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June 6, 2019 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Big summer ahead for Rio, new restaurants for Rockville, new yoga for Park Potomac and a Lord & Taylor update

Rio's new backyard

This week we checked out the snazzy new boardwork at Rio in Gaithersburg, where a striking outdoor concert stage is nearly complete and a summer’s worth of performances are on the way. Rio is undergoing a $30 million facelift with dramatic changes to its appearance and tenant mix. Shown here: the view from what will soon be a second-floor lounge outside the AMC movie theater and the upcoming Dave & Buster’s (aiming to open July 1st). What’s next for Rio? A huge Silver Diner with indoor/outdoor seating and full bar (tentatively opening in August); an “experiential” Xfinity store (opening date TBD); and a state-of-the-art IMAX cinema that’s almost finished inside the movie theater. Plans for a Baked Bear ice cream shop have fallen through, but local creamery Moorenko’s is coming with a summertime pop-up. For behind-the-scenes photos from our visit this week, check out Store Reporter on Facebook and Instagram.

Wintergreen Plaza
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster

Latest on Lord & Taylor

Lord & Taylor finally announced plans to close its store at Gaithersburg’s ailing Lakeforest Mall — no surprise, as other tenants have been exiting in droves while the mall’s owners look for a buyer.  Meanwhile, the retailer’s White Flint store remains in business more than four years after the adjoining mall was demolished. On a recent visit, we found the White Flint Lord & Taylor in surprisingly good shape with up-to-date merchandise and plenty of still-loyal shoppers. After years of litigation with White Flint’s owners, it’s unclear how much longer this department store will be around. But for now, there’s plenty of summer merchandise on the shelves.

Wink Eyecare Boutique

New restaurants for Rockville Town Square

Good news on the dining front for Rockville Town Square: Four new Asian restaurants are on the way. Friendship BBQ, featuring skewered meats and seafood dishes, will open this summer across from Sushi Damo. And the former Mellow Mushroom space, empty since last fall, will be divided into three new eateries: Gyuzo Japanese BBQ, offering sake and tabletop grilling; Kyoto Matcha, serving green tea, cakes and other desserts; and Taro Cents Family, specializing in Taiwanese taro balls. Rockville Town Square and the surrounding area are already home to a number of Asian restaurants, from the upscale Peter Chang, Sushi Damo and Thai Pavilion to fast-casual Pearl Lady and busy food hall The Spot. Meanwhile, Little Dipper Hot Pot House and the adjoining Lab Cafe recently closed on Gibbs Street.

Shin Orthodontics

Yoga at Park Potomac

A new yoga studio is heading to Park Potomac. Local yogi Debi Schenk is taking over the long-empty Barre Belle space a few doors down from Kaufmann Jewelers. Plans call for an early September opening, with a price point around $17 per class. Schenk’s studio won’t be the only new fitness option in Potomac this fall; Pure Barre is moving to Potomac Village. More on that in our May 2nd edition.

International School of Music
mailto:publisher@storereporter.com

Did you miss these issues?

French bakery opens, farmers market on the way to Cabin John Village — plus J. Crew debuts on Rockville Pike
Last days for Lahinch — plus new restaurants & new boutiques at the mall
New owners for Normandie Farm, pet store for Park Potomac, goodbye to two Rockville restaurants
New toy store, four closings and a makeover at the mall
Pretzels & Carmen’s at Cabin John, sushi at Park Potomac, Burlington opens on the Pike
Butter Me Up and new boutique at the mall, comings and goings on Rockville Pike
First look at Cabin John’s French bakery, Park Potomac’s sushi spot and the Pike & Rose bar-on-a-boat
Mall movies getting another update, Frank Pepe arrives and a spring switcheroo at Pike & Rose
Italian deli for Cabin John, new restaurants for Rockville and a Japanese variety store

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Filed Under: Asian Food, Bakeries, Bubble Tea & Desserts, BBQ, Bowling & Gaming, Clothing and Accessories, Downtown Rockville, Fitness & Beauty, Movie Theaters, Park Potomac, Potomac Village, Rio Washingtonian Center, Rockville Pike, Rockville Town Square, Seafood, Steakhouses

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Recent Issues

  • French bakery opens, farmers market on the way to Cabin John Village — plus J. Crew debuts on Rockville Pike
  • Last days for Lahinch — plus new restaurants & new boutiques at the mall
  • New owners for Normandie Farm, pet store for Park Potomac, goodbye to two Rockville restaurants
  • New toy store, four closings and a makeover at the mall
  • Pretzels & Carmen’s at Cabin John, sushi at Park Potomac, Burlington opens on the Pike
  • Butter Me Up and new boutique at the mall, comings and goings on Rockville Pike
  • First look at Cabin John’s French bakery, Park Potomac’s sushi spot and the Pike & Rose bar-on-a-boat
  • Mall movies getting another update, Frank Pepe arrives and a spring switcheroo at Pike & Rose
  • Italian deli for Cabin John, new restaurants for Rockville and a Japanese variety store
  • Cabin John cut-through, goodbye Goldberg’s, Frank Pepe delayed
  • Frank Pepe’s ready, Sarku sues, Burlington sets a date
  • Movies are back & Amazon’s out at the mall — plus a new boutique for Wildwood
  • Sushi & sausages, Warby Parker, Baskin Robbins ices out Ibhana
  • Chopt, croissants & more changes for Cabin John, Aldi arrives at White Flint
  • AMC/ArcLight ready to reopen, bar-on-a-boat sailing to Pike & Rose
  • New Raku, adiós La Limeña, big bucks for Bark Social and an AMC/ArcLight update
  • New J.Crew, so long Loft, Cabin John construction & tapas at the Square
  • Hello Bethesda Bagels, goodbye gelato and a Boston Market comeback
  • New home store for Rockville, spa time at Pike & Rose, Butter Me Up & HalfSmoke
  • Goodbye Amici Miei – plus more closings for Potomac, Rockville Pike, Pike & Rose
  • Game over for GameWorks, bye bye Broadway & Taylor Gourmet
  • Shake Shack arrives at the mall, new Bethesda Bagels ready to roll, Baskin Robbins on the move
  • Frank Pepe makes progress, Thai food & pet boutique for Park Potomac
  • Cabin John Village update: Who’s open, who’s about to leave, major construction ahead
  • Who’s taking over the ArcLight, crowds return to the mall, beauty bargains and the next Pike & Rose restaurant

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