Store Reporter

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

Asian Food

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
2019 Magnolia Bluebird Party Smarty mitzvah workshiop updated

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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Ramen & burgers for Pike & Rose, new Chick-fil-A for Rockville

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Ramen's almost ready

Aug. 7th is opening day for Jinya Ramen Bar at Pike & Rose, the first of several new restaurants expected to debut there in the next few months. The menu features hand-made noodles in five kinds of slow-simmered broth, customized with your choice of 25 toppings. Other offerings include salmon poke mini-tacos, Brussels sprouts tempura, quinoa salad, rice bowls and mochi ice cream. The drink menu ranges from sake, cocktails and Japanese beers to non-alcoholic seasonal and tea-based beverages. This is the third D.C.-area location for California-based Jinya. For some sneak-peek photos on our Facebook page, click here.

Wintergreen Plaza
BurgerFi

Burgers this winter at Pike & Rose

Also joining the dining scene at Pike & Rose is BurgerFi, a Florida-based chain known for its tasty food and eye-catching branded buns. In the tradition of fast-casual competitors Shake Shack and Five Guys, BurgerFi features a simple, calorie-busting menu: beef and veggie burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches, fries and onion rings, shakes and custards, beer and wine. It’s scheduled to open at Pike & Rose this winter next to Bluemercury.

Pike Kitchen

Chick-fil-A on the way

Every week we get questions about the new Chick-fil-A sign that appeared this summer off I-270 in Rockville. The fast-food favorite will be part of the upcoming Research Row office park, which also includes a OneLife Fitness gym. So when is this new Chick-Fil-A going to open? The company tells us it’s shooting for September.

FIFA World Cup Tournament
Power Hour Editing
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Asian food hall opens in Rockville, Cabin John restaurants coming soon

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The Spot is hot

Opening this weekend in downtown Rockville: The Spot, an Asian food hall on the ground floor of the Metropolitan apartment building on North Washington Street. Inside you’ll find everything from bubble tea and poke bowls to Taiwanese fried chicken, handmade noodles and dumplings. And for dessert: Taiwanese snocream (a shaved ice/ice cream combo) served in Hong Kong-style egg waffle cones. The Spot will be open until midnight or later most evenings, with additional food booths and a bar arriving soon. Up next is Pike Kitchen, another Asian food hall opening later this year on Edmonston Drive (click here for more). And after that comes The Block, a similar project opening in 2019 at Pike & Rose (click here for more).

1-800-GOT-JUNK
Shin Orthodontics
Cabin John restaurants

Cabin John restaurant update

Over at Cabin John Village, restaurant construction is moving quickly and we’re told that Cava (far left in this photo) might be open as early as next month. Le Pain Quotidien (second from left) will likely be the next restaurant to arrive, followed by Shake Shack (all the way on the right). The slowpoke here is Sisters Thai (the black building), a locally owned restaurant from Virginia that’s well behind its neighbors in the construction process. All four restaurants are supposed to be open by fall, but it looks like Sisters will need more time.

Norman's Farm Market
Girl Power 3
Pike & Rose

Weekend “staycation” at Pike & Rose

With the recent opening of the Canopy hotel by Hilton, Pike & Rose is looking to market itself as a summer “staycation” destination for locals. We stayed there last weekend and found plenty to keep us busy — starting with the Canopy’s free nightly tastings of local wines, spirits and craft brews, and ending with the hotel’s super-fresh breakfast buffet. The shopping options have really filled out, with everything from the outdoorsy (REI, L.L.Bean, Nike) to the culinary (Sur La Table and Seasons) to the fashion scene (from H&M to Lucky Brand to the Scout & Molly’s boutique). Catch dinner at one of the many Pike & Rose restaurants, schedule a massage at The Red Door, bowl a game at Pinstripes, take in a show at iPic or AMP…  then get in line for ice cream sandwiches at The Baked Bear or grab a cocktail at summer pop-up The Beach, and your weekend is complete. To see what else is happening at Pike & Rose, click here.

Power Hour Editing
Amazon Books

The summer of Amazon

It feels like Amazon is everywhere in Montgomery County this summer, with discounts for Amazon Prime members now in effect at all Whole Foods stores (10% off sale items plus rotating weekly specials) and the newly opened Amazonbooks already drawing crowds on Bethesda Row. Prime members get better deals at the bookstore too — and everyone can drop off their Amazon returns there, as long as their packages are boxed and labeled at home.

Big plans for Westfield Montgomery mall, Chico’s checks out of Potomac Village — plus Mexican at Travilah & Korean BBQ on the Pike

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Major makeover for Montgomery Mall

This week we finally got a peek at the master plan for redeveloping Westfield Montgomery Mall into a living, working, shopping and dining community a la Pike & Rose. Most of the mall will remain intact — with the exception of Sears, which finally will close its doors next March — but plans calls for extensive additions including office space, apartments, a hotel, pedestrian walkways, and outdoor promenades lined with upscale stores and restaurants. Also on the way: a large fitness center with a dedicated parking lot. (No names have been revealed yet, but we’re hearing it’s Equinox.) The entire expansion plan will take about four years, beginning in spring 2019 after Sears is torn down. Additional renderings and a site plan can be found on our Facebook page; click here to check them out.

1-800-GOT-JUNK
Potomac Village Farmers Market
Chico's in Potomac Village

Chico’s checks out of the Village

Say goodbye to Chico’s in Potomac Village, which is closing its doors after a two-decade run next to Hunter’s Bar and Grill. The exit is part of a national downsizing for the women’s retailer, whose next-closest location is at Rockville’s Congressional Plaza. The Potomac Village store will be open until Monday (June 25th), but there’s not much left on the racks.

Shin Orthodontics
Launch Trampoline Park
Cafe Rio taco platter

Mexican fare at Travilah Square

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill will open its third Montgomery County location next week at Travilah Square Shopping Center off Darnestown Road. In addition to the usual crowd-pleasing Mexican dishes (tacos, enchiladas, salads, etc.), the restaurant is known for its fresh-made lemonades and specialty drinks like horchata, a traditional sweet beverage made with milk, rice and cinnamon. (Click here for a peek at the menu.) Cafe Rio is the first of a new wave of tenants for the revamped Travilah Square, which soon will include the True Food Kitchen spinoff Flower Child (click here for more in our May 17th issue) — and of course Trader Joe’s (click here for the latest).

Buredo
Honey Pig BBQ

Honey Pig on the Pike

Honey Pig Korean BBQ has opened its doors at Montrose Crossing; you’ll find it in the strip mall behind Old Navy. This is the fifth D.C.-area location for Honey Pig, which offers a wide-ranging menu that includes bulgogi, dumplings, bibimbap, noodle soups and stews. Click here to check it out.

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Poke and dim sum, MOM’s Organic Market, Baked Bear heads to Rio

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More poke on the way

Poki D.C., the Hawaiian-inspired restaurant chain that launched last year in Penn Quarter, is expanding throughout the D.C. area with three locations in Montgomery County. Much like Honeyfish Poke at Congressional Plaza (but spelled with an “i” instead of an “e”), Poki D.C. offers custom-made bowls of raw fish, rice and salad greens with various sauces and toppings. A Gaithersburg location at Rio Washingtonian Center will open in the next week or two. After that comes a Rockville location at The Spot, an all-Asian food hall under construction in the ground floor of The Metropolitan (click here for more on that). The third location will be at Georgetown Square Shopping Center off Democracy Boulevard, in the empty space next to Not Your Average Joe’s. Gary Ngo, co-owner of Poki D.C., says he hopes to open there by fall. For a peek at the menu, click here.

Grilled Oyster
The Baked Bear

Another Baked Bear for MoCo

Last week we told you that The Baked Bear was looking to open a second location at Rio Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg. This week it’s official: The bakery/ice cream shop is taking the former 16 Handles space between Muse Paintbar and Starbucks, where it’s expected to open later this year. The Baked Bear, a California chain known for its custom-made ice cream sandwiches, has been generating incredible lines at Pike & Rose every weekend since it opened May 19th. Click herefor more in our June 1st issue.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Mom's Organic Market produce section

MOM’s on the move

MOM’S Organic Market opened its doors last weekend at the new Upper Rock center on Shady Grove Road. This is the 19th and largest location for MOM’s — and the first to include an on-site bakery as well as the Naked Lunch organic restaurant. Upper Rock, across from Home Depot and Nordstrom Rack, is already home to CAVAand Firehouse Subs.

