Store Reporter

Retail & Restaurant news for Rockville & Potomac. We know it all. And we like to share.

Asian Food

Latest peek at Sisters Thai, first look at Fogo de Chão, last chance for The Big Greek giveaway

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Sister Thai is looking good

Looks like we’re still a couple of weeks away from the opening of Sisters Thai at Cabin John Village. (Revisions to be made, inspections to be done, yada yada yada.) Anyway, we’ve got up-to-date photos of what’s going on inside. From the marquee-style Magnolia bakery sign to the Instagrammable bathrooms, the whole place is a treat for the eyes. To see for yourself, check out Store Reporter on Facebook and Instagram.

The Grilled Oyster Co.
Realtor Mimi Arnold of Century 21 Redwood Realty

Time to chow at Fogo de Chão

This week we took a preview tour of Fogo de Chão, the Brazilian steakhouse that will open June 24th at Pike & Rose. The showpiece of the menu is the “Fogo Churrasco Experience,” featuring unlimited meats sliced at your table along with cheese bread, polenta, mashed potatoes, caramelized bananas and an all-you-can-eat spread on the center “market table.” (Price: $53.95 at dinner, $37.95 at lunch, $41.95 for weekend brunch.) For a closer look at Fogo’s posh interior, check out our photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Wink Eyecare Boutique
2019 Eris Norman Dream Home June ad

Time's almost up for The Big Greek giveaway

It’s almost prize time at The Big Greek Cafe, where one lucky customer is about to win a six-day trip for two to Athens, Greece. Brothers Nikos and Simos Marmaras, who opened the original Big Greek in Silver Spring 10 years ago, are celebrating their first decade in business with a trip giveaway. There’s still time to enter: Just visit any of Big Greek’s four locations (Silver Spring, Rockville, Kensington or Bethesda) and drop your name into the prize box before the drawing on June 22nd. For more on The Big Greek and the family that started it all, click here. For directions to all four locations, as well as weekly specials and a preview of the menu, click here.

International School of Music

Mall moves

It’s been a quiet couple of weeks at Westfield Montgomery mall, but change is on the horizon as we roll into summer. Eyebobs, Poke Papa and the Windsor clothing store all will be opening soon. Chevy Chase Acura is moving into the former Kia Stinger space, New York-based Möge Tee is moving into the former B/Bop/Q space, and Shilla Bakery is temporarily closed while a new owner takes the reins. Also: 7-Eleven is on the way. More on all the new food in an upcoming issue.

2019 Bender JCC June camp ad final
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Big summer ahead for Rio, new restaurants for Rockville, new yoga for Park Potomac and a Lord & Taylor update

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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 Cents Taro 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
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New opening at Pike & Rose, Five Below is on the go, Rockville restaurant closes and the real price of delivery apps

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Curry on over to Pike & Rose

Commonwealth Indian opened its doors at Pike & Rose this week, offering an upscale menu and stunning, modern decor (check out our photos on Facebook and Instagram). Traditional Indian entrees (curried chicken, butter chicken, lamb stew and vegetarian dishes) are served in family-style portions priced from $19 to $29. Also on the menu: six types of flatbreads, plus a full bar with Indian beer, wine and cocktails. Commonwealth is the third venture from chef Sunil Bastola, who also owns the Bollywood Bistro restaurants in Fairfax and Great Falls. What’s next for Pike & Rose? Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão, almost ready to open right next door. Click here for more in our May 23rd edition.

The Big Greek Cafe
Mimi Arnold

Five Below is on the go

June 14th is moving day for Five Below on Rockville Pike. The popular discount chain, which sells teen gear and trendy household goods for five bucks or less, is leaving its longtime home at Federal Plaza for a new one next to Aldi, Michaels and Petco at Congressional North. Between now and mid-June, just in case five bucks isn’t enough of a bargain, everything in the old store is marked down 50 percent.

California Tortilla

Rolling out of Rockville

Rolls ‘n Rice Japanese Bistro Cafe has closed its doors after a decade in the Shops at Congressional Village off Rockville Pike. Owners opted not to renew their lease and have no plans to reopen.

2019 Norman's We're Back May ad

The dish on delivery

Eater has an interesting report this week about online food delivery apps and the potential damage they’re doing to local restaurants. Services like Grubhub, Postmates and Uber Eats charge commissions as high as 30 percent, and some apparently also charge for handling customer questions and complaints. In the restaurant business, which already works on tight margins, these fees can take a substantial bite out of any potential profits. What to do? When you’re looking for local food delivery, Eater suggests skipping the apps and calling your favorite restaurant directly.

