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Latest on Lord & Taylor, New Haven pizza, French pastries and a holiday boutique

December 5, 2019 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

The Lord & Taylor lowdown

Lord & Taylor, under new ownership this fall, is closing its stores at Tysons Corner and Dulles Town Center just months after exiting Gaithersburg’s Lakeforest Mall. So what about the North Bethesda store, which stands alone at the site of the former White Flint Mall? Not to worry. A company spokesman assures us that the White Flint store will remain open, along with the one in Chevy Chase. If you happen to stop by, don’t miss the newly expanded second-floor clearance section with a smattering of designer bargains directly from Manhattan. Next year, we’re told, all Lord & Taylor stores will begin integrating merchandise from new owner Le Tote. More on the acquisition in our Aug. 29th edition.

New Haven pizza on the way

New Englanders were cheering this week when WTOP reported that Connecticut pizzeria Frank Pepe is heading to Westfield Montgomery mall. This will be the first Maryland location for the family-owned business, which was founded almost a century ago in New Haven. On the menu: Neapolitan-style pizzas with thin crusts and charred edges, including a signature pie featuring littleneck clams, garlic and olive oil. The mall won’t say when or where Frank Pepe will be opening. (We’re betting on the former Crave space, which has been empty since last April.) Hopefully this new arrival will help fill the void left by the upcoming closure of Rockville’s Pizza CS. More on that in our Nov. 14th edition. (Editor’s update: We now know that Frank Pepe will be replacing Bobby’s Burger Palace. Details in our Jan. 30th edition.)

Washington Hebrew Congregation Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction

Shopping, fun and a free Store Reporter raffle

Head to Potomac this weekend for the annual Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction sponsored by the Women of Washington Hebrew Congregation. The show will be held Sunday and Monday inside the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center, at the corner of Falls Road and Tuckerman Lane. Stop by the Store Reporter table, say hello and enter to win one of our fabulous raffle prizes from show vendors: gift cards for clothes from Lavaloka and Trio Jr., design services from Elana Designs, home accessories from Crystal Luxe Lighting Plus, fun kitchen tools from Q.D. Foodie, photos from Photos by Freddie and jewelry from Austyn Parker and Sweet Charma. There’s no charge to enter our raffle; just visit the show and drop your name in the Store Reporter jar.

French bakery debuts this weekend

Saturday (Dec. 7th) is opening day for French bakery Patisserie Manuel, the newest addition to the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall. Owner Claudia Olea, a Chilean-born chef with classical French training, will be serving croissants, soups, sandwiches and crepes as well as cookies, pastries, macarons, specialty cakes, Illy coffee and a bit of Chilean cuisine. Look for it in the former Wicked Waffle space next to McDonald’s.

The Block is open

Asian food hall The Block opened its doors Thanksgiving weekend at Pike & Rose. Some of the eateries aren’t up and running yet, but the options so far include a poke bar, Korean barbecue, bubble tea, ice cream and snocream desserts. Also: Peruvian-style chicken. For more photos, check out Store Reporter on Facebook and Instagram.

Did you miss these issues?

Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

Lego Store, the future of Macy’s and a closing date for Pizza CS

Dawson’s returns, bye bye bike stores, vintage market for Potomac and a music school for Cabin John

December 13, 2018 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

The ride is over for Performance Bicycle

Sad news for local cyclists: The Performance Bicycle retail chain is riding off into the sunset. The company is in Chapter 11 and plans to close all stores — including the popular Rockville location at Congressional Plaza. Looking to score some deals? You’d better roll quickly; closing sales are going on now.

Vintage vibes on River Road

New place to shop on River Road: The Potomac French Market is open Thursdays through Sundays in the weathered barn that once was home to Flora’s Feathered Nest. With a similar mix of new and vintage gifts, home decor, antique furniture and upcycled goods, the store will please those who have missed Flora’s since it closed in 2016. “We were huge fans,” says co-owner Teri Troxell, who notes that she and partner Rene Redfield Shaw were also inspired by vintage markets in Paris and New Orleans as well as Chartreuse & Co. in Frederick. The pair took over the space from the Sonoran Rose boutique, which moved out last summer. (More on that in our July 19th edition.) You’ll find the Potomac French Market at 12211 River Road. Hours vary, so it’s best to call ahead: 301-807-9945.

Dawson's is back

Dawson’s Market, closed since late October, makes a triumphant return this weekend with a new owner and a new commitment to serving as a “one-stop shop” for Rockville Town Square. Longtime manager Bart Yablonsky has purchased the store from its out-of-town owners and is making changes that he says the community has asked for. “We’re expanding the product mix with more national brands that people will recognize and more convenience items like flashlights and batteries,” he says. “We’ll have freshly sliced meats and cheeses at the deli, and a new selection of conventional produce along with the organics.” Yablonsky says the wider range of products will allow for lower prices on some items — but he promises the store will continue to specialize in local and organic foods.

Music school moves to Cabin John

The International School of Music, offering voice and instrument classes for kids and teens, is leaving its longtime location near Bethesda’s Home Depot for a new home at Cabin John Village. Classes will begin Jan. 2nd on the second floor of the mini-mall, where students can learn to play everything from piano, guitar and violin to drums, ukulele and harp. The school also trains ensembles that perform at local venues as well as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Click here for more.