Shin Orthodontics
Dim sum

Dim sum on the Pike

Moving into the former Paladar space at North Bethesda Market on Rockville Pike: China Garden, a dim sum restaurant from the owners of Rockville’s Pandora Seafood House & Bar. “This group ran another China Garden in Arlington for many years, and now they’re relocating it here,” says broker Shang Wang, who handled the deal for JGB Companies. Known as a popular place for weddings and other large events, China Garden originally was supposed to move into the former REI space on Rockville Pike. That deal never materialized, but the Paladar space became available when the Latin restaurant closed its doors last winter. The new China Garden is expected to open by the end of this year.

New food & new stores for Westfield Montgomery mall, Karma opens at Park Potomac

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New eats at the mall

Lots of new food on the way to Westfield Montgomery Mall, where several restaurants and a trendy new dessert place are set to open in the next few months. In the Dining Terrace, the Spice 6 Indian eatery is shooting for a late-June opening while newcomer EG Ramenis taking over the former Boardwalk space. Upstairs, across from the ArcLight Cinema, Viva Steakhouse & Asian Fusion should be open by early fall. Owner Calvin Yang tells us the restaurant will have a pan-Asian menu (Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese) plus several Japanese hibachi tables, an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet, and a full bar that overlooks the Dining Terrace. And another Asian food craze, Thai rolled ice cream, is on the way to the Sears wing in the spot just vacated by Menchie’s.

Central Farm Markets
Potomac Village Farmers Market
Furniture Place at Montgomery Mall

What’s new, what’s coming to the mall

What else is happening at Westfield Montgomery Mall? Furniture Place has opened in the former Victoria’s Secret/Pink space near Nordstrom. The Dormify showroom is now open as well (click here for more in our May 10th edition). And Zumiez, featuring skateboards and skater-inspired fashions, will be moving into the former VIP space.

Shin Orthodontics
Bender JCC of Greater Washington
Karma Erwin Gomez

Karma opens at Park Potomac

Karma by Erwin Gomez, the newest venture from the D.C.-based celebrity makeup artist, made its debut this week at Park Potomac. Located across from Addie’s in the ground floor of The Perry, Karma offers hair, makeup and nail services, lash and brow styling and an array of skin treatments — plus the chance to schedule a session with Gomez himself. For more on Karma, click here.

Truebody Fitness
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Did you miss these issues?

So long Seven Seas and B/Bop/Q, hello Cabin John bakery

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So long Seven Seas

Seven Seas, one of Rockville’s oldest Chinese restaurants, will close its doors at the end of this month. The 31-year-old eatery, on the back side of Federal Plaza near Panera, was a takeout favorite known for its fresh seafood dishes and lobster platters. Management tells us the restaurant’s lease was up and there are no plans to relocate.

Grilled Oyster
Potomac Village Farmers Market
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Sweetly Anchored

Sweet start at Cabin John

The big story in Potomac this week is the debut of Sweetly Anchored, the new bakery and coffee shop inside the Cabin John mini-mall. Doors open on Monday morning (May 7th) with scones, croissants, muffins and quiche along with coffee and espresso drinks. Every afternoon the cases will be filled with cupcakes, cookies, brownies and tarts for eat-in or takeout. Owner Lindsay Miniaci, who is known for her specialty cakes, says new baked goods will be added in the weeks to come. The bakery will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Click here for more photos on the Store Reporter Facebook page.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
URBNmarket
B Bop Q at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Bye B/Bop/Q

Korean fusion eatery B/Bop/Q closed its doors last weekend after less than three years at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Owned by a Rockville-based food service company that had planned to turn B/Bop/Q into a chain, the restaurant had a loyal fan base but had trouble drawing crowds so far from the main Dining Terrace. Another nearby restaurant that opened around the same time, Shanghai Bao Kitchen, had similar issues and closed its doors last winter.

Central Farm Market
Intimissimi

Comings & goings at the mall

This week we have a few more comings and goings to report at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The newest addition is Italian lingerie store Intimissimi, now open in the Nordstrom wing. Infinite Beauty, one of the mall’s longtime tenants, has added a second location offering facials and other spa services. Meanwhile, we say goodbye to Asian clothing chain Hoamgar after a five-year run. As we mentioned in our March 8 issue, this had been the first U.S. location for the high-end chain — but its merchandise failed to catch on.

Park Potomac Spring Festival

Did you miss these issues?

Your Wegmans questions answered — plus a new food hall for Pike & Rose and an update on the Corned Beef King

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Wegmans in Rockville: Your questions answered

Who knew a grocery store could create so much excitement? Our Facebook page and mailbag have been overflowing with messages since last Tuesday, when we happily delivered the news that Wegmans is finally coming to Rockville. Here are some answers to the questions we’ve been hearing all week.

Opening date? We don’t know yet, but it’s going to be awhile. The deal was just signed, and Wegmans tells us it’s too soon to establish a timeline for the project. The popular grocer is to be the anchor and primary draw for an expansive pedestrian-friendly development that’s planned for the Twinbrook Metro area. There are still a lot of hoops to jump through before construction can begin.

What about parking? Plans call for an underground parking lot that will serve Wegmans customers as well as the other surrounding businesses.

What will happen to the existing tenants at the corner of Halpine Road and Rockville Pike? Eventually, most of the businesses in and around that site will either have to close or relocate.

So what does this mean for Pizza CS? Our readers have been particularly concerned about the fate of the beloved pizzeria, known for its authentic Neapolitan-style pies. “We appreciate the community support,” says co-owner Ankur Rajpara. He and partner Jonathan Allen tell us their lease is good through 2020, but they’ve been scouting potential new locations in case they’re asked to make an early exit.

Can Rockville Pike really support this many grocery stores? The Pike already is home to Giant, Safeway, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Food Lion, Fresh Market and Trader Joe’s, among others. Not to mention that Aldi will soon be opening there as well. (Click here for more on that).  Will local food shoppers actually be able to keep all these stores in business? This is one question to which even we don’t know the answer.

Pike Central Farm Market Grand Opening
The Block

New food hall for Pike & Rose

In another case of how much is too much: This week Pike & Rose announced plans for The Block, a dining hall featuring 8,500 square feet of Asian street food that’s set to debut next year. Like its sister location in Annandale, The Block will have communal seating where everyone can order exactly what they want, from Taiwanese snocream to Hawaiian-style poké bowls. This is the third all-Asian food hall planned for the Rockville/North Bethesda area, following The Spot in downtown Rockville (click here for more) and Pike Kitchen on Edmonston Drive (click here for more). Food halls are trending all over the U.S., including themed ones like the new collection of  Mike Isabella eateries at Tysons Galleria. But three Asian food halls within a short drive of each other? That’s going to be interesting.

Wintergreen Plaza
Grilled Oyster
Corned Beef King food truck

Latest on the Corned Beef King

Next week marks the grand opening of a Corned Beef King restaurant that isn’t on wheels: The popular food truck has completed its buildout inside the Liberty gas station at Rockville Pike and Twinbrook Parkway. Owner Jon Rossler had been running a similar gas station restaurant in Olney for several years, but he closed it a few weeks ago when the rent got too high. He says he’s happy to have a brick-and-mortar location in Rockville, where many fans follow his food truck around and some have even been known to drive to Olney for a sandwich. Meanwhile, the former Corned Beef King truck that’s recently been seen outside Hank Dietle’s is now owned by a separate operator serving Latin food.

The Game Gym
Store Reporter Local Services Guide

Check out our new Services Guide

This week we’re proud to debut our new Store Reporter Local Services Guide, a go-to list of recommendations for everything from home repairs to custom gifts to professional services to pet care. We’ve done our homework to vet the advertisers in this guide, asking friends and neighbors for referrals to make sure this is a list you can count on. We’ll be adding more categories in the weeks and months to come. Interested in being part of it? Click here to send us an email. Want to check out the guide right now? Click here.

