Posted by Store Reporter on Jul 12, 2018 in Current Issue
Aldi update
This week we checked on the progress of Rockville’s first Aldi store, now under construction in the former H.H. Gregg space next to Petco at Congressional North. You wouldn’t know it by the empty shell seen here, but the company tells us the store is still on track to open this fall as planned. This is one of six new Maryland stores for Aldi, a German grocer that sells high-quality private-label brands at rock-bottom prices. For more on Aldi’s unique business model, click here. For info on Rockville’s upcoming Wegmans store, click here. And for the latest on the new Trader Joe’s in Travilah, click here.
Comings and goings at the mall
If you stopped by Westfield Montgomery mall this week and spotted the empty space where Bath & Body Works used to be, don’t panic: There’s a lot of reshuffling going on this summer. Bath & Body Works is getting a facelift and will be operating out of temporary quarters until the work is finished. The Pandora store and Old Navy are doing the same. Meanwhile, the past few weeks have seen the openings of Invisalign, K&I Salon and a Thai rolled ice cream kiosk. What closed? Pen Boutique, after a very long going-out-of-business sale. What’s next for Westfield Montgomery? A major expansion beginning in 2019. For more on that story, click here.
Making the scene at Supreme
While we’re talking about Westfield Montgomery mall, have you ever wondered what’s up with that MVP Supreme store in the Macy’s Home wing? As any teen can probably tell you, the store is a reseller of Supreme and other popular skatewear brands that produce high-priced goods ($78 T-shirts and $158 track jackets) in very, very small quantities. The scarcity means that most items get snatched up the moment they “drop,” and some Supreme stores have set up ticketing systems to handle the overload of shoppers on “drop days.” As for the lucky buyers, they’re less likely to wear their Supreme clothes than to resell them — at school or online — for a sizable profit. Want to see what the brand is all about? Click here.
New Starbucks for North Bethesda
The new Starbucks at Pike & Rose has finally opened its doors in the prime space between H&M and Sur La Table. This location replaces the older Starbucks just off Rockville Pike, which was more convenient for passing drivers but missed out on all that Pike & Rose foot traffic.
Local Services Guide
- Home Services: AC, electrical, flooring, locksmiths, moving & more. Click here.
- Parties & Specialty Gifts: Party swag, monograms, custom art & more. Click here.
- Professional Services: Dentists, orthodontists & therapists. Click here.
- Pet Services: Only the best for your pet. Click here.
Did you miss these stories?
- The Spot Asian Food Hall opens in downtown Rockville. Click here.
- Cabin John restaurants close to opening. Click here.
- Westfield Montgomery mall signs a huge new restaurant for the Naples space. Click here.
- Sugo and the new Julii bring a well-known chef aboard. Click here.
- Westfield Montgomery Mall to begin a major expansion. Click here.
- Chico’s closes in Potomac Village. Click here.
- Cafe Rio Mexican restaurant opens at Travilah Square. Click here.
- Park Potomac gets a new clothing boutique. Click here.
- Rio Washingtonian gets a movie theater revamp. Click here.
- Trader Joe’s opening soon at Travilah Square. Click here.
- Cabin John Q&A: What’s the plan? Click here.
read more
Posted by Store Reporter on Jul 5, 2018 in Current Issue
The Spot is hot
Opening this weekend in downtown Rockville: The Spot, an Asian food hall on the ground floor of the Metropolitan apartment building on North Washington Street. Inside you’ll find everything from bubble tea and poke bowls to Taiwanese fried chicken, handmade noodles and dumplings. And for dessert: Taiwanese snocream (a shaved ice/ice cream combo) served in Hong Kong-style egg waffle cones. The Spot will be open until midnight or later most evenings, with additional food booths and a bar arriving soon. Up next is Pike Kitchen, another Asian food hall opening later this year on Edmonston Drive (click here for more). And after that comes The Block, a similar project opening in 2019 at Pike & Rose (click here for more).
Cabin John restaurant update
Over at Cabin John Village, restaurant construction is moving quickly and we’re told that CAVA (far left in this photo) might be open as early as next month. Le Pain Quotidien (second from left) will likely be the next restaurant to arrive, followed by Shake Shack (all the way on the right). The slowpoke here is Sisters Thai (the black building), a locally owned restaurant from Virginia that’s well behind its neighbors in the construction process. All four restaurants are supposed to be open by fall, but it looks like Sisters will need more time.
