Owners: 'There's Only 1 Bruce Variety'

Owners of Bruce Variety say they're not worried about the prospect of losing business to a similar variety store opening in their former location.

After 60 years on Arlington Road, high rents forced the Bethesda fixture out of its Bradley Shopping Center space in January. The community rallied for the store, and owners said the support inspired them to find a new location in Bethesda.

Bruce Variety will open its doors at 8011 Woodmont Ave. by the end of March.

But it's looking like Bruce's will have a little friendly competition when it opens in its new space. Bethesda blogger Robert Dyer broke the news that a store dubbed 'Bradley Party and Variety' is moving into the Arlington Road storefront, and Bethesda Now reported that Strosniders, located next door, is behind the operation.

Bradley Party and Variety will stock merchandise similar to Bruce’s, including party and arts and crafts supplies.

So will it be Variety Wars for Bethesda?

“At the rents that they are paying, we are not concerned, as we are able to be much more competitive with our price structure,” Linda Ridenour, wife of Bruce Variety owner Richard Dimock, wrote in an email to Patch. “Also, there is only one Bruce Variety.”