Best of Bethesda

Transcription

Best of Bethesda
Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
3
Table of Contents
The City At A Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4
Living in Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Working in Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Playing in Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Arts and Cultural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Shuttle Service and
Parking Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
New Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Questions for Bethesda’s Leaders . . . . . . . . .14
NorthMarq Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
BDO Seidman, LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Did you know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Strike Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Economic Development Contacts and
Area Business Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Meridian Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Paley Rothman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Dave & Buster’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Monument Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
The American Inn of Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . .21
Fidelity & Trust Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Linowes and Blocher LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Federal Realty Investment Trust . . . . . . . . . .22
Bond Beebe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Published by:
9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
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Publisher: Pete Grzybinski
Director of Advertising Sales: Mary McAndrew
Production Coordinator: Lyn Brennan
Layout : John Schmitz
Design : Son Young Lee
This supplement was produced by The Gazette of Politics & Business Advertising Sales Department, in Partnership with
Rockville Economic Development, Inc. Unless otherwise noted, this report was written by Jim Mahaffie,
jmahaffie@mac.com. None of the copy was written by The Gazette of Politics & Business editorial staff.
Photos on cover: Bethesda Row image, Visualization by Interface Multimedia Inc., Courtesy of Federal Realty.
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Special Advertising Supplement
Best of Bethesda
THE CITY AT A GLANCE
Bethesda, Maryland is one of the most well-known and
respected suburban cities in the nation. The city is unincorporated, meaning it has no official boundaries. But it's generally
recognized to be the 13 square miles of land that's bordered
by Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase, Rockville and the Potomac
River.
Bethesda is an extraordinarily wealthy and well-educated
area. The 2000 Census recorded it as the best-educated city in
the nation with a population of 50,000 or more. Along with
neighboring Chevy Chase and Potomac, Maryland, it makes
up one of the wealthiest suburbs in America.
The city is home to several important government institutions. The National Institutes of Health is here, as is the
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Naval Surface
Warfare Center, Carderock Division. The National Naval
Medical Center, commonly referred to as Bethesda Naval
continued on page 5
At every main artery entrance to Bethesda, signs greet visitors and commuters. Designed in the distinctive “Bethesda Red” color, the signs were created by Betheda Urban
Partnership.
Best of Bethesda
The City at a Glance
continued from page 4
Hospital, is also located on Wisconsin Avenue. Adjoining the
hospital to the east is the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences.
Fortune 1000 companies include defense conglomerate
Lockheed Martin, hospitality services giant HMSHost and hotel
and resort chain Marriott International. Located in and around
Bethesda are Geico, Home Team Sports Network and Comsat.
There are four major shopping malls: Chevy Chase Pavilion,
Westfield Montgomery, Mazza Gallerie and White Flint. There
are more than 200 restaurants in the downtown Bethesda
business district. Three Metro stops serve the city along one of
its major commuting arteries, Route 355 and Wisconsin
Avenue.
The two primary high schools, Walt Whitman and
Bethesda-Chevy Chase, are consistently ranked in the top
schools in the country. The list of prestigious private college
prep schools includes the Landon School, the Holton-Arms
School, Georgetown Preparatory School and Stone Ridge
School of the Sacred Heart. Exclusive country clubs include the
Burning Tree Country Club, Bethesda Country Club and
Kenwood Golf and Country Club.
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More than a third of Montgomery County's guest rooms
are available in 11 Bethesda-Chevy Chase area hotels. They
provide 2,363 rooms, plus convention, meeting, and banquet
facilities. The 12-acre National 4-H Youth Conference Center
offers lodging for 630 guests, a 550-seat auditorium and a
conference center.
Downtown Bethesda is managed by the Bethesda Urban
Partnership, Inc. (BUP), a non-profit organization established by
Montgomery County in 1994. With a staff of 35, BUP handles
landscaping and maintenance and promotes the community
through marketing campaigns and large-scale events.
Much of Montgomery County is still countryside. But the
suburban areas are undergoing denser pedestrian-friendly
redevelopment. Bethesda is a good example. Though congestion is always an issue, Bethesda planners are building a community where people are less dependent on their cars. The
vision is for "wonderful walkability," in the words of Bethesda
Urban Partnership's W. David Dabney. This development calls
for mixed-use and high-density development, blending residential and commercial space, utilizing wide sidewalks, landscaping, bike paths and plaza-like spaces and concentrating on
transit options as a focal point.