URBNmarket
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ArcLight gets a new neighbor, Cabin John gets a new gym, still more bubble tea for Rockville

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New neighbor for the ArcLight

Eighteen months after the closing of MET Bethesda at Westfield Montgomery Mall, a new restaurant is taking over the space across from the popular ArcLight Cinema. Viva Steakhouse, serving a Benihana-style Japanese hibachi menu, will soon begin renovating the space with plans to open in a few months. MET Bethesda, which debuted in 2014 along with the movie theater and the expansive Dining Terrace, lasted less than two years before shutting its doors along with several of the other new restaurants. For more on what went wrong, click here.

Scout & Molly's
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Pandora

New tenants blossoming at the mall

Spring is in the air, and with it comes a new crop of tenants to fill some of those empty spaces at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Besides the previously announced Intimissimi lingerie store and Spice 6 Indian restaurant, other new additions will include the skater-inspired clothing store Zumiez, an independent furniture store, and a mini-spa offering facials and mani/pedis. Also: The Pandora store will be doubling in size as it takes over a neighboring space to give shoppers more browsing room. What else is heading to the mall? An outdoor farm market that launches next month. See our April 5th edition for more.

Congregation B'nai Israel Evening with Ben Stein
My Gym Spring Open House
Biker Barre

New spin for Cabin John

If you’re planning to be a frequent visitor to the upcoming Sweetly Anchored bakery at Cabin John‘s mini-mall, here’s a chance to burn off some of those calories: Biker Barre, a boutique fitness studio from D.C., will be opening this summer just a few doors away. This will be the first Maryland location for Biker Barre, which will offer indoor cycling classes and ballet-inspired toning routines in the former Ballet Petitespace next to My Gym. For more on Biker Barre, click here. For more on the Sweetly Anchored bakery and coffee shop, click here.

Churchill Blast 29
The Music Man at Wootton
Gong Cha bubble tea

Still more bubble tea for Rockville

Another bubble tea chain is making its move into Montgomery County. Gong Cha, based in New York, has opened its first area location at The Galvan on Rockville Pike and will soon be adding another one in downtown Rockville’s new all-Asian food court. Gong Cha could prove to be a formidable competitor for Kung Fu Tea, which also has been expanding rapidly in this area. For more on the all-Asian food court, click here. For more on Kung Fu Tea in MoCo, click here.

American Red Cross Dulles Golf Center fundraiser

Asian food courts and another Rockville restaurant closing — plus a move for Starbucks on the Pike

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Lots more Asian food on the way

Looks like 2018 will be the year of the Asian food court in Rockville. Two such projects are scheduled to open this summer: one in the downtown area and the other at Edmonston Crossing on Rockville Pike. The Edmonston project, to be called Pike Kitchen, will include Vietnamese pho and banh mi sandwiches, Korean street food and baked goods, poke bowls, ramen dishes, homemade ice cream, bubble tea and a coffee roastery. A similar project, known as The Spot, is planned for the ground floor of the new Metropolitan apartment building on North Washington Street. (Click here for details.) “These food halls are not just going to focus on Asian customers,” says Pike Kitchen co-owner James Park. “We’re looking for new ways to get millennials and younger people to try this food. Once they taste these Asian spices, there’s no going back.”

Bethesda Central Farm Markets
Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar

Paladar’s out on the Pike

Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar has closed its doors after five years at North Bethesda Market on Rockville Pike. It’s the second major departure for the Whole Foods-anchored center, following the recent exit of Brio Tuscan Grill. (See our May 4th edition for more on that.) This year will likely bring more changes for North Bethesda Market, which was just acquired by CBRE Global Investors.

Pooch Portrait Studio
Starbucks pumpkin spice latte

Starbucks on the move at Pike & Rose?

This hasn’t been confirmed yet, but we’re hearing buzz that a move is in the works for Starbucks at Pike & Rose. The busy store, which sits on an outparcel that was built before Pike & Rose took shape, is rumored to be relocating to a central spot next to H&M. That space is only steps away from the new park where CAVA‘s founders will soon be opening their Julii restaurant. (Haven’t heard about Julii? Click here.)

Lolly's Locks
Launch Trampoline Park

Getting the jump on Rockville

The giant bouncy-house craze continues with a new addition near Rockville Pike: Launch Trampoline Park is now open at 4942 Boiling Brook Parkway. Here you’ll find the usual mix of birthday party packages and jumping hours for adults and kids, with plans for sessions designed for the special needs community. Jumping prices range from $16-$24 for one to two hours. Birthday parties start at $299. For additional details, click here.

Goodbye Guess and Tara Asia – plus Indian food, Cajun cuisine & Honeygrow

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Guess who’s out at the mall

Guess has closed its doors at Westfield Montgomery Mall, part of a nationwide downsizing for the once-iconic fashion retailer. Specs New Yorkis also out, along with several holiday popup shops including Things Remembered. What’s on the way? Altar’d State, a Tennessee-based women’s clothing chain that blends fashion with a Christian mission; Intimissimi, an Italian lingerie and pajama store for men and women; and Spice 6, a “modern Indian” restaurant serving salads, wraps and pizza made with naan bread. More details and opening dates in the weeks to come.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Honeygrow

Honeygrow’s here

Jan. 18 is opening day for the new Honeygrow restaurant at Montrose Crossing on Rockville Pike. It’s the first of four eateries opening at the former Timpano site — a lineup that soon will include CAVA, Pieology and Five Guys. “D.C. is our biggest growth market for 2018,” says Honeygrow founder Justin Rosenberg, who created the chain after switching to a mostly plant-based diet. The menu focuses on salads and stir-fries made from freshly cooked noodles, veggies and sauces, with a signature “honeybar” dessert featuring yogurt, fresh fruit and toppings. Rosenberg says he’s looking elsewhere in Montgomery County for Honeygrow and its smaller sister chain, Minigrow. To see what’s on the menu, click here.

Wintergreen Plaza
Pad Thai

Two Rockville restaurants close

Tara Asia, the longtime Thai restaurant on Montgomery Avenue near the Regal Rockville movie theater, closed its doors without explanation after the holidays. Also closed is Quench, the restaurant and bar that had a five-year run on Traville Gateway Drive.

Live Crawfish & Seafood

New Orleans on the Pike

Newest addition to the multicultural restaurant mix at Rockville’s Ritchie Center: Live Crawfish & Seafood, specializing in Louisiana-style Cajun cuisine from po’boys and gumbo to jambalaya and beignets. A grand opening party is planned for Feb. 24th, but the restaurant already is open for lunch and dinner at 765 Rockville Pike. To check out the menu, click here.

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

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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.

Wintergreen Plaza
Occasions

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.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Norman's Farm Market winter vegetables

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.

Ibhana
Fortune Garden at Potomac Promenade

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.

Spotluck

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.

VIP
Store Reporter Holiday Gift Picks

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.

Thai restaurant for Cabin John, Greek food for Rockville, Gringos & Mariachis arrives

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Another new restaurant for Cabin John

Sisters Thai, a hipster eatery from Fairfax, is the latest addition to the new restaurant lineup at Cabin John. The buzz on this place is quite good — not only for its food, fruit drinks and desserts, but also for its cozy “living room” atmosphere with mismatched furniture and overstuffed bookshelves. (Click here for a preview). Construction is already under way in the parking lot at Tuckerman Lane and Seven Locks Road, where Sisters will join Shake Shack, CAVAand Le Pain Quotidienfor a late 2018 debut. Cabin John, which was sold last year to the Edens development group, also is planning a name change after 50 years. Say goodbye to Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall; it’s now Cabin John Village.

Filicori Zecchini
Gringos & Mariachis

Gringos & Mariachis arrives

This week brought the long-awaited debut of Gringos & Mariachis at Park Potomac. The Mexican restaurant had been under construction seemingly forever (but really about two years) across from MoCo’s Founding Farmers and next to the new Addie’s. This is a sister to the three-year-old Gringos & Mariachis in Bethesda, serving casual food and cocktails amidst striking murals inspired by Mexican street art. Owners Roberto and Riccardo Pietrobono are also behind the popular restaurants Alatri Bros.and Olazzo. More photos on our Facebook page; click here to see them.

