Anthropologie, an upscale clothing and accessories retailer, will be replacing the Barnes & Noble on Bethesda Row.
Federal Realty Investment Trust, which owns Bethesda Row, announced Wednesday that Anthropologie & Co., a larger-scale version of the chain’s typical stores, is set to take over the entire 37,000 square-foot, three-story corner space on Bethesda Avenue. It plans to open in the fall of 2018.
Bethesda’s Barnes & Noble, the bookseller that operated in the space for 20 years, announced in March that it would close at the end of this year.
The Anthropologie will feature the chain’s typical clothing, accessories and décor in addition to other department store-style sections for gardening supplies, furniture and bridal gowns, as well as a beauty boutique and a shoe salon, according to Federal Realty.
The store will also feature a full-service restaurant on the ground floor, with seating on the sidewalk, according to Federal Realty. The chain retailer has a similar café in its Palo Alto, California, store.
“We are confident that Anthropologie & Co., with its exclusive services and mix of departments, will continue to shape the neighborhood as a one-stop destination for unmatched experiences,” Chris Weilminster, president of the Mixed-Use Division at Federal Realty Investment Trust, wrote in a press release statement.
Anthropologie is operated by Urban Outfitters and has more than 200 locations around the world, including a handful of the larger-format stores. There is another Anthropologie on Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase. A company spokeswoman said the Anthropologie opening in Bethesda Row isn’t expected to cause closures at nearby store locations.
After Barnes & Noble announced its departure, there was significant backlash from residents saddened to lose the only remaining downtown bookstore, which has functioned as a community gathering place.
Rendering via Federal Realty