East-West McDonald's Closes; Nine-Story Commercial Building Planned

The McDonald's at 4500 East-West Highway in Bethesda has closed ahead of the construction of a nine-story commercial building with ground-floor retail.

The development, headed by Carr Properties, will boast more than 220,000 square feet of commerial space with 13,300 square feet of retail—including a new McDonald's, according to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center's development map.

The project is expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2014, according to Carr Properties' website.

"CLOSED," read a sign on the shuttered McDonald's building Wednesday afternoon. "Thank you customers for your great support over the years!"

News of McDonald's closing was first reported by Bethesda blogger Robert Dyer.

A call to Carr Properties for comment wasn't returned Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Carr Properties website, the new building will feature four floors below grade along with its nine above-grade floors. The site also details the development's amenities:

• 4,500 SF rooftop terrace for tenant use.
• 2,600 SF executive fitness suite with accompying lockers and showers.
• 1,900 SF conference center with video conferencing for tenant use.
• Easily accesible, secure loading dock and parking garage.
• 4,500 SF landscaped plaza with commissioned artwork.
• 1,000 SF bike facility including free shared bikes for tenants, bike lockers, and a repair station.

The building also is expected to be certified LEED platinum for environmental sustainability and will feature a full-height glass curtain facade.

Will you miss the McDonald's while the new commercial building is under construction? Will you visit the River Road McDonald's instead? Tell us in the comments.