Park Potomac Winterwilds Market
Wildwood Shops

Welcome the holidays at Wildwood

Stop by the Wildwood Shops this Saturday (Dec. 9th) for a holiday open house featuring live music, giveaways, strolling entertainment and plenty of gift inspiration. Register to win a $100 gift card to Buredo or Balducci’s, and snag a free copper insulated travel bottle with any $150 purchase. (Redeem your receipts at Belina Boutique, Coco Blanca, Buredo, Irresistibles, Red Orchard, Secrete Fine Jewelry or Yves Delorme.) Shopping hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Wildwood Shopping Center, 10241 Old Georgetown Road. Click here for details.

Norman's Farm Market
JT Interiors

Rediscover your favorites at JT Interiors

JT Interiors closed its doors last summer, but the Potomac Village gift shop is alive and well on the Internet. All those charming holiday gifts that the store was known for –  from embroidered table runners and painted guest towels to festive candles and party accessories — are available all season at www.jtinteriorspotomac.com. Snow globes like the one shown here are $30 and up, silk scarves are available in 10 colors for $40, and lighted glass vases with winter scenes are $12 to $30. Click here to visit the JT website, or email your inquiries to hello@jtinteriorspotomac.com.

New Greek restaurant for Rockville

Gyroland, a casual spinoff of the longtime Greek restaurant Mykonos, opened its doors this week in the former Maria’s Bakeryspace in the Shops at Congressional Village, 1701 Rockville Pike. The menu features gyros, wraps, souvlaki and other Greek specialties, along with salads and the honey donuts known as loukoumades. For a peek at the menu, click here.

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Did you miss these issues?

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

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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.

Wintergreen Plaza
Norman's Farm Market
Toy Kingdom at Rockville Town Square

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.

O'Donnell's Market Wednesday Meal Deals
Helen's holiday sign

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.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Shanghai Bao Kitchen

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.

Park Potomac Winterwilds Market

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.

All-Asian food court, Cava on Shady Grove and a Rio restaurant update

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Gong Cha bubble tea

 

Next up for Rockville: An all-Asian food court

Coming soon to the new Metropolitan apartment building near Rockville Town Square: an all-Asian food court featuring everything from poke bowls and Taiwanese street food to cocktails and bubble tea. “It’s going to be called The Spot, and it will be the hottest place in Rockville by next summer,” says broker Shang Wang of JBG Companies, who’s finalizing the tenant list for the North Washington Street complex. Among that list will be the Taiwanese bubble tea chain Gong Cha, which is moving into Maryland after a three-year expansion around the New York area. Click here to check out the menu. 

 

 

Wintergreen Plaza: http://www.wintergreenplaza.com

 

 

 

Sonoran Rose: https://www.sonoran-rose.com

 

 

 

Poki District bowl

 

New restaurants for Rio Washingtonian

New dining and drinking options are on the way to Gaithersburg’s Rio Washingtonian Center. Just for the holidays, this week marks the launch of a Friday-only pop-up bar on the plaza across from Uncle Julio’s. (Click here for details). Next comes Poki District, a fast-expanding D.C. chain that will debut this spring near the movie theater. And Yard House, a craft beer and cocktail chain from Darden Restaurants, will replace the closed Macaroni Grill in 2019. Click here for a preview.

 

 

 

 

 

Toy Castle at Cabin John Mall: https://www.facebook.com/toycastlepotomac/

 

 

 

CAVA bowl

 

New Cava for Shady Grove

Cava has opened its newest Rockville restaurant at the Upper Rock retail complex on Shady Grove Road, where its neighbors will include CVS and MOM’s Organic Market. Two other Cavas also are on the way to this area, one now under construction at Montrose Crossing on Rockville Pike (details here) and the other at Cabin John Shopping Center in Potomac (details here).

 

 

VIP Outdoor at Westfield Montgomery Mall: https://www.facebook.com/VipOutdoor-150156621670618/

 

 

 

Store Reporter raffle gifts

 

Who won our raffle?

Congratulations to the winners of the Store Reporter raffle from last weekend’s Washington Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction. Here’s who got lucky this year:

  • Shannon Zlotnik and Randi Poli each won $15 gift certificates for workout wear by LavaLoka (www.lavaloka.com).
  • Naomi Samuels won a sampler pack of edible cookie dough from The Cookie Jar DC (https://www.thecookiejardc.com).
  • Barbara Faigen won a $25 gift certificate for Lost & Forged, specializing in gifts made from reclaimed silver (www.lostandforged.com).
  • Lauren Topf won a $30 gift certificate for kids’ clothing from PixieLane Kids (click for more on Facebook).
  • Nancy Paul won a gift certificate for $25 in hair accessories from Bows Etc. (bows etc.com).
  • Jamie Kramer won a child’s fleece blanket from Perfect Presents by Pamela (click for more on Facebook).

Stay tuned for more Store Reporter giveaways this winter. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

Email news and advertising questions to: publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Popups, Pooch Portraits, Pandora Seafood & Victoria’s Secret

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What’s popping up at the mall

The chilly weather has finally arrived, and so have the winter pop-up shops at Westfield Montgomery Mall. In the Nordstrom wing, the long-departed Things Remembered is back for the holidays with an array of personalized presents. Canadian retailer Just Cozy has set up shop on Level 2 near Auntie Anne’s, selling leggings and women’s cold-weather accessories. Also new this year is MVP Supreme, showcasing the popular streetwear brand in the space recently vacated by Best Buy Mobile. Supreme was in the news this week when it ranked near Nike and Adidas in a Piper Jaffray survey of American teens. The results were far less promising for Maryland-based Under Armour, which topped the list of “old” brands that teens say they no longer wear. Ouch.

 

 

Game-Day Foods at Wintergreen Plaza: http://www.wintergreenplaza.com

 

 

 

Potomac Village Farmers Market: https://www.facebook.com/PVFM20854/

 

 

 

Pooch Portrait Studio

 

Pooch portraits at Park Potomac

Pooch Portrait Studio, a Glamour Shots for the furry set, is now open in the former Emily Grace space at Park Potomac. Photographer Sarah Rosencrans creates dog portraits suitable for Christmas cards, wall art and lots of likes on Instagram. Shooting sessions starts at $149, and Rosencrans says most clients end up spending $500 or more on prints and products. “I really like them to leave with a piece of wall art, because I see how happy it makes them,” she says. “I’ve photographed about 500 dogs, and there hasn’t been one yet that I couldn’t get a picture of.” For a look at Pooch Portrait’s packages, click here.

 

 

Realtor Lisa Nasar with Long & Foster: http://www.lisanasarhomes.com

 

 

 

Pearly White Pets Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning: https://pearlywhitepets.com/events/

 

 

 

Sports bras from Pink

 

New home for Victoria’s Secret and Pink

Today was moving day for Victoria’s Secret and Pink at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The sister stores have left their longtime home near Nordstrom for a new space in the Macy’s wing next to Sephora. Grand opening festivities will be happening all weekend. No word yet on new tenants for the Nordstrom wing, which is entering the holiday shopping season with lots of empty space.

 

 

Aristotle Circle K-12 Tutoring: https://pearlywhitepets.com/events/

 

 

 

Pandora Seafood House & Bar

 

New seafood in Rockville

The former American Tap Room space at Rockville Town Square reopened this week as Pandora Seafood House & Bar, with a high-end menu featuring dishes like Honey Lavender Duck Breast, Lemon & Caviar Crab, and Lobster with Foie Gras Ravioli. The restaurant is a new venture from the former owners of China Garden in Arlington, who also have announced plans for a new Chinese restaurant in the former REI space on Rockville Pike. To see what’s on the menu at Pandora, click here.

