MD Resident Only Shops in VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Besides the awful traffic, which can turn a 15-20 min drive from Bethesda to Tysons into 35-45, I can’t believe no one’s brought up the awful parking situation at Tyson’s. I hate it. Takes at least an extra 10-15 mins to get parked on the 3rd level if you’re lucky and into the mall.

Depends on when you go. I got there in 15 minutes from near North Bethesda MS tonight at 7. And Tysons is more than just both malls, which are far superior to Montgomery Mall and Friendship Heights. The Boro, Capital One Center, and the Mosaic further out have a lot of dining, retail and entertainment options. If you live in close in West MoCo it is not that long of a drive at all to any of these places if you’re not going in rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that do not happen when shopping at the McLean Total Wine, but happen near the Friendship Heights Total Wine.

https://mocoshow.com/2026/03/24/woman-who-left-shoe-behind-during-carjacking-attempt-found-guilty/#more-124623

A Montgomery County jury found 21-year-old Roniyah Thomas of District Heights guilty on all counts, including attempted armed carjacking, first-degree assault, armed robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

The charges stem from a February 4, 2025 incident in Chevy Chase, where Thomas approached a man exiting his vehicle, pointed a gun, and demanded his car keys. The victim resisted, pushing the weapon away, at which point Thomas fired, striking him in the leg before fleeing. Investigators later used surveillance footage from the Friendship Heights Metro Station, where a suspect was seen entering without a shoe and removing the other, to identify Thomas and link her to the attempted carjacking.

I see stories about carjackings in Friendship Heights, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase on at least a monthly basis. No one has ever worried about being carjacked at the McLean Total Wine since it was built. I could walk around with a Moncler jacket, LV purse, waving around $1,000 in hundred dollar bills at 10 at night and nothing would happen. A few minutes more of a drive is worth my piece of mind.

I guess you must go looking for anything you can find to justify your bizarre Tyson’s trips. The fact is that Tyson’s is a hotbed of crime ever since the metro station was built there. This includes an incident where there was a shooting inside the mall that sent people fleeing and caused mass chaos. I’d take my safety in friendship heights any day over the cesspool that Tyson’s has become.

Well you wouldn’t be basing this on data, because there are far more carjackings and muggings in Friendship Heights than there are in Tyson’s. You know this of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that do not happen when shopping at the McLean Total Wine, but happen near the Friendship Heights Total Wine.

https://mocoshow.com/2026/03/24/woman-who-left-shoe-behind-during-carjacking-attempt-found-guilty/#more-124623

A Montgomery County jury found 21-year-old Roniyah Thomas of District Heights guilty on all counts, including attempted armed carjacking, first-degree assault, armed robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

The charges stem from a February 4, 2025 incident in Chevy Chase, where Thomas approached a man exiting his vehicle, pointed a gun, and demanded his car keys. The victim resisted, pushing the weapon away, at which point Thomas fired, striking him in the leg before fleeing. Investigators later used surveillance footage from the Friendship Heights Metro Station, where a suspect was seen entering without a shoe and removing the other, to identify Thomas and link her to the attempted carjacking.

I see stories about carjackings in Friendship Heights, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase on at least a monthly basis. No one has ever worried about being carjacked at the McLean Total Wine since it was built. I could walk around with a Moncler jacket, LV purse, waving around $1,000 in hundred dollar bills at 10 at night and nothing would happen. A few minutes more of a drive is worth my piece of mind.

That’s complete bullshit. I get you are afraid of your own shadow. Again…if things are that bad, wouldn’t you move to McLean?

Because I am a poor who can’t afford a $1.5 million tear down or a $3.5 million new build. I like the good schools that MoCo has to offer and the nice parks, but besides that VA has a lot more to offer. I choose to avail myself of the nicer retail, dining and entertainment options in Virginia but keep my low mortgage and low cost neighborhood in MD. Compromises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that do not happen when shopping at the McLean Total Wine, but happen near the Friendship Heights Total Wine.

https://mocoshow.com/2026/03/24/woman-who-left-shoe-behind-during-carjacking-attempt-found-guilty/#more-124623

A Montgomery County jury found 21-year-old Roniyah Thomas of District Heights guilty on all counts, including attempted armed carjacking, first-degree assault, armed robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

The charges stem from a February 4, 2025 incident in Chevy Chase, where Thomas approached a man exiting his vehicle, pointed a gun, and demanded his car keys. The victim resisted, pushing the weapon away, at which point Thomas fired, striking him in the leg before fleeing. Investigators later used surveillance footage from the Friendship Heights Metro Station, where a suspect was seen entering without a shoe and removing the other, to identify Thomas and link her to the attempted carjacking.