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LIVING
Ginanne Italiano leads the
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Chamber of Commerce. She
says one of the unique things
about Bethesda is the growth of
new residential housing, with
more than one thousand condominium units coming online in
the last few years alone. What's
Ginanne Italiano
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce driving this housing development is demand: "People work
in and visit Bethesda and soon realize they'd like to live here,
too," says Italiano.
For almost a century, Washington, D.C. workers have lived
in Bethesda, which offers a bedroom community with easy
access to the nation's capital. Housing varies from tiny bungalows and Cape Cods to big colonials and mansions. In the
1970s, Bethesda became what demographic experts call an
"edge city" - a suburban downtown that has sprung up on
the edge of a large metro area offering a mixture of employment, shopping and entertainment. Bethesda is one of many
edge cities in the area, and it is considered one of the most
mature, with a character and infrastructure that lures visitors,
new homebuyers and commercial business.
Besides the thriving restaurants drawing day and evening
crowds, Bethesda is home to two vibrant markets, the
Montgomery Farm Woman's Cooperative Market and the
Bethesda Farmers Market. The downtown area also has 20
flourishing art galleries and six hotels.
Bethesda offers a rare mix of businesses of all sizes, restaurants, services, community amenities and housing. Even so,
development continues, with pedestrian-friendly redevelopment near transit hubs and shopping and commercial centers.
These areas were tagged as the "next frontiers" of
Montgomery County and Maryland state government's Smart
Growth initiatives. Proof of this belief can be seen in the
expansion of Bethesda Row, the office towers around the
Bethesda Metro and new mixed-use development along
Woodmont Avenue.
"This community is going through a lifestyle change," said
BUP's Dabney. "We want it to be a wonderful, walkable
downtown, where you can take the elevator to hundreds of
restaurants, the bank, Giant and Safeway, a free shuttle, live
music and theaters."
Along with office buildings already there, developers today are creating thousands of new townhome and condominium homes in the downtown Bethesda area.
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WORKING
"Bethesda is a great place
to work as it is a social and business hub with lots of entertainment and meeting places," said
Andy Weiss, president of
Meridian Capital Group.
Bethesda is a location of
prestige.
A business in this city is
Andy Weiss
located
among
19 federal govPresident of Meridian Capital Group
ernment agencies that generate
over $3.14 billion annually in contracts for Bethesda- and
Montgomery County-based firms. Bethesda has hundreds of
commercial businesses of all sizes.
An office in Bethesda borders Washington, D.C., with
major commuting arteries, Metro's Red Line and an extensive
bus system serving drivers and employers. Three international
airports are within an hour of the city.
Tony Cord
BDO Seidman CPA Firm
From their Bethesda base,
the BDO Seidman CPA firm's
greater Washington, D.C. Metro
office serves businesses from
Baltimore to Richmond. BDO is
adding bold signage to the top
of 7101 Wisconsin Avenue
where they have signed another
long-term lease, said the firm's
Tony Cord.
Barry Watkins, president
and CEO of Fidelity & Trust
Bank, said, "Fidelity & Trust
began in downtown Bethesda,
which gives us historical and
leading-edge knowledge of one
of our region's most important
and rapidly growing business
communities. Although we've
Barry Watkins
expanded into other areas of
President & CEO of Fidelity & Trust Bank
the metropolitan area, our roots
are here. Our board members are local businesspeople and
leaders, and the bank's management knows and understands
the local business environment. We are growing and improving
continued on page 8
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Best of Bethesda
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continued from page 7
Andrew Goldstein
Linowes and Blocher
PLAYING
all the time by expertly servicing
Bethesda businesses-creating
strong personal and professional
relationships, putting our customers' success and growth at
the top of our priorities, and
having a real investment in this
community that has been so
supportive of us."
