrom, but now they have their own store at the mall. Like GAP's team-up with Kanye West, Psycho Bunny often collaborates with celebrities in the art and music fields, including James Goldcrown, Daddy Yankee, Mich Miller, Swims, and Buff Monster.

Aggravated assault with gun at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall Tuesday night, October 4, 2022, after an aggravated assault with a firearm was reported there. The assault was reported at 8:36 PM. This is the 10th assault reported at the mall since May 18. The police department announced it had opened a "resource room" at the mall in August.

The B-12 Store opening Saturday at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The B-12 Store will open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda tomorrow, Saturday, October 1, 2022. Special grand opening promotions will run for the next week at the store, which sells and administers injectable and intravenous vitamins. The store is overseen by a physician who can write prescriptions for the vitamins, and all injections and IVs are adminstered by certified nurses. 

All supplements are manufactured by Legere Pharmaceuticals and Vox Nutrition in an FDA registered outsourcing facility. Look for the B-12 Store on Level 1, next to Haagen-Dazs.