Store Reporter

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

Movie Theaters

Three new openings for Wildwood, closings for H&M and Regal Cinemas

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Wildwood restaurant opens next week

Piccoli Piatti, the newest venture from Fish Taco founder Francis Namin, is set to open its doors next week at Wildwood. The cuisine this time is Italian, with a broad menu featuring salads, pastas, small plates and authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas. Also: bottles of wine for a flat $20, and a signature dessert pizza topped with bananas, strawberries and Nutella. (All crusts, including the dessert pizza, will be available gluten-free.) The restaurant will offer socially distanced seating inside and a couple of tables outside, but for now Namin expects that most of his customers will choose takeout. “We won’t be doing any delivery,” he says. “I think our food will be good enough that people won’t mind coming by to pick it up.” For a peek at Piccoli Piatti, check out Store Reporter on Facebook and Instagram. As for Fish Taco, which has been closed since August due to a kitchen fire, Namin says he’s hoping to reopen this month.

Rose's Luxury
Freeman's Auction House

New boutique opens its doors

In other Wildwood news, Indigo Octopus made its debut this week in the formerly empty space next to Flower Child. This is the second permanent location for the high-end boutique, which started in Delaware’s Fenwick Island and also operated a temporary pop-up in D.C. The store specializes in casual wear from brands like Golden Goose, Agolde, Mother and Anine Bing, plus a selection of jewelry and accessories. And just a few doors down, Wildwood also welcomed newcomer Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats. More on the locally owned sweet shop in our Oct. 1st edition.

Wintergreen Plaza

Closings & more closings

Fast-fashion retailer H&M is the latest chain to announce store closings, with plans to shutter some 250 locations in 2021. The Swedish company has 5,000 stores worldwide — including one at Pike & Rose — and has not specified which markets will take a hit. This week’s other big closing announcement came from the Regal movie theater chain, which is going dark nationwide for the foreseeable future. This doesn’t change things much in Montgomery County, where all movie theaters have been closed since March.

Attorney Lloyd Malech

The Store Reporter Guide

A weekly guide sponsored by some of our favorite local businesses

 

Don’t miss some of the newcomers to our Dining & Delivery list. Off the Hook Catering, from the team behind the Go Fish food truck, offers weekly fresh seafood delivery including crab cakes, creamy crab soup and lobster rolls. And Rose’s Luxury, the Michelin-starred D.C. restaurant, is now delivering to our area with two or three nights of multi-course meals. Read on for more.

 

DINING & DELIVERY

 

  • BROOKLYN’S DELI, homemade meats, soups & sandwiches at Potomac Woods Plaza, 1089 Seven Locks Road. Try our corned beef, hand-carved pastrami, brisket, nova, chopped liver, pancakes from scratch, cheese blintzes & more — plus artisan bagels from Bethesda Bagels. Phone: (301) 340-3354. Open daily for carry-out, catering & patio dining. Menu: brooklynsdelimd.com.

 

  • GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA, Italian favorites at Cabin John Village, 7745 Tuckerman Lane. Outdoor seating & limited indoor seating now open for lunch & dinner, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. We also offer curbside pickup, pay by phone & contact-free delivery. Full menu and weekly specials, plus 1/2 off all wine, beer & cocktails. Phone: (301) 296-6168. Menu: gregoriostrattoria.com.

 

  • HUNTER’S BAR AND GRILL, the “Cheers” of Potomac. 10123 River Road. Phone: (301) 299-9300. Open for lunch, dinner and gift card sales. Half-priced bottles of wine with food purchase. Delivery through DoorDash and GrubHub, choose no-contact curbside carryout, or enjoy our patio for outdoor dining plus limited seating indoors. Reservations recommended. Check Facebook for daily specials. Menu: huntersbarandgrill.com

 

  • LAHINCH TAVERN AND GRILL, regional American cuisine at Cabin John Village. New menu featuring split grilled bangers, Guinness-battered fish & chips, corned beef & cabbage, shepherd’s pie, chops, steaks & sandwiches. Discounted beer and wine to go. Delivery, carry-out, curbside pickup or enjoy outdoor dining in our new socially distanced patio & have a cocktail at our new outdoor bar. Call: (240) 499-8922. Menu: lahinchtavernandgrill.com.

 

 

  • MOBY DICK KABOBS, Persian cooking on the go. Multiple locations in Maryland & the DMV. Our family platters feed 3-4 people starting at $36.99 or 5-6 people starting at $63. Check out daily specials like khoresht gheymeh (yellow split-pea soup with beef) on Wednesdays & ghormeh sabzi (herb stew) on Fridays. All locations open for carry-out, delivery, curbside pickup & limited indoor seating, plus outdoor dining at Fallsgrove. Potomac phone: (240) 660-2626. Rockville phone: (301) 738-0005. Menu: mobyskabob.com.

 

  • MOSAIC CUISINE, modern French cooking in Rockville. Freshly reopened for curbside pickup at 186 Halpine Road or delivery with Grubhub. Also offering outdoor dining plus limited seating in our newly redesigned dining room. Offering your favorite waffles, beef bourguignon, two-course family meals for four starting at $58, and much more. Order online or by phone: (301) 468-0682. Menu: mosaiccuisine.com.

 

  • OFF THE HOOK CATERING: The team behind the Go Fish food truck, now offering seafood pickup & delivery every Friday. Lobster rolls, lobster meat with butter, ready-to-cook crab cakes, creamy crab soup, fish & shrimp taco kits, weekly chicken & salmon specials, garlic-roasted green beans, corn bread, Mexi-slaw, fresh-baked cookies & much more. Email: missy@offthehookcatering.com. Menu: offthehookcatering.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. Sister company Bagels & Grinds also offering bagels, lox & cream cheese pickup in Potomac on Saturday mornings. Menu: potomacpizza.com.

 

  • QUARTERMAINE COFFEE ROASTERS, locally roasted fresh coffee. Bethesda store open 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday with drinks, beans & pastries. Use the Quartermaine app or call (301) 718-2853. Also: $5 flat-rate shipping with $30 minimum for beans shipped to your door. Click on the person next to the shopping cart at www.quartermaine.com.

 

  • ROSE’S LUXURY: The Michelin-starred D.C. favorite is now offering delivery to our area. Choose two or three nights of impeccably prepared meals, including appetizers, entrées and desserts — $90 per person for two nights, or $120 per person for three. Your order will arrive with easy-to-follow instructions for assembly and reheating, complete with garnishes, pour-over sauces, dollops of whipped cream and custom Spotify playlists. Menus change every two weeks. Click here for details.

 

  • SISTERS THAI POTOMAC, Asian & Thai cuisine + desserts. Pickup and patio dining at Cabin John Village, 7995 Tuckerman Lane. Specialties like chicken satay, larb gai, pad thai, drunken noodles, curry dishes & more. Phone: (301) 299-4157. Free no-contact delivery with $30 to $40 minimum order. Menu: sistersthaicabinjohn.com.

 

 

  • YEKTA Persian restaurant & market. 1488 Rockville Pike. Our restaurant is open for carry-out or curbside pickup, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Call (301) 984-0005 or use ChowNow, UberEats, Grubhub & other delivery apps. Our market is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Carry out or pick up curbside. To place your order, email info@yekta.com or call (301) 984-1190. Menu: yekta.com.

