Store Reporter

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

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

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The "We're Open!" Guide — a list you'll love

This week, let’s start with the good news. Despite everything that’s been going on — including Gov. Hogan’s mandate to close everything that’s not essential — many of our restaurants, stores and other local businesses are still ready to serve you with online shopping, Zoom classes, carry-out, curbside pickup, free delivery and more. Here are some terrific options.

 

DINING

 

  • Brooklyn’s Deli, homemade meats, soups & sandwiches at Potomac Woods Plaza. 1089 Seven Locks Road. Phone: 301-340-3354. Open daily for carry-out & catering. Menu: brooklynsdelimd.com.

 

  • Cava Mezze, Greek comfort food. Family meals starting at $50 include kabobs, rice, salad, sandwiches & more. Champagne, batched cocktails, discounted beer, 1/2 off wine. Delivery with multiple apps, or 10% off contactless curbside pickup if you call directly: (301) 309-9090. cavamezze.com.
  • Gregorio’s Trattoria, Italian favorites at Cabin John Village. 7745 Tuckerman Lane. Phone: 301-296-6168. Open daily for lunch & dinner. Carry-out, curbside pickup, pay by phone & contact-free delivery available. All wine and beer 1/2 off. Menu: gregoriostrattoria.com.

 

  • Hunter’s Bar and Grill, the “Cheers” of Potomac. 10123 River Road. Phone: 301-299-9300. Open daily with menu favorites for phone and online orders. Carry-out or use delivery apps. All wine and beer 1/2 off. Menu: huntersbarandgrill.com.

 

  • Julii, comfort food + market goods. $30 family meals, sandwiches, Chef D’s favorite dishes plus toilet paper, paper towels & flour. Champagne, batched cocktails, discounted beer, 1/2 off wine. Delivery with UberEats, or 10 percent off contactless curbside pickup if you call directly: (301) 517-9090. julii.com.

 

 

  • Moby Dick Kabobs, Persian cooking on the go. Multiple locations in Maryland and the DMV. Potomac location: 240-660-2626. Rockville location: 301-738-0005. Open for carry-out, delivery and curbside pickup. Menu: mobyskabob.com.

 

  • Normandie Farm, pop on over for fine cooking in Potomac. 10710 Falls Road. Phone: 301-983-8838. Open for carry-out service. Full menu, popovers & jam to go: popovers.com.

 

  • Playa Bowls, acai and pitaya bowls, smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices & coffee drinks. Cabin John Village, 7919 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac. Phone: 240-403-7456. Full menu available for curbside pickup and multiple delivery apps. Order online: playabowls.com.

 

  • Potomac Pizza, a delicious favorite since 1978. Multiple locations in Maryland and the DMV. Potomac location: 301-299-7700. Traville location: 301-279-2234. Chevy Chase location: 301-951-1127. Offering contact-free delivery, curbside pickup & takeout. Menu: potomacpizza.com.

 

  • Robeks Rockville, fresh juice & smoothies on the run. Research Row, 1403 Research Blvd. Phone: 240-386-8468. Online ordering, carry-out & delivery. Menu: robeks.com.

 

 

  • St. Veg, 100% plant-based (vegan) cuisine at Fallsgrove Village Center. 14929 Shady Grove Rd., Unit M. Phone: 301-605-7511. Open for carry-out Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 6:30 p.m. Call in your order, pay by phone and pick up near the entrance. stveg.com/menu/

 

 

 

  • The Original Pancake House, the first name in pancakes. Locations in Rockville, Bethesda & Falls Church. Phone: 301-468-0886. Full breakfast and lunch menu for carry-out, curbside and delivery via Grubhub & DoorDash. Menu: ophrestaurants.com.

 

  • Yekta Persian restaurant & market. 1488 Rockville Pike. Restaurant open Wednesday-Saturday for curbside pickup, carry-out & delivery apps; call 301-984-0005. Market open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily with curbside pickup. Email info@yekta.com or call 301-984-1190. Menu: yekta.com.

 

SHOPPING

 

  • Hanna’s Connection clothing boutique. Refresh your closet. Refresh your mood. Temporarily closed at the Cabin John mini-mall, but taking online orders with free delivery. Now through April 10: One free $20 Cava gift card when you spend $100. Call us: 301- 704-0264. Shop Facebook or Shop Instagram.

 

 

ZOOM CLASSES

 

  • My Gym Live! age-appropriate fun for all the kids. Live interactive 30-minute kids’ fitness classes filled with song, dance, gymnastics, sports and more. Our gyms may be closed, but we’re bringing all the fun you expect from My Gym directly into your house. More info here: mygym.com/potomac.

 

Are you open too? Click here to advertise in our guide.

