Store Reporter

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

Burgers

Latest on the new Life Time club — plus burgers at Pike & Rose, poke at the mall & Chinese at NoBe Market

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Life Time Athletic in Rockville

Latest on Life Time

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

Wintergreen Plaza
Biker Barre

New burgers at Pike & Rose

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

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Women's Seder

Poke at the mall this summer

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

Mimi Arnold
Trio Jr.

Chinese food on the Pike

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

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

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Big move for Barnes & Noble

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

Realtor Jacqueline Band-Olinger of Greystone Realty
Wink Eyecare Boutique

Japanese steakhouse sets a date

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

Biker Barre

Mall stores say goodbye

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

Shin Orthodontics

Rockville Smashburger goes dark

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

Diener Denim Plus Diamonds
CASA Voices for Children Montgomery
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Shake Shack and Trader Joe’s open, Fogo de Chão heads to Pike & Rose

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Here’s your retail & restaurant scoop for the week of Sept. 6th, 2018.

Shake Shack shakes up Potomac

Shake Shack made its Montgomery County debut at Cabin John Village this week, ushering in a new era of fast-food fame for the quiet neighborhood shopping center. A radio station was on site Thursday morning when the doors officially opened, and it wasn’t long before Churchill high schoolers were pouring in for lunch. The place seems destined to become the latest hotspot for local teens — especially in the evenings, when we’re told it will stay open until 10 or 11 p.m. All of which means that Silver Diner, Tastee Diner and Sprinkles are about to get a run for their money. Haven’t had a chance to check out Shake Shack yet? Click here for more photos on our Facebook page.

Grilled Oyster
My Best Friend's Closet
Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's grand opening

The long-awaited Trader Joe’s opened on Friday (Sept. 7th) at Travilah Square Shopping Center off Darnestown Road. The store was packed from 8 a.m. on, with live music, tastings and giveaways all day long. This is the second Rockville location for Trader Joe’s, replacing the one in Gaithersburg that closed its doors this week. The look is cleaner, the aisles are wider, and there are tables outside for al fresco dining. The grocery store has been a game-changer for once-dowdy Travilah Square, which is now attracting new tenants like Cafe Rio Mexican Grill and the upcoming Flower Child (more on that in our May 17th edition). For inside photos of the new store, click here.

Wintergreen Plaza
Le Pain Quotidien
2016-izes-break-the-fast-ad-1200
Fogo de Chäo

Fogo de Chão to Pike & Rose

Well, that was fast. Two weeks after the Nike Factory Store moved out of Pike & Rose (details in our Aug. 23rd issue), owner Federal Realty announced a new tenant for the prime corner spot overlooking Old Georgetown Road. Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian steakhouse with locations in D.C., Tysons Corner and Baltimore, is taking over the space with plans to open early next year. The chain specializes in meats cooked on a traditional churrasqueira grill, but it also offers pork, lamb, chicken and seafood dishes plus traditional Brazilian sides like polenta, yuca, black beans and caramelized bananas. At Pike & Rose, Fogo de Chão will sit right across the street from another high-end steakhouse: Del Frisco’s Grille.

Second Chance Addiction Care
Power Hour Editing

Labor Day opening for Cabin John restaurants, Nike store closes at Pike & Rose, Cava’s surprise buy

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Restaurants ready to open at Cabin John

The upcoming Labor Day weekend will be a busy one at Cabin John Village, with the arrival of Le Pain Quotidien and possibly Shake Shack as well. Tables and chairs already have been set up outside Le Pain, which is scheduled to open for business on Monday, Sept. 3. Construction is almost complete at the neighboring Shake Shack, which will make its debut the same day if all goes smoothly. The two restaurants will join Cava, which opened earlier this month, and the upcoming Sisters Thai, which is expected to arrive this fall. What’s next for Cabin John? A major expansion. Click here for more.

Wintergreen Plaza
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Nike Store

Nike runs out of Pike & Rose

Surprise closing this week at Pike & Rose: The Nike Factory Store is exiting after just two years in the prominent corner spot facing Old Georgetown Road. This is the second sporting goods store to close at that location; original tenant City Sports lasted only a year before its parent company filed Chapter 11 in 2015. At the Nike store, staffers tell us that sales were slow the first year but business picked up in 2018 as Pike & Rose added more tenants and attracted more visitors. Apparently, though, the upward trend wasn’t promising enough for Nike. A company spokesperson declined to discuss Pike & Rose, but said there are no plans to close other nearby Nike stores in D.C., Georgetown and Clarksburg.