I see stories about carjackings in Friendship Heights, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase on at least a monthly basis. No one has ever worried about being carjacked at the McLean Total Wine since it was built. I could walk around with a Moncler jacket, LV purse, waving around $1,000 in hundred dollar bills at 10 at night and nothing would happen. A few minutes more of a drive is worth my piece of mind.

That’s complete bullshit. I get you are afraid of your own shadow. Again…if things are that bad, wouldn’t you move to McLean?

Because I am a poor who can’t afford a $1.5 million tear down or a $3.5 million new build. I like the good schools that MoCo has to offer and the nice parks, but besides that VA has a lot more to offer. I choose to avail myself of the nicer retail, dining and entertainment options in Virginia but keep my low mortgage and low cost neighborhood in MD. Compromises.

To wit: $1.35 million for a small tear down.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1806-Lansing-Ct-22101/home/9412682

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that do not happen when shopping at the McLean Total Wine, but happen near the Friendship Heights Total Wine.

https://mocoshow.com/2026/03/24/woman-who-left-shoe-behind-during-carjacking-attempt-found-guilty/#more-124623

A Montgomery County jury found 21-year-old Roniyah Thomas of District Heights guilty on all counts, including attempted armed carjacking, first-degree assault, armed robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

The charges stem from a February 4, 2025 incident in Chevy Chase, where Thomas approached a man exiting his vehicle, pointed a gun, and demanded his car keys. The victim resisted, pushing the weapon away, at which point Thomas fired, striking him in the leg before fleeing. Investigators later used surveillance footage from the Friendship Heights Metro Station, where a suspect was seen entering without a shoe and removing the other, to identify Thomas and link her to the attempted carjacking.

I see stories about carjackings in Friendship Heights, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase on at least a monthly basis. No one has ever worried about being carjacked at the McLean Total Wine since it was built. I could walk around with a Moncler jacket, LV purse, waving around $1,000 in hundred dollar bills at 10 at night and nothing would happen. A few minutes more of a drive is worth my piece of mind.

That’s complete bullshit. I get you are afraid of your own shadow. Again…if things are that bad, wouldn’t you move to McLean?

Because I am a poor who can’t afford a $1.5 million tear down or a $3.5 million new build. I like the good schools that MoCo has to offer and the nice parks, but besides that VA has a lot more to offer. I choose to avail myself of the nicer retail, dining and entertainment options in Virginia but keep my low mortgage and low cost neighborhood in MD. Compromises.

There are plenty of places in VA you could afford. It’s bizarre you choose to live in a shitty house and spend 1/2 your life commuting to a mall.

Again, you are afraid of your own shadow if you think FH, CC MD or Bethesda are dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that do not happen when shopping at the McLean Total Wine, but happen near the Friendship Heights Total Wine.

https://mocoshow.com/2026/03/24/woman-who-left-shoe-behind-during-carjacking-attempt-found-guilty/#more-124623

A Montgomery County jury found 21-year-old Roniyah Thomas of District Heights guilty on all counts, including attempted armed carjacking, first-degree assault, armed robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

The charges stem from a February 4, 2025 incident in Chevy Chase, where Thomas approached a man exiting his vehicle, pointed a gun, and demanded his car keys. The victim resisted, pushing the weapon away, at which point Thomas fired, striking him in the leg before fleeing. Investigators later used surveillance footage from the Friendship Heights Metro Station, where a suspect was seen entering without a shoe and removing the other, to identify Thomas and link her to the attempted carjacking.

I see stories about carjackings in Friendship Heights, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase on at least a monthly basis. No one has ever worried about being carjacked at the McLean Total Wine since it was built. I could walk around with a Moncler jacket, LV purse, waving around $1,000 in hundred dollar bills at 10 at night and nothing would happen. A few minutes more of a drive is worth my piece of mind.