International School of Music
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Lululemon goes for the guys — plus Robeks, Teamania & pop-up shopping in Rockville

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Lululemon goes for the guys

If you’ve shopped at Lululemon lately, you may have noticed what’s new: lots and lots of menswear. The fitness retailer is turning its attention to the male wallet, offering a greatly expanded assortment of workout and athleisure clothes, stretchy dress pants and wrinkle-free office attire. If you’re looking to spend $38 on boxer shorts or $58 on a T-shirt, this is the place. Lululemon is expecting to double its menswear business over the next five years, with additional revenue coming from new ventures into skin care, deodorant and athletic shoes.

The Grilled Oyster Co.
Wintergreen Plaza

Tea for two

New place to try near Rockville’s Federal Plaza: Teamania Bakery + Cafe, serving fresh-baked breads, desserts, coffee and Asian specialty teas. Doors opened last month at 130 Rollins Ave., and the brightly colored teas and charming decor have been generating buzz on social media. “We actually designed the aesthetic of this place with Instagram in mind,” says partner Arnold Chang. “A ton of money went into the custom-made furniture. The way everything looks is pretty important these days.” To see for yourself, check out our photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Realtor Mimi Arnold of Century 21 Redwood Realty

Robeks at the Row

Robeks makes its debut this weekend at Rockville’s Research Row development, serving up juices, smoothies and acai bowls just off I-270 between Chick-fil-A and One Life Fitness. Meanwhile, another Rockville sweet spot has closed its doors: Ki No Spoon is out at Wintergreen Plaza.

International School of Music

Pop-up shopping in Rockville

New initiative at Rockville Town Square: filling some of those empty storefronts with pop-up shops. At 36 Maryland Ave., once home to LiquidBlue Denim Boutique, four female entrepreneurs will be on site through Memorial Day selling chocolates, lotions, fragrances, dog treats, scarves, purses and jewelry. Just a block away on Gibbs Street, pop-up bookstore Carpe Librum is at the Square through August raising funds for child literacy efforts. More on that in our April 11th edition.

The Game Gym
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Sneak peek of Sisters at Cabin John — plus Java Nation on Rockville Pike and Eyebobs at the mall

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What's shaking at Sisters

This week we got a sneak peek at Sisters, the Thai restaurant that’s set to open in May next to Shake Shack at Cabin John Village. The vibe inside is decidedly artsy/funky, with movie theater-style signage and multiple seating areas, including a cozy living room complete with bookshelves and fireplace. The restaurant will offer a full bar overlooking the outdoor courtyard, as well as a dessert counter serving Thai coffee, shaved ice and baked goods from the Magnolia sweet shop in Vienna. Magnolia is a “sister” to Sisters and a favorite of Instagrammers for its honey toast and elaborately decorated bathrooms. (And the bathrooms at Cabin John will not disappoint: The men’s room is decked out with “windows” overlooking 3D views of New York City.) To see it all for yourself, check out our photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
The Grilled Oyster

The scoop on Java Nation

We’re hearing lots of great buzz about Java Nation, the coffee shop/restaurant that’s taking over the old Addie’s/Helen’s space on Rockville Pike. Owner Simona Cabana tells us she’s renovating the building and adding more outdoor seating (which could be tricky, since it’s unclear what’s going to happen to the burned-out shell of nextdoor neighbor Hank Dietle’s). This will be the second location for Java Nation, which has earned an avid following in Kensington for its top-notch coffee and European-style menu. Cabana says she’ll be baking bread and pastries in-house, roasting coffee beans on the premises, and offering a full bar including signature caffeine-infused cocktails. (Espresso martini, anyone?) The menu will be a mix of American, European and Latin cuisine with an emphasis on Peruvian dishes. Doors could open as early as August.

Wink Eyecare Boutique
Shin Orthodontics

New at the mall

Two new stores are heading to at Westfield Montgomery mall with plans to open in late summer. Minneapolis-based Eyebobs, which specializes in fashion-forward reading glasses, will open next to Untuckit with an expanded array of prescription lenses, blue-light glasses and sunglasses. Eyebobs cultivates an edgy image, with frames named things like “Peckerhead,” “Butch,” “Not Tonight,” “Kvetcher” and “Haute Flash.” Windsor, a clothing store aimed at teens and young women, is also on the way with plans to open next to the Vans store.

Central Farm Market at Westfield Montgomery
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Japanese steakhouse flames out, Cinnabon wafts in — plus new Java on Rockville Pike and a Big Greek giveaway

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Japanese steakhouse flames out

Bad news for those who were hoping for hibachi at Westfield Montgomery mall: It looks like Viva Japanese Steakhouse is never going to happen. The restaurant originally was supposed to open last summer across from the ArcLight Cinema, replacing the short-lived MET Bethesda. But construction moved at a snail’s pace as summer turned to winter and finally to spring. Earlier this month, mall reps told us that Viva would open May 1st. This week all work came to a halt yet again, and now it appears the project is likely dead. We did manage to snoop inside for a glimpse of the partially finished interior; you can check out our photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Pike Central Farm Market at Pike & Rose
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster

What's that smell?