When Andrew Goldstein
walks around Bethesda, he sees business success everywhere
he looks. Goldstein is the managing partner of the law firm
Linowes and Blocher, and many of the office and condominium buildings in Bethesda-decades old and currently under construction-owe their groundbreakings to this full-service real
estate and business law firm. The 50-year-old firm moved its
main law office to Bethesda three years ago. "Bethesda has
emerged as the legal and financial center of Montgomery
County," said Goldstein. "Beyond the economic aspects, the
energy and amenities that surround our building enhance our
business and are attractive when recruiting new attorneys."
Glenn M. Cooper
Paley Rothman Principal
great little, big town."
"Bethesda is the play place
and workplace of the locals,"
said Glenn M. Cooper, Esquire, a
Paley Rothman principal and
one of the firm's top litigators
and family law practitioners.
"It's lively and exciting, stimulating and engaging. It carries
much of the urbanity of a big
downtown, but with a sense of
charm and community. It is a
Downtown Bethesda is a destination in and of itself, a
mature community of more than 200 diverse restaurants,
sophisticated home fashion retailers, contemporary art galleries
and celebrated live theater.
The Strike Bowling Alley (www.strikebethesda.com)
moved into the Westwood bowling lanes several years ago
continued on page 9
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continued from page 8
and completely renovated the building. Today they offer highend bowling and events for the entire area. "With so many
dining and entertainment options available to both residents
and visitors to Bethesda, it's absolutely critical that any successful operation delivers a quality product at an attractive price,"
stated Steve Goglia, president & COO of Strike Holdings. "To
be successful, particularly in this market, we have to deliver
that and much, much more. We're proud of the fact that over
the past five years, we have emerged as a major player on the
Montgomery County recreation scene. We truly have the city
of Bethesda to thank for that success."
The State of Maryland designated downtown Bethesda as
an Arts and Entertainment District in 2002. This means that
special tax incentives are in place to benefit artists, arts enterprises and developers. The designation also means that
Bethesda hosts many events that not only showcase area
artists and merchants, but also bring thousands of visitors to
the streets and stores:
- Dance Bethesda - March 2-3
- Bethesda Literary Festival - April 20-22
- Bethesda Fine Arts Festival - May 12-13
- Imagination Bethesda - June 2
Strike Bethesda is a major player in the area’s recreation scene, offering high-end
bowling and an events venue on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda.
- Bethesda Painting Awards - July 6 - July 7
- The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards September 4-28
- Taste of Bethesda - October 6
- Winter Wonderland - December 9
Along with these events, the city hosts the Bethesda Art
Walk, Artist Market, "Play In A Day," Summer Concert Series
and Outdoor Movies. Bethesda is also the home of
Imagination Stage and the Round House Theatre.
continued on page 10
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Best of Bethesda
continued from page 9
ARTS & CULTURAL
RESOURCES
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
801 Ellsworth Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 565-3805
www.creativemoco.com
Numerous outdoor events attract crowds to the downtown area, such as the annual
art walks and fine arts festivals.
The greater Metro area's largest independent film movie
theater, Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema, shows first-run
independent films, foreign films, restored classics and other
non-traditional studio fare on eight screens.
Bethesda offers plenty of recreation including the C&O
Canal National Historic Park, Glen Echo Park and Rock Creek
Regional Park. The Capital Crescent Trail offers an outlet for
hiking and biking and follows the old tracks of the B&O
Railroad from Georgetown to Silver Spring, running right
through downtown Bethesda. Thousands of cyclists, joggers,
in-line skaters and walkers use the trail every week, and several
of Washington, D.C.'s running and cycling road races start and
end in Bethesda. There are several public swimming pools,
skating rinks and public and private golf courses nearby and
playing fields spread around the city.
Dance Bethesda is held every march, attracting many different kids of dance acts
from around the region.
Imagination Stage (formerly Bethesda Academy of
Performing Arts)
4908 Auburn Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 961-6060
www.imaginationstage.org
Round House Theatre
P.O. Box 30688
East-West Highway at Waverly Street
Bethesda, MD 20824-0688
(240) 644-1099
www.round-house.org
Strathmore Hall Arts Center
10701 Rockville Pike
N. Bethesda, MD 20852
(301) 530-0540
www.strathmore.org
Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
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SHUTTLE SERVICE
The Bethesda Circulator is a free shuttle service run
by the Bethesda Urban Partnership. The Circulator has a
total of 20 stops, including the Bethesda Metro station,
and it runs every eight minutes. The system operates
from 7 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and until 2 a.m.
on weekends, with no service on Sundays. The
Circulator offers brand new trolleys painted in
Bethesda's distinctive red color.