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Lisa Nasar

Chuy's checks out for good

Along with all the temporary coronavirus closings, we also have news about some departures that will be permanent. Chuy’s has closed its doors after a four-year run at Federal Plaza. The Mexican chain shuttered several locations in the past few months, and the Rockville restaurant had been its last in Maryland. This week we also say goodbye to Mynd Spa, the most recent incarnation of the once-iconic Elizabeth Arden Red Door salon chain. Mynd Spa has gone bankrupt and closed all its locations, including the one next to the Canopy hotel at Pike & Rose.

Shin Orthodontics

Meanwhile... some businesses are booming

So who’s doing well right now? Grocery stores and drug stores, of course, and anyone who sells alcohol. The latter category is an important one for Montgomery County restaurants, which are temporarily allowed to sell wine, beer and cocktails along with food orders. Sales also are booming for Target, Walmart and Amazon as they scramble to fulfill orders for cleaning supplies, toilet paper and food. And big-box stores like Best Buy, Lowe’s and Home Depot can hardly keep up with the demand for refrigerators, freezers and other major appliances — not to mention laptops, phones and office equipment for the new work-at-home economy.

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

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Signs of change in Potomac Village

Two years after Walgreens completed its purchase of Rite Aid, the Potomac Village drugstore at 10134 River Road is finally changing its branding. Renovations are now underway, with a “grand re-opening” scheduled for Feb. 21st. Meanwhile, the older Walgreens store right across the street is expected to stay in business for the foreseeable future. And just around the corner, another new tenant is moving into Potomac Village: Pure Barre is scheduled to open next month a few doors down from Tally-Ho. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for a firm date.

Lisa Nasar

Bobby's flames out

This week we say goodbye to Bobby’s Burger Palace, closing Feb. 15th at Westfield Montgomery mall. Its successor, New Haven pizzeria Frank Pepe, is scheduled to open next winter along with fellow newcomer Peking Duck. For more on Frank Pepe, check out our Dec. 5th edition. For more on Peking Duck and the mall’s changing restaurant scene, click here.

Taff & Levine

Coffee cafe at the JCC

Park Potomac coffee shop Filicori Zecchini has expanded to Rockville with a new location inside the Bender Jewish Community Center. Operating under the name 2 Beans in a Cup, the shop is located just behind the entrance and is open to all JCC members and visitors. The menu is similar to the one at Park Potomac, as is the stunning copper bar. But at the JCC location, everything is kosher. 2 Beans in a Cup is the second Rockville coffee shop to open this winter; click here for the scoop on Java Nation.

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Goodbye Bobby’s Burger Palace, hello Frank Pepe & Peking duck — plus Quartermaine, Bar Louie and the Corned Beef King

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Heading to the mall: Slurpees, clam pizza & Peking duck

Big changes are ahead for the Westfield Montgomery dining scene. This week, mall management gave us a peek at what’s about to happen.

  • Bobby’s Burger Palace will be closing soon to make way for the New Haven newcomer that everyone’s been buzzing about: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. The Connecticut restaurant serves thin-crust pizza with charred edges, including a signature pie featuring littleneck clams, garlic and olive oil. It’ll be awhile before this happens — Bobby’s hasn’t even set a closing date yet — but from what we hear, those pies will be worth the wait. More on Frank Pepe in our Dec. 5th edition. (Editor’s update: Bobby’s closed on Feb. 15th.)
  • Peking Duck, serving Asian-inspired cuisine, will be moving into the former Crave space next to Cheesecake Factory. More on that in an upcoming issue.
  • Ejji Ramen has closed its doors after little more than a year in the mall’s Dining Terrace. Meanwhile, just around the corner, the new 7-Eleven is finally expected to open in March. (Who knew slurpees could take this long?)
  • Soy Chinese Kitchen, successor to the much-missed Fu Shing, is about to open its doors at the mall-adjacent Westlake Crossing.
Lisa Nasar
The Grilled Oyster

Spilling the beans on the Quartermaine closing

Local coffee lovers are mourning the loss of Quartermaine Coffee Roasters, which closed its doors last week after a decade at the Georgetown Square shopping center. “The rent just got too high for the numbers to work for us,” says Quartermaine co-owner Carolyn Weinberg. The downtown Bethesda location will stay in business, Weinberg says, and the company is keeping an eye out for other potential spaces. Meanwhile, Quartermaine fans can order their coffee online or visit the company’s Rockville roastery off Boiling Brook Parkway, where beans will be available for purchase from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

International School of Music

Bar Louie & Corned Beef King exit the Square

This week we say goodbye to Bar Louie, which closed its doors at Rockville Town Square after the Texas-based company filed Chapter 11. Corned Beef King is also out of the Square after a brief run inside Dawson’s Market. “It was really stressful having two places,” says owner Jon Rossler, who is once again serving sandwiches at the Liberty gas station on Rockville Pike. Rossler says his food trucks will be back on the road when the weather turns warmer.

