Store Reporter

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

Italian Food

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 all non-essential businesses — many of our local restaurants and stores are still ready to serve you with carry-out, delivery and curbside pickup.

 

  • 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.

 

  • 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.

 

  • Moby Dick Kabobs, Persian cooking on the go. Multiple locations in Maryland and the DMV. Phone: 240-660-2626. Open for carry-out & delivery. 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. 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.

 

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.

Power Hour Editing Virtual Workshops
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Lego Store, the future of Macy’s and a closing date for Pizza CS

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Hello Lego

A Lego Store is on the way to Westfield Montgomery mall, opening next fall just in time for the holiday shopping season. This will be the first dedicated toy store at the mall since Marbles went out of business in 2017. Where will it be? On the lower level, replacing Patrizia Luca which will relocate. If you missed last week’s issue about the mall’s changing restaurant scene (bye bye Bobby’s Burger Palace), click here to catch up.

Sugo
Sky Squad

The future of Macy's and more at the mall

The parade of bad retail news continued this week when Macy’s announced plans to shutter 125 stores over the next three years. What does this mean for the future of Macy’s at Westfield Montgomery mall? Probably nothing. The company says it intends to close its “least productive” locations at “lower tier” malls — a description that really doesn’t apply here. If anything, we will likely see a consolidation of Macy’s and Macy’s Home into a single renovated store when the mall finally moves forward with its redevelopment plan. Meanwhile, the past few weeks have brought some changes on the mall’s salon scene: Uasis Day Spa has closed its doors, Infinite Beauty has shuttered one of its two locations, and newcomer Luxury Beauty & Nails is now open across from Chick-fil-A. Also new is a photography shop, Pinnacle Pictures, on the lower level next to Haagen Dazs.

Wintergreen Plaza

Closing date for Pizza CS

You only have a few more months to enjoy the Neapolitan pies at Rockville’s Pizza CS. Owners Jonathan Allen and Ankur Rajpara tell us their final day in business will be Sunday, June 14th. As we reported back in November, Allen and Rajpara have decided not to relocate after the Twinbrook Metro Center is demolished to make way for Wegmans. Their other restaurant, New York-style CSNY, will remain open on Rockville Pike. See our Nov. 14th edition for more on Pizza CS. See our Sept. 11 edition  for more on Wegmans. And see our Jan. 30th edition for news about Frank Pepe, another Neapolitan pizzeria that’s heading to Westfield Montgomery mall.

Mimi Arnold
mailto:publisher@storereporter.com

Post-holiday closings, farming at Pike & Rose and the return of Amici Miei

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Who didn’t survive the holidays?

With the holidays behind us, we’re heading into the month when long-struggling stores and restaurants often close their doors. The newly renamed Cabin John Village already has seen two exits: Momo Taro Sushi Express and the dry cleaner Fashion Flair. Downtown Bethesda is sadly counting down the days for the closing of Barnes & Noble, soon to be replaced by a massive Anthropologie department store. One unexpected departure was that of L’Academie de Cuisine, the respected local cooking school whose alumni include Rose’s Luxury chef Aaron Silverman, TV personality Carla Hall, and Potomac’s own Once Upon a Chef Jenn Segal. We’re expecting more closings in the next few weeks. If you’re still holding on to any holiday gift certificates, be sure to spend them ASAP.

Bethesda Central Farm Markets
Appalachian Spring

Downsizing for Appalachian Spring

Six months after the closing of its original location in Georgetown, Appalachian Spring is shuttering two more stores as its owners make plans to retire. “Shopping is not the recreational vehicle that it used to be,” says David Brooks, who started the gift store chain 50 years ago with his wife Polly. Today’s customers have less time to browse, Brooks says, and the Virginia store in particular took a hit when Reston Town Center started charging for parking. That store and the one at D.C.’s Union Station will close this month. The Rockville store at Congressional Plaza will remain in business under new ownership, as longtime manager Blair Marra takes the reins.

Wintergreen Plaza
Amici Miei in Potomac and Rockville

Amici Miei is back

Amici Miei, the Italian restaurant that exited Potomac Woods Plaza last November, reopens this week at its new home in downtown Rockville. The new space is smaller and renovations are still under way, says owner Roberto Deias, “but it’s nice and cozy, and the customers really love it.” The menu includes plenty of longtime favorites, along with some new Sardinian dishes. You’ll find Amici Miei at 6 North Washington Street, in the former home of Peruvian restaurant Sazon Inka.