Gifts for the kitchen

As much as we love writing about restaurants, at this time of year we’re spending lots of time in the kitchen with friends and family. So once again, we’re partnering with our favorite cooking stores to bring you some gift inspiration. Up this week: three great picks from Sur La Table.

Chilewich Lace Table Runner: These lace textiles from designer Sandy Chilewich add metallic sparkle to any table, but they’re actually made of high-tech plastics. That means they’re easy to wipe clean and can be used indoors or out. Available in gold or silver for $115; click here for more.
Moscow Mule Mugs: For the friend who loves a good cocktail, these copper mugs come in a hammered or plain finish for $19.95 apiece. Click here for more.
Dual-Action Potato Masher: This clever tool works as both a masher and a ricer, coming in handy for egg salad and guacamole as well as potatoes. $19.95, click here for more.

For more gift picks from Sur La Table, visit the Pike & Rose store or shop online at surlatable.com.

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Did you miss these issues?

Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

Lego Store, the future of Macy’s and a closing date for Pizza CS

Westfield is sold, Potomac restaurant closes, Hot Pot on the Pike & holiday discounts

December 14, 2017 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

Westfield changes hands

Westfield Corp., the Australian company that owns Westfield Montgomery Mall, announced this week that it’s being sold for $15.8 billion to the French firm Unibail-Rodamco. What does that mean for our local mall and its sister property, Westfield Wheaton? No one knows yet. For now, mall staff tells us that everything is status quo and the bustling holiday season is proceeding as usual. Meanwhile, the mall has lost a few more tenants in the past few weeks: The 3-D Manaco photo store is gone, as is the Boardwalk burger-and-fry restaurant (previously known as Kraze Burger and then Burger Venue). Also on the way out is Vitamin World, whose parent company has filed Chapter 11.

Hot Pot on the Pike

Urban Hot Pot made its debut this week in the Galvan complex on Rockville Pike, next door to the recently opened Akira ramen restaurant. There’s an all-you-can-eat menu for $24.99, with heating stations at the tables and a conveyor belt that sends out fresh ingredients for the broth bowls. This is the second hot pot restaurant to open in the area this year, following Little Dipper at Rockville Town Square. And a whole new wave of Asian eateries is headed to Rockville in 2018; we’ll have more after the holidays.

Free week of winter produce from Norman’s

Norman’s Farm Market has launched its first winter home delivery program, offering seasonal fruits and vegetables direct to your door. Partnering with sustainable local farms a few hours south of the D.C. area, Norman’s is offering fresh-picked baskets of squash, potatoes, avocados, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, greens, apples and whatever else looks good on a given week. A small share, which feeds one to three people, costs $29 per week. A large share feeds four to six people for $39. Sign up now and take advantage of one free week for Store Reporter readers; make sure to use the code STORE18. Click here for details.

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Potomac Village restaurant closes

Fortune Garden, a longtime fixture in Potomac Village, has closed its doors at the Potomac Promenade shopping center on Falls Road. Landlords tell us the search is on for a new tenant — and clearly there’s room for some fresh restaurant options in the Village. Stay tuned.

Spin to win with Spotluck

Have you heard about Spotluck? It’s a homegrown company (launched in Rockville, now based in Bethesda) that offers dining discounts at 1,400 restaurants all over the East Coast. Download the app for everyday savings at favorites like Black’s, Barrel & Crow, Bombay Bistro, Passage to India, Mamma Lucia, Gusto, Mussel Bar & Grille, the Grilled Oyster Co., Trapezeria and Lebanese Taverna among others. From Dec. 15th to the 22nd, Spotluck is giving away free gift cards for everyone who downloads the app. And Store Reporter readers can get an extra discount by using the code REPORTER. To claim yours, click here.

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Store Reporter holiday gift picks

Are you looking for some quick and easy holiday gifts? We’ve been testing some products that were sent to us for review, and we’d like to share some of our favorites. For the travelers on your gift list, we’re impressed with the Eva NYC Almighty Pro-Power Mini Hair Dryer, which comes with a cute case and packs a surprising amount of power for such a tiny device ($48 at Urban Outfitters). We always count on The Container Store for great stocking stuffers, and this year is no exception. Our favorites are the whimsical Toasty S’more Skewers ($14.99, click here ) and the 3-in-1 clip lens for creating fun effects with your phone camera ($4.99, click here). And with winter movie-and-popcorn nights on the horizon, you can’t go wrong with this red collapsible Lékué microwave popcorn popper from Sur La Table ($20, click here for info). For more of our recommendations for great kitchen gifts, scroll down or click here.

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Did you miss these issues?

Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

Lego Store, the future of Macy’s and a closing date for Pizza CS

French Bakery, Bowling & Bocce — plus Anthropologie and a CalTort giveaway

July 20, 2017 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

French bakery says bonjour to Rockville

Fresh Baguette, the Bethesda bakery known for its authentic French breads and pastries, opens its second location next week at 804 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The new space is much bigger than the one in downtown Bethesda, with a large factory in the back preparing wholesale orders for clients like Ritz-Carlton, the Watergate Hotel and Potomac’s new Filicori Zecchini coffee house. (Check out our Facebook page for a look behind the scenes, featuring the biggest mixers you’ve ever seen.) Breads, pastries, coffee and custom-made sandwiches will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily starting July 25th. For a closer look at Fresh Baguette, click here.