Weekend “staycation” at Pike & Rose
With the recent opening of the Canopy hotel by Hilton, Pike & Rose is looking to market itself as a summer “staycation” destination for locals. We stayed there last weekend and found plenty to keep us busy — starting with the Canopy’s free nightly tastings of local wines, spirits and craft brews, and ending with the hotel’s super-fresh breakfast buffet. The shopping options have really filled out, with everything from the outdoorsy (REI, L.L.Bean, Nike) to the culinary (Sur La Table and Seasons) to the fashion scene (from H&M to Lucky Brand to the Scout & Molly’s boutique). Catch dinner at one of the many Pike & Rose restaurants, schedule a massage at The Red Door, bowl a game at Pinstripes, take in a show at iPic or AMP… then get in line for ice cream sandwiches at The Baked Bear or grab a cocktail at summer pop-up The Beach, and your weekend is complete. To see what else is happening at Pike & Rose, click here.
SPONSORED CONTENT
The summer of Amazon
It feels like Amazon is everywhere in Montgomery County this summer, with discounts for Amazon Prime members now in effect at all Whole Foods stores (10% off sale items plus rotating weekly specials) and the newly opened Amazonbooks already drawing crowds on Bethesda Row. Prime members get better deals at the bookstore too — and everyone can drop off their Amazon returns there, as long as their packages are boxed and labeled at home.
Local Services Guide
- Home Services: AC, electrical, flooring, locksmiths, moving & more. Click here.
- Parties & Specialty Gifts: Party swag, monograms, custom art & more. Click here.
- Professional Services: Dentists, orthodontists & therapists. Click here.
- Pet Services: Only the best for your pet. Click here.
Did you miss these stories?
- Westfield Montgomery mall signs a huge new restaurant for the Naples space. Click here.
- Sugo and the new Julii bring a well-known chef aboard. Click here.
- Westfield Montgomery Mall to begin a major expansion. Click here.
- Chico’s closes in Potomac Village. Click here.
- Cafe Rio Mexican restaurant opens at Travilah Square. Click here.
- Park Potomac gets a new clothing boutique. Click here.
- Rio Washingtonian gets a movie theater revamp. Click here.
- Trader Joe’s opening soon at Travilah Square. Click here.
- The Baked Bear heading to Rio Washingtonian Center. Click here.
- Cabin John Q&A: What’s the plan? Click here.
- Wegmans in Rockville: your questions answered. Click here.
read more
Posted by Store Reporter on Jun 28, 2018 in Current Issue
New restaurant for Westfield Montgomery
Big news for the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall: Urban Plates, a modern take on the classic cafeteria, is taking over the empty Naples space with plans to open next year. The California-based chain offers a variety of chef-driven food stations, allowing customers to choose from freshly tossed salads and bowls, hand-carved sandwiches, side dishes and scratch-made desserts. Foodies should be happy with this place, where the beef is grass-fed, the chicken free-range, the seafood sustainably sourced and the produce mostly local. Want a peek at the menu? Click here or head over to Tysons Galleria, where Urban Plates will open in mid-July. Want to know what other restaurants are on the way to the mall? Click here.
Sugo’s secret chef
New talent in the kitchen this summer at Sugo: Sasha Felikson, a respected young chef who has worked at top D.C.-area restaurants from CityZen to Minibar, has been quietly revamping dishes at the Park Potomac eatery. Felikson, known for his adventurous choices, has been raising the bar at Sugo with new additions like small-batch mozzarella cheese and homemade pastas. (The crab gnocchi is a knockout). He’s now working on recipes for Julii, the new venture from the founders of Sugo and CAVA, where he’ll be running the kitchen when doors open this fall at Pike & Rose. The Julii menu will be French-Mediterranean, with a few surprises. (Ever seen ice cream prepared tableside? Felikson tells us he’s working on it. Stay tuned.)
