Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too has cleared out of its space on Level 1 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The pop-up apparel store has completed yet another Christmas shopping season at the mall, and will very likely return once again this fall, and we'll know the holidays are imminent when it does. They had a nicer spot this time, occupying the former Tesla space, and some of Elon's custom fit-out design elements remain visible. What appears to be part of a stuffed display alpaca could be seen sticking out of a shipping box inside the empty store, but I've been assured that no alpacas were harmed in the making of this exit from the mall.

Lucky Strike closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

OOF! The hits just keep on coming for the already-moribund Montgomery County economy this morning. Lucky Strike has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, leaving a huge vacant space behind at the popular shopping, dining, and entertainment center. In a related move, Lucky Strike parent company Bowlero announced that its Westbard Square location at 5353 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda is being rebranded as "Lucky Strike Bethesda." The future of the Westbard location is not on solid ground, though, as its lease expires in 2027, and it will be up to Bowlero and landlord Regency Centers to agree on an extension or new lease on a site that previous Westbard developer Equity One had planned to erect a mixed-use building on.

One needs a cheat sheet to keep track of the numerous brand names the venerable Westbard bowling alley has operated under in its five decades in business. Strike Bethesda! Bowlmor! Bowlero! But for longtime residents, 5353 Westbard will always be Bowl America, where thousands cheer. And where thousands ate the best hot dog in Bethesda, and real men pumped quarters into real arcade games while wearing rented shoes several years past their recommended replacement date.

Interestingly, but predictably, Lucky Strike at Montgomery Mall is our second victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy and virulently anti-business policies of the County Council this morning. Lucky Strike is not closing other locations around the country, just Bethesda. Here in MoCo, it faced the same perfect storm that has sunk many a business vessel in recent years, including government-mandated high minimum wages, the highest tax and fee burden in the region, and the requirement to buy all of its alcoholic beverages from the County government liquor sales monopoly.

With the average income of the County trending downward, as the wealthy depart and are replaced by low-income residents who are the majority of the inflow population, there was also the obstacle that fewer and fewer were left who could afford a pricey night out at an upscale bowling alley. Even one that looked like it had taken possession of the den bookshelves of George Plimpton's 541 East 72nd Street duplex. But thanks to the County cartel gaining control of the Council in 2002, a rapidly-dwindling number of Montgomery County residents in 2026 could even tell you who George Plimpton was. 

Heckuva job, Brownie!

Kiehl's closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kiehl's has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The windows of the skincare boutique are blacked out but cardboard packing boxes could be seen inside last evening. Westfield has removed the store from the Montgomery Mall website. Kiehl's was a tenant of the mall for just over eleven years, having opened its doors in December 2014.

The boutique appears to be the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy, and the virulently anti-business policies of the County Council. Kiehl's is not closing stores elsewhere in the United States, and I've seen no reports of the company being in financial distress. In fact, Kiehl's just opened a new store in the more vibrant Washington, D.C., in a ravishing return to the elite Georgetown neighborhood. 

We're in real trouble, folks, especially when you look at the structural budget deficits of Montgomery County and Maryland. Hard to believe, but D.C.'s lower tax and fee burden is attracting many businesses and Montgomery County expats to the District of Columbia. Meanwhile, MoCo leaders continue to ensure Montgomery County has the highest overall tax and fee burden in the region. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Rockville distillery contents to be auctioned off

Twin Valley Distillers has closed at 1029 E. Gude Drive in Rockville. The contents of the business will be auctioned off later this month. That auction will begin to close on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Equipment up for grabs includes a beer filling machine, tanks, fermenters, a still with sight glasses, a hot liquor tank, a kegerator, and wooden barrels. To see the full item selection, and to place bids online, check out the auction listing. Recent times have been devastating to adult beverage production operations in Rockville, with the demise of Twin Valley and True Respite.

Socks to Be You, Native Arts close at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Two recent additions to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda have closed. Socks to Be You and Native Arts were seasonal pop-ups, and have departed to possibly return next year. The socks retailer has been a perennial tenant since at least 2022. I thought socks and native arts were year-round things, though.

See's Candies closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Lucky gift recipients have barely opened their See's Candies boxes, and the candymaker has already departed Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. They seem to close their seasonal holiday store earlier each year, and it doesn't get much earlier than Boxing Day. The curtain has fallen at See's Candies - literally, as you can see below - but the beloved California candy brand will almost certainly be back for the 2026 holiday season.

