World of Beer is not just coming to Rockville, it’s also bringing its expansive beer list to Bethesda.
Franchise owner Matthew Earl, who’s behind the upcoming location near Rockville Town Square, confirmed with Bethesda Beat Thursday he’s also working to open a new location in Bethesda.
He said the Bethesda restaurant will move into The JBG Cos.’s 7200 Wisconsin Ave. building, which is undergoing renovations to make way for a new restaurant tenant. Those renovations will include an expansive patio and larger entrance on the Bethesda Avenue side of the building.
Earl said the interior measures about 5,000 square feet and that he thinks the patio “will be one of the nicer patios adjoining a restaurant in Bethesda.” The restaurant serves traditional American bar fare such as sandwiches, burgers and wings and is also known for its German-style pretzels and flatbreads.
Earl said he’s not sure when the restaurant will open, as he’s still waiting for JBG to complete its work at the space before his construction crews can begin building out the restaurant. He did say he plans to apply for construction permits for the restaurant next month.
Earl, who also owns a World of Beer in Towson as well as performing management duties for a Baltimore location, said he believes the Bethesda restaurant won’t poach customers from his new Rockville restaurant. He anticipates the Rockville location at 196B East Montgomery Ave. will open in mid- to late-May.
“I think they’re both great markets and are well-suited for this concept,” Earl said. “I think they’re far enough away from each other. The majority of Towson and Baltimore customers come from within a three-mile radius [of the restaurants].”
Earl previously told Bethesda Beat in September when talking about the Rockville location that he’s working with the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control to make sure it can handle orders for the concept, which features more than 50 beers on tap and more than 500 bottled beers.
Local blogger Robert Dyer first reported earlier Thursday a spokesperson for the chain said the concept was coming to Bethesda.