 

SHOP LOCAL

 

  • AUSTYN PARKER, fun jewelry for kids & cute clothes for moms. For kids: Make-your-own jewelry kits & online parties where everyone works on a project together. For moms: We’ve got your favorite brands like LNA, Monrow, Perfect White Tee, Generation Love, Chrldr & Comune. Shop Facebook or Shop Instagram. For gift ideas, party planning & what’s in stock, call us: (301) 706-8122 or email us: randi@austynparker.com.

 

  • GYM & TONIC, luxury athleisure apparel. Whether you’re working out or working from home, we have the casual comfortable looks you want right now — plus lots of different style of masks, from tie-dye to camo! Now open for in-person shopping Monday-Saturday 12-4 p.m., and we’re always sanitizing for the safest possible experience. Prefer to shop from home? DM us for virtual visits & delivery in the DMV. Shop @lovegymandtonic on Instagram. Email us: wendyamy18@gmail.com. Call us: (301) 340-8800.

 

  • HANNA’S CONNECTION clothing boutique, inside the Cabin John mini-mall. All new loungewear and cozy, comfy fashions from $49-$99. Don’t miss our closeout sales: $10-$49 on your favorite brands. Free designer face masks with your purchase. Ask about virtual shopping and one-on-one appointments. Curbside pickup & shipping on orders over $50. Call us: (301) 704-0264. Shop Facebook or Shop Instagram.

 

  • JOYFUL BATH CO., natural handmade bath and body care products for spa & wellness at home. 5534 Wilkins Ct., North Bethesda. Soaps, shower steamers, bath bombs, hemp ultra therapy, soy candles, Turkish towels & gift sets plus our own citric acid surface cleaner. Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call (301) 986-5320 or order online for shipping or curbside pickup: joyfulbathco.com.

 

  • KAREN’S ROCKS AND RAGS, women’s boutique with on-trend, affordable clothing & accessories. 212 Main Street, Gaithersburg. Now accepting luxury designer bags on consignment for a 50/50 split. Check out our $10 face masks, $10 racks & 50% off tons of merchandise — plus pre-fall items on sale now. Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Shop Facebook. Shop Instagram. Phone: (240) 631-2565. eBay store: ebay.com/str/karensrocksandrags.

 

  • MY BEST FRIEND’S CLOSET, a fun & exciting shopping experience with the best selection of junior, young contemporary & women’s clothing at very reasonable price points. 9735 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville. We receive new merchandise daily, so stop in often to find fun pieces to add to your wardrobe. Don’t miss our very popular $10 racks. Open Monday-Saturday noon to 4 p.m., with private appointments on Sunday. Shop Instagram. Call (301) 340-3233. Website: mybffcloset.com

 

  • SCOUT & MOLLY’S BOUTIQUE, your North Bethesda fashion destination at Pike & Rose. We have tons of new fall arrivals. Check out our chic new Italian lines, unique jewelry items, messenger bags with guitar straps & fun comfy joggers. Click here for new face mask colors & styles. Shop Instagram. Shop Facebook. We will continue to offer curbside pickup, so feel free to shop online or call us at (301) 348-5047 to help with your shopping needs! Website: northbethesda.scoutandmollys.com.

 

  • THE BLUE HOUSE, a happy home furnishings & lifestyle boutique with a little bit of everything. 7770 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. Freshly stocked with fall & Halloween goodies including locally made candy kabobs, themed candles & lanterns, fun dishes & dish towels, Halloween doorbells & popcorn monster mix. Open 10:30 to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call us: (301) 656-6088. Email us: thebluehousebethesda@gmail.com. ShopFacebook or Shop Instagram. Website: thebluehousebethesda.com.

 

FITNESS & WELLNESS

 

  • POTOMAC PHYSICAL THERAPY & REHAB, PT in the comfort & convenience of your home or office. We treat patients from birth to adulthood for sports injuries, postpartum recovery, orthopedic & neurologic conditions, pediatric disorders, chronic & acute pain, headache & concussions, oncology rehab & more. Our Covid precautions include masks for clinician & patient, hand & equipment sanitizing, option for outdoor or garage sessions. More info: dorina@potomacptandrehab.com or www.potomacptandrehab.com.

 

  • ROBERT SHERMAN FITNESS, personal training & Zoom classes from a master trainer for Reebok, Schwinn, SPRI, Beachbody, Lifetime & Equinox. Specializing in yoga, post-rehab, muscular strength, endurance, sports performance & active aging, with 37 years training/teaching globally. Choose in-home distanced sessions, Zoom classes for 1-4 people, or Livestream classes for as low as $10: yoga, core, strength, barre, cycle & Pilates. Email robert@robertshermanfitness.com or visit robertshermanfitness.com.

 

  • ROCKVILLE PERSONAL TRAINING, initial session is free! Our private studio on Rollins Avenue uses the latest research & technology for a fun, affordable & effective exercise program that’s designed specifically for you. We have backgrounds in medical exercise & clinical physiology, plus a decade of experience working with ages 9-90. We always wear masks, we disinfect between clients, & we keep you safe with HEPA & UV-C air filtration. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. Call us or text us: (240) 630-0298.

 

CELEBRATIONS

 

  • BACKYARDMITZVAH.ORG: Celebrating your Jewish lifecycle events with joy and meaning, as close as your backyard. Don’t postpone that special day you’ve been waiting for. Our rabbi and cantors will officiate your bar or bat mitzvah, wedding or baby naming — outdoors and on Zoom, so your guests can safely share every moment. To learn more, call (240) 994-3566; email info@backyardmitzvah.org; or visit backyardmitzvah.org.

 

 

  • FLASHBACK FILMS, photo & video montages for your special occasion — whether in-person or virtual. Professional montages at affordable prices for all your important milestones: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, mitzvahs & more. We’re a locally based, student-run company and will work within your budget. Send us your photos and we’ll do the rest. Visit us on Instagram. For video samples & pricing, email flashbackfilms123@gmail.com.

 

  • LILAC, special occasion wear for girls, tweens & teens. We have the perfect outfits for graduations, cotillion, bar & bat mitzvahs (both service & party) and other special occasions. Plan for your fall events now; private shopping appointments are available throughout the summer. We also have fashionable face masks for kids & adults! Find us on Instagram (@lilacgirlshop) and Facebook (@shoplilacgirl). For more info, email sales@shoplilacgirl.com.

 

FOR THE KIDS

 

  • INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC, now offering online music lessons. All ages and levels, multiple platforms including Skype, FaceTime and Zoom. We teach piano, guitar, voice, violin, viola, cello, flute, drums, saxophone, clarinet, harp, recorder, trumpet, trombone, bassoon, ensembles early childhood music & performances. Take the next step on your musical journey. Call (301) 365-5888 or visit our website: ismw.org.

 

  • MY GYM POTOMAC & MY GYM BETHESDA, now offering our awesome fitness & fun classes outdoors in Potomac. Small groups & age-appropriate classes allow us to run around with our friends & still social distance. Also introducing pod play dates! We come to your backyard. We’re still offering interactive live Zoom classes & birthday parties. And we’ve opened the Potomac location for small group indoor playdates & small three-hour camps. More info: mygym.com/potomac.

 

HOME SERVICES

 

  • JIMMY GUSKY HEATING & AIR, one-stop shop for heating, air conditioning, plumbing and ductwork, serving Rockville & the D.C. area. We always give you an honest opinion and transparent pricing, making repairs when we can and helping you decide when replacement is the better option. Have an emergency? We’re available 24/7. Call (301) 327-7306. Website: jimmygusky.com.