New picks on the Pike
The summer outdoor dining scene is starting to shape up at Montrose Crossing, with three new restaurants already open and two more nearing completion. Slapfish and Five Guys will soon join CAVA and Honeygrow at the center’s new restaurant row, while Honey Pig Korean BBQ is now open near Old Navy. What’s missing from the lineup? Pieology. The make-your-own pizza chain has dropped out of the project, and we’re still waiting to hear who will fill the last few spaces. As soon as we know, you’ll know.
Photo via Up Top Acres
Rooftop crops at Pike & Rose
Remember the rooftop farm at Pike & Rose that we told you about last January? The first summer is off to a good start, with 17,000 square feet of crops including greens, root vegetables, herbs, tomatoes and peppers. Up Top Acres is overseeing the farm, which is said to be the largest of its kind in the Washington metro area. The food is being distributed to Pike & Rose restaurants, farm share members (maxed out for this year) and customers at the Saturday farm markets. For more info on Up Top Acres, click here.
Local Services Guide
- Home Services: AC, electrical, flooring, locksmiths, moving & more. Click here.
- Parties & Specialty Gifts: Party swag, monograms, custom art & more. Click here.
- Professional Services: Dentists, orthodontists & therapists. Click here.
- Pet Services: Only the best for your pet. Click here.
Did you miss these stories?
- Westfield Montgomery Mall to begin a major expansion. Click here.
- Chico’s closes in Potomac Village. Click here.
- Cafe Rio Mexican restaurant opens at Travilah Square. Click here.
- Park Potomac gets a new clothing boutique. Click here.
- Rio Washingtonian gets a movie theater revamp. Click here.
- Trader Joe’s opening soon at Travilah Square. Click here.
- Poki D.C. and The Baked Bearheading to Rio Washingtonian Center. Click here.
- Cabin John Q&A: What’s the plan? Click here.
- Wegmans in Rockville: your questions answered. Click here.
read more
Posted by Store Reporter on Jun 21, 2018 in Current Issue
Rendering via Westfield Montgomery
Major makeover for Montgomery Mall
This week we finally got a peek at the master plan for redeveloping Westfield Montgomery Mall into a living, working, shopping and dining community a la Pike & Rose. Most of the mall will remain intact — with the exception of Sears, which finally will close its doors next March — but plans calls for extensive additions including office space, apartments, a hotel, pedestrian walkways, and outdoor promenades lined with upscale stores and restaurants. Also on the way: a large fitness center with a dedicated parking lot. (No names have been revealed yet, but we’re hearing it’s Equinox.) The entire expansion plan will take about four years, beginning in spring 2019 after Sears is torn down. Additional renderings and a site plan can be found on our Facebook page; click here to check them out.
Chico’s checks out of the Village
Say goodbye to Chico’s in Potomac Village, which is closing its doors after a two-decade run next to Hunter’s Bar and Grill. The exit is part of a national downsizing for the women’s retailer, whose next-closest location is at Rockville’s Congressional Plaza. The Potomac Village store will be open until Monday (June 25th), but there’s not much left on the racks.
Mexican fare at Travilah Square
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill will open its third Montgomery County location next week at Travilah Square Shopping Center off Darnestown Road. In addition to the usual crowd-pleasing Mexican dishes (tacos, enchiladas, salads, etc.), the restaurant is known for its fresh-made lemonades and specialty drinks like horchata, a traditional sweet beverage made with milk, rice and cinnamon. (Click here for a peek at the menu.) Cafe Rio is the first of a new wave of tenants for the revamped Travilah Square, which soon will include the True Food Kitchen spinoff Flower Child (click here for more in our May 17th issue) — and of course Trader Joe’s (click here for the latest).
Honey Pig on the Pike
Honey Pig Korean BBQ has opened its doors at Montrose Crossing; you’ll find it in the strip mall behind Old Navy. This is the fifth D.C.-area location for Honey Pig, which offers a wide-ranging menu that includes bulgogi, dumplings, bibimbap, noodle soups and stews. Click here to check it out.
Local Services Guide
- Home Services: AC, electrical, flooring, locksmiths, moving & more. Click here.
- Parties & Specialty Gifts: Party swag, monograms, custom art & more. Click here.
- Professional Services: Dentists, orthodontists & therapists. Click here.
- Pet Services: Only the best for your pet. Click here.
Did you miss these stories?
