With nearly 200 restaurants, 75 retail stores and living spaces opening up, the downtown area of Bethesda, Maryland known as Downtown Bethesda is evolving into a bustling district.
The city located just outside Washington has grown over the last couple of years. Bethesda has grown in its population since 2010. According to Census data over 8,000 residents have moved to the Bethesda area in the past 10 years.
“My job is to figure out understanding what the mix is today if there’s an interest in retail and ground up new development,” said Vanessa Mendoza, who serves as the director of leasing for Bethesda Row, a mixed-use development area located at the intersection of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road. Within the row, there are numerous restaurants, shops and living spaces that have been added to the area.
Most recently. Nike opened up its store in Downtown Bethesda on May 25. Making this its fifth location in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.
“There’s a lot of exciting brands down at Bethesda Row and I think it attracts people here to shop and if they’re here shopping hopefully they’ll go to another shop hopefully they’ll learn about an arts and entertainment venue that we have,” said Stephanie Coppula, who is the director of marketing and communications for Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc., which is an organization that controls the marketing and operations of Downtown Bethesda.
“We introduced Bethesda Bucks, we have about 60 participants so it’s a great way to promote the community and it’s accepted at a bunch of our restaurants and shops,” said Coppula.
Bethesda Bucks was introduced in June 2020 and is the official e-card of Downtown Bethesda. This initiative started during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to BUP’s website, this was created to help local businesses get the support they need during that time.
“I had no idea it would develop to this extent,” said Estelle Abraham
Abraham,95,is a longtime Bethesda resident. She remembers when Downtown Bethesda was just called Bethesda.
“People move here now for the convenience,” said Abraham.
Last summer, Marriott International, Inc. opened up its new location on 7750 Wisconsin Ave., making this space its corporate headquarters. This is one of the many businesses here in the downtown area that has opened in the past year.
According to Montgomery County Parks and Planning, the downtown area has a workforce over 43,000.
The Row is looking forward to adding three stores in the next three months which include: Vouri, Veronica Beard and Reformation.
“I grew up here,” said Mendoza. “To me you have a really great neighborhood where people want to spend time.”
According to the BUP website, there are seven new projects being built in Bethesda and over 30 living spaces that are currently open in the downtown area.
The area has also kept its outside displays that have been put in place since COVID.
“There’s lots of events here, restaurants shops and arts and entertainment activities,” said Coppula.
Bethesda Steetery was created in June 2020, as a way to bring the community together outdoors. During the summer, there is a concert series where musicians from all over the area come to perform.
There is something for everyone in downtown Bethesda.
“You have a facial place, botox place, a mani-pedi place, a vegan restaurant that has great cocktails,”said Mendoza. “An Equinox and a SoulCycle.”
Over the past couple of years downtown Bethesda has transformed into a town that is full of so many new spaces popping up right outside of the D.C. area.
“I think a lot of people move here for convenience,” said Abraham. “There’s metro, the YMCA., and people are working.”