I guess you must go looking for anything you can find to justify your bizarre Tyson’s trips. The fact is that Tyson’s is a hotbed of crime ever since the metro station was built there. This includes an incident where there was a shooting inside the mall that sent people fleeing and caused mass chaos. I’d take my safety in friendship heights any day over the cesspool that Tyson’s has become.

Well you wouldn’t be basing this on data, because there are far more carjackings and muggings in Friendship Heights than there are in Tyson’s. You know this of course.

Nope, I don't know that. I live in Bethesda, and go all around Bethesda and Chevy Chase at all hours and don't have the slightest concern for my safety. I am doubtful that Tysons is safer, but if it is, that's great -- I'm glad there are lots of safe options in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MD resident. I can walk to Total Wine in Friendship Heights. There’s a Wegman’s not far from me in DC and another one at Twinbrook. I haven’t been to Virginia to shop in years. Whatever works.

This is now the second post that defends MD shopping by referencing stores in DC. The same ones actually.

Pike and Rose IPC is going out of business. The only two theatres within 5-10 miles of Bethesda are the Landmark in Bethesda and the Montgomery Mall AMC. Why deal with the parking issues in Bethesda or the sad depressing state of the AMC in Mont Mall when I can take DD to the Boro, AMC Tysons or the Tysons Galleria CMX, all of which are much nicer than anything in Bethesda? Those are 15-20 minutes from me because of my proximity to River Road exit. The Mosaic theater is 5 minutes further and it has great restaurants and a Neiman and Bloomingdale’s outlet and a Target that’s nicer than anything in MD in the same complex.

The only grocery store besides Whole Foods that’s worth going to in all of MoCo is the Westbard Giant. Everyplace else looks like it would have been torn down in McLean or North Arlington 10 years ago.

Stick your head in the sand all you want and brag about never going to Tysons. A lack of perspective and curiosity isn’t something to brag about.

You get your perspective and curiosity by visiting shopping malls and grocery stores? Charming.

As PPs have noted it’s a lot more than that. The public infrastructure is far better, whether we’re talking about lack of potholes on roads and highways in good repair, public transit, reliability of the power grid, streetlights. We could go on. The only thing Maryland has going for it is that a small portion of MoCo has historic homes and nice parks. But all of MoCo’s advantages were secured 50+ years ago. Currently - whether it’s school development, public infrastructure, or private economic development - MD is woefully underperforming VA.

If VA is doing so well, why is the state pushing for a casino in Tysons for tax revenue? In Arlington, there is a budget shortfall and talk of diminished services, like a library closure.

Let's not pretend that everything in Virginia is so rosy, when in reality, it's far from it.

[Anonymous]

I am always shocked at people who enjoy driving into nova. Seriously? It is an ugly concrete jungle with constant construction everywhere. It is not urban, not really suburban, just the worst of both worlds. I guess I just don't enjoy shopping enough to subject myself to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am always shocked at people who enjoy driving into nova. Seriously? It is an ugly concrete jungle with constant construction everywhere. It is not urban, not really suburban, just the worst of both worlds. I guess I just don't enjoy shopping enough to subject myself to that.

It’s just one of the strangest flexes on DCUM.

Might as well also flex how you love going to the DMV or any similar, painful chore.

[Anonymous]

Threads like this one always bring out such aggressive defensiveness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are why we need more toll roads. 495 is a nightmare on weekends. All we want to do is go hike at. Carderock but the traffic makes it too stressful.

lol you are not better or any different than OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re not alone, OP, judging from the huge number of Maryland plates I see driving around my part of Nova - weekdays and weekends.

So funny - we recently ran into a coworker of DH’s in McLean, and he says he runs errands there every weekend instead of in DC where he lives bc it’s convenient and parking is so much easier.

But also this thread is kind of reminding me of the fraternity guys in college who would drive three states over for cheaper liquor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re not alone, OP, judging from the huge number of Maryland plates I see driving around my part of Nova - weekdays and weekends.

So funny - we recently ran into a coworker of DH’s in McLean, and he says he runs errands there every weekend instead of in DC where he lives bc it’s convenient and parking is so much easier.