 

 

Capital Area Food Bank Empty Bowls Bethesda: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/empty-bowls/

 

 

 

Email news and advertising questions to: publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Shake Shack heading to Cabin John — plus sushi burritos, Last Call, Smoothie King and a Sears update

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Shake Shack joining CAVA at Cabin John

Shake Shack, home of juicy burgers, crinkle-cut fries and the milkshake that made Michelle Obama break her diet, is finally coming to Montgomery County. The company tells Store Reporter that it’s joining the lineup at Cabin John Shopping Center in Potomac, where construction will begin in the next few months at the corner of the front parking lot. Projected opening: mid to late 2018. The Shake Shack deal is the latest coup for Edens, the new owner of Cabin John, which also has lured CAVA as it looks to remake the center’s dowdy image. (More on that in our Sept. 7 edition.) This news also sheds some light on the recent departure of BGR, which closed its doors at Cabin John last month. And there are more changes ahead: This week, Edens execs told the Washington Business Journal that their long-term plans call for an “urban, walkable village” that will serve as “the central gathering place for the neighborhood.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi burrito update

The war of the sushi burritos on Old Georgetown Road is over before it began. The winner: Buredo, the D.C.-based chain that opened its first Maryland location this summer at the Wildwood Shops. The loser: Maki Shop, another D.C. restaurant that has called off plans to open right across the street at Georgetown Square. Maki Shop, which also closed its D.C. location, appears to be down to just a delivery service and a food truck.

 

 

Fall Open House at My Gym Cabin John

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sears at the mall: One down, one to go

There’s one closing that we neglected to mention in last week’s roundup of summer comings and goings at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The Sears Auto Center shut its doors at the beginning of August, four months after the property was purchased by mall owner Westfield Corp. Westfield also bought the nearby Sears department store, which continues to operate as usual under a lease-back agreement with the troubled retailer. Sears spokesman Howard Riefs says that’s the way things will stay for the foreseeable future. “The store will continue to remain open,” he says. We say: Don’t bet on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last call for Last Call?

This week Neiman-Marcus said it will close 10 of its 37 Last Call stores, which feature discounted merchandise from previous seasons as well as pieces designed specifically for the off-price market. The Potomac Mills and Arundel Mills stores are both on the closing list, but the Rockville store at Congressional Plaza is not. In other Congressional Plaza news: Smoothie King is now under construction near the center’s new outdoor seating area, with plans to open as early as next month.

 

 

Email news and advertising questions to: publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Pinstripes & Peruvian food on the Pike — plus sushi burritos, edible cookie dough and a Potomac Village closing

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Bocce court at Pinstripes

 

Pinstripes opens at Pike & Rose

Who says the summer months are slow around here? A lot happened when we took a few weeks off. Let’s start with Pike & Rose, where Pinstripes opened its doors last weekend with bowling, bocce, cool rooftop views and a surprisingly top-notch menu. We loved the tenderloin sliders ($16), stuffed mushrooms ($11), boneless short rib with mashed potatoes ($25) and roasted cauliflower pasta with sundried tomatoes ($13). A 4,000-square-foot Sephora store is also new at Pike & Rose, soon to be followed by L.L. Bean, H&M, Sur La Table, Nando’s, Taylor Gourmet and a Porsche dealership. For more Pinstripes photos, visit our Facebook page.

 

 

Potomac Village Farmers Market: https://www.facebook.com/PVFM20854/?ct=t%28SR-8-10-17%3A+Pnstrps%2CPrvian%2CSshiBrrits%2CCkieDgh%2C+JT%29&mc_cid=7a747c96b2&mc_eid=%5BUNIQID%5D

 

 

 

Beatrix roll at Buredo

 

Hello Buredo

For sushi lovers, this month’s big news is the opening of Buredo at Wildwood Shopping Center. This is the third location for the D.C.-based chain, which serves up burrito-sized sushi rolls wrapped in seaweed instead of tortillas. Shown here: the Beatrix, featuring a mix of tuna and salmon sashimi, cucumber, pickled cabbage, green onion and tempura crunch topped with unagi sauce. To see what else is on the menu, click here.

 

 

La Limena Grill in Rockville

 

New Peruvian on the Pike

La Limeña Grill, under construction since last year in the former Potomac Grill space, finally opened its doors this week at 1093 Rockville Pike. The new restaurant is about twice the size of its older sister, La Limeña at Ritchie Center, with a more formal decor featuring black scroll lamps and charming murals. And while the original La Limeña offers a mix of Cuban and Peruvian food, owner Emma Perez says her new place will focus exclusively on the latter. The restaurant’s website isn’t up yet, but you can check out the menu for the Ritchie Center location here.

 

 

Wintergreen Plaza: http://www.wintergreenplaza.com

 

 

Bangkok Shrimp Bowl at California Tortilla

 

Who won our California Tortilla giveaway?

Congratulations to Store Reporter readers Michael Goozh and Marcy Trost, the winners of our California Tortilla giveaway drawing. They each won two fresh entrees with drinks and sides, to be redeemed at the Cabin John location or anywhere else in the D.C. Metro area. Didn’t win this time? You can still catch Cal Tort’s spicy-sweet Bangkok Shrimp bowls, burritos and quesadillas through the end of August — or stick with year-round menu favorites like the California Sunset Bowl and Korean BBQ Tacos. For a look at what’s cooking at California Tortilla, click here.

 

Sponsored Content

 

 

Jenny Camps Personal Training ad: http://www.jocpersonaltraining.com

 

 

 

JT Interiors in Potomac Village

 

Potomac Village gift shop to close this fall

This week we say a sad goodbye to one of our favorite local gift shops. JT Interiors in Potomac Village will close its doors in late September after five years in the little house at 9906 River Road. Owner Terri Downs, who launched the business 17 years ago in Kentlands, is having health issues and wants to focus on her recovery. The JT Interiors website will continue to operate, but the store is clearing out most of its inventory at 60 to 70 percent off. New merchandise, including decor that was purchased ahead for the holidays, is arriving daily. Check the JT Facebook page for updates. 

 

 

Cookie Dough & Co. and Teavana

 

Cookie dough in, Teavana out at the mall

Westfield Montgomery Mall has a new place to tempt your sweet tooth. Cookie Dough & Co., the first shop in our area to showcase the trendy treat, is now open in the former Peet’s Coffee kiosk near Sears. On the menu: safe-to-eat cookie dough in a variety of flavors, scooped like ice cream and served with milk or La Colombe coffee on the side. Meanwhile, the mall will soon lose the short-lived Teavana store that opened in expanded quarters just last winter. Starbucks has announced it will close all 389 of its tea stores by next spring. No word yet on how long ours will last.

 

 

 

 

 

New farmers market at Cabin John – plus ramen, hotpot, Honeyfish Poke and a closing for Potomac Village Deli

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Vendors from Cabin John farmers market

 

Fresh produce, specialty foods every Thursday

Summer is the season for farmers markets, and Cabin John Shopping Center is finally getting one of its own. Starting this week and continuing through early fall, the center will showcase fresh produce from several local farms as well as specialty goods from vendors like Ruby Scoops (ice cream and sweets), Groff’s Content Farm (meat, poultry and eggs), District Spice (salt-free and vegan blends), Craft Kombucha (fermented health drinks) and Buffalo & Bergen (New York-style fare). The market will be held from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays in the front parking lot at Tuckerman Lane and Seven Locks Road, moving to the back parking lot in August and September. The farmers market is the first major initiative from Cabin John’s new owner, Edens, which is working to turn the shopping center into a community gathering place.

 

 

Honeyfish Poke at Congressional Plaza in Rockville

 

Aloha Honeyfish Poke

The long-awaited Honeyfish Poke opened its doors this week at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. On the menu: Raw fish or tofu served Hawaiian-style with customized Asian toppings and sauces. “What really makes the flavors are the marinades, ” says Honeyfish CEO Duke Park. “You can have it on the sweet side with eel sauce, or for traditional sushi flavor you can have it with ponzu, soy sauce or wasabi.” Park, who co-founded the chain in California, has relocated to Maryland with plans to expand in the D.C. area. For more on Honeyfish Poke, click here.