North Bethesda Fit Body Boot Camp
Eyeland/Luxoptics
Cava

Cava’s surprise buy

D.C.’s Cava Group surprised the restaurant industry last week when it announced plans to acquire Texas-based Zoë’s Kitchen for $300 million. Cava, founded a dozen years ago by three longtime friends from the Rockville/Bethesda area, has 66 locations nationwide compared with 260 for Zoë’s Kitchen. But Cava is on a rapid expansion path with significant backing from venture capital firms, while Zoë’s has seen its sales decline in recent years. Still unclear: Whether the two restaurants, which serve similar fast-casual Mediterranean menus, will retain separate identities or merge into one big Cava chain after the acquisition.

Second Chance Addiction Care
Fallsgrove Orthodontic Center
Noodles & Company

New look for Noodles & Company

Noodles & Company at Congressional Plaza is closed for renovations, with plans to reopen in mid-September. The Rockville location is one of just three Noodles and Company restaurants left in Montgomery County after last year’s closing of two Bethesda locations.

Bender JCC School fo Dance
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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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The latest on Spice 6, Shake Shack & Cava — plus Brookstone’s bankruptcy & goodbye C9

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New Indian food at the mall

Spice 6, the “modern Indian” restaurant that’s been under construction since last winter in the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall, is finally set to open in mid-August. The chain specializes in pizza and wraps made from naan bread, plus kabobs and rice bowls that can be customized with your choice of proteins and topped with Indian curries and chutneys. There’s also a full catering menu with traditional Indian dishes, from biryani to samosas to dosas. This will be the third location for Spice 6, which also has restaurants in D.C., Hyattsville and Vienna. To check out the menu, click here.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Shake Shack

Shake Shack and Cava almost here

Lots of progress this week at Cabin John Village, where Montgomery County’s first Shake Shack is expected to open next month and Cava is shooting for Wednesday, Aug. 8. We don’t have a ballpark date yet for Le Pain Quotidien, but the owners of Sisters Thai tell us they’re aiming for late fall. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for the latest.

Grilled Oyster
Pearl Lady teas

More bubble tea for Rockville

Downtown Rockville has yet another new option for ramen and bubble tea: Side-by-side restaurants Yamachan Ramen and Pearl Lady opened their doors last week at 201 E. Middle Lane. This marks the first U.S. location for Pearl Lady, a popular Japanese chain offering milk teas, matcha teas, green teas and frappés. There’s no shortage of the bubbly stuff in downtown Rockville, which already is home to Lab Cafe on Gibbs Street, Kung Fu Tea on North Washington Street and Gong Cha inside the new Asian food hall. Can one neighborhood really sustain all that slurping? We expect some fallout in the next 12 months.

Pike Kitchen
Brookstone closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Bye bye Brookstone (again)

Brookstone, which shuttered its Westfield Montgomery mall store last January, filed Chapter 11 this week and anounced the closing of its 101 remaining mall locations. The company plans to keep its 35 airport stores open in hopes of selling them to another retailer. This is the second (and likely final) bankruptcy filing for Brookstone, which was bailed out in 2014 by a last-minute buyer.

Eyeland/Luxoptics
Targer C-9

Goodbye to C9 at Target

Target and Champion just announced the end of their 15-year partnership, which means you won’t be seeing the C9 activewear brand at Target for too much longer. Like many national retailers looking to fatten their profit margins, Target has been expanding its selection of private-label merchandise for the past few years. The company has launched its own activewear brand, JoyLab, which will completely replace C9 by 2020. Meanwhile, Champion’s parent company, Hanesbrands, says it may look for another retailer to carry the C9 line.

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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Rockville restaurants open, Potomac boutique closes — plus free bowling at Lucky Strike

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Two new restaurants for Rockville

Now open at Montrose Crossing: a brand new Five Guys restaurant (relocating from the other side of Rockville Pike) and Slapfish, a California-based chain that’s making its first move into the D.C. area. The two eateries join CAVA and Honeygrow, rounding out the new restaurant row that replaced Timpano at that site. (Not familiar with Slapfish? Want to know what a Clobster is? Click here.)

1-800-GOT-JUNK
Shin Orthodontics
Lucky Strike Bethesda

FREE bowling at Lucky Strike

This week we have a special offer for Store Reporter readers from Lucky Strike Bethesda at Westfield Montgomery mall. Visit any Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and mention Store Reporter for one FREE game of bowling (shoes included). What will you find at Lucky Strike? Seasonal craft beer and handcrafted cocktails, chef-driven gastropub cuisine, sports games on two dozen 60-inch LED screens, and 12 full-sized bowling lanes with an edgy steampunk decor. Planning a special event? Don’t forget to ask about the fully customizable party packages with integrated audiovisuals and private lane-side suites (click here or email bethesdaparties@luckystrikesocial.com for details). One offer per visit, good through Sept. 30, 2018. To claim your free game, be sure to mention Store Reporter when you walk in.