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

Rooftop garden for Pike & Rose

Coming this spring to Pike & Rose: A rooftop vegetable garden offering farm-share memberships for the North Bethesda area. Up Top Acres, which already operates a half-dozen rooftop farms around D.C., will be growing greens, herbs, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers and more atop one of the new Pike & Rose buildings. For more on what’s ahead for Pike & Rose — including an ice cream shop/bakery and a new concept from the founders of CAVA— read our Nov. 2 and Nov. 30 issues at www.storereporter.com.

L.L.Bean, holiday shopping and a move for Amici Miei

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L.L.Bean and the Bootmobile at Pike & Rose

 

L.L.Bean hikes to the Pike

This is grand opening week for L.L.Bean at Pike & Rose, where the “Bootmobile” is parked outside and events will be happening Friday through Sunday (Nov. 10-12). Sitting just across the street from the six-month-old REI store, L.L.Bean completes the center’s transformation into a mecca for the outdoorsy shopping crowd. Company exec Greg Elder tells us the retailer had been searching for a new Maryland location since its Columbia store closed in 2012. “Rockville Pike was on the short list of places we wanted to be, and Pike & Rose was just the kind of project we were looking for,” he says. The new store will offer free clinics as well as staff-led outings for hiking, fishing, fly casting, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. For a schedule of opening events, click here.

 

 

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

 

 

Washington Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood 2017 Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction: https://www.whctemple.org/groups-and-activities/adult-groups/sisterhood

 

 

Prize gifts from the holiday boutique

 

Win these gifts at the holiday boutique

The holidays are kicking off early this year with the Washington Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction, Sunday Nov. 12 through Tuesday Nov. 14 at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center in Potomac. We also have a fabulous Store Reporter raffle featuring gifts and gift cards from show vendors. Here are some of the goodies you can win: 

  • Lost & Forged certificate for $25 in gifts and accessories made from reclaimed silver (lostandforged.com)
  • The Cookie Jar DC sample pack of four mini-jars of edible cookie dough (thecookiejardc.com)
  • PixieLane Kids gift certificate for $30 worth of kids’ clothes (click for more on Facebook)
  • Bows Etc. gift certificate for $25 in hair accessories (bowsetc.com)
  • Perfect Presents by Pamela gift certificate for a $75 child’s fleece blanket (click for more on Facebook)

There are two ways to put your name in our hat: 1) Visit the boutique show and stop by the Store Reporter table, or 2) Click here to enter via our Facebook page.

 

 

O'Donnell's Market Thanksgiving catering: https://odonnellsmarket.com

 

 

Amici Miei at Potomac Woods Plaza

 

Amici Miei on the move

Amici Miei is saying arrivederci to Potomac. After 13 years at Potomac Woods Plaza off Seven Locks and Montrose, the Italian restaurant is relocating to smaller quarters at 6 North Washington Street in Rockville. Rising rent was the main reason for the move, says co-owner Roberto Deias, who also hopes to capture more lunchtime traffic from the busy neighborhood around the courthouse. The Rockville location, formerly home to Peruvian eatery Sazon Inka, will have a new bar and pizza ovens when it opens early this winter. The Potomac restaurant will close just after Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

Shilla Bakery at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

New bakery for the mall

Shilla Bakery, a Virginia-based chain featuring Korean cakes and pastries, is new at Westfield Montgomery Mall next to Chick-fil-A. This is the same spot that was previously home to Chocolate Moonshine and Chloe’s Deli. Next up on the bakery front: Sweetly Anchored Patisserie, scheduled for a winter opening at Cabin John Mall. More in our Oct. 5 edition.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Two restaurants exit Rockville Pike, Peruvian chicken at Westlake, Sears & Bonobos changing hands

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Brio Tuscan Grille and Pie 360 off Rockville Pike

 

Two restaurants exit Rockville Pike

This week marks the closing of two Italian restaurants off Rockville Pike: Fine-dining fixture Brio Tuscan Grille, which lasted five years, and fast-casual pizza joint Pie 360, which didn’t even make it to five months. Brio, one of the original tenants at North Bethesda Market, was a popular spot for large parties but had trouble filling so many tables on a day-to-day basis. Pie 360, a short-lived experiment from the Coal Fire pizza chain, had been one of the first restaurants to open at the new Galvan complex off Twinbrook Parkway. Pie 360 also closed its seven-month-old location on D.C.’s K Street.