 

 

Father's Day gifts at JT Interiors in Potomac Village: https://www.facebook.com/jtinteriorspotomac/

 

 

 

Bowl of ramen

 

New Ramen for Rockville

Two new Asian restaurants — Urban Hot Pot and Akira Ramen — are moving into the Galvan complex on Rockville Pike. The side-by-side concepts, complete with conveyor belt, will take the vacant space between Ethan Allen and Dunkin’ Donuts. This will be the second hotpot restaurant to open in the area this year, following four-month-old Little Dipper at Rockville Town Square (see our Sept. 8 edition for more). “There’s a great demand for all these Asian concepts in the Rockville area,” says broker Shang Wang, who’s handled several such deals for JBG Companies. “Whether it’s hot pot, ramen, poke or bubble tea, all of them are doing really well.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertise with Store Reporter: https://storereporter.com/advertise/

 

 

 

Potomac Pizza and Potomac Village Deli & Catering

 

Potomac Pizza exits The Kentlands

The Potomac Pizza/Potomac Village Deli chain is calling it quits on The Kentlands. Doors will close June 18th at the 18-year-old restaurant, which converted from pizza to deli fare just last year. “We made some mistakes, including having two pizza places so close together in The Kentlands and Rockville,” says co-owner Adam Greenberg. “We thought that having a breakfast/deli-type concept out there would be awesome, and our regulars all thought it was great, but obviously the other people didn’t.” The Potomac Pizza restaurants in Rockville, Chevy Chase and Potomac Village will not be affected by the closing, Greenberg says, and a new location planned for College Park is still scheduled to open in August. He says the company plans to continue its deli catering business.

 

 

URBNmarket: http://www.urbnmarket.com

 

 

 

Realtor Lisa Nasar: http://www.lisanasarhomes.com

 

 

 

Gymboree at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Gymboree files for bankruptcy

Gymboree is the latest retailer to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, announcing this week that it plans to restructure debt and close 375 stores across the country. Gymboree also operates the value-oriented Crazy 8 chain and the higher-end Janie and Jack, for a combined total of 1,300 children’s clothing stores nationwide. Gymboree and Janie and Jack are both tenants at Westfield Montgomery Mall. No word yet on which locations will be closing.

 

 

 

For a membership discount at Regency Estates Swim Club, email publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Advertise with Store Reporter: Email publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

Sushi burritos & poke bowls, a Blaze Pizza update and more store closings

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Raw fish is all the rage

Sushi burritos and poke bowls are having a moment as we welcome some new restaurants in the Rockville/Bethesda suburbs. Buredo, set to open in the next few weeks at Wildwood Shopping Center, features hand-held rolls stuffed with avocado, cucumber, tempura flakes, sriracha mayo and other ingredients that complement the raw fish. The menu will be similar at Maki Shop, opening later this year at Georgetown Square just across the street. And Honeyfish Poke, scheduled to debut this month at Congressional Plaza, features Hawaiian-style bowls of raw fish with rice and toppings. Meanwhile, Shanghai Bao Kitchen at Westfield Montgomery Mall has dropped its original dumplings-and-veggies concept for a new menu that focuses on… you guessed it, sushi burritos and poke bowls.

 

 

 

 

 

Craft from URBNmarket vendors

 

Weekend plan: URBNmarket

URBNmarket, a two-day showcase of handmade and vintage goods, returns to Park Potomac this weekend with plenty of fab finds as well as music, food and kids’ activities. The show kicks off Friday (June 2) from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., continuing Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grassy square across from Harris Teeter. Be sure to stop by the Store Reporter table on Friday — or the information table on Saturday — for a chance to win some great gift cards from Founding Farmers, Sugo, JT Interiors, O’Donnell’s Market and Orangetheory Fitness. For more on URBNmarket and this year’s vendors, click here.

 

 

Gifts at JT Interiors: https://www.facebook.com/jtinteriorspotomac/

 

 

 

 

Will Blaze ever be back?

It’s been a year since Blaze Pizza abruptly closed its doors at Westfield Montgomery Mall, citing poor signage and lack of foot traffic at its tucked-away location across from Aroma. At the time, a company spokesman promised that Blaze would be back with a higher-profile space not far away. This week we checked in to see how those plans are coming along. Sadly for all you Blaze fans, they’re not. “No other location planned for the area at this time,” says spokesman Joshua Levitt. “Sorry!”

 

 

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster: http://www.lisanasarhomes.com/blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vases at Appalachian Spring

 

One less store for Appalachian Spring

Appalachian Spring, one of the longest-running craft and jewelry stores in the D.C. area, is closing its Georgetown location after nearly half a century. “We got to the end of our lease on Wisconsin Avenue, and it was just too expensive to do it over again,” says owner David Brooks. “It’s not a wonderful climate right now.” The Rockville store at Congressional Plaza is having a good year, Brooks says, and the Union Station and Reston stores are at least holding their own. “We may look for another place that doesn’t cannibalize our existing locations,” he says, “but we haven’t found it yet.” To see what’s hot this summer at Appalachian Spring, click here.

 

 

Jenny Camps Personal Training ad: http://www.jocpersonaltraining.com

 

 

 

Michael Kors handbag

 

Michael Kors closing stores

The latest company to announce widespread store closings is luxury retailer Michael Kors, which says it will shutter up to 125 of its 800-plus locations before the end of 2017. Sales of the company’s handbags and apparel have been falling this past year, even as Michael Kors tried to regain its upscale image by reducing its presence at discount-happy department stores. So what does all this mean for the Michael Kors store at Westfield Montgomery Mall? Staffers say they haven’t been told yet. “Those decisions are going to come later,” says one employee. “As far as I know, we’re not going anywhere.”

 

 

For information about membership discounts at Regency Estate Swim Club, email publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Email news and advertising questions to publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

New salon, bridal store and boutique — plus Metro pop-ups and a ShopHouse successor

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Karma by Erwin Gomez

 

D.C. salon expanding to Potomac

Karma by Erwin Gomez, a D.C. salon headed by a celeb makeup artist, is expanding to Park Potomac with a new location on the ground floor of The Perry. “We will be full-service, offering makeup, brows, lashes, skin care, body bronzing and spray tanning as well as hair,” says co-owner Sab Shad. “We’ll have a fun, loungy feel for bridal parties and other groups to hang out while they get ready for their big event.” Shad is a veteran of the Red Door chain, where partner Gomez got his start before moving on to celeb clients like Eva Longoria and Jennifer Garner. Plans call for a February opening; click here for more info.

 

 

 

 

 

Rack of clothing from Oak

 

New venture for Mustard Seed owner

After 25 years with Mustard Seed, the secondhand clothing store on Wisconsin Avenue, co-founder Gayle Herrmann is striking out on her own. The Oak boutique opened last week at 10511 Metropolitan Ave. in Kensington, a 10-minute drive from Rockville Pike and worlds away from the traffic of downtown Bethesda. “I wanted to do something different, in a less hectic area with more parking where I could really connect with people,” Herrmann says. While Mustard Seed was known for its vintage and recently recycled clothing, Oak (oaktheshop.com) carries all-new merchandise with a weekend-casual vibe. “We specialize in comfy and loose but hip things that you won’t find at Nordstrom,” she says. “We don’t carry jeans. I really think people want easy stuff right now.” As for Mustard Seed, the store is still in business under a new name: Remix.

 

 

Pike Central Farm Market: http://www.centralfarmmarkets.com

 

 

 

Say Yes For Less at Cabin John Mall

 

Cabin John puts a ring on it

Say Yes for Less, a bridal boutique featuring high-end gowns at deep discounts, has opened its doors at Cabin John Mall in the second-floor space above Zohra. Owner Pamela Vito may be new to Potomac shoppers, but she’s no stranger to wedding dresses: She and her mother ran Hannelore’s Bridal Boutique in Old Town Alexandria for more than 30 years. “Having been in the industry for so long, I have stores across the country that are willing to send me their samples,” Vito says. “These are dresses that have been discontinued — some just recently — and I’m selling them at a dramatically reduced price.” Vito stocks about 300 gowns in a variety of sizes, with most priced between $1,500 and $3,000. The store is open by appointment only, click here for details.