- Slapfish to open next month on Rockville Pike. Click here.
- Park Potomac gets a new clothing boutique. Click here.
- Rio Washingtonian gets a movie theater revamp. Click here.
- Trader Joe’s opening soon at Travilah Square. Click here.
- Poki D.C. and The Baked Bear heading to Rio Washingtonian Center. Click here.
- MOM’s Organic Market opens on Shady Grove. Click here.
- Wildwood Shopping Center summer update. Click here.
- Cabin John Q&A: What’s the plan? Click here.
- Wegmans in Rockville: Your questions answered. Click here.
- Pike & Rose will get an Asian food hall: Click here.
read more
Posted by Store Reporter on Jun 14, 2018 in Current Issue
Slapfish on the way to Rockville
Opening next month at Montrose Crossing on Rockville Pike: Slapfish, the fast-casual seafood restaurant that’s expanding to the D.C. area. The California-based chain offers a moderately priced menu ranging from fish tacos to shrimp salad to a seafood/grilled cheese mashup called the Clobster. Slapfish is set to open July 13th next to CAVA and newcomer Honeygrow, part of the new restaurant row that’s rising where Timpano once stood. Also on the way: Five Guys , relocating from its longtime home on the other side of Rockville Pike. For more on Slapfish in our Feb. 8th edition, click here.
New boutique for Park Potomac
New boutique on the way to Park Potomac: Gym & Tonic, featuring high-end workout wear plus blazers, sweaters and cute tank tops that can transition from day to night. The store is a new venture from longtime local retailer Wendy Abelman, who previously worked for Lucky Brand and My Best Friend’s Closet, and business partner Amy Morgan Block, who once ran a similar store in Miami. The duo are hoping to open by early fall next to Addie’s — right in the sweet spot between Life Time Athletic and Orangetheory Fitness.
Revamp for Rio’s movie theater
The AMC Loews theater at Rio Washingtonian Center will be fully renovated by fall, the company tells us, with reclining seats, improved lighting and sound equipment, and an upgraded food and beverage menu. AMC is freshening up its properties across the country to meet the expectations of today’s audiences, who have grown accustomed to posh competitors like iPic and ArcLight. No word yet on how all these changes will affect ticket prices. For more on what’s happening at Rio Washingtonian, click here for our June 7th edition.
Summer kickoff at Wildwood this weekend
What’s happening this weekend? The annual Summer Sidewalk Sale at Wildwood Shopping Center. Stop by for great summertime deals at many of your favorite stores and restaurants: Belina Boutique, Blanca Flor, Coco Blanca, Hadlee, Irresistibles, Oakville Grille and Wine Bar, Red Orchard, Salon Nader, Sanctuary Interior Designs, Sandy Springs Bank, Secrete Jewelry, Sequel, [SOLIDCORE], South Moon Under, Voorthuis Opticians, Wildwood Italian Cuisine and Yves Delorme. The fun kicks into high gear on Saturday (June 16th) with live music and giveaways from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — including a chance to win $500 in gift cards to Wildwood merchants. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10241 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-998-8100.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Local Services Guide
Browse our listings for:
- Home Services: AC, electrical, flooring, locksmiths, moving & more. Click here.
- Parties & Specialty Gifts: Party swag, monograms, custom art & more. Click here.
- Professional Services: Dentists, orthodontists & therapists. Click here.
- Pet Services: Only the best for your pet. Click here.
Did you miss these stories?
- Poki D.C. and The Baked Bear heading to Rio Washingtonian Center. Click here.
- MOM’s Organic Market opens on Shady Grove. Click here.
- China Garden to fill Paladar space on Rockville Pike. Click here
- Trader Joe’s at Travilah Square: the latest. Click here.
- Wildwood Shopping Center summer update. Click here.
- Branded 72 becomes Crossroads BBQ and Grill. Click here.
- Westfield Montgomery Mall has new food on the way. Click here.
- Karma Erwin Gomez opens at Park Potomac. Click here.
- Cabin John Q&A: What’s the plan? Click here.
- True Food Kitchen spinoff for Wildwood & Travilah. Click here.
- Wegmans in Rockville: your questions answered. Click here.
- Pike & Rose will get an Asian food hall: Click here.
read more