 

 

Pike Central Farm Market

 

 

 

Mother's Day Tea Tasting at JT Interiors: https://www.facebook.com/jtinteriorspotomac/

 

 

 

Westlake Crossing

 

New restaurant for Westlake Crossing

Peruvian chicken chain Don Pollo is heading to Westlake Crossing, the shopping center just outside Westfield Montgomery Mall. Plans call for a fall opening next to Corner Bakery, in the former Roti space that’s been vacant for more than a year. In addition to its juicy chicken, Don Pollo serves traditional Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado, ceviche and aguadito soup. Click here to check out the menu.

 

 

Normans Farm Market Home Delivery: http://normansfarmmarket.com/home-delivery/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sears store at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Sears store changing hands

Chicago-based Sears, which is unloading real estate across the country, has sold its Westfield Montgomery Mall store for $73.5 million. The buyer? Westfield Corp., the mall’s owner. If you think this means the Sears store is finally going to close, think again. The Washington Business Journal says a leaseback deal will ensure that business goes on as usual, at least for the short term. For the long term, Westfield isn’t revealing its plans — but we’re betting the Sears space could eventually become the site of a modern home goods retailer like West Elm or Crate & Barrel. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pandora for Mother’s Day at Silver Moon

If there’s a mom in your life who loves Pandora jewelry, Silver Moon at Congressional Plaza is the place to check out this year’s Mother’s Day collection. Shown here: The “Tree of Hearts” bangle bracelet, engraved with the words “You are so loved” ($125), and the “Tribute to Mom” gift set with snake chain bracelet in a pink zippered case ($195). Or keep it simple with the “I Love My Mom” charm, in sterling silver with cubic zirconia stones for just $60. Silver Moon Jewelry & Accessories, 1659 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza; (301) 468-1122 or visit www.silvermoonstyle.com.

 

Sponsored Content

 

Park Potomac Spring Festival: https://www.facebook.com/events/1799339983727011/

 

 

 

Leather shoe from Vinci

 

Another shoe store heading to the mall

Vinci, a Pennsylvania-based retailer specializing in handmade leather shoes, is moving into the former Sheepskin Gifts space at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Vinci carries styles for both men and women, with prices mostly in the $150 to $200 range. Vinci is the second new shoe store heading to the mall this year; see our April 6th edition for details on the upcoming Kicks USA.

 

 

Bonobos at Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Walmart buying Bonobos?

Bonobos, the upscale men’s clothing retailer known for its well-fitting pants, is expected to be acquired by Walmart in the next few months. This pairing is not as odd as it may seem: Walmart has been diversifying its holdings with the purchase of several trendy e-commerce sites — including Shoebuy, Moosejaw and ModCloth — that give it access to fashion-conscious customers who likely wouldn’t be caught dead buying clothes at Walmart.com. Bonobos is a web-based business with a handful of physical stores, including the one at Westfield Montgomery Mall, where customers can try clothes in person but still make their purchases online. It’s unclear whether this acquisition would ultimately lead to Bonobos clothes being sold on Walmart’s website.

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 



New restaurant coming, Noodles & Company going at the mall — plus, bye bye Bebe and Bethesda’s Barnes & Noble


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Thin-crust pizzas


 


New restaurant heading to Westfield Montgomery


A popular Bethesda restaurant known for its thin-crust pizzas and salads is finalizing plans for a new location at Westfield Montgomery Mall. We can’t reveal the name just yet, but we can tell you that the menu focuses on healthy eating with fresh vegetables, antibiotic-free meats, cauliflower pizza crusts and gluten-free options. Unlike the recently departed Blaze Pizza and Naples Ristorante, this is a locally owned chain that already has a following in our area. 


 




 




 


Noodles & Company, Yum Crepes close


Meanwhile, Noodles & Company exited Westfield Montgomery Mall this week along with the short-lived Yum Crepes. Noodles & Company recently announced plans to trim 55 locations; this week’s closings also included the one on Elm Street in downtown Bethesda. The Rockville restaurant at Congressional Plaza remains open, as does the one in Gaithersburg. 