But also this thread is kind of reminding me of the fraternity guys in college who would drive three states over for cheaper liquor

Look…if you live in Georgetown, then VA will be more convenient because you drive right over the key bridge and get there. Georgetown isn’t well served by everyday retail/grocery (though has a million restaurants and of course tons of boutique shopping).

Nobody is claiming you don’t use common sense…we always combined a big box store trip with a kid’s sporting event in VA. Once those were done, we no longer had a need to travel to VA when there were much closer options in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re not alone, OP, judging from the huge number of Maryland plates I see driving around my part of Nova - weekdays and weekends.

So funny - we recently ran into a coworker of DH’s in McLean, and he says he runs errands there every weekend instead of in DC where he lives bc it’s convenient and parking is so much easier.

But also this thread is kind of reminding me of the fraternity guys in college who would drive three states over for cheaper liquor

Look…if you live in Georgetown, then VA will be more convenient because you drive right over the key bridge and get there. Georgetown isn’t well served by everyday retail/grocery (though has a million restaurants and of course tons of boutique shopping).

Nobody is claiming you don’t use common sense…we always combined a big box store trip with a kid’s sporting event in VA. Once those were done, we no longer had a need to travel to VA when there were much closer options in MD.

I still don’t understand how Tysons and Mosaic are that far away from people who live close to 495 on Western MoCo. It’s a 15-20 minute drive. You’re acting like OP is telling people to drive to Potomac Mills instead of going to Montgomery Mall.

If you can’t see a clear distinction between Montgomery Mall and Tysons Galleria and Tysons 1 I really don’t know what to say. There are just a lot more stores in those Tysons malls and even the ones that are similar in Montgomery Mall aren’t as nice or expansive. See the Macy’s in Tysons vs Montgomery Mall or the Nordstrom in both malls.

I can get my Lucid serviced in Tysons Galleria while I shop for furniture at Restoration Hardware upstairs and then get a latte at a Ralph Lauren coffee shop. There is nothing like that in Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re not alone, OP, judging from the huge number of Maryland plates I see driving around my part of Nova - weekdays and weekends.

So funny - we recently ran into a coworker of DH’s in McLean, and he says he runs errands there every weekend instead of in DC where he lives bc it’s convenient and parking is so much easier.

But also this thread is kind of reminding me of the fraternity guys in college who would drive three states over for cheaper liquor

Look…if you live in Georgetown, then VA will be more convenient because you drive right over the key bridge and get there. Georgetown isn’t well served by everyday retail/grocery (though has a million restaurants and of course tons of boutique shopping).

Nobody is claiming you don’t use common sense…we always combined a big box store trip with a kid’s sporting event in VA. Once those were done, we no longer had a need to travel to VA when there were much closer options in MD.

I still don’t understand how Tysons and Mosaic are that far away from people who live close to 495 on Western MoCo. It’s a 15-20 minute drive. You’re acting like OP is telling people to drive to Potomac Mills instead of going to Montgomery Mall.

If you can’t see a clear distinction between Montgomery Mall and Tysons Galleria and Tysons 1 I really don’t know what to say. There are just a lot more stores in those Tysons malls and even the ones that are similar in Montgomery Mall aren’t as nice or expansive. See the Macy’s in Tysons vs Montgomery Mall or the Nordstrom in both malls.

I can get my Lucid serviced in Tysons Galleria while I shop for furniture at Restoration Hardware upstairs and then get a latte at a Ralph Lauren coffee shop. There is nothing like that in Montgomery County.

Maybe most of us live in the modern era? I literally haven't been to a Mall...ANY MALL...in about three years. OK, wait, I did go to Nordstroms in Montgomery Mall to return something, in which case I couldn't care less if the Tysons Nordstrom is "better" than the Montgomery Mall Nordstrom.

Once more, if I valued Tysons Galleria as some amazing place where I want to spend a ton of time...i would live in VA. Many of us live in walkable areas near tons of shops and restaurants because we don't much enjoy driving.

Even your example is rather silly...I would much prefer walking to the Apple Store or Northface in Bethesda, grabbing a coffee at the various coffee shops, etc. Even if I lived in VA, I would pick Alexandria and walking distance to Old Town or Del Ray...and would probably almost never go to Tysons either.