That scent wafting across the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall can only mean one thing: Cinnabon, whose aroma alone has wrecked many a diet, has finally arrived. So who’s out this week? Kids’ clothing store Gymboree has closed its doors after a three-month going-out-of-business sale, soon to be followed by Crabtree & Evelyn. Sports Nation exited its lower-level spot and moved to the second floor. The other big news, in case you missed it, is the closing of Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar. More on that in our April 11th edition.

Wink Eyecare Boutique

The Big Greek giveaway

It’s been 10 years since brothers Nikos and Simos Marmaras opened The Big Greek Cafe in Silver Spring. The twins had grown up around hearty Greek dishes, helping their father run The Golden Flame restaurant while enjoying their mother’s family recipes at home. Their four-restaurant chain — now with additional locations in Rockville, Kensington and Bethesda — is modeled after their mother’s hospitality as well as her cooking. “The number one thing when anybody entered our house was to have a meal with us,” Simos says. “At our restaurants, we want every guest to feel right at home like they’re sitting around my mom’s table.” This year, they also want two lucky guests to visit the place where it all began: The restaurant chain is giving away a six-day trip to Athens, Greece. For your chance to win, visit any Big Greek location between April 22 and June 22. For directions to all four locations, as well as weekly specials and a preview of the menu, click here.

Realtor Mimi Arnold of Century 21 Redwood Realty

New Java for Rockville Pike

Kensington coffee shop Java Nation is moving into the old Addie’s/Helen’s space on Rockville Pike, right next to the burnt-out dive bar Hank Dietle’s. More on that, along with tons of other retail and restaurant news, in our post-spring break edition. In the meantime, catch up on any news you missed at storereporter.com.

Power Hour Editing
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Crave checks out, Drybar blows in — plus Korean BBQ, bookstores & something new for Potomac Village

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Crave checks out

This week we say goodbye to Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar, which closed its doors Wednesday night even as next-door neighbor Cheesecake Factory continued to pack in the crowds. Crave had its fans, especially among sushi aficionados, but its four-year run at Westfield Montgomery mall was plagued by spotty service and perpetually empty tables. The Minneapolis-based chain was in the midst of a national expansion when it opened here in 2015. Recently, though, it has shuttered locations in Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando and most other markets outside of Minnesota.

Jacqueline Band-Olinger of Greystone Realty
Jacqueline Band-Olinger of Greystone Realty

Drybar blows into Pike & Rose

This week’s opening at Pike & Rose: Drybar, offering wash-and-blowout hairstyles from $49. It’s the third new business to open in the past few weeks between Uniqlo and Bluemercury, following the arrivals of Sweetgreen and BurgerFi. (Not to mention brand new gift shop Olive & Loom, just a block away next to Stella Barra.) What’s next for this new section of Pike & Rose? Sunday Morning Bakehouse. Click here for details in our Aug. 30th edition.

Scout & Molly's North Bethesda

New chapter for book lovers at Rockville Town Square

All of a sudden, two new bookstores have popped up at Rockville Town Square. The Story House, a mobile store for kids, has taken over a corner of Dawson’s Market with a charming and well-curated selection of recent titles. And just a block away, between Lebanese Taverna and Bonchon, local nonprofit Turning the Page has opened a popup shop to benefit its literacy efforts in D.C. The store, called Carpe Librum, will be open through August selling used books, CDs and DVDs. For more on Rockville’s literary scene, check out our March 28th story on Barnes & Noble’s upcoming move.

The Game Gym

New eatery for Traville Village Center

Korean chain BB.Q Chicken has opened its doors at Rockville’s Traville Village Center, taking over the former Quench space across from Cava Mezze. The restaurant is affiliated with the Virginia chain BBQ Chicken and Beer, which recently rebranded with the tagline “Best of the Best Quality Chicken.” What’s on the menu? Honey garlic wings, kimchi ramen, fried dumplings, bulgogi rice bowls and a variety of shareable platters fried in olive oil. Click here to check  it out.

Bullis Summer Programs

Wok's up in Potomac Village

New restaurant on the way to Potomac Village: FireWok, presumably serving Chinese cuisine, is moving into the old Fortune Garden space next to SunTrust at Potomac Promenade. This one is a bit of a mystery: There’s a restaurant with the same name in Baltimore County, but it appears the two eateries are not related. We’ll report back when we have more details.