 

 

  • TOWN & COUNTRY MOVERS, family-owned moving and storage company, based in Gaithersburg and serving the DMV since 1977. We handle local, long-distance and international relocations, as well as short-term and long-term storage solutions. Our staging division works with local realtors to enhance listings and improve home sales. Call (301) 670-4600. Website: townandcountrymovers.com.

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

 

  • LAW OFFICES OF LLOYD A. MALECH, Bethesda family law attorney. Aggressive legal representation in high-conflict divorces, child custody & child support conflicts, spousal support and alimony battles, enforcing and modifying court orders, protective orders in domestic violence cases, and settlement agreements. Call us: (202) 441-2107. Website: malechlaw.com.

 

  • SHIN ORTHODONTICS — Drs. Debra and Richard Shin believe everyone should be able to afford an amazing smile. We offer Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, clear braces or traditional metal braces, and lingual braces. All PPO insurance plans accepted. Free consultations and custom financial plans with no large payments or hidden fees. Cabin John mini-mall and 4701 Randolph Road in Rockville. Call 301-770-7770. Website: shinorthodontics.com.

 

  • TAFF & LEVINE D.D.S. provides state-of-the-art dental treatment in a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by caring doctors and staff. No insurance? No problem! Join our V.I.P. dental plan, pay one monthly fee for free hygiene appointments and 10% off all other dental procedures. 7811 Montrose Road in Potomac. Call 301-530-3717. Website: taffandlevine.com.

 

FURNITURE, ART, JEWELRY & COLLECTIBLES

 

 

  • ISI FURNISH, lightly used furnishings & decor at a fraction of the cost. Our white-glove service makes it easy to sell your fine furniture discreetly & professionally. If you’re looking to buy, we offer a wide range of affordable luxury furnishings to match your design and budget.  Call us: (971) 337-4403. Shop with us for new items every week: isifurnish.com.

 

  • STX GOLD — turning your old jewelry into thousands of dollars since 2009. We buy gold, silver, platinum & sterling silver flatware, serving pieces & platters. By appointment only at our office, or we’ll come to you. We always wear masks & gloves for your safety. For a no-obligation appointment, call (301) 318-9788. Visit our website & check the current price of gold: stxgold.com.

Outdoor dining returns to MoCo – plus the latest closings & bankruptcies

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MoCo starts to reopen

Montgomery County will ease into the first phase of reopening on Monday, June 1st, as some bars and restaurants begin to offer limited outdoor seating along with takeout and delivery. Customers will be allowed to remove their masks while eating and drinking at outside tables. Not much will change for our local stores, which still will be limited to delivery and curbside pickup unless they are deemed “essential.” Fitness centers, movie theaters and indoor malls will remain closed for now. Salons can reopen, but only for haircuts. No waxing, no mani/pedis.

Game Gym

LPQ sells for a song

In this week’s restaurant bankruptcy roundup, we have bad news for fans of Le Pain Quotidien. The company’s U.S. division has filed Chapter 11 and is selling its assets to a New York restaurant operator. LPQ was losing money even before the pandemic; hence the shockingly low sales price of $3 million for all 98 of its U.S. locations. No word yet on whether LPQ will reopen at Wildwood or Cabin John.

RSVP Catering

Chapter 11 for Tuesday Morning

Tuesday Morning, the Dallas-based discount chain, is the latest national retailer to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company blames coronavirus for its cash-flow problems, but says it expects stay in business after a reorganization. Several hundred Tuesday Morning stores will be closing permanently, including locations in Glen Burnie, Salisbury and Towson. But the retailer already has reopened in Rockville, where its mix of home goods and snacks is apparently considered an “essential” business.

International School of Music

Closing the window on Next Day Blinds

Next Day Blinds has gone out of business after more than a quarter-century in the D.C. area. The company was based in Jessup and had more than a dozen stores, including one on Rockville Pike.

Stephen Austin for Montgomery County Board of Education

"We're Open!" for dining, shopping & more

Some of the restaurants in this week’s “We’re Open!” Guide will soon begin offering outdoor dining. All will continue to serve you with takeout, delivery and curbside pickup. New in this issue: Indian cuisine, home-style catering and fabulous flowers. And don’t forget to check out our growing options for shopping, services and family fun.

 

FOOD

 

  • Brooklyn’s Deli, homemade meats, soups & sandwiches at Potomac Woods Plaza. 1089 Seven Locks Road. Phone: 301-340-3354. Brooklyn’s Deli would like to thank Eagle Bank for getting us through this extremely rough time. 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. Menu: cavamezze.com.

 

  • Downtown Crown online services, restaurant takeout and delivery options at Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road, Gaithersburg. Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it here. For a complete list of what’s available now, visit ShopDowntownCrown.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.

 

  • Gyroland casual Greek food, cooked fresh seven days a week. 1701 Rockville Pike in the Shops at Congressional Village, right under the Verizon store. Pork, chicken, beef and lamb gyros, plus mixed grill and vegetarian options. Free delivery in a five-mile radius with $30 minimum. 1/2 off all wine with your order. Call us: (301) 816-7829. Menu: gyroland.com.

 

  • Hunter’s Bar and Grill, the “Cheers” of Potomac. 10123 River Road. Phone: 301-299-9300. Open for lunch, dinner and gift card sales. Half-priced bottles of wine with food purchase. Delivery through DoorDash and GrubHub, or choose no-contact curbside carryout. Check Facebook for daily specials. 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. Menu: julii.com.

 

  • Lahinch Tavern and Grill, regional American cuisine at Cabin John Village. Featuring a daily menu with family-style dining options, 1/2 off beer and wine to go, and mixed drinks at happy hour prices. Delivery, carry-out or curbside pickup. Call: 240-499-8922. Menu: lahinchtavernandgrill.com.

 

 

  • Mirch Masala Grill, Indian cuisine at Westfield Montgomery mall. Now open for curbside pickup 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with popular dishes like butter chicken, chicken tikka, lamb curry, rice bowls with chicken, vegan dishes & samosas. We also cater for larger groups. Use delivery apps, call (301) 365-0677, or text your order to (240) 432-8077.

 

  • 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.

 

  • Mosaic Cuisine, modern French cooking in Rockville. Freshly reopened for curbside pickup at 186 Halpine Road or delivery with Grubhub. Offering your favorite waffles, Beef Bourguignon, two-course family meals for four starting at $58, and much more. Order online or by phone: (301) 468-0682. Menu: mosaiccuisine.com.

 

  • Mykonos Grill, fine Greek dining in Rockville. 121 Congressional Lane. Carry-out & free delivery in a five-mile radius with $50 minimum. We also work with the major delivery apps. Specialties include branzino, octopus, lamb chops & vegetarian platters. 1/2 off wine bottles with carry-out. Call 301-770-5999. Menu: mykonosgrill.com.

 

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

 

  • Quartermaine Coffee Roasters, locally roasted fresh coffee. Bethesda store open 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily with drinks, beans & pastries. Use the Quartermaine app or call 301-718-2853. Also: $5 flat-rate shipping with $30 minimum for beans shipped to your door. Click on the person next to the shopping cart at www.quartermaine.com.