Pike Kitchen

Make a date for Urban Plates

If you’re curious about Urban Plates, the restaurant that’s moving into the Naples space at Westfield Montgomery mall, then it’s time to pay a visit to Tysons Galleria. The California-based chain just opened its first D.C.-area location at Tysons, offering freshly prepared foods in a modern cafeteria-style setting. Plans call for a 2019 debut at Westfield Montgomery. For more info and a look at the Urban Plates menu, click here.

Germantown Moving & Storage

Potomac boutique to close its doors

Say sayonara to Sonoran Rose, the boho-chic Potomac boutique at 12211 River Road. After two years in the roadside barn that once housed local favorite Flora’s Feathered Nest, owner Isabel Chiotti says the out-of-the-way location simply didn’t generate enough foot traffic to pay the bills. “We had an enormous amount of great customers who really appreciated our fine tuning of merchandise, but it just wasn’t enough,” she says. “Everyone in this area is so busy, and the way people shop has changed a lot from the days when Flora’s was there. In the end, we just couldn’t compete with the big-box stores.” For info on the store’s closing sale, call 301-983-0231.

Scout & Molly's
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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.

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

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New restaurant for Westfield Montgomery

Big news for the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall: Urban Plates, a modern take on the classic cafeteria, is taking over the empty Naples space with plans to open next year. The California-based chain offers a variety of chef-driven food stations, allowing customers to choose from freshly tossed salads and bowls, hand-carved sandwiches, side dishes and scratch-made desserts. Foodies should be happy with this place, where the beef is grass-fed, the chicken free-range, the seafood sustainably sourced and the produce mostly local. Want a peek at the menu? Click here or head over to Tysons Galleria, where Urban Plates will open in mid-July. Want to know what other restaurants are on the way to the mall? Click here.

1-800-GOT-JUNK
Wintergreen Plaza
Sugo at Park Potomac

Sugo’s secret chef

New talent in the kitchen this summer at Sugo: Sasha Felikson, a respected young chef who has worked at top D.C.-area restaurants from CityZen to Minibar, has been quietly revamping dishes at the Park Potomac eatery. Felikson, known for his adventurous choices, has been raising the bar at Sugo with new additions like small-batch mozzarella cheese and homemade pastas. (The crab gnocchi is a knockout). He’s now working on recipes for Julii, the new venture from the founders of Sugo and Cava, where he’ll be running the kitchen when doors open this fall at Pike & Rose. The Julii menu will be French-Mediterranean, with a few surprises. (Ever seen ice cream prepared tableside? Felikson tells us he’s working on it. Stay tuned.)

Central Farm Market
Scout & Molly's
CAVA, Honeygrow, Slapfish and Five Guys at Montrose Crossing 2

New picks on the Pike

The summer outdoor dining scene is starting to shape up at Montrose Crossing, with three new restaurants already open and two more nearing completion. Slapfish and Five Guys will soon join Cava and Honeygrow at the center’s new restaurant row, while Honey Pig Korean BBQ is now open near Old Navy. What’s missing from the lineup? Pieology. The make-your-own pizza chain has dropped out of the project, and we’re still waiting to hear who will fill the last few spaces. As soon as we know, you’ll know.

Launch Trampoline Park
Up Top Acres at Pike & Rose

Rooftop crops at Pike & Rose

Remember the rooftop farm at Pike & Rose that we told you about last January? The first summer is off to a good start, with 17,000 square feet of crops including greens, root vegetables, herbs, tomatoes and peppers. Up Top Acres is overseeing the farm, which is said to be the largest of its kind in the Washington metro area. The food is being distributed to Pike & Rose restaurants, farm share members (maxed out for this year) and customers at the Saturday farm markets. For more info on Up Top Acres, click here.

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New seafood on Rockville Pike, new boutique for Park Potomac, Rio movie theater revamp

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Slapfish on the way to Rockville

Opening next month at Montrose Crossing on Rockville Pike: Slapfish, the fast-casual seafood restaurant that’s expanding to the D.C. area. The California-based chain offers a moderately priced menu ranging from fish tacos to shrimp salad to a seafood/grilled cheese mashup called the Clobster. Slapfish is set to open July 13th next to CAVA and newcomer Honeygrow, part of the new restaurant row that’s rising where Timpano once stood. Also on the way: Five Guys , relocating from its longtime home on the other side of Rockville Pike. For more on Slapfish in our Feb. 8th edition, click here.