Anthropologie heading to downtown Bethesda

This week Store Reporter readers were buzzing about the news that Anthropologie is heading to downtown Bethesda, replacing the 20-year-old Barnes & Noble store that’s closing in December. This will be a new department store-style format for Anthropologie, with three floors of clothing, shoes, accessories, home and garden goods, a beauty boutique, a bridal salon and indoor/outdoor dining on the ground floor. For a peek at what Anthropologie has to offer, click here.

Win a meal for two at California Tortilla

This month we’re giving away a pair of California Tortilla certificates — each good for two fresh entrees with drinks and sides — to be used at the Cabin John location or anywhere else in the D.C. Metro area. Through the end of August, you can still catch Cal Tort’s spicy-sweet Bangkok Shrimp bowls, burritos and quesadillas. Or try some of the restaurant’s other popular dishes like the California Sunset Bowl, Korean BBQ Tacos or California Screamin’ Burrito. Want to put your name in our hat? Click here to send us an email (subject line: California Tortilla), or click here to enter via our Facebook page.

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Pinstripes ready to open at Pike & Rose

Five months after the debut of Lucky Strike at Westfield Montgomery Mall, Pike & Rose is ready to roll out a bowling alley of its own. August 5th is opening day for Pinstripes, featuring bowling and bocce plus food, drinks and plenty of space for private parties. Bowling fees will vary with days and times, ranging from $8 to $15 an hour per person (plus shoes), while bocce costs $5 to $10 an hour. This will be the second D.C.-area location for Pinstripes, which opened three years ago in Georgetown. Be sure to follow our Facebook page for an upcoming sneak peek.

Coffee house opens at Park Potomac — plus Smashburger, True Religion, Ann Taylor and Walgreens

July 6, 2017 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Coffee house opens at Park Potomac

Opening in mid-July after more than a year of construction at Park Potomac: Filicori Zecchini, the European-style coffee house on the ground floor of The Perry. Owner Elhussien Ahmed, an Egyptian native with a passion for Italian coffee, has been laboring over details from the imported mosaic wall tiles to the sleek Italian chairs to the stunning copper coffee bar. The menu will include pastries, sandwiches and grab-and-go items from the French bakery Fresh Baguette, plus Italian specialty drinks like bicerìn and marrocchino (espresso and milk froth mixed with hot chocolate or cocoa powder). For opening hours and other info, call 301-444-4417.

What’s the story with Smashburger?

Fast-casual chain Smashburger has been closing restaurants all over Montgomery County, including one in downtown Bethesda last winter and two more in Gaithersburg and Germantown over the past few weeks. Julian Goodman, the company’s local franchisee, says all three restaurants were company-owned and their locations were not the right fit. Goodman, who opened his first Smashburger at The Galvan on Rockville Pike last year, says he’s actively looking for more locations in this area.

Tough times for True Religion

True Religion, the Los Angeles-based manufacturer of designer denim, is the latest retailer to file Chapter 11. The brand came to prominence in the early 2000s, when high-end denim bars were all the rage and no one used the term “athleisure.” Now True Religion is looking to reduce its $500 million debt load with hopes of emerging from bankruptcy later this year. At least 27 of the company’s 130-plus stores are expected to close. No word yet on the fate of the Westfield Montgomery Mall location, which opened in 2014.

Back for the summer: Bangkok Shrimp at CalTort

Bangkok Shrimp, a summertime specialty at California Tortilla, is back on the menu through the end of August. Lightly breaded with a mild red chili sauce, the spicy-sweet delicacy is the star of Bangkok Shrimp Tacos, Bangkok Shrimp Bowls and (our favorite) Bangkok Shrimp Quesadillas. Like all the food at CalTort, it’s made fresh in small batches all day long. “Many people don’t realize how serious we are about serving only the freshest ingredients,” says CalTort exec Keith Goldman. “We actually do not have freezers in any of our restaurants. So every day we’re getting something delivered, be it produce or proteins… and for the next few months, shrimp. That’s why some of our menu items are only offered seasonally, even though they’re guest favorites.” Want to see what’s cooking at the Cabin John CalTort this summer? Click here.

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New look for Ann Taylor

The Ann Taylor store at Westfield Montgomery Mall is temporarily closed for renovation. The retailer has announced plans to shutter some of its locations this year, along with those of sister chains including Loft and Lane Bryant. But the Montgomery Mall store is expected to reopen by fall.

Walgreens & Rite Aid break up

After two years of protracted negotiations with U.S. regulators, Walgreens and Rite Aid have called off their plans for a merger. Instead, Walgreens has agreed to buy 2,350 Rite Aid stores in the Northeast, the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic. The company hasn’t disclosed which stores are part of this new deal, but a spokesman tells us that all will eventually be absorbed into the Walgreens brand. That likely means one less drug store for Potomac Village, where Walgreens and Rite Aid are neighbors on opposite sides of River Road.

New French bakery, New York-style pizza, flowers & fun at the mall, bye bye Bebe

May 11, 2017 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

New French bakery for Rockville

Fresh Baguette, a Bethesda bakery with a stellar reputation, is heading to Rockville this summer with a new location at 804 Hungerford Drive. What to expect? Scratch-baked French bread, croissants, tarts, macarons, Viennese pastries, custom-made sandwiches and a dozen other reasons to leave your skinny jeans at home. The Rockville location, featuring a picture window where you can watch the bakers at work, will fulfill orders for wholesale clients like Ritz-Carlton and the Watergate Hotel. “Most of our bakers were trained in France,” says wholesale director Vincent Mathieu. “We do things the traditional way, exactly the same as it’s done there.” To see what’s in the oven, click here.

