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.

Fangyan opening store at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Fangyan has leased a space at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Signage has been installed outside the storefront. Fangyan is a Gaithersburg-based importer of emerging Chinese fashion labels now moving into bricks-and-mortar stores. Its first store was opened on M Street in the District.

Sayki opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Sayki has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The boutique features fine menswear and accessories from Turkey. This is Sayki's sixth U.S. location. Look for Sayki on Level 1 in the former Michael Kors space. 

Turkish menswear label Sayki opening store at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Sayki, an upscale menswear brand, has leased a space at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The company was founded in Turkey in 1924. A third generation of ownership decided to launch bricks-and-mortar stores in the United States in 2016, beginning with a shop on Madison Avenue in New York City. 

This will be their sixth American location, joining boutiques in New York, New Jersey and Ilinois. Sayki will be in the space just vacated by Michael Kors on Level 1. Merchandise is in place, so expect the store to open very soon.

Lazzaro's Authentic Italian Deli, A Beautiful Closet, De Clichy open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Three new businesses have opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Lazzaro's Authentic Italian Deli has replaced the recently-closed Big Al's Subs and Soups in the Dining Terrace food court. This was an overnight conversion of the Big Al's stall without any additonal construction. Lazzaro's has no website, no Facebook page, or any other social media presence that I can find.

On the fashion front, two new boutiques have opened. A Beautiful Closet is on Level 2 next to California Pizza Kitchen. De Clichy menswear is also on Level 2, next to LensCrafters.

A Beautiful Closet

A Beautiful Closet

De Clichy menswear

J.Crew Factory "coming soon" to Rockville (Photos)

Classic American apparel brand J.Crew will soon have a bricks-and-mortar presence on Rockville Pike. J.Crew Factory is "coming soon" to Congressional Plaza, according to signage posted in its future storefront. Like many apparel and department store outlet sub-brands, J.Crew Factory is offering the styles the primary brand is known for at discount prices. The store is currently hiring for all positions.

De Clichy menswear shop to open at Montgomery Mall

De Clichy menswear shop is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The store will specialize in men's slim fit, modern fit, casual and formal suits; blazers, tuxedos, shirts, pants, shoes, and other men's fashion accessories. De Clichy has an existing store in Hyattsville. When it opens, look for De Clichy on Level 2 of the mall, next to Chocolate Moonshine.

Burlington sets opening date for Rockville store (Photos)

It's been over a year since I broke the story that Burlington (a.k.a. Burlington Coat Factory) would be opening a store at the Montrose Crossing shopping center on Rockville Pike. Construction is now underway on the interior, which used to be part of Barnes & Noble (now up the Pike at Congressional Plaza). Burlington says this store will open on April 22, 2022.

The permanent sign has been installed on the facade of the store. Barnes & Noble's escalators are still in place beyond the main entrance, which has boards over it. The rest of the bookstore's former space is now occupied by Home Depot Design Center.

Burlington's stores have been steadliy shrinking since it reported a mammoth 78,000 square foot average size in a 2015 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. By last year, the average size of its new stores was half that. Despite its space being two stories, the Montrose Crossing Burlington may be one of the chain's smallest yet, at only 33,948 square feet.

Aerie coming to Montgomery Mall

Aerie, a sub-brand of American Eagle Outfitters, is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The apparel retailer carries women's intimate apparel, activewear, leggings, and swimsuits. Soft fabrics are a trademark of the chain. Aerie is opening this summer, and will be located on Level 1.