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First closings of 2020: a gym, a jewelry store, A.C. Moore & more

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Who didn't survive the holidays?

They say January is the cruelest month — and that’s certainly true in the world of retail and restaurants. Every year, longtime businesses start disappearing as soon as the holiday rush is over. In this week’s issue: three stores, a gym and a burger joint that won’t be joining us in 2020.

Shin Orthodontics

A.C. Moore is out the door

The next few weeks will be the last for A.C. Moore. The New Jersey-based chain, a haven for artists and crafters, is going out of business after 30 years. At the Montrose Crossing location in Rockville, doors will close in February unless the merchandise sells out faster. If you’re planning a visit, don’t wait too long: Shelves are emptying fast.

Lisa Nasar

Bye bye Blanca Flor

Jewelry store Blanca Flor, which specialized in fine silver, will exit this weekend after 22 years at the Wildwood shopping center. Owners say they’re retiring and have no plans to open elsewhere. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for news about who may be moving in.

OTGbaby

Gold's Gym throws in the towel

Gold’s Gym on Randolph Road closed its doors at the end of December. The club had been under pressure these past few years as competitors like Soldierfit, Club Pilates, Fit Body Boot Camp and Title Boxing Club moved into the surrounding neighborhood. Gold’s Gym still has locations at Wintergreen Plaza and Rockville Town Square.

Bender JCC

So long Shoppers

Shoppers Food Warehouse has been retreating from the D.C. area, selling some of its stores to rival grocers and shuttering others for good. The store at White Flint Plaza falls into the latter category. It will be empty by mid-January.

International School of Music

Bye bye burgers at Fallsgrove

Retro diner Cheeburger Cheeburger has closed its doors at the Fallsgrove shopping center. The Rockville location was the last Cheeburger Cheeburger in Montgomery County; another one in Olney closed two years ago.

Power Hour Editing

Congrats to our raffle winners

Congratulations to Carolyn Kolben, Charlene Disler, Daphne Bloomberg, Jennifer Okun, Lauren August, Lawrence Green, Michael Reiser, Sari Britz, Shoshana Rosenthal and Tracy Rezvani. They are our raffle winners from last month’s Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction sponsored by the Women of Washington Hebrew Congregation. Their winnings include: gift cards from Lavaloka and Trio Jr., design services from Elana Designs, home accessories from Crystal Luxe Lighting Plus, fun kitchen tools from Q.D. Foodie, kids’ books from Barefoot Books, photos from Photos by Freddie and jewelry from Austyn Parker and Sweet Charma.

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Lord & Taylor is sold, changes at Cabin John, teen scene at the mall, new restaurant for Rockville

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New owner for Lord & Taylor

A bombshell dropped on the retail world this week when Lord & Taylor, one of America’s oldest and most iconic department store chains, was sold to a little-known clothing rental service. Le Tote, a seven-year-old San Francisco company, is spending $100 million for Lord & Taylor’s website and 38 stores. The previous owner, Hudson’s Bay Company, closed Lord & Taylor’s flagship store in Manhattan this year and has been shuttering other locations including the one in Gaithersburg. Plans call for the remaining Lord & Taylor stores to stay open for at least three years – but it’s unclear how Le Tote’s clothing rental subscription model will be integrated into the business. Also unclear is the fate of the Lord & Taylor store on Rockville Pike, which has been the subject of ongoing litigation with the owners of the former White Flint Mall.

National Foot & Ankle

Teen scene at Westfield Montgomery

The back-to-school teen shopping scene looks a bit different at Westfield Montgomery mall this year. Windsor, a new addition in the Old Navy wing, is drawing high school and college girls with its moderately priced assortment of everyday outfits and formal dresses. Sneaker store KicksUSA has changed hands and changed its name to Snipes. The juniors department at Macy’s has been promoted from a hidden corner on the lower level to a prominent spot on the second floor. But the future is looking rocky for Forever 21, which once dominated the teen scene and now appears to be on the verge of Chapter 11. Forever 21 is practically an anchor at Westfield Montgomery, where it has a massive two-level storefront in what used to be the Sears wing.

Wintergreen Plaza
Realtor Mimi Arnold of Redwood Realty

New look for the Cabin John mini-mall

The mini-mall at Cabin John Village is in mid-renovation, with new flooring, new paint and new lighting on the way in the next few weeks. The main strip center is adding some tenants for fall, most recently Arch Envy (permanent makeup), The Shade Store (custom window treatments, opening soon) and Playa Bowls (more on that in our Aug. 15th issue). What’s next for Cabin John? Click here for the lowdown.