PARKING IMPROVEMENTS
In 2006, Bethesda completed a total renovation of
Public Parking Garage 11 at Woodmont Avenue and
Old Georgetown Road. The public garage features new
flooring, elevators, stairs, electrical and plumbing systems and parking control equipment. More parking is
coming with new development in the future.
Bethesda Row is home to street-level retail stores
along Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues. It draws shoppers and diners from all over the metro area. Rockvillebased Federal Realty Investment Trust led the development, building brick sidewalks, trees, fountains, plazas
and outdoor seating. Tenants include a mix of local,
regional and national retailers and restaurants, including
a Barnes & Noble. Sidewalk café seating is right next to
the public sidewalks and storefronts, and curbside parking creates a buffer between street traffic and diners.
There's a 1,000-space, County-built public parking
garage in the middle of the development, easily accessible from all merchants and restaurants. Bethesda Row
has 230,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space,
plus 110,000 square feet of office space above it, with
more coming soon.
Rendering of the new addition to Bethesda Row, now under construction on the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road. Visualization by Interface Multimedia
Inc., Courtesy of Federal Realty.
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Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
NEW DEVELOPMENT
Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a new condominium of 158 homes currently
under construction at Woodmont Avenue and Old
Georgetown Road, in the former location of the Woodmont
Corner shopping center. It was developed by Duball
Woodmont, LLC and will also offer street level retail businesses. The Lionsgate Sales Center is located at the corner of Old
Georgetown Road and Edgemoor Lane on the Plaza Level at
7500 Old Georgetown Road. (www.lionsgatebethesda.com)
Adagio
Located at Wisconsin Avenue and Bradley Boulevard, the
Adagio's views of the Washington National Cathedral and two
country clubs assisted in the quick sale of 92 loft-style condominium units. (www.adagiobethesda.com)
Arlington East & Festival Way
Arlington East is a mixed-use project being built now at
the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road. It is the
old location of the Giant Food store, which has since moved
across Arlington Road. The site is becoming a mixed-use project of 43,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, with
460 new parking spaces and 180 luxury apartments. Festival
Way, a meeting place for outdoor dining and events, will be
developed between Elm Street and Bethesda Avenue. Federal
Realty Investment Trust leads the project.
Trillium
This set of three luxury condominium buildings is planned
continued on page 13
Rendering of the new mixed-use buildings to be constructed at Lot 31, the municipal parking lot that borders the Capital Crescent Trail across from the Barnes & Noble store,
Stone Bridge Associates.
Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
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continued from page 12
for the site of the former Clarion Hotel in Bethesda. Trillium is a
nine-story, 173-unit complex on Wisconsin Avenue just south
of the National Institutes of Health campus. The development
will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with the
largest floorplans at 2,850 square feet. The Patrinely Group,
with offices in Bethesda, New York and Houston, is the developer. Sales began this past October.
(www.trilliumbethesda.com)
At Woodmont & Bethesda Avenues
Coming soon is a new public/private development at the
site of the County's public Parking Lot 31 on both the east and
west side of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues. In 2005,
Montgomery County awarded development rights to Lot 31
Associates, LLC, comprised of Stonebridge Carras, LLC and PN
Hoffman. They are working with the Montgomery County
Parking Lot District. When completed, the project will offer a
new County parking garage with 1,100 spaces, as well as
retail space and condominiums over the garage. The team
expects to break ground in 2008 and complete the project in
2011.
Rendering of the new Festival Way, a meeting place for outdoor dining and events,
that will be developed between Elm Street and Bethesda Avenue. Bethesda Row
image, Visualization by Interface Multimedia Inc., Courtesy of Federal Realty.
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Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
A FEW QUESTIONS FOR
BETHESDA'S LEADERS
W. David Dabney
Executive Director, Bethesda Urban
Partnership, Inc. (BUP)
What are the biggest challenges facing
Bethesda right now?