Wintergreen Plaza
1-800-GOT-JUNK
Gym & Tonic

New boutique for Park Potomac

New boutique on the way to Park Potomac: Gym & Tonic, featuring high-end workout wear plus blazers, sweaters and cute tank tops that can transition from day to night. The store is a new venture from longtime local retailer Wendy Abelman, who previously worked for Lucky Brand and My Best Friend’s Closet, and business partner Amy Morgan Block, who once ran a similar store in Miami. The duo are hoping to open by early fall next to Addie’s — right in the sweet spot between Life Time Athletic and Orangetheory Fitness.

Grilled Oyster
Norman's Farm Market
AMC Loews movie theater at Rio Washingtonian Center

Revamp for Rio’s movie theater

The AMC Loews theater at Rio Washingtonian Center will be fully renovated by fall, the company tells us, with reclining seats, improved lighting and sound equipment, and an upgraded food and beverage menu. AMC is freshening up its properties across the country to meet the expectations of today’s audiences, who have grown accustomed to posh competitors like iPicand ArcLight.  No word yet on how all these changes will affect ticket prices. For more on what’s happening at Rio Washingtonian, click here for our June 7th edition.

Fallsgrove Orthodontic Center
Wildwood Summer Sidewalk Sale

Summer kickoff at Wildwood this weekend

What’s happening this weekend? The annual Summer Sidewalk Sale at Wildwood Shopping Center. Stop by for great summertime deals at many of your favorite stores and restaurants: Belina Boutique, Blanca Flor, Coco Blanca, Hadlee, Irresistibles, Oakville Grille and Wine Bar, Red Orchard, Salon Nader, Sanctuary Interior Designs, Sandy Springs Bank, Secrete Jewelry, Sequel, [SOLIDCORE], South Moon Under, Voorthuis Opticians, Wildwood Italian Cuisine and Yves Delorme. The fun kicks into high gear on Saturday (June 16th) with live music and giveaways from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — including a chance to win $500 in gift cards to Wildwood merchants. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10241 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-998-8100.

Cabin John & Montrose Crossing updates, Bye Bye Brookstone & Golf Galaxy

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What’s going up at Cabin John

Construction is really moving along now at the corner of Tuckerman Lane and Seven Locks Road in Potomac, where four new restaurants will open later this year. The fast-casual eateries — Shake Shack, CAVA, Le Pain Quotidienand Sisters Thai — mark the beginning of a new era for the 50-year-old shopping center, soon to be known as Cabin John Village. Other new tenants include Georgetown Valet, which replaces the departed Fashion Flairdry cleaner, and the Sweetly Anchoredbakery, which is on track to open next month. And since the Long & Foster real estate office departed for Park Potomac, we’ve been hearing some really interesting rumors about who’s moving into that space. As always, Store Reporter will be the first to let you know. In the meantime, click here to read up on Cabin John’s new restaurants.

Norman's Farm Market
Brookstone closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Bye Bye Brookstone

This week we say goodbye to Brookstone, the gadget store where most of us spent more time testing out the massage chairs than actually, you know, buying stuff. The struggling retailer, which has been shuttering stores across the country, has closed its doors at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The mall’s Solstice sunglass store is also on the way out, but competitor Specs New York is unexpectedly back in business after going dark for several weeks. So who’s actually moving in to Westfield Montgomery? Click here for the latest.

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Montrose Crossing shopping center

In and out at Montrose Crossing

Good news and bad news for the Montrose Crossing shopping center on Rockville Pike. Eater DC reports that Slapfish, a California-based chain of fast-casual seafood eateries, will be joining the new restaurant lineup. Meanwhile: Golf Galaxy, a division of Dick’s, has become the third sporting goods store to close its doors at Montrose Crossing in the past three years. Hudson Trail Outfitters went out of business in 2015, and Sports Authority (pictured here) went bankrupt the following year. For the scoop on Honeygrow, which opened at Montrose Crossing this month, click here for our Jan. 18 edition.

Wintergreen Plaza
Vince & Dominic's Westlake Crossing

The end for Vince & Dominic’s

Bulldozers have been busy at the former Vince & Dominic’s space in the strip center across from Westfield Montgomery Mall. Unfortunately, nothing too exciting is in the works: Home Depot, which owns the whole property, tells us it’s demolishing several storefronts to make room for additional parking.

Pooch Portrait Studio
Lolly's Locks

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.