 

 

Bagel City party platters: https://www.facebook.com/Bagel-City-1449523538616738/

 

 

 

Plates from Bibibop

 

Asian fusion’s back at Pike & Rose

Opening this Monday (May 22nd) in North Bethesda: Bibibop Asian Grill, the successor to ShopHouse Asian Kitchen at Pike & Rose. Shophouse, a failed spinoff of Chipotle, went out of business this spring and sold all of its 15 locations to Ohio-based Bibibop. The new menu isn’t all that different from the old one, with bowls of rice or greens topped by vegetables, proteins and Asian sauces. Click here to check it out.

 

 

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster: http://www.lisanasarhomes.com

 

 

 

Bell Flowers at Strathmore Square

 

Flowers and food on the go

This week marked the launch of Strathmore Square, a six-week pop-up market running Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station. “This is a chance for commuters to pick up things like flowers, rotisserie chicken and fresh bread on their way home,” says Ron Kaplan of D.C.-based Fivesquares, which is testing the market for a long-term retail plan. Participating vendors include Ibhana, Grandma Vera’s and The Red Bandana Bakery, selling everything from bouquets and sun hats to prepared meals, juices and pastries. Instead of the usual pop-up tents and kiosks, Fivesquares hired an artist to build mini-storefronts from the sliced-up remains of a retired Metro car. Click here for a video showing how it was done.

 

 

URBNmarket at Park Potomac: http://www.urbnmarket.com

 

 

 

For a membership discount at Regency Estates Swim Club, email publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

For news and advertising questions, email publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Mission BBQ, HHgregg, more mall closings and the scoop on slime

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Brisket, fries and beans at Mission BBQ

 

Hello Mission BBQ

The big news on Rockville Pike this week is the opening of Mission BBQ, under construction since November in the former Benjarong space at Wintergreen Plaza. This is the first Montgomery County location for the popular Maryland-based chain, which offers brisket, spare ribs, pulled pork and other traditional favorites in a casual atmosphere with prices mostly below $10. “Mission” refers to the company’s focus on patriotism, which includes lunchtime renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner and frequent fundraisers for veterans, police and firefighters. Grand opening is this Monday (March 13th); click here to check out the menu.

 

 

Taff & Levine D.D.S.: http://www.taffandlevine.com

 

 

 

HHgregg

 

Electronics retailer pulls the plug

Add HHgregg to the ever-growing list of retail bankruptcies in this warm but brutal winter. The electronics chain filed Chapter 11 this week, with plans to close 88 of its 200 stores and sell off the rest. All HHgregg stores in the D.C. area, including the one on Rockville Pike, are expected to close in mid-April.

 

 

JT Interiors: https://www.facebook.com/jtinteriorspotomac/

 

 

 

Slime from Michael's

Got slime?

If you have a child in elementary or middle school this year, you’re probably quite familiar with the slime craze. In the grand tradition of Silly Bandz (2010-11) and Rainbow Looms (2013-14), the preteen obsession du jour is a homemade concoction of borax, food coloring, various forms of glitter and copious amounts of Elmer’s Glue. In fact, that classroom staple has been in short supply at local stores ever since kids started turning their homes into slime factories. “We’ve been scavenging everywhere to get the ingredients and keep up with demand,” says Hadi Hassan, manager of Michael’s on Rockville Pike. “We want to make sure we don’t fall behind the curve when it comes to slime.” Our middle school informants tell us that Hassan can probably relax: Word has it the slime craze has already peaked. Still going strong in your house? Click here for some recipes.

 

 

2017 On Cloud 9 Camp Trunk Show: https://www.facebook.com/On-Cloud-9-252148152907/

 

 

 

Radio Shack and Core at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

More closings at the mall

Still more bad news to report at Westfield Montgomery Mall this week: The two-year-old Core clothing store has closed its doors, and bankrupt-again Radio Shack will soon be out as well. The mall has seen more departures these past few months than at any time in recent memory, from national retailers that went bankrupt (The Limited, American Apparel and Marbles) to smaller tenants like Best Buy Mobile, R. Riveter, American Classic Clothes, Freddy, Smart Toys and Stride Rite. Losses have been heavy on the dining side as well: Splashy new restaurants MET Bethesda and Naples Ristorante each flamed out after less than two years, as did the short-lived Peet’s Coffee bar as well as longtime tenants Wetzel’s Pretzels and Bistro Sensations. Similar scenes are playing out at malls across the country, as internet sales continue to cannibalize physical stores. Just this week, Urban Outfitters CEO Richard Hayne told Bloomberg that the U.S. is oversaturated with retail space after a late-’90s/early-2000s building boom. “Like housing,” he said, “that bubble has now burst.”

 

 

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster: http://www.lisanasarhomes.com/single-post/2016/12/05/The-10-Dumbest-Mistakes-Smart-People-Make-When-Buying-or-Selling-a-Home-–-and-How-to-Avoid-Them

 

 

 

East Gate Swim & Tennis Club: https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=recpveggstmd

 

 

 

Hope for Henry's 5K: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/861275/

 

 

 

Email questions to: publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Moby Dick in Potomac Village, more changes at Rockville Town Square, new restaurants we love

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Moby Dick kabobs

 

Moby Dick update

Moby Dick expects a mid-March opening for its new location in Potomac Village, where it’s nearing the end of construction at the Falls Road storefront that once housed Toys Unique. This will be the 21st restaurant for the fast-casual chain, which has been serving Persian food in the D.C. area for almost 30 years. To see what’s on the menu, click here.

 

 

Kaufmann Jewelers: http://www.kaufmannjewelers.com/aboutus/

 

 

 

Ev & Maddy's and Little Dipper Hot Pot House at Rockville Town Square

 

Who’s in, who’s out at Rockville Town Square

Lots of changes this winter on Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square, where Little Dipper Hot Pot House is set to open next week while the neighboring Ev & Maddy’s appears to have closed. Little Dipper, which is taking over the corner spot that once housed Noodles & Company, offers flavored broths with noodles, vegetables and meats that you cook right at your table. Ev & Maddy’s, which earned good reviews for its European bistro-style menu, had been open for just two years in the space next door. It’s the fourth restaurant to fail at that address since 2007, following Bobby’s Crabcakes, Tippy’s Taco House and the short-lived 82 Steak Out. Also exiting Gibbs Street is the Ten Thousand Villages gift shop; more on that in our Feb. 2 edition.

 

 

 

 

 

Want to win dinner for four at Chuy's? Scroll down to find out how.

 

 

 

Macy's sign at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Amazon to buy Macy’s?

This week brought the news that Macy’s, which has been closing stores across the country, is entertaining acquisition offers from several potential suitors. The interested parties are said to include Amazon, which is looking to expand into physical stores, and Hudson’s Bay Company, which already owns Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor. Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

 

Purse from BCBG Max Azria

 

Bye bye BCBG

BCBG Max Azria, which exited Westfield Montgomery Mall last year, plans to close 120 locations across the country in the next two months. The retailer says it will continue to operate some freestanding stores, but will focus primarily on its Internet sales, licensing deals and boutiques inside department stores. The BCBG store in Chevy Chase will be closing in the next few weeks, but staffers tell us the Georgetown and Tysons stores will remain open — at least for now. Like so many clothing retailers these days, BCBG is rumored to be on the verge of bankruptcy.