Shin Orthodontics
CASA Voices for Children Montgomery
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Latest on the new Life Time club — plus burgers at Pike & Rose, poke at the mall & Chinese at NoBe Market

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Life Time Athletic in Rockville

Latest on Life Time

Latest twist on the plan for a new Life Time Athletic club at Westfield Montgomery mall: The Rockville location off Montrose and Seven Locks Road had been expected to close once the new one is built — a process that will likely take about two years. But insiders tell us that the existing location has such a loyal membership base that it may end up staying in business after all. Officially, Life Time execs are as tight-lipped now as they were when we first reported on the mall plan back in October. But unofficially, we’re told the existing location is preferable for many of its longtime members and could likely coexist with a larger, fancier club just a few miles away. In fact, we’re hearing that the Rockville club may end up gaining square footage via an expansion to the building next door. But alas, there probably won’t be a rooftop swimming pool like the one planned for the mall. (For more on that, click here.)

Wintergreen Plaza
Biker Barre

New burgers at Pike & Rose

BurgerFi, the latest addition to the Pike & Rose dining scene, opens its doors on Monday, April 8th next to fellow newcomer Sweetgreen. This is the fourth D.C.-area restaurant for the South Florida-based chain, which offers a simple menu of meat and veggie burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, custard, shakes and craft beers. (Click here for a closer look.) Orders are placed through self-service kiosks that use facial recognition to match you to your burger. Supposedly, those kiosks will remember your preferences the next time you visit.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Women's Seder

Poke at the mall this summer

D.C. restaurant chain Poke Papa is eyeing a June debut in the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall. The restaurant will offer its own versions of the Hawaiian-style raw fish dish, like the Onolicious (marinated ahi tuna with seaweed, lotus root, ginger, sesame, scallion and onion) and the Lomi Homie (marinated salmon with red onion, tomato, scallion, sea salt and lime juice). Poke Papa is taking a prime spot next the newly open Urban Plates.

Mimi Arnold
Trio Jr.

Chinese food on the Pike

Opening soon at North Bethesda Market on Rockville Pike: China Garden, under construction since last summer in the former Paladar space across from Whole Foods. The restaurant is a new venture from the team behind Pandora Seafood House & Bar at Rockville Town Square, which closed last fall after just a year in business. Owner Chris Zu says she’s hoping for a May debut.

The Game Gym
Power Hour Editing
CASA Voices for Children Montgomery
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Big move for Rockville’s Barnes & Noble — plus Smashburger goes dark & Japanese steakhouse sets a date

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Big move for Barnes & Noble

Remember last month when we tipped you off that something big was about to happen at Congressional Plaza? Well, that rumor we told you about turned out to be true: Barnes & Noble is moving in. The bookseller will trade its longtime digs at Montrose Crossing, home to discounters like Marshall’s and Target, for a smaller space at Congressional among the posh likes of Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Off 5th and The Fresh Market. Plans call for a 2020 opening next to The Container Store, where there’s plenty of space after the recent departures of Thomasville (bankrupt), White House Black Market (closed), Chico’s (relocated elsewhere in the plaza) and Lebanese Taverna (likewise). (More details on all of these changes in our Feb. 21st edition.) Barnes & Noble has been trying stay afloat in this online economy by closing many of its big-box locations (we’re looking at you, downtown Bethesda) in favor of slimmed-down stores with a carefully edited merchandise mix.

Realtor Jacqueline Band-Olinger of Greystone Realty
Wink Eyecare Boutique

Japanese steakhouse sets a date

After months of construction delays and lots of speculation about whether it was ever going to happen, the Viva Japanese steakhouse at Westfield Montgomery mall is finally setting a date. The hibachis are scheduled to fire up May 1st across from the ArcLight Cinema, right above newcomer Urban Plates. Meanwhile, check out our March 21st edition for news about another interesting tenant that will move in just down the hall.

Biker Barre

Mall stores say goodbye

As we move into the spring shopping season, several stores are reaching their final days at Westfield Montgomery mall. Invisalign, whose parent company is shuttering all its retail operations, will depart on April 3rd. Crabtree & Evelyn, also closing stores across the country, is nearly empty after a lengthy going-out-of-business sale. Italian men’s store Fascino is calling its quits just two months after relocating to a prime spot in the Macy’s wing. But Gymboree and Payless, whose parent companies both filed bankruptcy in the past few months, will hang around awhile longer as they continue to unload excess merchandise.

Shin Orthodontics

Rockville Smashburger goes dark

The lights were out and the doors were locked at Smashburger on Rockville Pike this week, but owner Julian Goodman says the closing is likely temporary. Goodman, a franchisee, says he’s “turning back” this location to Smashburger’s parent company and expects that it will reopen. The Rockville Smashburger, which debuted three years ago on the ground floor of Galvan at Twinbrook, never seemed to pack in the crowds like neighboring Asian eateries Akira Ramen, Urban Hot Pot and Gong Cha. Three other Smashburger restaurants in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Germantown all closed their doors in 2017.