 

  • RSVP Catering, fine catering & groceries delivered right to your home. Gourmet foods for date night, family meals & everything in between. Store in your fridge, re-heat when ready. Also offering grocery items, essentials & margaritas by the gallon. Call (703) 573-8700 or shop rsvpcatering.com/store.

 

 

  • Sugo at Park Potomac, dinner takeout featuring pastas, pizzas & family meals. Feed 4 to 5 people with our hanger steaks, chicken & eggplant parmesan, spicy rigatoni, risotto fritters & more. Try our two-for-$20 pizzas, plus bottled sangria & Sugo Punch. Order via the major delivery apps, email info@eatsugo.com or call (240) 386-8080 and pick up curbside. Menu: eatsugo.com.

 

 

  • Yekta Persian restaurant & market. 1488 Rockville Pike. Restaurant open Tuesday-Sunday for curbside pickup, carry-out & delivery apps; call 301-984-0005. Market open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday with curbside pickup. Email info@yekta.com or call 301-984-1190. Menu: yekta.com.

 

FASHION

 

 

  • Gym & Tonic, luxury athleisure apparel, now in the comfort of your own home. 20% off all clothes right now. DM us for virtual shopping appointments and delivery in the DMV. Don’t forget to ask about our cute masks with filters. Shop @lovegymandtonic on Instagram. Email us: wendyamy18@gmail.com. Call us: (301) 340-8800. Text us: (202) 744-0169.

 

  • Hanna’s Connection clothing boutique. Refresh your closet. Refresh your mood. Soon to reopen at the Cabin John mini-mall, now offering virtual shopping and online orders with free delivery. We carry designer face masks, free with purchase. Call us: 301-704-0264. Shop Facebook or Shop Instagram.

 

  • Karen’s Rocks and Rags, new & gently used women’s boutique. On-trend, affordable clothing & accessories. Great selection of face masks, $8-$12. For Facetime shopping, call (240) 476-9800. Free shipping on orders over $100, local delivery & curbside pickup at 212 Main Street, Gaithersburg. Almost everything is 20% off right now. Shop Facebook. Shop Instagram. eBay store: ebay.com/str/karensrocksandrags.

 

  • R Boutique, a sophisticated & cute clothing store, soon to reopen inside Art & Chemistry by Diego at Downtown Crown. Fully stocked with clothing, jewelry & stylish masks. Free delivery within a 10-mile radius. Shop Facebook. Shop Instagram. Or call Rayna Badwey Matz for a Facebook shopping appointment, 301-943-2000. To purchase masks, visit rboutique.shop.

 

  • Scout & Molly’s Boutique, your North Bethesda fashion destination at Pike & Rose. Open from noon to 6 p.m. for curbside pickup. Click here for our super fashionable (leopard, snake, tie dye) face masks. Free shipping, curbside pickup or local delivery. Shop online or contact us for a virtual shopping experience. Check our Instagram for weekly giveaways. Call us: 301-348-5047. Shop: northbethesda.scoutandmollys.com.

 

GIFTS

 

  • Joyful Bath Co., natural handmade bath and body care products for spa & wellness at home. 5534 Wilkins Ct., North Bethesda. Soaps, shower steamers, bath bombs, hemp ultra therapy, soy candles, Turkish towels & gift sets plus our own citric acid surface cleaner. Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 301-986-5320 or order online for shipping or curbside pickup: joyfulbathco.com.

 

 

 

KIDS & FAMILY

 

  • Bows Etc., now making face masks with personality for men, women & kids. Our website has been updated! Your smile may be hidden, but you can still rock fun designs & show off your favorite sports teams & colleges. Our masks are reversible & washable, with three layers of 100% cotton fabric & filter pockets. $14 plus $5 shipping, or porch pickup in the Shady Grove area. Email arlen.groban@yahoo.com or shop bowsetc.com.

 

 

  • International School of Music, now offering online music lessons. All ages and levels, multiple platforms including Skype, FaceTime and Zoom. Take the next step on your musical journey. Call (301) 365-5888 or visit our website: ismw.org.

 

  • 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. Now offering My Gym Live! birthday parties. More info: mygym.com/potomac.

 

  • On Cloud 9, trendy boutique for babies, girls and adults. Offering virtual shopping & online orders. We deliver by mail, drop off in a 10-mile radius, or you can pick up curbside by our Potomac Woods Plaza store. 20% off everything right now. Call 301-251-1331 or email oncloud9potomac@gmail.com. Shop Facebook or Shop Instagram.

 

  • Toy Castle home delivery service. Open for orders 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays. Same-day, no-fee delivery with $35 minimum order. Great outdoor toys & games arriving daily, tons of other items continually re-stocked. Shop for ideas on our Facebook page, call for suggestions and to place your order: (301) 299-0680.

 

SERVICES

 

  • iSoldIt, the easy way to turn your stuff into cash. We do the work, you cash the check. Get top dollar for your unwanted electronics, music equipment, jewelry, collectibles & furniture. Looking to reduce equipment or inventory for your business? We can help. Call us: 301-990-2040. Email us: info@isolditmd.com. Safety is our priority — no contact, no worries. More info: www.isolditmd.com.

 

  • Mike’s Locksmith & Security, offering lock repair and replacement, keyless & touchpad systems plus door hardware, high-security keys and mailbox lockdown. All work guaranteed as long as you own your home. For after-hour emergencies or regular appointments, call 240-506-7500. For more information, email mike@mikes-locksmith.com or click here.

 

  • Normandy Carpet, excellence in carpet, rug & upholstery cleaning & installation. We’re essential & here to serve you. Spilled wine on your carpet? Dog peed in the house? Flooding from the rain? We follow CDC safety guidelines, and our cleaning method removes dangerous viruses & bacteria. Call 301-741-2005 or email info@normandycarpet.com. More info: www.normandycarpet.com.

 

  • Palace Florists, family-owned since 1943. Farm-fresh, gorgeous flower arrangements and beautiful wrapped bouquets, plus festive & fun balloon bouquets, stunning orchid plants and lush green plants. Curbside pickup in Rockville at 4980 Wyaconda Rd., or no-contact delivery throughout the DMV. Call (301) 945-0253 or shop www.palaceflorists.com.

 

Want to advertise your restaurant, store or business in our “We’re Open!” Guide? Email us: publisher@storereporter.com.

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Local restaurants pivot to takeout, malls close & booze gets delivered

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The new normal

Was it really just a week ago that we were writing about the new Amazon store heading to Westfield Montgomery mall and wondering when that 7-Eleven was going to open? Now the mall is closed, Amazon is overwhelmed and people are worried about where to buy toilet paper. Right now, the news is happening so fast that our weekly issues may not be enough. We’ll be updating the Store Reporter website as things change, so be sure to check here regularly and sign up for our emails to stay in the know. For even faster updates, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Wintergreen Plaza
Shin Orthodontics

Shifting landscape for local stores & restaurants

It’s been a helluva week for everyone, but the retail and restaurant industries have been among the hardest hit. This past Monday, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the immediate closing of all bars, restaurants, fitness centers and theaters. By mid-week, major stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s and Apple had closed their doors as well. On Thursday, all Maryland malls were ordered to close for an indefinite period. Essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open, but restaurants are limited to carry-out, delivery and drive-through. Montgomery County officials are trying to help out by temporarily allowing those businesses to sell beer and wine along with food orders. Where to find updates on who’s offering what? Follow the Store Reporter Facebook page, and watch for our upcoming “We’re Open!” Guide.