New York pizza on the Pike

CSNY Pizza, the long-awaited spinoff to Rockville favorite Pizza CS, quietly opened for lunch this week at 1020 Rockville Pike. Hours will be expanded in the next week or two, says co-owner Ankur Rajpara, who runs the six-year-old business with partner Jonathan Allen. The pair have a reputation for perfectionism, having traveled to Italy and deeply researched Neapolitan cooking techniques before they launched their first restaurant at Twinbrook Metro Center. The new place, in tighter quarters at Edmonston Crossing, offers New York-style pizza with a focus on takeout and delivery. Click here for more in our Jan 5 edition — and click here if you missed last week’s story on the closings of two nearby Italian restaurants, Pie 360 and Brio Tuscan Grille.

Flowers and fun at the mall

If you’ve ever been to the Macy’s Flower Show in New York City, you’ll like what’s about to happen at Westfield Montgomery Mall. May 16th marks the kickoff of Montgomery in Bloom, a six-week flower party with floral-themed food and tea tastings, perfume samplings, fashion shows, yoga classes, hand massages, makeup tutorials and some dazzling flower displays. It’s all happening on the lower level of the Nordstrom wing, where you can also join Wednesday night paint-and-pour events to benefit Children’s National Medical Center. Click here for dates and details.

Bye bye Bebe

Things are looking pretty bare at the Bebe store at Westfield Montgomery Mall, which will close its doors at the end of this month. Bebe, a retail darling of the ’90s, is shuttering all of its 160-plus locations after years of declining sales. The company initially said it would stay in business as an online retailer, but it’s now unclear whether that will actually happen.

News splash

Aardvark Swim & Sport, a fixture at Wintergreen Plaza for more than two decades, is heading into pool season with a new name and a new owner. The store was purchased by Virginia businessman Lee Cassel, a longtime sporting goods retailer who operates a similar store in Herndon as well as a sports complex just down the road. “I’ve known Aardvark owner Bob York for years, as he and I had competing stores in Virginia,” Cassel says. “When I got wind that he was going to retire, we worked out a deal for me to take over this location.” The Wintergreen store, which will now be called Cassel’s Swim & Awards, will also offer custom plaques, trophies and personalized signs. For more on Cassel’s, click here.

New seafood market may be on the way; White Flint Mall update; Costco and Konplott

March 5, 2015 By Store Reporter 10 Comments

New seafood market may be on the way

Good news for fans of fresh seafood: We hear that a new gourmet fish market will soon be setting up shop near the border of Potomac and Rockville. The owner, who has many years of experience in the seafood industry, has his eye on a location that’s convenient to both areas — but not too close to Potomac Village, which already has two gourmet markets of its own. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for more details when the deal is done.

White Flint Mall — finally ready to come down?

The owners of White Flint Mall won a victory in federal appeals court this week when a judge ruled against Lord & Taylor’s attempt to stop the property from being redeveloped. The department store, which owns its own building and has no plans to leave, is the only tenant left at the once-luxurious mall after owner Lerner Enterprises allowed all the other leases to expire. Lerner plans to demolish the property and replace it with an open-air mix of retail, restaurants, offices and living space. Lord & Taylor took Lerner to court in an effort to force the company to repopulate White Flint Mall instead of tearing it down. But an appeals court judge said that plan wasn’t realistic. The redevelopment project still has some governmental hurdles to clear, but this week’s decision means it’s now just a matter of time before the wrecking ball arrives.

Congrats to our Stella Barra gift card winner

Congratulations to Store Reporter readers Tammi Cortez, Helaine Shabrin Groeger and Scott Reilly, who each won $25 gift cards to the new Stella Barra Pizzeria at Pike & Rose. Keep reading Store Reporter for a chance to win more great giveaways. And scroll down to our Sales & Events section to find out what restaurant is opening at Pike & Rose this weekend.

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Costco says goodbye Amex, hello Visa

Just weeks after announcing its impending breakup with American Express, Costco has moved on to a new credit card partner. Starting in April 2016, Visa will be the only credit card that Costco accepts. Also on the way out is the the Costco American Express TrueEarnings card, which will be replaced next year by a co-branded Costco Visa. Still to be determined: whether that new Visa card will offer the same level of generous cash-back rewards.

Goodbye — again — to Konplott

Speaking of goodbyes, this week we bid adieu for the second time to Konplott at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The four-year-old store had been the first U.S. location for the European retailer, which sells an eye-catching line of colorful crystal pieces by designer Miranda Konstantindou. This was the second exit in less than a year for Konplott, which vacated its store near Macy’s last spring but later resurfaced in the form of a kiosk outside Nordstrom. This time the departure appears to be permanent: Konplott’s phone number is no longer in service.

Reader Favorite: French baguettes at Breadsmith

Our Reader Favorite section is the perfect place to tell us about that dish you dream about, that dessert you crave, or that go-to gift from your favorite little shop. Click here to share your favorite — and read on for a recommendation from one of your neighbors. Sheila Weiss of Potomac can’t get enough of the crusty French loaves at Breadsmith in the Cabin John Shopping Center (not to mention the store’s delicious fresh-out-of-the-oven aroma). “They stock
authentic French baguettes ($2.50), soft and chewy inside with a wonderful crust,” says Weiss, who works as chief science officer for DrugLogic in Reston. “I always skip the soggy supermarket version and head over to Breadsmith for the real thing.”