 

 

2017 Tips on Trips & Camps Summer Opportunities Fair: https://tipsontripsandcamps.com/dc/

 

 

 

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster: http://www.lisanasarhomes.com/single-post/2016/12/05/The-10-Dumbest-Mistakes-Smart-People-Make-When-Buying-or-Selling-a-Home-–-and-How-to-Avoid-Them

 

 

 

Dinner and margarita at Chuy's

 

Tell us where you love to eat — and win dinner at Chuy’s

From burgers and beer to Irish and Russian cuisine, the Rockville/Potomac area has welcomed some two dozen new restaurants in the past 12 months. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’d like to know which ones have won a place in your heart. Tell us your favorites, and we’ll enter you into our raffle to win dinner for four at Chuy’s on Rockville Pike. Here are the contenders:

  • Beefsteak at Westfield Montgomery Mall
  • Carluccio’s at Pike & Rose
  • Chopt at Congressional Plaza
  • Chuy’s at Federal Plaza
  • Fish Taco at the Wildwood Shops
  • Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub at Rockville Town Square
  • Habit Burger at Wintergreen Plaza
  • Helen’s on Rockville Pike
  • Jersey Mike’s at Wintergreen Plaza
  • Lahinch at Cabin John Shopping Center
  • Mellow Mushroom at Rockville Town Square
  • Miso Fusion Café at Rockville Town Square
  • Modern Market at Congressional Plaza
  • Owen’s Ordinary at Pike & Rose
  • Pieology on Shady Grove Road
  • Pie 360 on Rockville Pike
  • Samovar at Rockville Town Square
  • Smashburger on Rockville Pike
  • Tara Thai at Westfield Montgomery Mall
  • The Big Greek Cafe on Nicholson Lane
  • Wingstop at Wintergreen Plaza
  • World of Beer in downtown Rockville

To enter, just click here to fill out our survey favorites (choose as many favorites as you want) or click here to comment on our Facebook page. We’ll tally up the votes and draw the winning name later this month.

 

 

LavaLoka workout clothes: https://lavaloka.com

 

 

 

Email advertising and editorial questions to publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Modern Market eyes Fallsgrove, new tenant for American Tap Room, goodbye Ten Thousand Villages

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Modern Market at Congressional Plaza

 

Modern Market heading to Fallsgrove?

It’s not a done deal yet, but we’re hearing that Modern Market will soon announce plans for a second Rockville restaurant at the Fallsgrove Village Center off Shady Grove Road. The chain made its D.C.-area debut last summer in downtown Bethesda, followed in December by a second location at Rockville’s Congressional Plaza and just this week by a third location in Washington. Modern Market, based in health-conscious Boulder, CO, has earned an avid following for its super-fresh menu (click here), detailed nutritional information, and willingness to accommodate a variety of specialized diets. (At Fallsgrove, though, we might just be tempted to top off all that healthy eating with a hot Krispy Kreme.)

 

 

Sculpt Studio: http://sculptstudio.com

 

 

 

 

New successor for American Tap Room

Six weeks after the closing of Rockville’s American Tap Room, a new restaurant has leased the space with plans to open this summer. Pandora Seafood Restaurant and Bar is a new venture from the owners of China Garden, a longtime fixture in Rosslyn, VA, that’s known for hosting large events. China Garden recently announced plans to close at the end of July, just when this new restaurant is expected to open.

 

 

Catering at Duck Donuts: https://duckdonuts.com/locations/rockville-md/

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages, which sells crafts made by artisans in developing countries, will close its Bethesda and Rockville stores this spring. The company is trimming down “in response to a changing retail environment,” says spokesman Juanita Fox, but will continue to operate stores in Baltimore and Old Town Alexandria. The 11-year-old location at Rockville Town Square is scheduled to exit March 25, followed shortly afterwards by the Bethesda store on Elm Street. If you’re a fan of Ten Thousand Villages and its global mission, you can still shop the website by clicking here.

 

 

Tips on Trips & Camps Summer Opportunities Fair: https://tipsontripsandcamps.com/dc/

 

 

 

Silver Moon Valentine's Day jewelry 2017

 

Valentine’s Day gifts at Silver Moon

Valentine’s Day is approaching fast, and the Silver Moon gift shop at Congressional Plaza (formerly known as Tiara) is brimming with heart-shaped jewelry from Pandora. Shown here: sterling silver earring and necklace set for $125; pavé heart bracelet with love charm and silver clips for $195; and the “Love Struck” charm gift set for $65. All three come complete with lovely red gift boxes. Silver Moon Jewelry & Accessories, Congressional Plaza, 1659 Rockville Pike. Call 301-468-1122 or visit www.silvermoonstyle.com.

 

Sponsored Content

 

 

Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

More post-holiday closings at the mall

More closings to report this week at Westfield Montgomery Mall, where January always brings a slew of departures but this year was particularly rough. Best Buy Mobile and Wetzel’s Pretzels are the latest tenants to leave, joining a list that now includes Naples Ristorante, The Limited, Peet’s Coffee, R. Riveter, Smart Toys, American Classic Clothes and Freddy. American Apparel, which recently declared bankruptcy, is also on its way out. But February will bring some fresh tenants into the mix, with Lucky Strike Social and Nespresso both expected to open in the next few weeks. For details on all the recent closings, catch up on our past issues at www.storereporter.com.

 

 

Email questions to: publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

New White Flint project, new gym for Bethesda, goodbye American Apparel

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East Village Phases I and II

 

Park Potomac developer heads to White Flint

The company that built Park Potomac will break ground next winter on a new retail/residential complex near the former White Flint Mall. The project, to be known as East Village, will replace some old office buildings on Nicholson Lane with a low-rise mix of stores, restaurants, living space, and ample parking for bikes as well as cars. “It’s going to be very transit-oriented, close to the Metro and Pike & Rose, with a definite village feel,” says Foulger-Pratt spokesman Lisa Wood, whose company is building the project with partner ProMark Real Estate. The first phase is scheduled to open in about three years.

 

 

Leila Jewels winter clearance sale: http://leilajewels.com

 

 

 

American Apparel at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Goodbye American Apparel

American Apparel, which changed hands this week at bankruptcy auction, will soon close its Westfield Montgomery Mall store along with its other D.C.-area locations. Merchandise has been marked down and the end will come in the next few weeks, an employee tells us. Many clothing retailers have struggled in recent years, but American Apparel’s troubles were magnified by its scandal-magnet founder Dov Charney. (Google him.) Ironically, the company once known for its trendy styles and American-made goods will now be owned by the Canadian sweatpants manufacturer Gildan.

 

 

Advice from Realtor Lisa Nasar: http://www.lisanasarhomes.com/single-post/2016/12/05/The-10-Dumbest-Mistakes-Smart-People-Make-When-Buying-or-Selling-a-Home-–-and-How-to-Avoid-Them

 

 

 

Rendering of Brides Fitness & Yoga in Bethesda

 

New gym on the way to Bethesda

Opening this summer in downtown Bethesda: Bridges Fitness & Yoga, a new gym from local fitness guru Robert Sherman. Housed in a former post office building on Wisconsin Avenue, the 15,000-square-foot facility will offer cardio and strength classes, indoor cycling, circuit training, a rooftop yoga deck and an outdoor meditation labyrinth. “We’ll have a much more personalized atmosphere than what you’d find at a large gym,” says Sherman, who is well known in this area from his years at Life Time Athletic, Equinox and his own F.I.T. gym. Bridges is already offering classes at a temporary location near its future home; click here for details.

 

 

Tips on Trips and Camps Summer Camp Fair: https://tipsontripsandcamps.com/dc/

 

 

 

China Gourmet Bistro at Cabin John Shopping Center

 

Cabin John restaurant will be back soon

China Gourmet Bistro at Cabin John Shopping Center is working to get back in business after last month’s closing due to a kitchen fire. “We are definitely reopening,” says owner Vivian He, who runs the two-year-old restaurant with her parents. Repairs should be finished in a couple of weeks, she says. 

 

 

Potomac Lice Lady: http://www.potomaclicelady.com

 

 

 

Purple Narwhal Music & Manga

 

Vintage vinyl on Rockville Pike

If you miss the days of combing through record stacks or you’re into Japanese anime, a new store in Rockville is calling your name. Purple Narwhal Music & Manga, in the Clock Tower Plaza at 822G Rockville Pike, is a labor of love for owners William FitzHugh and Alice Goldberg-FitzHugh. “I grew up going to area record stores like Yesterday and Today and Vinyl Ink that are no longer in business,” says William, who’s keeping his day job at a Rockville software company. “With the resurgence of interest in vinyl records, we thought the time was right to open a new store.” The FitzHughs carry mostly used merchandise including CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes, graphic novels, music-related books, Japanese art and movies, and vintage concert T-shirts. To check out their Facebook page, click here.

 

 

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