L.L.Bean, Scout & Molly’s, milkshakes and a Coach name change

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L.L.Bean store at Pike & Rose

 

L.L.Bean opens next month — right across from REI

Construction is nearly complete on the new L.L.Bean store at Pike & Rose, where the company tells us it expects to open Nov. 10 with 23,000 square feet of clothing, shoes and outdoor adventure gear. L.L.Bean sits just across the street from the new and even larger REI store, which opened last April with a similar mix of merchandise. With the recent additions of Pinstripes, Sephora, H&M and Sur La Table, Pike & Rose is finally taking shape as a retail, dining and entertainment destination — and poised to be a significant draw for shoppers this holiday season.

 

 

Wednesday Meal Deals at O'Donnell's Market: https://odonnellsmarket.com

 

 

 

Scout & Molly's

 

New boutique for Pike & Rose

In other Pike & Rose news, another clothing store is joining the lineup with plans for a 2018 debut. Scout & Molly’s specializes in trendy women’s lines like AG Jeans, Project Social Tee, Sanctuary, Trina Turk, Tracy Reese and Spiritual Gangster. This will be the first Montgomery County location for the North Carolina-based chain, which also has stores in Annapolis, Reston and Fairfax. Click here to check it out.

 

 

Occasions Anniversary Sale: https://www.occasionsgiftstore.com/grid-cpui

 

 

 

Burger and shakes at Five Guys

 

Milkshakes & smoothies in Potomac Village

Just in time for the cooler weather, this week marked the debut of milkshakes at Five Guys in Potomac Village. The $4.49 price includes unlimited mix-ins of malted milk, peanut butter, Double Stuf Oreos and a bunch of other goodies that will make you glad it’s finally sweatpants season (click here for the full list). And for those who prefer a healthier way to drink in some extra calories: Just across Falls Road, the Sprinkles ice cream shop is about to debut a new juice bar.

 

 

Aristotle Circle K-12 Tutoring: http://www.aristotlecircle.com

 

 

 

Coach bags

 

Name change for Coach

This week Coach announced plans to change its name to Tapestry Inc. — a move that caused some fans to panic that their favorite brand might disappear. But the company says the new name is meant to reflect its recent acquisitions of Stuart Weitzman and Kate Spade, which will continue along with Coach as separate fashion lines. Victor Luis, CEO of the newly renamed company, dismissed the idea that shoppers might associate “Tapestry” with the ’70s-era Carole King album: “We discovered that most millennials had not heard of it.” More on this story in The New York Times.

 

 

Pearly White Pets anesthesia-free teeth cleaning: https://pearlywhitepets.com

 

 

 

Photo: CGF Events

Ready for the parties?

What’s popular on the local party scene this fall? Lounge furniture, logos and stuff that lights up. What’s out? Balloons, buffet lines and boring corporate parties. For more on what to expect at this year’s mitzvahs, weddings and holiday gatherings, scroll down or click here to read our fall party-planning edition.

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Addie’s and Gusto open, BGR and La Madeleine close — and CAVA’s coming to Cabin John

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Meals at CAVA

 

CAVA heads to Shady Grove, Cabin John

Hometown favorite CAVA is expanding its presence in the Rockville/Potomac area, adding three new restaurants between now and the end of next year. Besides the location that’s currently under construction at Montrose Crossing on Rockville Pike, CAVA co-founder Ted Xenohristos tells us the chain is heading to Shady Grove Road and I-270 as well as the Cabin John shopping center in Potomac. Cabin John will soon start construction on several new restaurants in its front corner parking lot, with a projected opening in mid to late 2018. More on that in an upcoming issue.

 

 

California Tortilla at Cabin John Shopping Center: https://californiatortilla.olo.com/menu/california-tortilla-potomac

 

 

 

Ize's Deli: http://izesdeli.com

 

 

 

Gusto Farm to Street at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Addie’s and Gusto open, BGR and La Madeleine close

What else has happened on the restaurant scene since we took a break in August? The big news in fine dining is the opening of Addie’s at Park Potomac, a reincarnation of the longtime Rockville Pike favorite from Jeff and Barbara Black. The showpiece of the new menu is the Addie’s seafood tower, featuring a rotating assortment of clams, shrimp, mussels, oysters and other specialties like warm garlic flan and Eastern Shore watermelon. Gusto Farm to Street, the Bethesda-based chain known for its salads and thin-crust pizzas, also opened this week in the former Lobster ME space at Westfield Montgomery Mall. But August also marked the end for two longtime local restaurants: The BGR burger chain is out after six years at Cabin John Shopping Center, and La Madeleine has closed in North Bethesda after a short-lived relocation to Pike & Rose.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Park Potomac Fall Festival: https://www.facebook.com/events/193056877899309/

