Arhaus to open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Arhaus will soon open a Bethesda location at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Construction of the furniture store is already underway inside their generously-sized showroom space on Level 1, as you can see below. Arhaus was founded in 1986, and specializes in heirloom-quality furnishings made from materials like wicker, aluminum, and teak. The company supports an exhaustive range of causes and organizations, from environmental sustainability to LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. In 2021, it opened a manufacturing and distribution facility in North Carolina to demonstrate its commitment to another goal, bringing back currently-offshored jobs to the United States.

Tara Thai closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tara Thai has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Signage has been removed from the exterior of the restaurant. This ends a long run in Bethesda by the local Thai chain, which was at Bethesda Row until 2015, when it relocated to the mall. Tara Thai's Rio location in Gaithersburg has also closed. The only good news is that this opens up a fairly large restaurant space at the mall for a new tenant. Which restaurant chain would you like to see here?

T-Mobile reopens at Montgomery Mall after renovations

T-Mobile has reopened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda after a store remodeling. The wireless provider is in the process of defining four types of stores, and creating cosmetic design cues that provide "visual distinction for customers to know what type of store they’re visiting to meet their needs," T-Mobile Consumer Group President Jon Freier said in January. Look for the "new and improved" T-Mobile on Level 1 in the Old Navy wing of the mall.

N'SYNC, 98 Degrees, LFO, O-Town members to perform at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda April 1

Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will transport you back to the golden age of Y2K on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Members of the boy bands that ruled the charts at the dawn of this century will converge on Level 1 of the Nordstrom wing at 1:00 PM that afternoon for a live concert. Hosted by N'SYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick and 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons, the Y2k Pink Party concert will include live performances by LFO and O-Town. The concert is free, but if you RSVP online and agree to receive promotional emails from the mall, you will be entered to win a meet-and-greet with the boy band stars.

Between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM on that day, before and after the concert, a DJ will be playing so many records from the Y2K era that you'll feel like you're outside the MTV studios screaming, "Bring me up, Carson!!" A pop-up biergarten will take over the Blossom Lounge near the Lego Store, serving Lone Oak Brewery's Sandbar Tropical Hazy IPA, The MoCo Show MoCo Lite Lager, and Rose Hard Seltzer. The mall is encouraging you to wear pink to the concert.

The mall's Center Court will be set up to accept donations of Spring and Summer clothing, which will earn you coupons for mall restaurants. Donate your old jeans, and American Eagle will turn them into insulation for homes - and give you a coupon for $10-off a new pair. 

Montgomery Mall will be counting down to the concert all this month, with the Cherry Blossom-themed Blossomfest. Find Instagram-ready flower displays for your selfie backdrops in the Nordstrom wing during March, courtesy of Edge Flowers. The Blossom Lounge near the Lego Store will feature displays of pink flowers designed by the region’s premier creative props firm, Brightly Ever After, along with white leather seating. Enjoy free, live jazz music every Friday from March 17 to April 14 from 5:00 - 7:30 PM. Treats from Adonni’s Desserts will be available for purchase.

A female artist showcase will include the mall's new mural, Carpe Diem, by local artist Nicole Bourgea on Level 2, and displays of works by Maggie O'Neill and Cris Logan throughout the mall. Kids will enjoy playing in the cherry blossom-themed playhouses designed by Brightly Ever After.

The April 1 concert won't be Bethesda's first direct connection with N'SYNC, LFO and O-Town. That involved Bethesda company Dynasty Construction, the now-demolished Westwood Center II mini-mall, and a missing sum of $775,000. The true story is no April Fool's joke.

Swarovski moves, Sheepskin moves out, 2 the 9s signs in at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

The great post-holiday musical chairs game is fully underway at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Seasonal shop Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too has moved out of its space on Level 1. The store has become as much of a holiday tradition at the mall as Santa Claus. We're very likely to see them once again this fall, when the crisp air conjures thoughts of Black Friday at the mall.

Swarovski

Meanwhile, on Level 2, Swarovski has moved out of its existing space, and is headed to its new home next to UNTUCKit on the same floor. Lastly, fashion boutique 2 the 9s now has a sign installed. It appears to be just a banner, not a permanent, light-up sign.

Swarovski

2 the 9s

2 the 9s

2 the 9s

Lush temporarily closed at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Lush is temporarily closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cruelty-free cosmetics boutique is in the process of relocating inside the mall, according to a sign posted on the door. It seems like another round of post-holiday-season musical chairs is underway at the mall. Swarovski is among the tenants swapping spaces.

2 the 9s boutique to replace Stuart Weitzman at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

2 the 9s is opening soon at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The fashion boutique will fill the recently-vacated Stuart Weitzman space on Level 2. Window shoppers are already getting a look at some of the styles that will be on sale when it opens. There doesn't appear to be any information or social media pages for the boutique online yet.