Dabney: "It depends on your perspective. Lots of people
look at the traffic and congestion issues associated with development. Many also look at what development is doing to the
downtown area. I think there's enough underway to dismiss
those perspectives. Smart growth needs an infrastructure that
can handle it. There's really good infrastructure here. The people who complain about growth are sitting in traffic, looking at
others in traffic and all are single occupancy vehicles.
"'There is another way.' That's our slogan for transportation, and it means that we have an answer for you in
Bethesda. We have the Bethesda Circulator (trolley service),
carpools and vanpools and more. Parking is perceived as a
problem in Bethesda. But the reality is that we have 7,500
spaces spread out through downtown.
We're trying to modify people's behavior in Bethesda. We
want to make it so that people don't have to worry about
their car and feeding meters. So that people can make
appointments, shop, have lunch, etc., without a worry. We're
like a 300-acre mall with so much to offer. Our challenge is to
get the word out. People will have a good experience and our
Ginanne Italiano
President, Greater Bethesda Chevy
Chase Chamber of Commerce
new urbanization will take hold in a place that used to be a
suburban community. Bethesda's now a destination. People
would rather take the elevator to do errands, run to the bank
or post office or go to an art gallery."
Italiano: "The biggest challenge facing Bethesda-Chevy
Chase is the traffic and congestion going into and throughout
our community. A lot of this could be alleviated if our government could move forward in putting in the Purple Line, in particular the Georgetown Branch at the top of the list for transportation funding. This has been in the plans for this community for years, but unfortunately has been put on hold at various times depending on the governor of the state.
Some would say that parking is a major issue and challenge in downtown Bethesda, and it is, but given the thousands of parking spaces available throughout the community
as well as our Bethesda Circulator, the challenge is more about
continually educating everyone as to where all of the available
parking spaces are located and how they can get around via
foot or the Circulator. Unfortunately, the perception that we
lack parking in this community seems to take over the reality
that there's plenty of parking but that it's spread out throughout the community."
continued on page 15
Best of Bethesda
continued from page 14
What's happening in Bethesda right now that
you're most excited about?
Dabney: "I think right now it's the management of the
Bethesda Circulator. The county is entrusting us with it, and it's
a window of opportunity. We manage it and we can do much
more with it, too. The Circulator creates an intimacy with people downtown. It's an experience, offering people visiting in
their cars the opportunity to park in an underutilized garage
and get to their destination quickly. It overcomes the objections
of people who need connections from Metro to their jobs,
homes, shopping, etc. We can whisk them wherever they
need to go. I'm excited about this new global perspective of
navigating the downtown. "
Italiano: "I'm excited about the new changes that are
underway and in the future for the Woodmont Triangle area of
Bethesda. With the new zoning changes that have been
recently made to this area, we'll be seeing increased foot traffic
for the restaurants, stores, arts and entertainment venues and
all other businesses. Over the next few years, our community
will see Woodmont Triangle rival any other community in the
Washington region as the best place to live, work and visit.
The success of this area will also be due to the new residences
planned and underway, as well as the renovation and restoration of the Bethesda Theatre and ultimately Nederlander
Worldwide Entertainment bringing Broadway to Bethesda."
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Where do you see Bethesda in the next
decade?
Dabney: "There will be a continuation of commercial
development. The planning board projects 5,000 more jobs in
the downtown area. Yet every project at the planning board
right now is a combined residential/mixed use development,
with retail at street level and residential above.
Downtown Bethesda will become a much more livelier
24/7 environment, too. You'll find people coming home and
spending lots of time on the streets, in the restaurants and
shopping and dining. More people will want to live and work
here, from young professionals to seniors. There will be more
people living in Bethesda who will never have to take their car
out of their space to go to the new Bethesda Theater or
Strathmore performances, for instance."
Italiano: "Bethesda-Chevy Chase will continue to grow as
the economic center of Montgomery County. We are proud of
the internationally renowned businesses that are already headquartered here including Marriott, Lockheed Martin, Ritz
Carlton and so many others. It's also no surprise that we're
branded as 'The Smart Place' by the County's department of
economic development. The largest industry in BethesdaChevy Chase is the health care industry, for good reason. With
Suburban Hospital, the National Institutes of Health, the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences, the National Naval Medical
Center, and now the move of Walter Reed to our community,
this will truly be what we were named for: Bethesda - the
healing pool."