Diener Denim Plus Diamonds
CASA Voices for Children Montgomery
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Hello Urban Plates and LebTav, goodbye to half The Gap, two more closings at Rockville Town Square

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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.

Wink Eyecare Boutique
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster

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.

Trio Jr.

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.

Churchill Blast
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.

Diener Denim Plus Diamonds
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West Elm on the way to Pike & Rose — plus poke, Vietnamese desserts and a mall steakhouse update

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West Elm on the way

Furniture/home decor store West Elm is joining the lineup at Pike & Rose, taking almost 12,000 square feet next to Pinstripes with plans for a fall debut. West Elm, a sister store to Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma, has a clean-lined, modern aesthetic that’s likely to be a hit with all the millennials and empty nesters setting up new homes in North Bethesda. Can’t wait to check it out? Click here.

Bender JCC of Greater Washington
Eyeland/Luxoptics

Poki DC arrives

Good news for everyone who misses Buredo at Wildwood: After more than a year of construction at the Georgetown Square shopping center, Poki DC is opening this weekend next to Not Your Average Joe’s. What’s on the menu? Hawaiian-style bowls of seasoned raw fish over grains and veggies (click here for a peek). Also: This location will be serving Gong Cha bubble tea.

Wink Eyecare
Shahs of Style

New eats on the Pike

Two new restaurants will open this spring at the Towne Plaza shopping center on Rockville Pike, best known as the former home of Five Guys and Chef Geoff’s. Nature Kitchen is set to arrive next month, followed in April by Bambu Desserts & Drinks. Bambu, based in California, serves Vietnamese-inspired fare from sweet coffees, bean-based chè drinks and fruit smoothies to crêpes and bánh mì sandwiches.

Realtor Margie Halem of Compass
Magnolia Bluebird Party Smarty mitzvah workshop

Is Viva still alive?

It’s been almost a year since Westfield Montgomery mall announced plans for a Japanese steakhouse across from the ArcLight movie theater. Since then, the project has fallen so far behind that the “Opening Summer 2018” signs became something of a joke. This month, someone finally adjusted expectations by papering over the “18” with a “19.” Will Viva really open by summer? The mall says yes. Stay tuned.

Congregation B'nai Tzedek Greenzaid ECC
Shin Orthodontics
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New eateries for Pike & Rose, Westfield Montgomery and Travilah Square — plus a fabulous holiday boutique show

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New restaurants & more for Pike & Rose

This fall will be a busy one for Pike & Rose, with the Mexican restaurant Nada arriving this month and the much-hyped Julii not far behind. Nada, which calls itself a “taco and cocktail joint,” is set to open Nov. 19th across the street from Pinstripes. We’ll keep you posted on the opening date for Julii, a new venture from the founders of Cava that should be here before the holidays. Meanwhile: Seasons Oil & Vinegar Taproom, one of the first tenants to open at Pike & Rose, will be exiting after four years. Taking its place will be Olive & Loom, a gift shop specializing in Turkish towels and olive oil bath products. Opening is set for next spring.

Wintergreen Plaza
Moda Optic Mykita trunk show
Viva and Urban Plates

Mall restaurant update: From the steakhouse to 7-11

This week we checked in on the dining scene at Westfield Montgomery mall, where Urban Plates and Poke Papa are now under construction in the former Naples space. But what’s up with Viva Japanese Steakhouse, which was supposed to have opened months ago across from the ArcLight Cinema? A peek through the windows reveals that little progress has been made since last summer, and the restaurant’s owner has not returned our messages. The mall says Viva will open around Christmas, but we have our doubts. Moving along to the other side of the Dining Terrace: A 7-11 (of all things) will be opening next to Chick-fil-A, and the gourmet popsicle shop we told you about last month is changing its name from Pop Culture to Frozen Stuff on a Stick. That one should be open in a few weeks.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Explore Kensington

Flower Child blooms at Travilah Square

Flower Child has opened its doors at the Travilah Square shopping center on Darnestown Road, offering a health-conscious menu in a fast-casual setting just across from the new Trader Joe’s. Created by the founder of True Food Kitchen, the restaurant caters to special diets from vegetarian and vegan to paleo, sugar-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. Flower Child will open a second MoCo location next spring at the Wildwood Shops. For a look at the menu, click here.

Washington Hebrew Congregation Holiday Boutique

Join us for shopping, fun & a chance to win our raffle

The holiday season kicks off in Potomac this week with the annual Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction sponsored by the Women of Washington Hebrew Congregation. The show is just two days this year — Sunday, Nov. 11 and Monday, Nov. 12 — at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center at Falls Road and Tuckerman Lane. We’ll be there both days at the Store Reporter table near the entrance. Stop by, say hello and enter to win one of our fabulous raffle prizes from show vendors. Participants this year include The Boho Eye, Elana Designs, Faye Mendelsohn Cosmetics, R Boutique, Stella M’lia, Susan Koehn Designs, Sweet Charma and Valerie Nahmani Designs. There’s no charge to enter our raffle, just drop your name in our jar at the show.