Swarovski to open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Prepare to "rediscover the wonder of crystal." Swarovski is opening soon at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Apparently, Minte has closed, and the Austrian glass jewelry and decor giant is going to replace it. Look for Swarovski when it opens on Level 2 between UNTUCKit and the new mural.

Signage installed at Jolly Yolly in Bethesda

The permanent sign is up at Jolly Yolly Kids at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. An indoor gym, playground and learning center for children, Jolly Yolly can also host birthday parties. Look for Jolly Yolly on Level 1 next to The Cheesecake Factory, in the Old Navy wing of the mall.

Public art installation complete at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

"Carpe Diem," the new public art installation at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. is now complete. Local artist Nicole Bourgea painted the mural, one of many she has been commissioned to create in the region. Get a close up view of the mural yourself on Level 2, outside of Minte.

Kay Jewelers "temporarily closed" at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kay Jewelers is "temporarily closed" at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, according to a sign posted on the shuttered entrance to the store. The ubiquitous mall jeweler being closed is like a Cinnabon or Auntie Anne's being closed at your local mall - all is not right with the world. No reason for the closure is stated on the sign, and no reopening date is given. It invites customers to shop their website in the meantime.

Stuart Weitzman closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The long and painful death of Stuart Weitzman at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has mercifully come to an end. Its space on Level 2 was cleared out and stripped of signage yesterday. Customers - or potential customers - of the upscale shoe boutique often found the store closed during its stated business hours starting in December. Bizarre indeed, as this was at height of the holiday shopping season. So, while this is a stunning development, it's not much of a surprise to regular readers of this website.

One reader commented, as the often-reduced hours of the store continued last month, that there were staffing issues there. Stuart Weitzman opened exactly ten years ago at the mall. This was a coup for Westfield at the time, as you might have expected a brand like this to land at Bethesda Row. Perhaps it was a ten-year lease, and the chain decided to stick it out to the end, rather than close last month. Regardless, it was a very solid run in the very business-unfriendly climate of Montgomery County, and those who managed and worked at this store over the last decade can certainly be proud of that.

Purse snatched at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a purse-snatching at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda last Friday night, January 20, 2023. The theft was reported at 8:00 PM in a department store at the mall.

Montgomery Mall Lunar New Year celebration starts today (Photos)

Celebrate the start of the Year of the Rabbit at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, starting today, Sunday, January 22, 2023, and again next Sunday, January 29. As you can see, the mall is already decorated inside. Today and next Sunday, enjoy a traditional dragon dance, performances and exhibits from 2:00-4:00 PM on Level 1 in the Nordstrom wing. As a bonus, save 15% both days on the latest in high fashion from China at Fangyan.

Sameday Health closes; T-Mobile, Everything But Water temporarily close at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Three businesses have closed their doors at Westfield Montgomery Mall this week, but only one is permanent. Sameday Health has cleared out its space. The COVID-19, flu, strep and STD-testing clinic appears to have consolidated its Bethesda operations at its 5826 Nicholson Lane location in White Flint. 

T-Mobile and Everything But Water have temporarily closed for renovations. T-Mobile has been rolling out a new store-interior design that some have compared to the Apple Store. Everything But Water promises it will "reopen with a splash" in late February. T-Mobile has not set a reopening date yet.

2nd assault in 2 days at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to the second assault in as many days at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on Friday afternoon, January 13, 2023. A 2nd-degree assault was reported at the mall at 5:30 PM on Friday. This was the 14th assault reported at the mall since May 18, 2022, and the second of 2023.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall at lunchtime yesterday, January 12, 2023. The assault, which involved a weapon that was not a firearm, was reported at the mall at 12:00 PM Thursday. This was the 13th assault reported at the mall since May 18, 2022, but the first of 2023.

Construction wall comes down at Lovisa at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The construction wall has come down at Lovisa at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A sign outside advertises free piercing services. The Australian jewelry boutique should be opening soon, as through the curtains merchandise can be seen on the display cases and shelves. Lovisa will be on Level 1, next to Journeys.

Currency Exchange experiencing staffing shortages at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The Currency Exchange kiosk at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will be closed today, Thursday, January 12, 2023, due to a shortage of staff. They are hoping to reopen at 11:00 AM tomorrow for normal business hours. You may want to call the mall's main number (301-469-6000) before going, if you are only going there to exchange currency.

New mural by local artist at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Westfield Montgomery Mall is adding public art to its indoor space. "Carpe Diem," a mural by local artist Nicole Bourgea, was in the process of being painted last night. It features two local symbols, the cherry blossom tree and the red-tailed hawk. The short bloom cycle of the cherry blossom and the lightning-fast, snatching attack of the predator hawk reflect the title of the work. Find out more about the artist on her website, and find the mural on Level 2, next to Minte.