 




 


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


 


 




 


Air Jordans at Kicks USA


 


Shoe news


Kicks USA, a Philadelphia-based chain specializing in trendy sneakers, will make its Maryland debut this year with a new store at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The retailer will take over two storefronts near Macy’s Home that were previously occupied by Core, which closed this winter, and Voorthuis Opticians, which has relocated to the Nordstrom wing. Kicks sells shoes for men, women and kids, but its marketing is aimed squarely at teen boys who collect and trade the latest editions from Nike, Adidas, Vans and other popular lines. The company publishes a “release date” schedule for each new design, making savvy use of social media and fanboy videos like this one for the latest pair of Air Jordans.


 




 


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


 


 




 


Payless in Rockville and Bebe at Westfield Montgomery Mall


 


Spring brings more store closings


Two more waves of store closings were announced this week as the Payless shoe chain filed Chapter 11 and women’s retailer Bebe made plans to move its business online. Say goodbye to the Payless store on Rockville Pike, which had been open for just seven months, and the Bebe store at Westfield Montgomery Mall, which will close by the end of May. Payless is reorganizing and will continue to operate some of its stores, including the one at Westfield Montgomery. Bebe had no other locations in Maryland.


 




 


Bagel City is open for Passover: http://bagelciti.com


 


 




 


Barnes & Noble in downtown Bethesda


 


Barnes & Noble closes the book on Bethesda


Barnes & Noble has announced plans to close its three-story location in downtown Bethesda, an institution for more than two decades at the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues. The departure, scheduled for the end of this year, will leave the struggling bookseller with just two stores in Montgomery County: one at Montrose Crossing on Rockville Pike, and the other at Rio Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg.


 




 


http://www.lisanasarhomes.com


 


 




 


Sandwich and coffee at Panera


 


New deal brewing for Panera


The Panera restaurant chain was purchased this week by JAB Holding Company, a German firm that also acquired Krispy Kreme and Einstein Bros. Bagels in the past few years. The goal? Brand synergies. JAB also owns a bunch of coffee companies including Peet’s, Caribou and Keurig Green Mountain. The Panera acquisition offers 2,000 new places to sell coffee.


 




 




 


 




REI store at Pike & Rose


 


Did you miss something?


Did you know that Moby Dick is up and running in Potomac Village and Mission BBQ has arrived on Rockville Pike? Wondering about the opening dates for North Bethesda’s new REI store and the new restaurants at Park Potomac? Spring break is a great time to visit our website, www.storereporter.com, and catch up any news you might have missed. Also, Store Reporter is finally on Twitter! Follow us: @store_reporter.com.


 




 


http://www.hopeforhenry.org/hope-henry-run-5k-make-kids-day


 


 




 


Email news and advertising questions to publisher@storereporter.com


 


 




 


		

	




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


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Moby Dick kabobs


 


Moby Dick update


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


 




 


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


 


 




 


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


 


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


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


 




 




 


 




 


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


 


 




 


Macy's sign at Westfield Montgomery Mall


 


Amazon to buy Macy’s?


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


 




 




 


 




 


Purse from BCBG Max Azria


 


Bye bye BCBG


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


 




 


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


 


 




 


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


 


 




 


Dinner and margarita at Chuy's


 


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


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


    

  • Beefsteak at Westfield Montgomery Mall
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  • Carluccio’s at Pike & Rose
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  • Chopt at Congressional Plaza
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  • Chuy’s at Federal Plaza
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  • Fish Taco at the Wildwood Shops
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  • Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub at Rockville Town Square
    • 

  • Habit Burger at Wintergreen Plaza
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  • Helen’s on Rockville Pike
    • 

  • Jersey Mike’s at Wintergreen Plaza
    • 

  • Lahinch at Cabin John Shopping Center
    • 

  • Mellow Mushroom at Rockville Town Square
    • 

  • Miso Fusion Café at Rockville Town Square
    • 

  • Modern Market at Congressional Plaza
    • 

  • Owen’s Ordinary at Pike & Rose
    • 

  • Pieology on Shady Grove Road
    • 

  • Pie 360 on Rockville Pike
    • 

  • Samovar at Rockville Town Square
    • 

  • Smashburger on Rockville Pike
    • 

  • Tara Thai at Westfield Montgomery Mall
    • 

  • The Big Greek Cafe on Nicholson Lane
    • 

  • Wingstop at Wintergreen Plaza
    • 

  • World of Beer in downtown Rockville
    • 



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


 




 


LavaLoka workout clothes: https://lavaloka.com


 


 




 


Email advertising and editorial questions to publisher@storereporter.com


 


 




 


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


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Modern Market at Congressional Plaza


 


Modern Market heading to Fallsgrove?