Normandie Farm

We're Open!

Here are some local businesses ready to (safely) serve you right now:

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.

Hanna’s Connection clothing boutique. Refresh your closet. Refresh your mood. Phone: (301) 704-0264. Orders can be mailed, delivered or picked up curbside at the Cabin John mini-mall. Shop Facebook. Shop Instagram.

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.

Scout & Molly’s Boutique, your North Bethesda fashion destination. Pike & Rose, 11882 Grand Park Ave. Phone: 301-348-5047. Now online at 30% off total purchase + free shipping. Shop: northbethesda.scoutandmollys.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/

Talbert’s Ice & Beverage Service, beer & wine delivery. 5234 River Road. Phone: 301-652-3000. Open for walk-ins and as always, delivering beer & wine throughout MoCo, plus ice, sodas & mixers to the DMV. talbertsice.com.

The Grilled Oyster Co., fine dining at Cabin John Village. 7943 Tuckerman Lane. Phone: 301-299-9888. Limited menu, beer and wine for carry-out & delivery. Email valerie@grilledoysterco.com to order. Menu: thegrilledoystercompany.com.

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? Be a part of our “We’re Open!” Guide — a listing of local stores, restaurants and other businesses that want to advertise what they’re offering right now. Are you cooking meals for carry-out and delivery? Fulfilling online orders from your local store? Running errands for the homebound? Conducting virtual classes and workshops? Let the Store Reporter audience know that you’re open. Click here for details.

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Mod Pizza moves in, Silver Diner makes its debut — plus, is the curtain coming down for iPic?

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Mod Pizza moves in

Opening next week on Rockville Pike: Mod Pizza, offering quick-serve personal pies with 30 customizable toppings – not to mention gluten-free and cauliflower crusts, salads, milkshakes, draft beer and wine. Mod is the latest addition to the new restaurant row at Montrose Crossing, joining neighbors Cava, Honeygrow, Slapfish and Five Guys. You’ll find them all in the spot where Timpano once stood.

Wink Eyecare Boutique
Taff & Levine

Is the curtain coming down for iPic?

The iPic movie theater chain filed Chapter 11 this month, announcing plans to restructure its debt and seek a potential buyer. It’s unclear what this means for Pike & Rose, where iPic and its adjoining City Perch restaurant were among the first tenants to open in 2014. iPic says its 16 theaters will operate as usual despite the bankruptcy filing. (But if you happen to be holding onto any movie passes, now would be a good time to use them.) iPic made a splash a decade ago with its ultra-posh theaters featuring cushy recliners, cocktails and fancy food delivered right to your seat. But other movie chains soon upped their game, and many theaters now offer similar perks at a considerably lower price point. At Pike & Rose, a pair of iPic’s “premium plus” seats will set you back $56.

International School of Music
TGIF

Diner debut

The new Silver Diner has opened its doors at Rio — the latest piece of the center’s $30 million renovation project. This is the 16th restaurant for the D.C.-area chain, and the first to include an indoor/outdoor patio and bar. (Check out our photos on Facebook and Instagram.) This has been a busy summer for Rio, with the recent opening of Dave & Buster’s and the unveiling of a snazzy new boardwalk and performance stage. Grand opening events are planned for September.

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Big summer ahead for Rio, new restaurants for Rockville, new yoga for Park Potomac and a Lord & Taylor update

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Rio's new backyard

This week we checked out the snazzy new boardwork at Rio in Gaithersburg, where a striking outdoor concert stage is nearly complete and a summer’s worth of performances are on the way. Rio is undergoing a $30 million facelift with dramatic changes to its appearance and tenant mix. Shown here: the view from what will soon be a second-floor lounge outside the AMC movie theater and the upcoming Dave & Buster’s (aiming to open July 1st). What’s next for Rio? A huge Silver Diner with indoor/outdoor seating and full bar (tentatively opening in August); an “experiential” Xfinity store (opening date TBD); and a state-of-the-art IMAX cinema that’s almost finished inside the movie theater. Plans for a Baked Bear ice cream shop have fallen through, but local creamery Moorenko’s is coming with a summertime pop-up. For behind-the-scenes photos from our visit this week, check out Store Reporter on Facebook and Instagram.

Wintergreen Plaza
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster

Latest on Lord & Taylor

Lord & Taylor finally announced plans to close its store at Gaithersburg’s ailing Lakeforest Mall — no surprise, as other tenants have been exiting in droves while the mall’s owners look for a buyer.  Meanwhile, the retailer’s White Flint store remains in business more than four years after the adjoining mall was demolished. On a recent visit, we found the White Flint Lord & Taylor in surprisingly good shape with up-to-date merchandise and plenty of still-loyal shoppers. After years of litigation with White Flint’s owners, it’s unclear how much longer this department store will be around. But for now, there’s plenty of summer merchandise on the shelves.

Wink Eyecare Boutique

New restaurants for Rockville Town Square

Good news on the dining front for Rockville Town Square: Four new Asian restaurants are on the way. Friendship BBQ, featuring skewered meats and seafood dishes, will open this summer across from Sushi Damo. And the former Mellow Mushroom space, empty since last fall, will be divided into three new eateries: Gyuzo Japanese BBQ, offering sake and tabletop grilling; Kyoto Matcha, serving green tea, cakes and other desserts; and Taro Cents Family, specializing in Taiwanese taro balls. Rockville Town Square and the surrounding area are already home to a number of Asian restaurants, from the upscale Peter Chang, Sushi Damo and Thai Pavilion to fast-casual Pearl Lady and busy food hall The Spot. Meanwhile, Little Dipper Hot Pot House and the adjoining Lab Cafe recently closed on Gibbs Street.

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Yoga at Park Potomac

A new yoga studio is heading to Park Potomac. Local yogi Debi Schenk is taking over the long-empty Barre Belle space a few doors down from Kaufmann Jewelers. Plans call for an early September opening, with a price point around $17 per class. Schenk’s studio won’t be the only new fitness option in Potomac this fall; Pure Barre is moving to Potomac Village. More on that in our May 2nd edition.

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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.

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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.

Lucky Strike and Nespresso at Westfield Montgomery Mall, women ditch black at the gym, and a comeback for The Limited

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Lucky Strike Social

 

New bowling alley almost ready to roll

Lucky Strike Social, under construction for nearly a year in the old movie theater space at Westfield Montgomery Mall, is finally set to open its doors next month. This will be the second location for Lucky Strike’s new breed of entertainment centers, which include a full kitchen and bar menu, space for concerts and parties, and a variety of games from billiards to ping pong to old-school arcades. Lucky Strike, like the ArcLight Cinema that came before it, is part of the mall’s long-term strategy to reduce its reliance on retail and boost its image as an entertainment destination. For a preview of what’s on the way, click here.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Nespresso SoHo Boutique

 

A February debut for Nespresso

Also making its debut at Westfield Montgomery Mall next month: The long-awaited Nespresso Boutique, opening across from Swarovski near the new Apple store. This location will be similar to the ones in Tysons Corner and SoHo, New York (the latter shown here), with a full selection of Nespresso machines and coffee samples — but sadly, no food.