Metro Plaza, a public promenade above the Bethesda Metro Station, offers a venue for events and outdoor activities at the corner of Old Gerogetown and Wisconsin Avenue.
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Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
NorthMarq
Capital
BDO
Seidman, LLP
NorthMarq Capital is a leading real estate investment banking firm, with 27 regional offices coast-tocoast. The firm offers its clients the ideal combination
of a strong national company capable of attracting a
wide range of capital sources and an organization
strategically positioned to provide vital firsthand
knowledge of local markets.
BDO Seidman has been the fastest growing CPA
firm in the U.S. three years running, according to Audit
Analytics. Guided by core values of integrity, trust, professionalism, independence and service for almost 100
years, the company has provided quality service and
leadership through the active involvement of experienced and committed professionals.
With an annual production volume of over $12
billion and a loan servicing portfolio of nearly $32 billion on behalf of more than 50 institutional investors,
NorthMarq is one of the largest commercial real
estate investment banking firms worldwide.
The national professional services firm provides
assurance, tax, outsourcing, financial advisory and consulting services to a wide range of publicly traded, privately held and tax-exempt organizations. Tony Cord is
frequently the first point of contact with the business
community as Strategic Development Leader, serving as
a client advocate to help businesses optimize the
resources available to them within BDO Seidman and
its independent alliance firm network.
NorthMarq Capital provides the entire spectrum
of capital for commercial real estate transactions,
including equity, mezzanine and gap loan products
and bridge loans as well as first mortgage loans.
They have origination and servicing relationships with
more than 50 capital providers including life insurance companies, conduits, pension funds, Freddie
Mac and Fannie Mae, as well as their own direct
bridge and gap loan programs.
NorthMarq's Washington, D.C. area office is
located in Bethesda for a variety of reasons. A number of local clients are in and around Bethesda. The
Bethesda Metro station provides easy access to
downtown, and the proximity to major road transportation allows quick access to other submarkets
and airports within the Metro area. Additionally,
from a quality of life standpoint, the wealth of great
restaurants and services makes Bethesda an outstanding business location.
The firm serves clients through 37 offices and
more than 300 independent alliance firm locations
nationwide. As a Member Firm of BDO International,
BDO Seidman, LLP serves multi-national clients by leveraging a global network of resources comprised of 601
Member Firm offices in 105 countries. BDO
International is a worldwide network of public accounting firms, called BDO Member Firms, serving international clients. Each BDO Member Firm is an independent legal entity in its own country.
Led locally by Assurance Business Line Leader
Wayne Berson and Tax Business Line Leader Cathey
Barry, the company is very visible due to its numerous
leadership positions on community Boards, Chambers
of Commerce and their unique BDO Counts!
Corporate Volunteer programs. (www.bdo.com)
"Bethesda's what other communities want to be when they grow up."
- Ginanne Italiano, President, Bethesda Chamber of Commerce
Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
DID YOU KNOW?
Bethesda got its name from a church located
there, the Bethesda Presbyterian Church, which
was built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1850. The church
got its name from the Aramaic words "Beth
Hesda," meaning "house of mercy." It also means
healing pool - very appropriate for all the medical
facilities around the city."
Bethesda has its share of famous people who
are from the city or live there now. They include:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, heiress and critically acclaimed
actress, was raised in Bethesda and graduated
from the Holton-Arms School.
Maury Povich, talk-show host. Resides in
Bethesda with his wife, Connie Chung.
John R. Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the United
Nations, and former Under Secretary of State.
William Peter Blatty, writer of The Exorcist and
other works.
E.J. Dionne, author and journalist.
John Feinstein, author, columnist and reporter.
John G. Roberts, Chief Justice of the U.S.
Supreme Court.
Red Auerbach, former NBA coach.
Gary Clark, former Washington Redskin and twotime Super Bowl Champion, owns and operates
South Beach Restaurant and Martini Lounge.
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Best of Bethesda
Strike Bethesda
Strike is suburban Washington, D.C.'s most
dynamic bowling-centric entertainment center. It has
34 bowling lanes, 17 jumbo movie screens, four plasma television sets, two full-service bars, a restaurant
area, a VIP reception area and conference room, and,
of course, state-of-the-art bowling equipment.