Swimming pool at the mall? Plus Anthropologie and a new Asian food hall

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Here’s your retail & restaurant scoop for the week of Oct. 25, 2018.

The Macy's Home Store is expected to close at Westfield Montgomery mall

Swimming pool at the mall?

Big changes are ahead for Westfield Montgomery mall once the holidays are over. The deal with Life Time Athletic, which we told you about two weeks ago, is all but official — and we hear it’s going to be quite an upscale gym, with a formal restaurant and possibly a rooftop pool. The new Life Time is to be built on the Sears side of the mall after the ailing department store closes early next year. Meanwhile, we’re hearing that the Macy’s Home Store is also going to close this winter and the regular Macy’s store will have to absorb all that furniture, bedding and kitchenware. But it sounds like the squeeze will be temporary: Insiders tell us that Macy’s is planning to build a huge new store on the other side of the mall. None of this has been announced yet, and no one is talking on the record —  but you heard it here first.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
1-800-GOT-JUNK
Pike Kitchen

New Asian food hall for Rockville Pike

Pike Kitchen, Rockville’s second all-Asian food hall, opened its doors this week at the Edmonston Crossing shopping center on Rockville Pike. Inside you’ll find nearly a dozen locally owned eateries serving poke bowls, ramen, scallion pancakes, fried seaweed rolls, popcorn chicken and other Asian delicacies — along with beer, bubble tea and homemade ice cream. The appetite for these Asian food halls seems to be growing: The Spot has been bustling since it opened last July near Rockville Town Square, and Pike & Rose is building one of its own called The Block.

Fall fun at Wintergreen Plaza: http://www.wintergreenplaza.com
Anthropologie store in downtown Bethesda

Anthropologie arrives

We usually don’t cover downtown Bethesda, but this week we couldn’t resist a visit to the new Anthropologie store, which just opened at the former home of Barnes & Noble. Fans of the brand will be thrilled to find all their favorites under one roof, from the boho-chic fashions, Terrain gardening shop and BHLDN wedding boutique to kitchenware, gifts and artfully arranged furniture vignettes. If you spend a couple of hours here — which is easy to do, with three floors to explore — there’s also a cafe on the premises. Lots more photos on our Facebook page; click here to see them.

Explore Kensington
Shin Orthodontics
Bath & Body Works at Westfield Montgomery mall

Clean new look for Bath & Body Works

Bath & Body Works has freshened up its look at Westfield Montgomery mall, reopening after a major renovation with a new focus on the White Barn candle line. Also back for the winter is the Sheepskin Gifts store, which will be operating out of the former Brookstone space until spring.

Washington Hebrew Congregation Holiday Boutique
Congregation B'nai Tzedek Israel Art Show & Sale
Dawson's Market

Dawson's reaches the end

Dawson’s Market at Rockville Town Square will close its doors this weekend after the failure of a last-minute GoFundMe campaign that had attempted to raise $100,000. Dawson’s is one of three major tenants to exit Rockville Town Square this fall; click here for more in our Oct. 11th edition.

Sushi at Pike & Rose, construction at Cabin John, a closing on Rockville Pike and the fight to save Dawson’s

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Here’s your retail & restaurant scoop for the week of Oct. 18th, 2018.

Kusshi Sushi & Sake

What's next for Pike & Rose

The first of the new fall restaurant lineup arrives next week at Pike & Rose. Say hello to Kusshi Sushi & Sake, a new venture from the owners of Hanaro Sushi in Bethesda, opening in the former Carluccio’s space next to Owen’s Ordinary. Next up for the neighborhood: the Mexican restaurant Nada, the Indian restaurant Commonwealth, and the new Julii restaurant from the founders of Cava. In other Pike & Rose news, blowout salon Drybar has inked a deal to open next spring alongside the upcoming Sweetgreen, BurgerFi and Sunday Morning Bakehouse.

1-800-GOT-JUNK
Wink Eyecare Boutique
Construction at Cabin John Village

Cabin John facelift begins

Here’s a look at the start of construction at Cabin John Village, which began this week and will continue through next spring. A new roofline, wider walkways, better lighting and improved parking are all on the way. And although it may not look like it, all businesses will remain open through the whole thing. For more details on this project, click here for our Oct. 11 edition.