 

 

 

 

Mall moves

Westfield Montgomery Mall continued to take a hit from the struggling national retail scene this summer, saying goodbye to bankrupt True Religion and RadioShack as well as Bebe (now online only) and Wilsons Leather (downsizing). Another longtime tenant, Vitamin World, is expected to file bankruptcy next week. But the mall also has welcomed some new businesses, including eateries Gusto (see story above) and Cookie Dough & Co. (see our Aug. 10 issue) as well as The Fix gadget repair shop, the Euphrasie dress store and the CoCo LaRue hair extension boutique. Also back is seasonal tenant Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too, which will fill the former Bebe space until spring.

 

 

Washington Talent Mitzvah Madness Party Expo: http://washingtontalent.com/mitzvahmadness and use VIP code TSR

 

 

 

Pike & Rose

 

New at Pike & Rose

The new tenants are arriving quickly at Pike & Rose, where Sephora and Pinstripes debuted last month (see our Aug. 10th issue), the Sur La Table cooking store just opened, and H&M is set to debut next week. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for more on the center’s fall lineup.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

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Filicori Zecchini at Park Potomac

 

Coffee house opens at Park Potomac

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

 

 

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

 

 

 Smashburger at The Galvan

 

What’s the story with Smashburger?

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

 

 

JT Interiors in Potomac Village: https://www.facebook.com/PVFM20854/

 

 

 

True Religion jeans

 

Tough times for True Religion

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

 

 

Norman's Farm Market: http://normansfarmmarket.com

 

 

 

Bangkok Shrimp at California Tortilla

 

Back for the summer: Bangkok Shrimp at CalTort

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

 

Sponsored Content

 

 

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

 

 

 

Ann Taylor at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

New look for Ann Taylor

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

 

 

Walgreens at Potomac Woods Plaza

 

Walgreens & Rite Aid break up

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

 

 

Email news and advertising questions to publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Cava, Pieology & more heading to Montrose Crossing — plus closings at Cabin John and Pike & Rose

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Five Guys, Cava and Pieology

 

Four new restaurants for Rockville

A new group of fast-casual restaurants is heading to Montrose Crossing, filling the now-empty space where Timpano was recently torn down. On the way so far: Five Guys, CAVA Grill, Pieology and a Philly-based stir-fry concept called Honeygrow (click here for more). All are expected to open this winter.

 

 

Norman's Farm Market: http://normansfarmmarket.com

 

 

 

New Orleans Cajun Seafood

 

A Taste of New Orleans on Rockville Pike

Mardi Gras fans and Tulane grads, listen up: A Cajun-style restaurant is heading to Rockville Pike. Live Crawfish & Seafood is set to open this fall at Ritchie Center off Wootton Parkway, home to La Limeña, IHOP and a bounty of international restaurants. This will be a big place: 3,000 square feet with seating for more than 80 people, says owner Thuan Nguyen. Menu will be similar to that of New Orleans Cajun Seafood, a sister restaurant in Falls Church. (Click here to check it out.)

 

 

Big summer sale at JT Interiors in Potomac Village: https://www.facebook.com/jtinteriorspotomac/

 

 

 

Closeout sale at Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels, Cabin John Shopping Center

 

Gift shop to exit Cabin John

Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels, one of the last locally owned gift shops in the Rockville/Potomac area, is closing its doors after five years at Cabin John Shopping Center. “The retail environment is challenging everywhere these days,” says owner Deb Shalom, who is still moving forward with the new jewelry subscription business that we wrote about last month. “Even the most established stores are having a hard time. For someone like me with far fewer resources, it’s tough to make things work.” This has been the worst year in recent memory for local gift shops: As Kindred Spirits closed its last remaining location in March, Ten Thousand Villages exited Rockville and Bethesda soon afterwards, and Appalachian Spring will shutter its Georgetown store this weekend.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Carluccio's

 

Carluccio’s exits Pike & Rose

Carluccio’s Italian Market, the British-owned restaurant that opened just last year at Pike & Rose, has called off plans for a U.S. expansion. The American restaurant business was more competitive than expected, a spokesman told the Washington Business Journal. Carluccio’s, which also shuttered its Virginia location in Alexandria, is the third tenant to close its doors at three-year-old Pike & Rose. The short-lived City Sports departed after its parent company filed Chapter 11, and the children’s boutique Yogaso closed last January.