New grocer in Potomac Village, Legal Sea Foods closes, steaks in downtown Rockville

February 13, 2014 By Store Reporter

New grocer in the Village

Potomac Grocer, an upscale market specializing in local, natural and organic foods, is finally making its long-awaited debut in Potomac Village. “We’re kind of like a Whole Foods or Balducci’s, but much smaller,” says owner Tom Spencer, noting that he’s put a lot of time into hiring the right staff. That includes two chefs — one dedicated to pastries, and the other focused on preparing meals to go. Potomac Grocer is on River Road next to Walgreens, in the space that spent decades serving horseback riders as The Surrey.

Legal no longer

Speaking of seafood: Boston-based Legal Sea Foods has closed its restaurant at Westfield Montgomery Mall. No comment from the company, which also shuttered locations in Florida and New York. As we told you last week, the mall plans to open several new restaurants and a movie theater later this year. But it’s still deciding what to do with Legal’s leftover space.

Steaking a claim on Rockville

There’s a new place to eat in Rockville Town Square: 82 Steak Out has opened on Gibbs Street next to Noodles & Company. The concept is based on the French tradition of steak-and-fry eateries, says co-owner Anna Don, “but with an American twist” of a slightly broader menu — including sides like creamed spinach, cauliflower and sautéed mushrooms. Not to mention Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, which you definitely won’t find in Paris.

Kids’ Stores R Gone

Toys R Us and Pottery Barn Kids both exited Rockville Pike in recent weeks as their former homes — Mid-Pike Plaza and White Flint Mall — draw closer to dates with the wrecking ball. PB Kids bounced back right away, opening a new location at Mazza Gallerie in D.C. But Toys R Us, which has struggled for market share in recent years, says it has no plans to reopen in this area. The next-closest store is in Gaithersburg.

Hello Urban Plates and LebTav, goodbye to half The Gap, two more closings at Rockville Town Square

March 7, 2019 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Urban Plates arrives

The Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall looks a whole lot different this week: Urban Plates officially debuts on Monday (March 11th), but crowds started lining up on Thursday with tickets to pre-opening events. The restaurant offers a fresh-cooked cafeteria-style menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches along with more elaborate entrées, baked goods and juices. For a look at the menu, click here. For a look at the interior, check out our photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

New look for Lebanese Taverna

LebTav, the new version of local favorite Lebanese Taverna, opened its doors this week a few doors down from its longtime home at Congressional Plaza. LebTav is smaller than its predecessor, with a pared-down menu of salads, pita sandwiches, falafel, shawarma, hummus and grab-and-go items. For more on the new format — and lots more about all the changes at Congressional Plaza — check out our Feb. 21 and Feb. 28 editions.

Two more closings at Rockville Town Square

The exodus at Rockville Town Square continued this week when two neighboring businesses on Gibbs Street — Lab Cafe and Little Dipper Hot Pot House — closed their doors within days of each other. Lab Cafe, a bubble tea shop that opened in 2017, is the fifth business to fail at the same address since 2007. (Remember Bobby’s Crabcakes, Tippy’s Taco House, 82 Steak Out and Ev & Maddy’s?) Little Dipper also opened two years ago in the corner spot that once housed Noodles & Company. Add these two to the list of recent RTS closings that now includes Pandora Seafood House & Bar, Mellow Mushroom and LiquidBlue Denim Boutique, along with the neighboring Apollo restaurant. Dawson’s Market also closed last October, but it reopened in December under new ownership.

Realtor Jacqueline Band-Olinger of Greystone Realty

Rolling into Park Potomac

Roll by Goodyear has rolled into Park Potomac, opening a new store between Elevation Burger and The Wine Harvest. This is the space that once housed the Emily Grace boutique, most recently home to the pop-up Pooch Portrait Studio. Roll, which installs tires wherever you are, has blanketed Montgomery County with a half-dozen stores in the past few months.

Alice in Wonderland at Herbert Hoover Middle School

Big week for The Gap & Gymboree

Gap Inc. made so many announcements this week that even we found it hard to keep up. Number one, the company said it will close about half of its 500ish Gap stores over the next two years. Number two, it will spin off the thriving Old Navy brand into a separate publicly traded company. Number three, it will purchase the Janie and Jack kids’ clothing chain from bankrupt Gymboree Group. Meanwhile, Gymboree Group got some other good news when rival retailer The Children’s Place announced plans to purchase and “revitalize” what’s left of the Gymboree brand. Does that mean the Gymboree stores are no longer going out of business? The answer isn’t clear yet — and all these plans still have to go through bankruptcy court.

Did you miss these issues?

Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

Lego Store, the future of Macy’s and a closing date for Pizza CS

Changes for Congressional Plaza, reboot for Lebanese Taverna, update on Cooper’s Hawk, more closings at the mall

February 21, 2019 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Change is in the air at Congressional Plaza

There’s a lot of reshuffling at Rockville’s Congressional Plaza this month, with longtime tenants on the move and more changes still to come. Here’s the lowdown:

Lebanese Taverna has closed its 20-year-old restaurant and will return next month with a new name, new format and new location between Ulta and Modern Market. Say hello to LebTav, which dispenses with the grill in favor of a fast-casual menu of salads, pita sandwiches, falafel, shawarma, hummus and grab-and-go items. This will be the second location for the Leb Tav format, which also involves more cooking at a central commissary. “If it’s successful, we will probably go this route for all our restaurants in the future,” says marketing manager Pamela Ferreira. For a sneak peek of the Rockville restaurant in progress, click here.
Chico’s, which has been closing stores including the one in Potomac Village, is relocating from the north side of Congressional Plaza to a smaller space on the south side. The old Chico’s will close on Feb. 24th and the new one will open a few days later.
On the back side of Congressional, new tenant Big Bear Custom Apparel is creating personalized clothing designs for sports teams, businesses, groups and individuals. Click here to check out the Big Bear website.
Performance Bicycle has been holding a going-out-of-business sale since its parent company filed bankruptcy late last year. The store will remain open until early March, but most of its inventory is already gone.

All of these changes — plus the recent closing of the Thomasville furniture store — add up to a lot of empty space on the north side of Congressional Plaza. So what’s the plan for all that square footage? For awhile we were hearing talk about a mini Barnes & Noble store, but that seems unlikely now that the bookseller has renewed its lease at Montrose Crossing. Still, it certainly looks like something big is on the way. Watch our upcoming issues for the latest.

(Editor’s note: For an update on this story in our March 28th edition, click here.)

Cooper's Hawk will take flight soon

With the recent openings of Onelife Fitness and Chick-fil-A at Rockville’s Research Row, anticipation is building for the arrival of Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant. The Illinois-based chain, which has locations in Reston, Ashburn and Annapolis, is known for its food-and-wine pairings, wine-tasting rooms and in-house gourmet markets. There’s no official opening date for Rockville just yet, but the company tells us it should happen sometime this summer.

Who's out at the mall

Add Payless to the list of stores holding going-out-of-business sales at Westfield Montgomery mall. The shoe chain has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time and will close all 2,500 locations by May. Also on the way out of the mall are Gymboree (Chapter 11), Crabtree & Evelyn (downsizing) and Sheepskin Gifts (a seasonal tenant that comes and goes every year). Already gone as of this week: the Kia Stinger showroom. So what’s on the way to Westfield Montgomery? More food. Catch up at storereporter.com for the latest on Cinnabon, 7-Eleven and Urban Plates.

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Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

Lego Store, the future of Macy’s and a closing date for Pizza CS

Thanksgiving shopping, Black Friday specials, new restaurants for the holidays

November 22, 2018 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving — and let the shopping begin

Just about the time you’re finishing that last piece of pumpkin pie, lots of stores will be opening their doors for the earliest Black Friday shoppers. Westfield Montgomery mall will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight on Thursday — although some of the biggest stores, including Apple and Nordstrom, will be sitting it out until Friday. Most of Rockville’s major retailers will be closed on Thanksgiving, reopening as early as 6 a.m. for Friday morning door-busters. If you prefer a stress-free shopping experience, pay a visit to your local retailers like the ones at Cabin John Village. Many will be offering terrific Black Friday deals, and they’ll even handle the gift-wrapping for you. Scroll down for details.

Last hurrah for Sears and the Macy's Home Store

This will be the last Black Friday for Sears at Westfield Montgomery mall, and likely for the Macy’s Home Store as well. From what we hear, there’s a new Life Time Athletic fitness club and eventually a whole new Macy’s store on the way. More on these plans in our Oct. 25th edition. And stay tuned for next week, when we have some news about a big change happening on Rockville Pike.

New restaurants for the holidays

What’s new on the holiday dining scene? Flower Child, the new fast-casual restaurant at Travilah Square Shopping Center, offers a healthy, veg-heavy menu that makes a great counterpart to all those Thanksgiving calories. Nada, specializing in tacos and cocktails, opened its doors on Monday at Pike & Rose. We haven’t tried it yet, but the interior is lovely. And Julii, a new French/Mediterranean restaurant from the founders of Cava, will be opening down the street in about a week. This week we took a sneak-peek tour with chef Sasha Felikson, who’s supervising every detail from the Moroccan tagine cookware to the chocolate soufflés. Check out our Facebook page for photos of all three places.

Did you miss these issues?

Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

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New restaurant for Westfield Montgomery, Sugo’s secret chef, new picks on the Pike

June 28, 2018 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

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.)

CAVA, Honeygrow, Slapfish and Five Guys at Montrose Crossing 2

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.

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.

Did you miss these issues?

Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

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New venture from the Cava team, new closings and our favorite restaurants for 2017

November 30, 2017 By Store Reporter 2 Comments

Cava team cooks up something new for Pike & Rose

Have you been wondering what’s up with that glass-encased building across from the new L.L.Bean store on Rockville Pike? Now we know: It’s the future home of Julii, a new French Mediterranean restaurant from the founders of Cava. This will be a standalone concept created specifically for Pike & Rose, serving an all-day menu that moves from croissants and coffee in the morning to shakshouka, roast chicken and cocktails in the evening. Co-owner Ted Xenohristos tells us he hopes to open the doors by late spring or early summer.