Realty Jacqueline Band-Olinger of Greystone Realty
Al Ha'esh Israel Grill
Sofa from Thomasville Furniture

Thomasville furniture store moving out

The Thomasville furniture store, a longtime tenant at Congressional Plaza on Rockville Pike, will close its doors this fall after the bankruptcy of its parent company, Heritage Home Group. Two dozen Thomasville stores are closing across the country as bidders vie for what’s left of the century-old furniture brand and and its sister lines, Drexel, Henredon and Broyhill. Also exiting Congressional this fall is the longtime gift shop Silver Moon, formerly known as Tiara. Click here for more in our Sept. 20th edition.

Explore Kensington
Potomac Village Farmers Market
Dawson's Market

Can Dawson's be saved?

Dawson’s Market at Rockville Town Square launched a GoFundMe campaign this week in hopes of raising $100,000 to stay in business. Earlier this month, the six-year-old grocer said it couldn’t make enough money in Rockville and announced plans to close on Oct. 27th. In a post on the market’s GoFundMe page, owner Bart Yablonsky says he is “working on an arrangement that will keep Dawson’s alive.”

Washington Hebrew Congregation Holiday Boutique
Capital Area Food Bank
Sears at Westfield Montgomery mall

Chapter 11 for Sears

To no one’s surprise, Sears filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week and announced it will close another 142 stores this year. That will leave the once-iconic retailer with fewer than 500 stores as it tries one more time to reorganize. The bankruptcy won’t have much impact in our area, as the Sears store at Westfield Montgomery mall already was expected to close next March. What’s going to take its place? Likely a brand new Life Time gym. Click here for more in our Oct. 11th issue.

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Hello Flower Child, goodbye Mellow Mushroom, new sushi from Raku chef

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Here’s your retail & restaurant scoop for the week of Sept. 27th, 2018.

Flower Child at Travilah Square

Flower Child’s almost ready to bloom

Buzzy new restaurant about to make its Montgomery County debut: Flower Child, opening Nov. 7th at Travilah Square Shopping Center and next spring at the Wildwood Shops. The Phoenix-based chain, from the founders of True Food Kitchen, has a similar focus on healthy, flavorful dishes that accommodate various special diets. (Vietnamese Crunch Salad or Thai Cashew Quinoa Bowl, anyone?) Decor is casual and hippie-chic (click here for photos on our Facebook page). The restaurant should pair well with the new Trader Joe’s at Travilah Square — but complaints about the small parking lot are only going to get worse.

Wintergreen Plaza
1-800-GOT-JUNK

Mellow Mushroom exits Rockville Town Square

Funky pizzeria Mellow Mushroom has closed its doors after just two years at Rockville Town Square, where it replaced original tenant Oro Pomodoro across from the ice rink/performance stage. Co-owner Danny Trehan had complained over the years that parking fees were deterring foot traffic at Rockville Town Square. Trehan, who also operates franchised Mellow Mushroom restaurants in Herndon and Adams Morgan, says those two locations will remain open. “The (Rockville) restaurant was not doing so good,” he says, “and I wanted to get on with life.”

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Grilled Oyster

Painting & sipping at Rockville Town Square

Hammer & Stain, a do-it-yourself sign-painting studio, is heading to Rockville Town Square this fall. Owner Robyn Rutland plans to offer group workshops, parties and drop-in gatherings where people can turn unfinished wood into wall decor, personalized signs, holiday gifts and more. Also: She’ll be serving wine and beer so you can sip while you paint. “We’ll walk you through the whole thing,” says Rutland, who will provide stencils and plenty of tools to assist the non-artistic. “Even someone like me, who is not really crafty, will walk out of there with a finished piece that’s creative and unique,” she says. Doors will open in the next few weeks on Gibbs Street across from First Watch, at the former home of Pigtails & Crewcuts.

Shin Orthodontics

New sushi from Raku chef

Here’s a fresh sushi spot that might be worth a drive to Gaithersburg: Kenaki Sushi Counter, a new venture from former Raku sous chef Ken Ballogdajan, just opened its doors at Kentlands Market Square. “We’re only doing lunch for right now, but we’re hoping to add dinner in the next few weeks,” says Aki Ballogdajan, who co-owns the restaurant with her brother. Signature rolls include the Black Magic (black rice, spicy tuna, tempura flakes and crispy leeks) and the White Tiger (seared scallops, salmon, eel and Granny Smith apples). Hours will vary for the next few weeks, click here for more.

Capital Area Food Bank

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Mall makeovers, Chick-fil-A, bye bye Buredo and trouble for Taylor Gourmet

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Here’s your retail & restaurant scoop for the week of Sept. 13th, 2018.