Roy Rogers closes in Rockville (Photos)

Devastating news from Rockville Pike: Roy Rogers has permanently closed at 718 Rockville Pike in Rockville. It seemed like Roy Rogers had just returned to Montgomery County, and now it is retreating before even opening a location in every town in MoCo. There's no question the lack of a drive-thru was a very poorly thought out plan, when drive-thrus account for over 70% of sales at fast food restaurants, and it certainly significantly reduced the number of times I did business there. But if they can't make it on Rockville Pike, it raises serious questions about the brand's future. Customers are being redirected to the Lost Knife Road location, one of the highest-crime streets in the County, and definitely not "nearby."

Buffalo Wild Wings closes in Rockville

The lights are on, but nobody's home. While the signs are lit outside of Buffalo Wild Wings at 33-C Maryland Avenue at the Square at Rockville, prospective diners pulling the front door handles were dismayed to find the restaurant has permanently closed. The nearest alternative location is Buffalo Wild Wings GO at 16256 Frederick Road at the Rock Grove shopping center. The departure of B Dubs leaves a sizable space vacant at The Square - I'm casting my early vote for Olive Garden. And Texas Roadhouse for the "half smoke coming soon" vacancy across the street.

Marble Slab Creamery closes in Rockville (Photos)

Marble Slab Creamery has closed at 100 Gibbs Street at The Square in Rockville. The closure is permanent, according to a sign posted at the ice cream parlor. Marble Slab opened here in 2011, so they had quite a successful run, especially for the Town Center area. Another vacant storefront.

Menu screens removed at closed Donutchew at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

A quick update on the closure of Donutchew at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda: The mochi donut shop at the edge of the Dining Terrace food court remained closed Saturday. Another sign that the closure appears permanent is the removal of the menu screens from the stall, which were gone as of last evening. Who will fill the donut vacuum at Montgomery Mall?

Donutchew closed at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Donutchew was closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall during business hours last night. Their stall at the end of the Dining Terrace food court appeared to have been cleared out. The mochi donut shop has relocated in the mall once before, from a kiosk to this spot, but no signage or message was posted with any information for customers Thursday evening. Donutchew first opened at Montgomery Mall in November 2023.

Fashion Q closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Fashion Q has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Their space has been totally cleared out inside. The Los Angeles-based fashion wholesaler lasted less than a year at the mall after its November 2024 opening, despite its trademark super low prices. Fashion Q is the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy.

IT'SUGAR closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

IT'SUGAR has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The candy store's windows have been covered, and signage has been removed from above the entrance. Montgomery County's moribund economy and the County Council's anti-business policies, have turned the shop's sweet profit margin sour. Heckuva job, Brownie! IT'SUGAR's Rockville location closed several years ago.

In contrast to the closures here, IT'SUGAR is currently in a major expansion mode elsewhere, opening "15 to 20 stores a year," according to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce article touting the chain's success. Openings so far in 2025 include Poughkeepsie and Middletown in New York; Salem, New Hampshire; Mercedes, Texas; and Braintree, Massachusetts. Something for the County Council to ponder: what are we doing wrong, that Braintree is doing right?

Miniso closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Miniso has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It turns out that even popular concepts from rapidly-growing companies are not immune to the moribund Montgomery County economy. Miniso's revenue grew 9.1% in mainland China, and 30.3% overseas during the first quarter of this year, the Chinese company announced in May. Employees are boxing up the contents of the store. The anti-business Montgomery County Council never met a slim profit margin it couldn't shrink even further. Heckuva job, Brownie!

GAP closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

GAP has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Strange things have been afoot at the store in recent weeks, namely the store frequently - if not nightly - closing early, and posting a sign stating that it was due to the air-conditioning being out. The floor inventory had also been dwindling. Now the reason for all this is clear, as the clothing chain announced in an email to customers yesterday that "Gap Montgomery Mall has closed." Customers are being directed to the GAP at 11820 Grand Park Avenue at Pike & Rose in Rockville. The Montgomery Mall GAP is the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy, as its parent company's downsizing plan of closing 350 GAP and Banana Republic stores shuttered those locations between 2023 and early 2024, and the Montgomery Mall store was spared the axe in that culling.