The Grove, Apricot Lane open at Cabin John Village in Potomac, Indigo Physiotherapy coming soon

The Grove and Apricot Lane have opened at Cabin John Village in Potomac. Cuisine at The Grove has shifted from the earlier plans for a Belgian concept to Mediterranean dishes of Spain, Italy and Greece. Chef Jose Lopez-Picazo is at the helm for the latest dining addition to the shopping center, which is located at 11325 Seven Locks Road.

Apricot Lane offers a curated selection of women's apparel. Brands include AG Denim, Boys Lie and Free People. Apricot Lane is located at 7951 Tuckerman Lane. Also coming soon to the center is Indigo Physiotherapy, offering physical therapy and massage services. When it opens, look for it at 7735 Tuckerman Lane.

Calzedonia opening soon at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Calzedonia is opening soon at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Italian brand specializes in legwear, swimwear and socks. Calzedonia also owns Intimissimi, a lingerie brand that also has a boutique at the mall. When Calzedonia opens, look for it on Level 1, between Talbots and Sunglass Hut.

New location, new name for Melashops at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

After a two-week delay, Melashops has opened in its new location at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It also has a new name - - just Mela, dropping the "shops." It's been a busy year for Mela, moving downcounty from its original Lakeforest Mall location in April, and now this relocation. Look for Mela on Level 1, across from Forever 21.

Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too returning for the holidays at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

If you believe the Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year, the annual arrival of Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too is a welcome sign that the holidays are just around the corner. What is alpaca? According to an explanation from the company, "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." The seasonal pop-up is fully-stocked and ready to open any minute. Unleash the alpacas! Look for Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too on Level 1 of the mall.

Melashops to relocate next month at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Melashops just can't settle down. The store made a big move downcounty from Lakeforest Mall in April to this space across from Urban Outfitters on Level 1 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Now Melashops will make another move October 1, but one measured in yards rather than miles this time. It will fill the space vacated by Mulier across from Forever 21, also on Level 1. Melashops fills a unique niche in Montgomery County fashion retail, carrying apparel, jewelry, and accessories from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Afghanistan, and more.

Mulier opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Mulier is now open in a new spot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Named for the Latin word for "woman," the apparel boutique with several area locations has long touted its concept of everything in the store being $8.99 or less. Alas, America's high inflation has hit Mulier, and a sign outside the new store promises everything is now $9.99 or less. It helps if you ignore the smaller sign that notes "some products excluded." Look for Mulier on Level 1 of the mall, next to Luggage Plus.

Apricot Lane Boutique opening soon at Cabin John Village in Potomac

The empty storefronts on the new retail street at Cabin John Village in Potomac are steadily starting to fill up. Apricot Lane Boutique is the latest to sign a lease, continuing a recent women's apparel boutique trend here, following the additions of Ron David Studio and Jurisdiction. It's a national brand, but each franchisee hand picks their own fashions, so we won't know what to expect style-wise until it opens. When it does, look for it across from ReWild.

American Eagle temporarily relocates at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

American Eagle has temporarily relocated at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The apparel retailer is now open in a temporary space on Level 2 outside of Macy's Home. Their permanent location is undergoing renovations, and will be closed during that time. 

Coincidentally, American Eagle has just sued Westfield to get out of its lease at San Francisco Centre Mall in California. The chain blames Westfield for letting safety conditions at that mall to "deteriorate into disarray" in its legal filing. "American Eagle, which has a shop in the mall, said that Westfield breached its lease agreement and its neglect of common areas in the mall led American Eagle employees to 'suffer and respond to gun violence, physical assaults, burglaries, and robberies,'" CNN reports. Of course, that's not exactly accurate, as San Francisco is experiencing these problems on a larger scale beyond just that mall over the last few years.

American Eagle is also trying to get out of its lease at Spinoso's Northlake Mall in North Carolina, according to WSOC-TV. It has countersued that mall operator as one of five tenants who have announced their intention to leave the property. "Spinoso allowed the shopping center - Northlake Mall - to deteriorate into an atmosphere reminiscent of a warzone, replete with violent criminals, multiple shootings, terrorized tenants and customers, and diminished business. The lawsuit claims the Apple store moved out of the mall after three shootings," WSOC reports. 

Jurisdiction boutique opening soon at Cabin John Village in Potomac

Jurisdiction, a women's apparel boutique, is opening soon at Cabin John Village in Potomac. Owner Jessica Markham started the business online, and is now moving into a permanent bricks-and-mortar location here, after searching for the ideal location for several months. Jurisdiction specializes in "fun, diverse and accessible women's casual clothing," according to its website. The company notes that the store will carry Black-owned, woman-owned, and Native American-owned apparel among its inventory, and that its staff will undergo diversity and inclusion training, and will be active in seeking volunteer opportunities in the community.

Pop-up fashion boutique opening at Cabin John Village in Potomac

A fashion boutique is moving into the storefront next to ReWild at Cabin John Village in Potomac. This is on the side street located to the left of the building where Giant is. Clothes are on racks with wheels, and two temporary changing rooms have been set up off to one side, so it appears to be a pop-up shop.

Anya by Vivien relocates at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Anya by Vivien has made the move at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Afro-European-inspired gown boutique has vacated its Level 2 space, which is now walled off in preparation for a new tenant. A sign posted there directs customers to the new location, right outside of Nordstrom on Level 1. Anya by Vivien has been open at the mall since November 2021.

Anya by Vivien relocating at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The latest player in the game of musical chairs at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda is the Anya by Vivien boutique. In July 2023, it will be relocating from its Level 2 location down to Level 1, outside of Nordstrom. Anya by Vivien is a bridal and couture gown boutique. The small business was founded a decade ago. Designer Vivien Agbakoba creates formal gowns inspired by her Nigerian heritage, Western asymmetry, and European couture, and her designs have been worn by local celebrities on area and national television, such as The Real Housewives of Potomac.

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."

Le Bonday boutique to open at Congressional Plaza in Rockville

Le Bonday, a luxury retail and resale boutique, is taking over the recently-vacated Loyal Companion space at 1643-A Rockville Pike, in the Congressional Plaza shopping center. The owner currently operates the Bonday store down the pike at Federal Plaza. Le Bonday promises "luxury shopping without the luxury price tag," with labels including Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Versace, and Louis Vuitton. The boutique is scheduled to open on May 10, 2023.

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.

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.

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.

Papaya opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Papaya has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The women's boutique chain specializes in fashions for the teenage or petite customer. Prices are kept low by eliminating the middleman; all apparel and accessories are shipped straight to Papaya from the manufacturers themselves. The company has 79 locations nationwide. Look for Papaya on Level 2, next to AT&T.

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.