 

 

 

 

 

LavaLoka trio of workout pants

 

Print is the new black

Printed leggings are trending at local gyms this winter as women dare to ditch their black pants for bold graphics in vivid shades. At the forefront of this trend is LavaLoka (formerly known as HotPants), a three-year-old line of brightly colored activewear from Potomac entrepreneur Amy Pascal. “The black pants thing is so boring, but it’s a comfort zone that’s hard for many women to get out of,” says Pascal, who sells primarily at boutique shows and online (www.lavaloka.com). Pascal says the trend was first embraced in cities like New York, Miami and L.A. — but it’s clearly catching on in the D.C. area, where women are wearing their eye-popping workout pants everywhere from Starbucks to the supermarket. “It’s all about being comfortable and expressing your individuality,” Pascal says. “People like being able to take their look from the gym to the street.”

 

 

 

Leila Fine Gifts and Jewels January clearance sale: http://leilajewels.com

 

 

 

Sweaters from The Limited

 

A comeback for The Limited?

The Limited, which closed all its stores after the holidays and filed for bankruptcy this week, may be poised for a comeback online. A private equity firm is buying the company’s intellectual property and may relaunch The Limited as a web-only retailer, reports The Columbus Dispatch. The new owner is Sycamore Partners, which also operates the brands Coldwater Creek, Hot Topic, Jones New York and Talbots. The Limited’s website is currently sporting a “we’ll be back soon” message. Stay tuned.

 

 

Email questions to publisher@storereporter.com

 

 

MET’s debut, Chinese food back to Cabin John, vintage vinyl and holiday coffees

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martini

 

Meet the MET on Nov. 15

As anticipation builds for all the new restaurants under construction at Westfield Montgomery Mall, we hear that MET Bethesda is set for an unofficial opening on Saturday, Nov. 15. House specialties will include avocados stuffed with Maryland crab, a “Char Bar” of skewered meats and vegetables, and a selection of raw and cooked New England seafood — plus a martini bar with 30 flavors on tap. This will be the fifth location for Boston-based MET Restaurant Group, and the first outside of Massachusetts. Click here for more info.

 

 

China Jade Bistro, Cabin John Shops

 

Chinese food coming back to Cabin John

Chinese cuisine will soon be back at Cabin John Shopping Center. The owners of China Village, a family-run restaurant in Ellicott City, will take over the empty space next to Grilled Oyster Co. with plans to open in about three months. The spot was home for many years to local favorite Jade Billows — and then to its short-lived successor, China Jade Bistro, which departed last February. This time there won’t be any “Jade” in the name: the new restaurant will be called China Gourmet Bistro. The menu isn’t set yet, but you can click here to see what’s cooking at the family’s Ellicott City restaurant.

 

Beatles vinyl

Coming around again

Urban Outfitters, the retail darling of the 18-to-30-year-old crowd, recently declared itself to be the world’s number one seller of vinyl records. Although that claim has since been disputed (Billboard says Amazon is really number one), any teen can tell you that Urban has played a key role in vinyl’s return to relevance. At the chain’s Westfield Montgomery Mall store, where records and record players are prominently featured near the entrance, manager Melissa Leiva says classic artists like Bob Marley, the Beatles and Prince sell nearly as well as contemporary acts like Lana Del Ray, the Lumineers and Mumford & Sons. “A lot of our young adult college audience wants to listen to these new artists on vinyl,” Leiva says. “But we also get a lot of parents who want to introduce the whole vinyl experience to their children.” Curious about what else people are buying on viny? Click here to see Amazon’s best-sellers.

 

Starbucks Gingerbread Latte

Lots of lattes

‘Tis the season for calorie-laden winter coffees. This week Dunkin’ Donuts rolled out its new Snickerdoodle Lattes and Sugar Cookie Lattes. And next Wednesday (Nov. 12), Starbucks will debut its first holiday beverage in five years: The Chestnut Praline Latte will take its place in the chain’s longtime winter lineup of Gingerbread Lattes, Caramel Brûlée Lattes and Peppermint Mochas. Here at Store Reporter, we’re still fending off Halloween candy and have no immediate plans to taste-test a 300-calorie beverage. But if you’d like to do the honors, please share your reviews on our Facebook page (click here to post).

 

Dunkin' Donuts Lattes

Congrats to our iPic ticket winners

Congratulations to the winners of last week’s Store Reporter giveaway: Lana Teixeira, Larry Kaplan, Andy Lieber, Caroline Sailer and Monika Woods each won a pair of Premium Plus tickets (the ones with the pillows, blankets and reclining seats) to the new iPic Theater on Rockville Pike. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for future giveaways.

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iPic free ticket giveaway, Bellini and playground store closing in Rockville, Sears says it’s staying at the mall

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iPic Pike & Rose Rendering

 

iPic opens this week at Pike & Rose — and we’ve got free tickets

The curtains rise this Friday at the iPic Theater on Rockville Pike, where a Halloween-themed opening party will kick things off with stilt-walkers, a DJ, Thriller dancers and other fun stuff. The luxurious theater, featuring leather reclining seats and “ninja” waiters who stealthily deliver food during the movie, is one of the first tenants to open at the new Pike & Rose development off Montrose Parkway. Opening festivities will continue all week with live entertainment and fundraising for local charities. Interested in checking out the iPic for yourself? We thought so. We’ve got FREE tickets exclusively for Store Reporter readers. Click here to enter this week’s ticket giveaway by email, and to find out who won last week’s ArcLight Cinema tickets. Or click here to enter via Facebook. Winners will be chosen next week.

 

Bellini logo

 

Bye Bye Bellini

Bellini, the upscale baby-to-teen furniture chain, will close its Rockville Pike store next month after 24 years at the same shopping center. Co-owner Mario Anvari says Rockville’s demographics have changed since the early ’90s, and the baby boom has shifted to Bethesda, Washington and Northern Virginia. With that in mind, Anvari and his partners are looking to reopen their franchised store at a new location in Arlington. “The younger generation who move here for jobs are choosing to live closer to D.C., so we wanted to try an area that’s closer to our customer base,” Anvari says. All bedding and furniture in the Rockville store has been marked down for clearance. Click here to see the Bellini catalog, and check with Anvari’s staff for pricing and availability.

 

Creative Playthings

 

Slip sliding away

Creative Playthings, the Virginia-based playground company, has closed its Rockville Pike store after six months in the old Harry & David space at Congressional Plaza. The shopping center location marked a new strategy for Creative Playthings, which previously operated from a Gaithersburg warehouse district — and store manager Martin Barrera says walk-in traffic proved better than he’d even hoped. “Being next to The Fresh Market, a baby store and a toy store was absolutely awesome, since people found us just by walking around,” he says. “We actually experienced some emotional purchases right on the spot. Sadly, though, our lease was temporary and we could not afford to keep that location open year-round.” Look for Creative Playthings to surface elsewhere in Rockville next spring. If you can’t wait, click here to see their website.

 

Sears

 

Sears has no exit strategy

When was the last time you shopped at Sears? The 128-year-old company, whose stores and mail-order catalogs were once a mainstay of the American retail landscape, has been sliding into irrelevance as 21st century shoppers find more compelling places to buy their clothes and household goods. At Westfield Montgomery Mall, the presence of a dowdy Sears store seems oddly out of step with a $90 million renovation designed to lure upscale customers. So this week, when reports surfaced about yet another round of Sears closings, we wondered whether it might be time for that store to make a graceful exit. But a company spokesman assures Store Reporter that’s not going to happen. The Montgomery Mall Sears store and its neighboring auto center are “not impacted” by impending closings and will continue to operate as usual, the spokesman says.

