Mayflower Chinese Food to Close Bethesda Location

Owner hopes to reopen nearby after lease expires at current site.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating pattern of a Chinese takeout container in bright neon shades, conceptually representing the loss of a cherished community institution.

The closure of a beloved local Chinese restaurant highlights the challenges facing small businesses in rapidly changing urban areas.LaBelle Today

Mayflower Chinese Food, a longtime restaurant in downtown Bethesda, Maryland, will be closing its doors by the end of the month as the owner was unable to reach a renewal agreement with the landlord on the current lease. However, the owner remains hopeful of finding a new nearby location where the restaurant can reopen.

Why it matters

The closure of Mayflower Chinese Food is a loss for the Bethesda community, which has seen a number of long-standing local restaurants and businesses shut down in recent years as rents have risen and competition from national chains has increased. The owner's goal of reopening nearby suggests an effort to maintain the restaurant's presence in the area.

The details

Mayflower Chinese Food has operated at its current 7925 Norfolk Avenue location in downtown Bethesda for an undisclosed number of years. The owner stated that the restaurant's lease is expiring at the end of April 2026 and that a renewal agreement could not be reached with the landlord, leading to the decision to close the current location.

Mayflower Chinese Food will close by the end of April 2026.

The players