Birthday bashes, company outings and holiday
parties at Strike Bethesda are all unforgettable. They
offer packages that include bowling, shoe rentals for
all guests, in-house gourmet catering and, for the
adults, bar options.
Strike Bethesda is the place to be during Monday
Night Strike, where 21 and over patrons enjoy glowin-the-dark bowling from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with drink
specials, a live DJ and $15 unlimited bowling and
shoe rental. STRIKE is on Westbard Avenue.
(www.Strikebethesda.com)
Best of Bethesda
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CONTACTS
Technology Strategy and Business Development
Maryland Department of Business & Economic
Development
217 E. Redwood Street o Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Telephone: (410) 767-6870 o Toll Free: 888-ChooseMD
Fax: (410) 333-6792
TDD/TTY: (410) 333-6926
www.ChooseMaryland.org
Montgomery County Department of Economic
Development
101 Monroe Street, Suite 1500
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Telephone: (240) 777-2000
Fax: (240) 777-2001
TDD: (240) 777-2046
www.TheIdeaLocation.com
Special Advertising Supplement
19
AREA BUSINESS
RESOURCES
Bethesda Urban Partnership
www.bethesda.org
Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce
www.bccchamber.org
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
www.montgomery-chamber.com
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
www.mdchamber.org
Hispanic Chamber of Montgomery County
www.hccmc.org
(Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
www.mdhcc.net)
Potomac Chamber of Commerce
www.potomacchamber.org
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Special Advertising Supplement
Best of Bethesda
Meridian Capital
Founded in 1991, Meridian Capital Group LLC is
one of the nation's largest mortgage brokers serving
the multifamily and commercial real estate sectors. The
company is based in New York City with additional
offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois,
Florida and California.
Working with a wide variety of lenders, Meridian
finances transactions ranging from $500,000 to more
than $500 million for multifamily, co-op, office, retail,
hotel, healthcare, self-storage, industrial and construction properties. Nationally, Meridian reported more
than 2,500 transactions in 2005, totaling over $16 billion. (www.meridiancapital.com)
Paley Rothman
The reputation of Paley Rothman's attorneys in
both the community in which they work and among
their peers reflects the hard work and dedication to
clients that have been trademarks of this full-service
law firm for the past 35 years.
Even though there is a business orientation to
much of their work, the depth and diversity of Paley
Rothman's practice areas allows the firm to provide a
wide range of legal counsel and representation to corporate and individual clients throughout the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in tax, real estate,
estate planning, estate and trust administration,
employment law, litigation, pensions and retirement
plans among others. The client list includes publicly traded and privately held corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, banks, trade associations, charities,
nonprofits, family-owned businesses, other law firms
and individuals. Their success is at least in part a function of the firm's stability; many of Paley Rothman's 40
attorneys and a good number of support staff members
have worked together for more than 25 years.
Best of Bethesda
Special Advertising Supplement
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Dave & Buster's
Monument Bank
Dave & Buster's at White Flint Mall is the ultimate
place to boost both productivity and morale. All it
takes is putting a little fun in the mix. Their professional meeting facilities are fully equipped with A/V equipment and can accommodate groups large and small.
Interested parties can choose to rent out the entire
location and host up to 2,000 people.
Organized by a group of local business leaders
and professionals, Monument Bank opened in
Bethesda in 2005. The organizers raised over $13 million from about 250 shareholders. The bank's foundation is the business and professional communities, a
reflection of the composition of its Board of Directors
and the experience of H.L. Ward, the Bank's President
and Chief Executive Officer.
Dave & Buster's activities are designed to turn colleagues into teammates-whether opting for organized
team challenges or turning troops loose in the Million
Dollar Midway with charged up Power Cards. Contact
the fun spot's Special Events team to see how to produce remarkable results at Dave & Buster's. For menu
and entertainment options, call 301-230-5151 or
email kent_franklin@daveandbusters.com
Recognizing the critical importance of differentiation in a highly competitive market, Monument carefully selected its board members, recruited highly
regarded senior community bankers and staffed itself
with quality people who are able to support an array
of sophisticated remote banking products. There's no
branch network. But by utilizing remote tools, business
clients can transact banking from the comfort and privacy of their own offices any time of day.