 

Grilled Oyster eyes D.C. expansion; hot Halloween costumes and an ArcLight ticket giveaway

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Grilled Oyster

Grilled Oyster eyes D.C. expansion

Business is booming at the The Grilled Oyster Co., which celebrated its two-year anniversary at Cabin John Shopping Center last month and is making plans for a second location in D.C. “We’ve stayed focused on being a regional food restaurant, not chasing every new fad and trend,” says owner Rick Dugan, noting that customers appreciate his dedication to sourcing local ingredients. “I regularly meet with the growers to talk about what they’re going to grow for us, and I go to the Eastern Shore to work with the crabmen and the oystermen,” he says. What’s popular on the restaurant’s menu right now? The Three Fish Grill, a $25 combo of seared tuna, grilled salmon and wild rockfish. Click here to see the full menu.

 

The_Shining

Win tickets to the new ArcLight Cinema

Store Reporter got a peek at Westfield Montgomery Mall’s new ArcLight Cinema this week (check out photos on our Facebook page), and we’d like our readers to see how fabulous it is. The curtain officially rises Nov. 7, but the theater is hosting special screenings beforehand — and Store Reporter readers can win free tickets. Tonight (10/23) there’s a 10 p.m. showing of the new Keanu Reeves film John Wick, followed by an exclusive live-streamed Q&A with Reeves as it’s happening in Hollywood. Next week’s offerings include three horror classics: The Exorcist, Alien and The Shining. To enter, email us at editor@storereporter.com.

 

 

Ninja Turtles costumeElsa costume

Elsa costume shortage leaves little girls out in the cold

If your child is hoping to dress up as Frozen’s Princess Elsa or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle next Friday, you’d better do some fast online shopping: The coveted costumes, fueled by recent hit movies, have been sold out for weeks at local Halloween stores. “People started grabbing them up as soon as they arrived on our shelves at the beginning of September,” says Thomas Ordaya, manager of Rockville’s Party City. It’s the same story at Target and Halloween Adventure, where disappointed little girls have been forced to choose between leaving empty-handed or picking a less popular princess. (Apparently Elsa’s sister Anna doesn’t cut it. “Barely any girls want to be Anna,” one store manager told us.) If you know a little girl who simply must be Elsa, click here to see our favorite (but pricey) version of her dress. As for the boys, it seems they’re a little less picky about their costumes: When they can’t be Turtles, many are settling for just plain ninjas.

 

Naartjie Kids sneakers

Goodbye Naartjie Kids

Naartjie Kids, the South African chain known for its vibrantly colored cotton clothing, will close its Westfield Montgomery Mall store at the end of this year. The chain filed for bankruptcy last month and is shuttering all 55 of its U.S. stores. The Montgomery Mall location was one of the company’s strongest performers, a manager said, but most of the others were operating at a loss. Click here to check out the company’s going-out-of-business sale, where we spotted these cute boots.

 

Sneak peek of the ArcLight Cinema

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ArcLight lobby

Take two

Today Store Reporter had a chance to tour the new ArcLight Cinema at Westfield Montgomery Mall, which
officially opens Nov. 7 — but we just got word that there will be some sneak-peek movies before then, including screenings of The Exorcist, Alien and The Shining leading up to Halloween. Check out our photos of the ArcLight lobby and movie memorabilia, including costumes from Robin Hood and Black Swan.

True Religion, Lululemon, ArcLight, goodbye Saigon

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True Religion logo

True Religion, Lululemon open at Montgomery Mall

There’s lots of excitement at Westfield Montgomery Mall this week, with two long-awaited stores opening their doors in the Nordstrom wing. True Religion arrived on Tuesday and Lululemon Athletica opens tomorrow (Oct. 3), kicking off a weekend full of activities including free yoga and Zengo cycling classes onsite. And for those who aren’t stressed about fitting into those skinny jeans and yoga pants: Blaze Pizza is celebrating its recent opening by giving away free pies today (Oct. 2) to anyone who follows the chain on social media.

 

ArcLight Cinema Design, Westfield Montgomery Mall

Almost curtain time for the the ArcLight

Friday, Nov. 7 is opening day for the mall’s new ArcLight Cinema — just in time to feature the Disney flick Big Hero 6 and the sci-fi movie Interstellar. For more on the luxurious new theater, which is designed to cater to film enthusiasts, click here to read our Sept. 4 issue.

 

Vietnamese spring rolls

No more Taste of Saigon

Taste of Saigon, a local favorite since 1990, will close its doors at Rockville Town Square later this month. This will be the sixth restaurant — and at least the eighth business — to close in downtown Rockville since the beginning of summer. But this departure won’t leave another empty space: Peter Chang, a well-regarded chef known for his traditional Chinese cuisine, is expected to move in when Taste of Saigon moves out. Click here to read our Sept. 4 edition, with more on Rockville Town Square and Peter Chang.

 

bagel and lox

What, no herring?

This is a very busy week for local delis and bagel shops, as people mark the end of the Jewish High Holidays (and a day of fasting for some) with platters of bagels, cream cheese and assorted fish. Stephanie Kavadoy, director of operations at Rockville’s Bagel City, says she’s seen a lot of changes in the 17 years she’s been preparing these trays — primarily the decline in requests for traditional items like belly lox, kippered salmon, sable and creamed herring. “The only people who ask for these things now are the older generation and the New York crowd,” she says. “People under 40 haven’t been trained to eat these things. They think sable is slimy. They won’t eat whole whitefish, just whitefish salad. If it doesn’t look attractive, they don’t want to try it. They just want a good, clean, pretty slice of nova.” For more on this topic, click here to read our article in Washington Jewish Week.

 

Amazon logo

Taxing issues

If you placed an order with Amazon.com this week, you might have noticed an unpleasant surprise: On Wednesday the company started charging Maryland residents 6 percent sales tax. Now that Amazon is building a distribution center in Baltimore — which gives it a physical presence in this state for the first time — it can no longer waive taxes for online sales in Maryland. The change provides a more even playing field for competing discounters, like Walmart and Target, that have brick-and-mortar stores here.

 

fall-pumpkins-5

Fall at the Mall

The autumn leaves have started to appear, just in time for the Fall Festival at Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall. This Sunday afternoon, from 1 to 4 p.m., there will be a hay maze, bounce house, face painting, scarecrow-making and more. 

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This fall at the mall: Six new restaurants, one new theater and a whole new look

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ArcLight Cinema Rendering, Westfield Montgomery Mall

Coming attractions

Talk about a fall harvest: Six new restaurants and a snazzy new movie theater will open at Westfield Montgomery Mall by December as the property’s $90 million transformation continues. The food court has been reinvented as an upscale Dining Terrace with luxurious seating and decor, while several new sit-down restaurants will present some welcome alternatives for Date Night. (It’s all good news for Mr. Store Reporter, who’s been known to complain when he has to accompany us to the mall on a Saturday evening.) Check out last week’s issue for more on the ArcLight Cinema, and read on to see what the next three months will bring.

 

Blaze Pizza Assembly Line

Blaze Pizza and Chipotle

First out of the gate is Blaze Pizza, which recently opened in the Old Navy wing across from Aroma Coffee. The thin-crust, personal-sized pies are topped with fresh ingredients as you make your way down an assembly line, then fired in the oven for a couple of minutes while you wait. The result is surprisingly good, and so is the price: $5 to $7.65. Some people refer to Blaze as “The Chipotle of Pizza.” You can compare the two for yourself later this year when Chipotle makes its debut at the mall’s Dining Terrace.