 

 

 

 

Lovesac and Peloton bike

 

 

New at the mall: beanbags and Peloton bikes

Lovesac has opened its doors at Westfield Montgomery Mall, selling beanbag-style furniture on the second level near Nordstrom. This is the second beanbag store at the mall, joining two-year-old Yogibo. Also new this week: A try-it-yourself kiosk for Peloton, the high-end line of spin bikes with video screens that connect to live instructors. You’ll find Peloton on the mall’s lower level near Guess.  

 

 

Amazon logo

 

Amazon in the news

Amazon deals have been all over the news this past week. First the e-tailer agreed to buy Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. Then it announced Prime Wardrobe, a subscription service for no-hassle, easy-return shipments of clothes, shoes and accessories. And now Bloomberg reports that Amazon will soon start selling Nike goods directly from its site, thwarting counterfeiters and bypassing sporting goods retailers like Dick’s, Finish Line and Foot Locker. What will Amazon gobble up next? Stay tuned.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Lucky Strike opens, White Flint update and our restaurant contest winners

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Lucky Strike Social at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Time to get Lucky

This weekend brings the long-awaited debut of Lucky Strike Social, opening Saturday underneath the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall. At a sneak peek this week, we found an inviting space for bowlers and non-bowlers alike: plush leather couches at each of the 12 lanes, comfy seating areas for pre-and post-game socializing, and a lively bar that’s likely to become a gathering spot for shopped-out sports fans. Lanes can be rented by the hour on weekend evenings for $65 a pop; at other times, the price will be $5 to $6 per person per game (plus shoe rental). We have more photos on the Store Reporter Facebook page; click here for look.

 

 

JT Interiors at Potomac House: https://www.facebook.com/jtinteriorspotomac/

 

 

 

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt and Stride Rite at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Who’s in, who’s out at the mall

Lots of comings and goings at Westfield Montgomery Mall since our last edition. On the food side, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt finally opened across from Build-a-Bear Workshop; meanwhile, Bistro Sensations has vanished from the Dining Terrace and Chocolate Moonshine has closed its seasonal pop-up shop. Also gone is American Apparel, which finally completed its extended bankruptcy sale, and Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too, whose owners say they’ll be back again next fall. Exiting soon: the Marbles game store (going bankrupt) and the Stride Rite kids’ shoe store, which will close at the end of March.

 

 

Bethesda Salt Cave: http://www.bethesdasaltcave.com

 

 

 

Lord & Taylor on Rockville Pike

 

White Flint update

This week there was a new development in the longstanding battle between Lord & Taylor and the owners of the former White Flint Mall. A U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a 2015 verdict that Lord & Taylor, which is still doing business on the property, is entitled to $31 million in damages resulting from the mall’s demolition. The mall’s owners, Lerner Enterprises and The Tower Cos., have said they might not follow through with redevelopment plans if the verdict didn’t go their way. Bethesda Beat reports that their lawyers are now deciding whether to appeal yet again.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Fish Taco platter

 

And the restaurant winners are…

Last month we asked our readers to vote for their favorite new restaurants in the Rockville/Potomac area, drawing from a list of two dozen eateries that have opened over the past year. The results made one thing abundantly clear: The fast-casual segment is where it’s at. Most of the votes went to places where you can take the kids, wear something comfortable, and get a good meal for less than $15 per person.

And the winners are:

  • Fish Taco at Wildwood, the runaway winner of our poll, has earned a loyal following for its distinctive menu, tasty margaritas, striking decor and casual atmosphere that works equally well for couple meet-ups and family dinners.
  • Chuy’s on Rockville Pike is another favorite for its generous portions of Tex-Mex food and drinks, not to mention the excellent service and quirky Elvis-themed decor.
  • The Big Greek Café, a family-owned restaurant that recently added a location off Rockville Pike at Nicholson Lane, is beloved for its delicious home-cooked food and exceptionally warm staff.
  • Chopt and Modern Market, the two newest eateries at Congressional Plaza, both earn high praise for their winning combination of healthy food that tastes great. 
  • The Habit Burger Grill and Jersey Mike’s Subs, both at Wintergreen Plaza, offer an updated take on fast food that’s resonating with many of our readers.

In the fine-dining arena, two restaurants earned the most votes:

  • Helen’s, which took over the former Addie’s space on Rockville Pike, is a favorite for its top-notch cooking and welcoming, intimate atmosphere.
  • Lahinch, in the former Benny’s space at Cabin John Shopping Center, earned high marks for its Irish/American menu and lively ambience.

Other popular choices in our poll were Owen’s Ordinary at Pike & Rose, Mellow Mushroom at Rockville Town Square, and Beefsteak at Westfield Montgomery Mall. And the winner of dinner for four at Chuy’s? Hillary Benson of Potomac.