Through the first full year of actual operations,
Monument Bank has grown to over $50 million in
assets, over $40 million in deposits and it has originated over $40 million in loans to its target markets. The
directors and staff of the bank recognize a responsibility to be a good corporate neighbor by contributing
countless hours to worthwhile charitable and civic
organizations and look for opportunities within the
friendly Bethesda community.
The American Inn of Bethesda
Located on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, the American Inn of Bethesda charms
guests with a small inn atmosphere and remarkable affordability. It offers comfortable
accommodations, a convenient location, and professional staff attending to a guest's
every need. An independently owned property, it began welcoming guests in 1985 when
the current ownership took over.
There are 76 well-appointed rooms, a pool, meeting space and a business center.
Free wireless Internet access is available in all guest rooms and public areas. A local courtesy van takes guests to and from various destinations throughout the Bethesda ChevyChase area. The Inn caters to government, military, corporate and leisure travelers to
Bethesda and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. The Inn is conveniently located a
half mile south of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Naval Medical
Center in Bethesda and is on the NIH Shuttle route.
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Fidelity & Trust Bank
Fidelity & Trust is a Maryland-chartered bank and
residential mortgage company with branches throughout the Washington, D.C. Metro area. The company is
the private banking choice for businesses, providing
their customers with the close banking relationships and
structure of services that small- and medium-sized businesses need.
Their mortgage subsidiary offers "start-to-finish"
residential mortgage services and a broad array of mortgage products to meet the needs of many different borrowers. They emphasize direct access to key, local decision-makers and personal relationships with all of their
clients.
Federal Realty
Investment Trust
Any visitor to Bethesda knows the popular dining
and shopping destination of Bethesda Row. More than
50 restaurants, cafes and boutiques bustle with activity
every night of the week along the streets of
Woodmont, Elm and Bethesda.
A creation of Federal Realty Investment Trust,
Bethesda Row is now expanding to Arlington Road,
with new apartments, restaurants, shops and parking
scheduled for 2008. A unique interior street called
Festival Street will bisect the new block, adding open-air
dining in a European atmosphere.
With more new residential and retail on the horizon for this urban district, Federal Realty will continue to
play a prominent and positive role in the continuing
development of downtown Bethesda.
Federal Realty Investment Trust is an equity real
estate investment trust specializing in the ownership,
management, development and redevelopment of high
quality retail assets. Its national portfolio includes more
than 18.3 million square feet of retail with Bethesda
Row and Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda.
Federal Realty (NYSE-FRT) is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange.
Best of Bethesda
Linowes and Blocher LLP
In practice since 1956, Linowes and Blocher quickly
gained a reputation as Montgomery County's premier
land use, zoning and real estate law firm. Over time, the
firm has evolved into one of the County's largest and
leading full-service real estate and business law firms.
As a real estate firm, Linowes and Blocher is capable of guiding a project from initial concept through
land use approvals, financing, construction, leasing and
sale. The firm has helped landowners and developers
ride successive waves of legislative and economic
change as its lawyers regularly deal with issues concerning development rights, environmental regulations,
transportation, planning and infrastructure financing.
The business law side of Linowes and Blocher's
practice provides entrepreneurs and companies with the
services needed to thrive: business planning, tax planning, debt and equity financing entity structure and
reorganization. Should a business hit a bump in the
road, the firm's attorneys are skilled in bankruptcy,
workouts, asset protection and commercial litigation.
Bond Beebe
Bond Beebe, a certified public accounting firm with
a rich 75 year history, partners with small to mid-sized
businesses, membership organizations, employee benefit plans, other non-profits and high net-worth individuals to help them achieve their goals, increase productivity and efficiency and maintain compliance. From its
beginning, the firm has operated with a singular vision to combine precise accounting work with a high level of
personalized service.
Bond Beebe's broad range of services includes
audit & accounting; tax planning and compliance; financial planning; management advisory; litigation support
and forensic accounting; and information technology
consulting. The firm maintains an efficient paperless
work environment and employs the latest technology
for secure and seamless client communications.
From its two offices in Bethesda, Maryland and
Alexandria, Virginia, Bond Beebe brings Trust, Values,
Service, and Imagination to every client it serves.
(www.bbcpa.com)