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


 




 


Sculpt Studio: http://sculptstudio.com


 


 




 




 


New successor for American Tap Room


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


 




 


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


 


 




 




 


Goodbye Ten Thousand Villages


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


 




 


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


 


 




 


Silver Moon Valentine's Day jewelry 2017


 


Valentine’s Day gifts at Silver Moon


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


 


Sponsored Content


 




 


Westfield Montgomery Mall


 


More post-holiday closings at the mall


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


 




 


Email questions to: publisher@storereporter.com


 


 




Naples Ristorante and others out at Westfield Montgomery Mall – plus news on Chef Geoff’s and AMP


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Naples Ristorante at Westfield Montgomery Mall


 


Naples Ristorante is out


Naples Ristorante, the high-profile Italian restaurant at Westfield Montgomery Mall, will shut down after dinner this Saturday night (Jan. 28th). This latest closing, first confirmed by Bethesda Beat, makes a half-dozen restaurants that have quickly come and gone since the mall’s 2014 renovation. Blaze Pizza, Lobster ME, Jamaican Mi Crazy and Chloe’s NY Style Deli all departed last May, followed in September by the full-service restaurant MET Bethesda. Mall spokesman Christi Swanson says she expects to announce new restaurants in the next few months. The goal, she says, is to find dining options that “better cater to our customer demand.”


 




 


Sirius Dog Training: http://www.siriusdogtraining.net


 


 




 


American Classic Clothes and Freddy at Westfield Montgomery Mall


 


Kids’ store closes, Freddy butts out


Naples Ristorante wasn’t the only casualty at Westfield Montgomery Mall this week. American Classic Clothes, the children’s store that relocated from the White Flint Mall in 2013, has closed its doors after 31 years in business. Owner Leonore Briskman, who got her start in Potomac Village selling clothes that she’d designed for her own children, says she’s unsure of her plans — but longtime customers are welcome to contact her at 301-802-2436. Also exiting the mall this week is Freddy, the Italian butt-shaping pants shop in the Nordstrom wing. Store employees tell us they’re looking for a new location, but in the meantime customers can shop the Freddy website here.


 




 


Sculpt Studio: http://sculptstudio.com


 


 




 


Peet's Coffee at Westfield Montgomery Mall


 


Goodbye Peet’s


Peet’s Coffee, which opened an elaborate kiosk at Westfield Montgomery in the summer of 2015, is also out after failing to steal much business away from Starbucks. Peet’s, which has only a handful of stores in Montgomery County, was hampered at the mall by its out-of-the-way location in the Sears wing. Its former kiosk is temporarily serving as a weekend pop-up shop for Rumi Tea & Spice.


 




 


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


 


 




 


Chef Geoff's on Rockville Pike


 


Chef Geoff’s space gets a new tenant


The Chef Geoff’s space on Rockville Pike, also known for its previous incarnation as Houston’s, is a restaurant no more. A pediatric urgent care center is moving in, with some remaining square footage still available for lease. When Chef Geoff’s closed in 2015, owner Geoff Tracy told Store Reporter that the “fixed costs” of running such a large restaurant made it difficult for him to turn a profit. “The bar was epic,” he noted at the time, “but I just couldn’t get enough people to buy drinks there.”


 




 


Tips on Trips and Camps Summer Opportunities Fair: http://tipsontripsandcamps.com/dc/


 


 




 


Amp by Strathmore


 


New caterer for AMP at Pike & Rose


AMP, the nightclub/concert hall inside Pike & Rose, has brought in Bethesda caterer Ridgewells to take over its food and drink menu. That’s a switch from the club’s original caterer, Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which also operates the nearby Owen’s Ordinary beer garden. The Strathmore performing arts center, which handles programming at AMP, says it made the change in response to customer feedback. The new menu is heavy on appetizers like Korean spiced BLT sliders, cheesesteak spring rolls and boardwalk fries, as well as “carafe cocktails” meant for sharing. Click here to take a look.