Mall makeovers

There’s a lot of reshuffling at Westfield Montgomery mall this month as longtime tenants renovate their spaces in a rush to reopen before the holidays. Here’s an update on what’s happening:

  • Bath & Body Works is reconfiguring its store to provide a new showcase for the White Barn candle line. Renovations will be complete around the end of October; in the meantime, Bath & Body Works has set up a temporary storefront in the former Sharper Image space.
  • The Champs sporting goods store also is operating out of temporary quarters in the Macy’s Home wing. Renovations should be done in late October/early November.
  • Old Navy is renovating the space next door and is scheduled to move there just before Halloween. The new store will be noticeably smaller than Old Navy’s current location.
  • Francesca’s has closed for a mini-facelift and is expected to reopen Sept. 22nd.
  • Pandora has completed a major expansion and returned to its original location near the center of the mall.

We also have two closings to report. The glass-enclosed Peloton bike kiosk is gone after the company opened a full-sized store in downtown Bethesda. And the Zero Degrees Thai ice cream kiosk, which never appeared to have any customers, is out after just three months.

Shin Orthodontics
Buredo

Bye bye Buredo

No more sushi burritos at the Wildwood shopping center: Buredo has closed its doors after just a year in business. It’s the second closing in the past few weeks for three-year-old Buredo, which has four locations in D.C. but never seemed to pick up momentum with the Wildwood crowd. Perhaps it’s just as well that another sushi burrito chain, Maki Shop, called off plans to open at Georgetown Square just across the street. So does this mean sushi burritos are over? Maybe. But poke bowls are still going strong. More on that in an upcoming issue.

Le Pain Quotidien
Izes
Chick-fil-A

Opening day for Rockville’s Chick-fil-A

Sept. 27th is opening day for Chick-fil-A at Research Row, the new development rising off I-270 at West Montgomery Avenue in Rockville. The complex also is home to a new One Life Fitness gym, and it just landed another major tenant: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant. See our Aug. 30th edition for details.

Potomac Village Farmers Market
Grilled Oyster
Taylor Gourmet at Pike & Rose

Trouble for Taylor Gourmet

You know the new Taylor Gourmet restaurant that just opened at Pike & Rose? It may not be around much longer. The sandwich chain tells the Washington Business Journal that it’s trying to renegotiate or terminate some of its leases, as its customers are increasingly choosing takeout and delivery over dining in. The Pike & Rose location, which opened this past May, is among those that may get the ax. (Editor’s update: All Taylor Gourmet locations closed in late September.)

Eyeland/Luxoptics
Congregation B'nai Tzedek
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Cava opens at Cabin John, Dormify update, new stores at the mall

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Cava

Cava opens at Cabin John

Cabin John Village welcomed the first of its four new restaurants this week when Cava opened its doors at the corner of Seven Locks Road and Tuckerman Lane. This was the 62nd location for the homegrown restaurant chain — and it was quickly followed by #63 the very next day in Austin, TX. What’s next for the Cabin John Village restaurant scene? Shake Shack and Le Pain Quotidien in the next few weeks, followed by Sisters Thai sometime this fall. Have you heard about the grand plan for expansion at Cabin John Village? Click here for our May 17th report.

Grilled Oyster
1-800-GOT-JUNK
Dormify

Dormify ready to graduate from the mall

These are the final weeks for the Dormify pop-up shop at Westfield Montgomery mall; doors close Aug. 27th when the last of the college kids are off to school. Dormify, founded in 2012 by a mother-daughter team from Potomac, is following in the footsteps of Warby Parker, Bonobos and other online retailers as it tests that market with a few brick-and-mortar locations. “When customers can touch and feel our products in person, when they can see for themselves the softness of our bedding and the quality of our storage items, it really contributes to the ‘wow’ factor,” says Dormify exec Stephanie Kimel. So which products have been getting the most wows this summer? Bedding in muted palettes of grey and white; faux-fur pillows with colorful throws for contrast; and cushioned headboards that can be mounted on the wall and removed when the school year is over. Click here to check them out.

Wintergreen Plaza
Bender JCC School fo Dance
Zumiez

New at the mall

West Coast retailer Zumiez, specializing in skateboards, snowboards and skater-style fashions, has opened its doors at Westfield Montgomery mall on the second level near Auntie Anne’s. Also new, just across the hall, is a gift shop called Good Luck. Several of the mall’s larger stores will have a new look for fall; read more in our July 12 issue.

Pike Kitchen
Potomac Woods Plaza

Potomac UPS store closes

This week brought the unexpected closing of the Pack-‘n’-Ship store next to 7 Locks Barber at Potomac Woods Plaza — one of those longtime neighborhood businesses that you don’t appreciate until it’s gone. For Amazon Primers and other heavy users of UPS, the next-closest drop-off locations include Wintergreen Plaza on Rockville Pike, White Flint Plaza on Nicholson Lane, Westlake Crossing outside Westfield Montgomery Mall and the Potomac Promenade shopping center on Falls Road.

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