Skip to main content

Laguna Beach jeweler brings its power gems to Georgetown, Bethesda

By Jeff Clabaugh
Jeweler gorjana is opening its Bethesda and Georgetown stores Oct. 15. (Courtesy gorjana)

Laguna Beach, California, jeweler gorjana is opening stores in Georgetown in D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland, extending its east coast expansion.

The chain, founded in an apartment in 2004 by husband and wife team Jason and Gorjana Reidel, will now have 23 stores, mostly in California and New York, with others in Chicago, Austin, Texas, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Currently, D.C. and Bethesda represent one of our top metropolitan e-commerce regions so we are thrilled to bring our branded retail store experience to these communities,” the Reidels said in a statement.

Their handmade jewelry includes what they call layering sets and power gemstones. The stores also provide complementary engraving.

In Georgetown, gorjana will take space in EastBanc’s 3029 M Street NW, and will open Oct. 15. In Bethesda, the store will open at Federal Realty’s Bethesda Row at 4810 Bethesda Avenue, and will also open Oct. 15

EastBanc is Georgetown’s largest retail landlord and has signed leases with several new retailers ahead of the holidays, including apparel retailer Aerie/Offline, apparel retailer Everlane, family-run clothing store Faherty Brand, mattress and furniture store Avocado Mattress, and a retail lab that features small local merchants looking to explore a retail location before committing to one called Concept 31/M.

At Bethesda Row, gorjana will join more than two dozen other retailers, and three dozen cafes and restaurants.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
Read Next Story

Related News

A $10.5 billion deal would create a self-storage giant in the U.S.

After quiet winter, DC-area real estate market is ready for spring surge

A strong chemical smell forces a 1-hour flight halt at 4 major DC-area airports