Game over for Toy Kingdom

Toy Kingdom, one of the last original tenants at Rockville Town Square, will close its doors at the end of this month after more than a decade on Maryland Avenue. Toy stores large and small have been struggling to compete with online commerce these past few years; high-end Marbles closed all its stores last winter (including the one at Westfield Montgomery Mall), while Toys R Us filed Chapter 11 this past fall. In our area, Toy Castle in Potomac and Child’s Play in Rockville are now the only two toy stores left standing.

Trouble for Helen’s

Helen’s, which opened last year in the former Addie’sspace on Rockville Pike, is struggling to stay in business. Owner Helen Wasserman, a longtime D.C. caterer, says it’s been difficult to turn a profit in an aging building that has needed so many repairs. “We’re hoping to stay open if we can work things out with the landlord,” she says. The building’s former tenants, restaurateurs Jeff and Barbara Black, had similar issues that led them to close the original Addie’s in 2013. They recently debuted a new version at Park Potomac — and it’s one of our Store Reporter Favoritesfor 2017. Scroll down to find out who else made the list.

Another restaurant closes at the mall

Westfield Montgomery Mall lost another eatery last week with the closing of Shanghai Bao Kitchen, a two-year-old concept from the owners of Bob’s Shanghai 66. The restaurant had made several attempts to revamp its menu in the past few months, adding sushi burritos, poke bowls and other trendy items, but it suffered from its out-of-the-way location plus competition from the neighboring B/Bop/Q.

Our favorite new restaurants of 2017

This has been a tough year for retailers, but a relatively good one for the local dining scene. From Rockville Pike to Potomac to Westfield Montgomery Mall, some terrific new places have opened over the past 12 months. Here’s a look at some of our favorites.

Addie’s at Park Potomac: This reincarnation of the beloved Rockville restaurant was one of the most anticipated openings of the year — and many longtime fans say it was worth the wait. Seafood towers are the centerpiece of the high-end menu. Click here for details.
Buredo at the Wildwood Shops: This is the first Maryland location for the D.C.-based chain, an early pioneer of the sushi burrito craze. We’re partial to the Beatrix, stuffed with yellowfin tuna and salmon sashimi. Click here for details.
CSNY Pizza on Rockville Pike: From the owners of the much-loved Pizza CS, this is about as close as you can get to authentic New York-style pizza in Rockville. Click here for details.
Don Pollo at Westlake Crossing: Come for the juicy roasted chicken, stay for the tasty Peruvian dishes. We particularly like the ceviche, yuca and plantains. Click here for more.
Filicori Zecchini at Park Potomac: Finally, a neighborhood coffee shop that Potomac can call its own. With sleek European furniture, a stunning copper bar and authentic Italian coffee, it’s worlds away from Starbucks. Click here for more.
Honeyfish Poke at Congressional Plaza: Hawaiian-style poke bowls are all the rage, and this place does it right: generous portions, fresh toppings and flavorful sauces. Click here for details.
Fresh Baguette on Hungerford Drive: The second location for this popular French bakery is designed to service wholesale clients (think country clubs and ritzy hotels) but is happy to serve you a super-fresh sandwich, a loaf of bread or a single perfect pastry. Click here for more.
Gusto Farm to Street at Westfield Montgomery Mall: The pizzas and salads are all very good, but it’s the chewy, gluten-free cauliflower crust that really sets this place apart. Click here for more.
Lucky Strike at Westfield Montgomery Mall: The food is surprisingly good at this snazzy bowling alley, where you can sit front-and-center at the sports bar or huddle in a cozy corner for a quiet board game. Click here for more.
Mission BBQ at Wintergreen Plaza: This uber-patriotic restaurant has something of a cult following, both for its top-notch barbecue and its dedication to supporting those in uniform. The brisket is a standout. Click here for more.
Moby Dick in Potomac Village: A welcome addition to this restaurant-starved neighborhood, offering a reliable Middle Eastern menu that’s well-suited for takeout. Click here for more.
Pinstripes at Pike & Rose: Bocce and bowling aren’t the only reasons to visit: The dishes here are among the tastiest we’ve had this year in North Bethesda. Don’t miss the boneless short rib and the crispy calamari. Click here for more.

Did you miss these issues?

Attman’s and Subway exit Cabin John — plus furloughs, Forever 21 and more food options

Stores & restaurants adapt: Who’s open, who’s busier than ever and who’s never coming back

Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

Coronavirus chaos at local stores, Amazon heading to the mall

More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Retail shakeups, Lego starts building, Patrizia Luca & A.C. Moore

Home Depot Design Center, Barnes & Noble, Pike & Rose boutique and a 7-Eleven update

Signs of change in Potomac Village, coffee cafe at the JCC, bye bye Bobby’s

Lego Store, the future of Macy’s and a closing date for Pizza CS

Trader Joe’s in Travilah, Sur La Table, Toys R Us & Goodbye Starbucks Store

September 21, 2017 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Trader Joe’s in Travilah: When is it happening?

Were you hoping to to pick up some Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s at Trader Joe’s in Travilah this holiday season? We’re sorry to disappoint, but the grocer tells us that its new Rockville location is not going to be ready quite that soon. Plans call for a late winter/early spring opening at Travilah Square Shopping Center off Darnestown Road, where the new Trader Joe’s will replace an existing location in Montgomery Village. This will be the second Rockville store for Trader Joe’s, potentially reducing congestion at the one at Federal Plaza on the Pike. (Editor’s note: For an update on this story, click here.)