 

MET Restaurant Group cocktail

MET Bethesda

This will be the first Maryland venture for MET Restaurant Group, which has three locations in Boston and one in Nantucket. Steaks cooked on a wood-burning grill will be one of MET’s specialties, along with Rigatoni Bolognese and Steak/Salmon Tartare Duo. The spacious bar will specialize in martinis on tap — perfect for grabbing a drink before the movie. MET opens in October across from the ArcLight Cinema.

 

Lobster ME Lobster Tacos

Lobster ME

How many ways can you eat Maine lobster? The list is surprisingly long at Lobster ME, from Lobster Tacos to Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese to Lobster Rolls with Cajun, Italian or Vietnamese spices. Not to mention the Lobsicle, a whole grilled lobster tail on a stick. Everything on the menu will be prepared from scratch in a setting designed to look like an old lobster shack, complete with old-growth timber reclaimed from the Penobscot River. This will be the first Lobster ME restaurant outside Las Vegas. It’s scheduled to open in late November in the Dining Terrace next to Cava Grill.

 

Crave Flatbread

CRAVE

The Minnesota-based CRAVE chain specializes in steaks, salads and sushi. “It’s a little bit of everything you crave,” says marketing director Zach Sussman. “We’ll have things you won’t find at a traditional sushi restaurant.” Store Reporter recently checked out CRAVE’s Miami location, where the sushi was good but the Margherita Flatbread was the true hit of the evening. CRAVE  is scheduled to open in December on the mall’s lower level, near Bobby’s Burger Palace and The Cheesecake Factory.

 

Cava Grill Pita Sandwich

Cava Grill

This is a quick-service version of the popular Cava chain, but that doesn’t mean the restaurant will skimp on details. “We’re going to have a wood-fired oven where we’ll be making organic pita, roasted meats and vegetables fresh every day” along with salads and dips, says Cava co-founder Ted Xenohristos. The beverage menu will include freshly pressed vegetable and fruit drinks, as well as wine and local craft beers. Cava Grill opens in November in the food court next to Lobster ME.

 

Summer closings, new Rockville restaurants and a theater sneak peek

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We’re back!

If you missed our recent Facebook updates (it’s tough to compete with all those summer vacation photos and ice bucket challenge videos), you may be surprised to find out which of our local businesses didn’t survive the summer. Read on for a rundown of who’s out — and who’s coming in.

 

Cosi

Running out of downtown Rockville

It’s been a tough summer for downtown Rockville, which has lost at least five tenants since June: Oro Pomodoro, Cosi, Pho & Rolls, Hair Cuttery and Carbon Peruvian Chicken. Capital One Bank will close its Gibbs Street branch in October. And Potomac River Running, with seven stores in Virginia and one in D.C., will say goodbye to Maryland when its Rockville store closes later this month. “You can only sustain losses for so long,” says co-owner Brendan Shapiro. “There’s a strong running community in Montgomery County, and we had some really loyal and valued customers; we just didn’t have enough of them.”

 

Dave & Buster's logo

Other summer departures

Wondering who else didn’t make it to Labor Day? Orange Leaf at the Cabin John Mall, for one. Ditto for The Original Ambrosia, the Greek restaurant at Montrose Crossing, which closed in June but is working on a new location. And Dave & Buster’s vacated the White Flint Mall in August following its failed attempt to halt demolition of the property.

 

 

Chinese chef Peter Chang

Two new restaurants on the way

On the other hand, we have at least two pieces of good news on the Rockville restaurant front. Chinese chef Peter Chang, who’s earned a cult following for his Virginia restaurants, will open one next year in Rockville Town Square. (Sample dishes: Duck in Stone Pot and Grandma’s Steamed Pork Belly.) Meanwhile, Clyde’s will get some competition on Tower Oaks Boulevard next year with the arrival of Stanford Grill, an award-winning steak-and-sushi place with another location in Columbia. With indoor/outdoor seating for 400 – including a sushi bar, bakery, private dining room and live nightly entertainment — the massive space also will provide a much-needed new party venue for our area. Click here for more.

 

Montgomery Mall

Big fall for the mall

Here’s a snapshot of the ArcLight Cinema under construction at Westfield Montgomery Mall, which Store Reporter recently had the chance to tour. Instead of a traditional box office (not necessary, since seats are reserved online), the lobby will post movie times on a “departure board” patterned after vintage train stations. We also got a glimpse of the theater’s 16 auditoriums, ranging from 100 seats (for classic and indie films) to 300 (for blockbusters). ArcLight, based in California, prides itself on attending to the details of a rich moviegoing experience. “We present our films the way filmmakers want them to be presented,” says VP Gretchen McCourt. Click here for more on the theater, which is scheduled to open in late October.

Balls and bowls on Rockville Pike, sushi in Potomac Village

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Coming to Pike & Rose

Pike & Rose, the new “downtown” development slated for Rockville Pike and Montrose Parkway (former site of Toys R Us, Filene’s Basement, etc.) is picking up steam as new tenants climb aboard. Here’s a look at some of what’s to come…

 

 

Pinstripes

 

Bowling, bocce and bistro

Pinstripes, which just made its local debut in Georgetown, is close to finalizing a deal for a second location at Pike & Rose. It will offer a combo of bowling lanes, bocce courts, food, drinks and live music — all in an upscale atmosphere with Jerusalem stone floors and communal outdoor fire pits. Pinstripes also will host weddings, bar mitzvahs and corporate events, says CEO Dale Schwartz. “Each of our locations does about 2,000 parties a year.” But you’ve got plenty of time to plan: Pinstripes is scheduled to open in 2016.

 

 

iPic Theaters with 3D Glasses

 

Best seats in the house

Maryland’s first iPic Theater, part of a new wave of ultra-luxury movie houses, is set to raise the curtain at Pike & Rose this fall. Like the ArcLight Cinema under construction at Westfield Montgomery Mall, iPic will offer swanky decor, state-of-the-art sound systems, reserve-ahead seating, bar service and high-end food. And for a few extra bucks, they’ll throw in even more perks: pillows, blankets and black-clad “ninja” waiters who bring the cocktails and Portobello sliders right to your cushy reclining seat.

 

 

ShopHouse Asian Kitchen rice bowl

 

Chipotle goes Asian

ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen, a new concept from Chipotle, brings the Mexican chain’s assembly-line format to a whole new cuisine. Start with a bowl of rice or noodles, then choose from an array of meat, tofu, fresh vegetables, herbs, spicy sauces and toppings reminiscent of Bangkok, Singapore and Hanoi. ShopHouse already has established a cult following at its D.C. and Bethesda locations. And by the way: The original Chipotle will still be part of the new Pike & Rose — just in a slightly different location. So will the French bakery La Madeleine.

 

 

Sushi Roll

 

Potomac Village on a roll

Just opened in Potomac Village: En Bistro & Sushi, the latest venture from a man who knows his way around a spicy tuna roll. “A lot of people in this area will recognize me from years of catering at country clubs, bar mitzvahs and baseball games,” says owner Billy Ye, who has two other “En” restaurants in Rockville and Germantown. En Bistro offers a full pan-Asian menu. You can find it near Tally Ho, on the back side of the Verizon store. Oh… and did we mention they deliver?

 

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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