International School of Music
Power Hour Editing

Asian BBQ opens, Five Guys revamps

New restaurant opening this weekend at Rockville Town Square: Friendship BBQ, on Maryland Avenue next to Color Me Mine. The fast-casual Asian eatery offers skewered meats and seafood cooked with wood imported from the Xinjiang region of China. Just around the corner, three more Asian restaurants will be opening soon inside the former Mellow Mushroom space. Meanwhile, there won’t be any burgers at the Square for a bit: Five Guys is temporarily closed for renovation.

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Playa Bowls to Cabin John, Bambū Opens, Fuddruckers Closes, Smashburger’s Back

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Playa Bowls rolls into Cabin John

Playa Bowls, a favorite from the Jersey Shore, is heading to Cabin John Village. The healthy-eats chain with a surfer vibe is taking over the long-empty Robeks space, where owner Jeff Giuliani says he hopes to open by late September. On the menu: bowls, juices and smoothies featuring custom blends of acai berries, bananas, dragonfruit, chia seeds, coconut, kale, peanut butter, oatmeal, granola and honey. And for the caffeinated crowd: New Orleans-style cold brew chicory coffee. Giuliani, who owns franchise rights for the D.C. area, says he’s also close to signing a deal in Kensington.

Wintergreen Plaza
Shin Orthodontics

Fuddruckers fizzles, Smashburger back on the grill

Five months after it went dark on Rockville Pike — and two months after the company assured us that it wasn’t coming back — Smashburger reopened this week for a fresh start at the Galvan. Meanwhile, just a bit further north, longtime burger joint Fuddruckers has closed its doors to make way for upcoming redevelopment. (So what’s up with that Wegmans plan anyway? Stay tuned; we’re working on an update.)

The Grilled Oyster

New Bambū

Now open at 12242 Rockville Pike: Bambū Cafe, a sleek-looking snack shop in the strip center that once was home to Chef Geoff’s and Five Guys. The restaurant offers a Vietnamese-inspired menu of sweet coffees, bean-based chè drinks, fruit smoothies and bánh mì sandwiches. A couple of doors down, the Nature Kitchen restaurant that was supposed to open this summer is no longer happening. Its space has been filled by quick-serve Japanese eatery Katsu Go.

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First look at Flower Child, Möge Tee at the mall, summer menu at Gusto — plus Smashburger’s final flameout

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Flower Child is about to bloom

This week we got a sneak peek at Wildwood’s new Flower Child restaurant, opening July 2 at Democracy Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road. The casual, hippie-chic decor is similar to the seven-month-old Flower Child off Darnestown Road, with rainbow-painted walls, mix-and-match chairs and plenty of indoor/outdoor seating. Flower Child, based in Phoenix, offers a health-conscious, veggie-centric menu that caters to special diets. It’s the first of three new restaurants set to open at Wildwood in the next few months, soon to be followed by Bethesda Bagels and Joe & the Juice. Want a closer look at Flower Child? Check out Store Reporter on Facebook and Instagram.

Wintergreen Plaza
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster

What's bubbling at the mall

Newest spot for bubble tea at Westfield Montgomery mall: Möge Tee, now open in the former B/Bop/Q space near Chick-fil-A. If you’re game to try something different — like avocado cheese tea or fruit teas topped by sweetened cheese foam — this is the place. Möge, based in New York, is moving in our direction with several new locations in D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Taff & Levine
Shin Orthodontics

The tastes of summer at Gusto Farm to Street

The summer menu has arrived at Gusto Farm to Street — and that means plenty of watermelon, crabs and Old Bay seasoning. Gusto, with locations in Silver Spring, downtown Bethesda and Westfield Montgomery mall, sources its fresh produce from a dozen local farms in the D.C. area. So what’s new for summer? Obey the Claw pizza, featuring jumbo lump crab, red pepper pesto, roasted corn, red onion, micro basil and three kinds of cheese. For lighter appetites, the One in a Melon Salad dishes up arugula, mint, roasted beets, radishes, feta cheese and watermelon — with or without grilled steak. And to drink: Watermelon Hibiscus Lemonade, of course. For a closer look at Gusto’s summer menu, click here.

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Smashburger’s final flameout

Three months after Smashburger “temporarily” closed its Rockville Pike restaurant at the Galvan, we just got word that the exit is actually permanent. Back in March, when the restaurant suddenly went dark, franchisee Julian Goodman told us it would soon reopen as a corporate-owned location. But the property has been in limbo since then, with conflicting signs on the windows and no word from corporate — until this week, when a Smashburger spokesman confirmed that a comeback isn’t going to happen. This is the fourth Smashburger to flame out in Montgomery County, following three other short-lived locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Germantown.

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

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Life Time Athletic in Rockville

Latest on Life Time

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

Wintergreen Plaza
Biker Barre

New burgers at Pike & Rose

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

Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Women's Seder

Poke at the mall this summer

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

Mimi Arnold
Trio Jr.

Chinese food on the Pike

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

The Game Gym
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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