FOOD:

    Rosa Mexicano opened on Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights in late January. The space has been completely remodeled in a high-concept manner, and the restaurant offers upscale Mexican cuisine.  There are several rooms, including a private dining room, an enclosed patio, a bar, at which the full menu is available......and more.  Artwork features a waterwall with many miniature sculptures of "divers."  Columns are covered with glossy ceramic tiles, and the music is subtle.  Valet service is available.

To read more about the company, visit  http://www.rosamexicano.com/Locations/WashingtonDCChevyChase/tabid/357/Default.aspx  

     Haven Pizzaria Napoletana is preparing to open at 7137 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda in the late spring. The site, which is next to the Montgomery Farm Women’s Co-op, is being completely renovated. The pizza will be baked in ovens fired by anthracite coal, which produces a very crispy crust with a unique ‘char’ flavor.” 

To read more about the company, visit http://www.havenpizzeria.com  

    The Chevy Chase Pavilion will welcome a new restaurant named Range this Fall. Range will feature steaks and will have a bakery and wine shop. There will be an open kitchen and 220 seats for diners. Range will be owned by celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio, who was runner-up to his brother on television’s Top Chef series. Chef Voltaggio is the co-owner of the popular Volt restaurant in Frederick, Maryland.

REDEVELOPMENT:  

             In addition to the planned arrival of a major new restaurant at the Chevy Chase Pavilion, other changes are expected.   Closure of the Pottery Barn in January opened up another valuable space  - on two levels.  There are also highly-desirable spaces available for lease elsewhere in the Pavilion, and the owner has the option of changing the retail mix and even the architecture.  The Pavilion was ranked the fourth most valuable commercial property in Washington last year. 

    News of the pending closure of Bloomingdales at White Flint Mall surprised a great many residents of the area.    However, the change was somewhat inevitable, as the entire mall is slated for redevelopment as a mixed-use property.   Elsewhere, both Bloomingdales and Target have been considered as possible new tenants of Georgetown Park, the large shopping mall at Wisconsin Avenue and M Street.   Georgetown Park has been seeking new anchor stores.

     Talks are proceeding on plans to rebuild the Safeway food store in Tenleytown.  The store, which is just off Wisconsin Avenue, is dated, and some observers consider the site to be under-used.  There are proposals to build a new food store, with residences attached.  A similar plan is moving forward at Cathedral Commons on Wisconsin Avenue near Washington National Cathedral.  The Commons will include a new Giant food store, plus residences and retail. 

RETAIL: 

    Mervis Diamond Importers closed their shop in Chevy Chase in January. The shop was on the street level of Highland House apartments. The company continues to operate shops elsewhere in DC and Maryland.

RESIDENTIAL:  

    It was reported in January that the Irene of Chevy Chase Apartments in Friendship Heights had been sold to a Chicago company. The 500-unit rental complex was built by the late Abe Pollin, whose other projects included Verizon Center in downtown DC. The classic Irene features a uniformed doorman, an elegant lobby, a rooftop sports complex with two swimming pools, a rooftop tennis court, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, reserved garage parking, a courtesy van to the Metro/shopping - and more.

TRANSPORTATION:

    Montgomery County residents have new taxicab services available after years of a near-monopoly of the services.  Green Taxis and Orange Taxis are often available now at area taxi stands.  RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation, which operates the Orange Taxis, has a fleet comprised of fuel-efficient sedans, SUVs, limousine, vans and buses.  The company was initially issued 14 licenses from Montgomery County, and that number may increase after service reviews.  RMA reportedly places an emphasis on high-quality service.  

    The Chevy Chase Land Company has agreed to provide space on their property in Chevy Chase for Captial Bikeshare to use as part of their planned initiative in Montgomery County. Participants could borrow and return to designated spaces.