Cooking on the Pike

Sur La Table had its grand opening at Pike & Rose last weekend, and the store is offering a full range of classes from Thai and Tuscan cooking to pie-making and French macaron workshops (click here for details). This is the first cookware store to open in our area since the departure of Williams-Sonoma at the doomed White Flint Mall. What’s up next for shoppers at Pike & Rose? Bluemercury and L.L. Bean. Stay tuned for opening dates.

The end of Toys R Us?

This week Toys R Us became the latest U.S. retailer to declare bankruptcy, filing for Chapter 11 in hopes of reorganizing and restructuring some $5 billion in debt. We’re not optimistic about the future of this once-ubiquitous chain. Toy sales have been migrating not only to the web, where prices are lower and inventory endless, but also to stores like Walmart and Target where time-pressed shoppers can tackle their entire to-do list without making an extra stop for birthday gifts. In our area, where Toys R Us exited Rockville three years ago, local stores like Toy Castle and Child’s Play have stayed in business by adding value with personalized service, knowledgeable staff and extras like free gift-wrapping.

Starbucks online store shutting down

There are deals to be had on the Starbucks website this week as the coffee giant prepares to shut down its online store Oct. 1. Thermal tumblers, carafe sets, mugs and more are heavily discounted; click here to check out what’s left. Starbucks will continue to sell its merchandise at physical stores — where it hopes to lure customers with impulse buys while they’re waiting for their lattes — and some items will still be available online through Amazon and other partners.

Irish update, Teavana competitor, Mosaic Café, Subway and Sports Authority

March 3, 2016 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

New Irish restaurants will likely miss St. Patrick’s Day

If you were hoping to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at one of our new local Irish restaurants, you may be out of luck. Lahinch, which was scheduled to open this month in the former Benny’s space at Cabin John Shopping Center, has run into the usual construction delays. “Unfortunately, it looks like we won’t be open for St. Patrick’s Day,” says owner Barry Nolan, who also operates the Irish Inn at Glen Echo. “We’ll know more in a week.” (For more on Nolan and his plans for Lahinch, click here for our Oct. 29 issue.) Also missing out on St. Patrick’s Day crowds is Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub, a new venture from local entrepreneurs that originally was supposed to open last fall at Rockville Town Square. No word yet on the timetable for that one.

Restaurant returning to French roots

Mosaic Cuisine & Café, the Rockville Pike restaurant that closed for renovations after the holidays, is scheduled to reopen by Easter with a new name, modernized decor, a bar showcasing French wines and a renewed focus on classic French cuisine. “What’s old is new again,” says owner Thierry Jugnet, who opened Mosaic in 2003 and also operates the Wicked Waffle chain. The newly named Mosaic Bistro will showcase dishes like beef bourguignon, rack of veal, chicken paprika and traditional French soups. “It’s difficult nowadays to find a truly French restaurant,” Jugnet says. “And I don’t just mean in Rockville — I defy you to find a great beef bourguignon in Washington, D.C. Nobody does these things anymore. I am French. And I am betting on going back to my roots.” For a look at Mosaic’s menu (which is still being tweaked before the reopening), click here.

David’s Tea heading to the mall?

David’s Tea, a Montreal-based company with a large fan following, appears poised to make its Maryland debut at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Details haven’t been announced yet and the mall couldn’t confirm, but David’s has posted job listings for employees at that location. David’s, which made its initial public offering last year, has announced long-term plans for 550 stores in the U.S. and Canada. At the mall, it would compete directly with the Starbucks-owned Teavana store and the independent shop Rumi Tea & Spice, both of which similarly sell fresh tea and tea-making equipment. We’ll let you know when David’s is a done deal. Meanwhile, click here for a preview of what the company has to offer.

Size matters

Things haven’t been going so well for Subway lately. First there was the whole Jared mess. Then came this week’s news that the fast-food chain has settled a class action lawsuit charging that its “footlong” sandwiches didn’t always measure up. As part of the settlement, Subway has promised that its franchisees will now use a tool to accurately measure their bread loaves. If you bought a Subway sandwich over the years and were hoping to benefit from this settlement, we’re sorry to report that your only reward will be a properly sized footlong with your next order. No money is being awarded to the class, and the Associated Press reports that the 10 plaintiffs received only $500 each. Their lawyers, on the other hand, got more than half a mil.

Win March movie tickets for the ArcLight

This month we have one more set of ArcLight Cinema tickets to give away — and you have one more chance to vote for your favorite kids’ businesses in the Rockville/Potomac area. To enter, just click here to send us a note about your favorite places for dining, shopping, birthday parties and just hanging with your kids. Or enter via our Facebook page by clicking here. Everyone who sends us suggestions will be entered into our latest ArcLight drawing.

Chapter 11 for Sports Authority

Sports Authority filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week, a move that had been expected after the retailer fell behind on payments toward its debts of more than $1 billion. Sports Authority is expected to stay in business through this process, but the company says it will lay off some 3,400 people and close 140 of its 464 stores across the country. An updated closing list shows that the Rockville store on Rockville Pike and the Gaithersburg store at Rio/Washingtonian Center are expected to remain open. But several other Maryland stores, including a second Gaithersburg location near Lakeforest Mall, will be shutting down. If you’re holding a Sports Authority gift card or store credit, now would be a good time to use it: There’s no telling how long those credits will be honored.