 




 


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


 


 




For questions, contact publisher@storereporter.com


 




 


Goodbye Vince & Dominic’s, hello Chipotle; B Scene’s teen scene


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Pizza


Goodbye Vince & Dominic’s


Many Store Reporter readers were saddened by the May 30 closing of Vince & Dominic’s Pizzeria, site of countless sports team parties and family outings for more than three decades. Home Depot, which owns the shopping center across from Westfield Montgomery Mall, took some heat when the restaurant’s owners publicly blamed the company for not renewing their lease. But Home Depot spent a year trying to work with the owners after they fell behind in their rent, says company spokesman Stephen Holmes. The departure of Vince & Dominic’s leaves the property with several vacant storefronts. Holmes says no decisions have been made about what to do with all the empty space.


 


 


Chipotle BurritoHello Chipotle


We were the first to tell you that Chipotle was coming to Potomac Village. (See our Feb. 6 and April 3 editions.) Now we’re here to tell you when you can get in line for your first burrito. Mark your calendars for June 23.


 


 


talbot red doorsWelcome back Talbots and Konplott


Talbots, the classic women’s clothing chain that joined the mass exodus from White Flint Mall several months ago, opened its big red doors last week on the lower level of Westfield Montgomery Mall. And Konplott, the European jewelry store that vacated its space near Macy’s last month, has returned in the form of a kiosk outside Nordstrom.


 


 


Living Royal Jellybean Socks


Teen Scene at B Scene


B Scene, the trendy clothing boutique at Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, is expanding its product line to appeal to kids and teens. “We have a lot of customers who have been with us since the time they had babies, and now those babies are 10, 12, 14 years old — so it’s fun for them to come in with mom and get something for themselves,” says Ilana Kashdin, who runs the store with her own mom, Robin Greger. The change is also a natural result of the store’s relocation two years ago from an outside storefront to an inside space near Shoe Train, Toy Castle, My Gym and other child-focused businesses. “There are a lot more kids now walking by and looking through our windows,” Kashdin says. So she makes sure they’ll spot something they like: boys’ lacrosse shorts from Flow Society, for example, and girls’ clothes from companies like Malibu Sugar, Dori Creations and Les Tout Petites. Not to mention the kitschy socks of the season from Living Royal ($8 a pair), featuring photo-realistic images like the jellybeans shown here.


 


Big changes at the mall, Chipotle opening in Potomac Village, no Walmart for Rockville


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Westfield Montgomery Mall new seating area


 


Big changes ahead for Montgomery Mall


Westfield Montgomery Mall will add at least four new restaurants to its dining mix this year, starting with the New York-based pizzeria chain Naples 45. On the heels of recent additions Cheesecake Factory and Bobby’s Burger Palace, the new eateries are all part of the mall’s plan to become a dining and entertainment destination. Topping it all off will be the East Coast’s first ArcLight Cinema, a multi-screen state-of-the-art theater offering reserved seating, gourmet food and alcoholic beverages. Part of the mall’s new look is already in place: Chic new seating arrangements sprinkled throughout, complete with electrical outlets and WiFi. “It’s supposed to feel like the lobby of a boutique hotel,” says marketing director Christa Allen. Guys will be especially happy about the ultra-posh seats in the Nordstrom wing, with a prime view of the Tesla store.


 


 


Chipotle burrito


 


Potomac Village: Chipotle on the way


Speaking of new dining options, Potomac Village will soon have one of its own when Chipotle opens in the former Chicken Out space next to Starbucks. Renovation is under way; opening will be this spring.


 


 


Walmart logo


 


No Walmart for Rockville


You may remember all the hoopla back in 2011, when Walmart announced plans for a new location at Rockville Pike and Twinbrook Parkway. Neighbors were up in arms about replacing a smallish shopping center with 80,000 square feet of big-box superstore. Well, that deal is dead. The original shopping center, which includes the beloved Bagel City, isn’t going anywhere. And its owners have found new tenants to fill the former Office Depot space: Ethan Allen and Pier One, both relocating from elsewhere on the Pike.


 


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