 

 

Email questions to publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

 

Staples, Shake Shack and Sugo

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Staples

 

Staples: One down, one to go

Staples will close one of its Rockville stores — the one off Nicholson Lane, next to Casual Male XL — as part of the company’s plan to shed some 225 underperforming locations nationwide. Like Office Depot, which is also closing locations (see our May 8 issue for more), Staples has struggled to keep its stores relevant with so many office supplies now being purchased online. The company says its future stores will be smaller and more focused on providing one-stop shopping for small-business owners. That means the addition of things like medical scrubs for doctors’ offices, toys and crafts for child-care centers, hard hats and boots, snack foods, cleaning supplies and travel gear. There also will be a rotating series of new logos, with different products standing in for the “L” (as shown here). At the remaining Staples in Rockville, on the Pike at Congressional North, you’ll begin to see those changes as early as next month.

 

 

Shake Shack BurgerChecking in with Shake Shack

Shake Shack was in the news for all the wrong reasons this week when Philadelphia Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg and New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda blamed its burgers for their food poisoning. But no matter how that situation… um… shakes out, it’s unlikely to be more than a blip on the radar for New York-based Shake Shack, which has earned a cult following for its freshly made burgers, hot dogs, french fries and frozen custards with mix-ins. Store Reporter readers have been asking us to find out when Shake Shack will arrive in Montgomery County. And with three locations in D.C. and two more opening soon in Baltimore and Tysons Corner, we thought perhaps the time had come. But we thought wrong. The company says there will be no more Maryland Shake Shacks for the time being. Probably better for our waistlines anyway.

 

 

SuGo

 

The dish on Sugo

Sugo at Park Potomac, which celebrates its second anniversary this month, has revamped its menu with eight new dishes including Steak Frites, Mac-and-Cheese Carbonara, Chef D Sugo Meatballs and Mushroom Love Pizza. “People never want to lose their favorite items,” says Ted Xenohristos, co-founder of SuGo and its sister chain Cava. “But when they taste the new ones, they’re usually happy.” So which of the new dishes does Xenohristos like best? “I’m a very simple eater,” he says. “My favorite is the hand-cut spaghetti with fresh-crushed tomatoes, basil and olive oil. Every single ingredient was made that day. It’s delicious.”

 

Bankrupt Brookstone, Hamburger Hamlet, denim debut

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Brookstone Massage Chair

 

Brookstone’s bankruptcy

Brookstone filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week, but it looks like the Westfield Montgomery Mall store is safe for now. Plans call for the chain to be acquired by the parent company of Spencer’s gift shops and Spirit Halloween stores. Brookstone’s sales have slipped in recent years as shoppers declined to open their wallets for $4,500 massage chairs and $70 talking remote meat thermometers — the same problem that ultimately killed Sharper Image. Brookstone says it doesn’t plan to close any stores at the moment, but its future growth will be at airports rather than malls.

 

 

Hamburger Hamlet burger

What’s happening at the Hamlet

Three months after the closing of Hamburger Hamlet off Democracy Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road, we hear that two national restaurant chains are looking seriously at the massive space. The Hamlet, a staple at Georgetown Square Shopping Center for nearly 40 years, was a go-to restaurant for locals in the 1970s and ’80s. But its popularity had declined by 2012, when its California-based parent company declared bankruptcy. Another California company, Du-par’s, briefly took over and tried to turn the Hamlet into a 24-hour diner. But that didn’t go well either, and the restaurant closed its doors last December. Stay tuned to find out who’s moving in.

 

 

Mommy & Me with Buzz Lightyear, Congressional Plaza

Mommy & Me times two

Congressional Plaza in Rockville kicks off its spring Mommy & Me (& Daddy Too!) events this week. There will be live performances, craft projects, giveaways, balloon twisting and kids-eat-free promotions throughout the shopping center. And this year the monthly program has been expanded to downtown Rockville, where it will be held at the Town Square through October and inside the library during the colder months. Congressional’s program, which starts today (4/10). Rockville’s program starts next Tuesday, April 15th.

 

 

LiquidBLUE Denim Boutique, Rockville Town Square
Designer denim — and $25 off

LiquidBLUE Denim Boutique, the high-end denim shop we wrote about in our March 13 issue, is putting the finishing touches on its new store at Rockville Town Square. The shop will carry lines like Hudson, Citizens for Humanity, AG, Current/Elliott and True Religion. The official opening is April 19, but you might be able to stop in a few days earlier. And here’s some incentive: LiquidBLUE is offering $25 off to Store Reporter readers. Our coupon is good through May 2014.

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