More changes for Congressional Plaza, goodbye Gordon Biersch, Art & Chemistry on the move

Another new tenant on the way to Rockville’s Congressional Plaza: Custom Ink, the Virginia-based logowear company, will open its third brick-and-mortar store in the newly empty Baskin-Robbins space. While Custom Ink does most of its business online, Rockville customers will be able to meet with a designer and get some advice about the best way to plaster their photos and logos onto T-shirts, hats, bags, tumblers and tech accessories. Custom Ink is the latest addition to Congressional’s reinvigorated north side, joining upcoming newcomers Madison Reed Color Bar, Orangetheory Fitness, CorePower Yoga and Barnes & Noble. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for opening dates.

Rockville Town Square took another big hit this week with the closing of one its oldest tenants, Gordon Biersch. The brewery’s parent company has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shuttered multiple locations, including those in D.C. and Baltimore. In Rockville, the closing comes just a month after the loss of nearby Bar Louie — yet another victim of Chapter 11.

Walgreens has completed its conversion of the Rite Aid store in Potomac Village, giving the drugstore chain a double presence on either side of River Road. The newly renovated location offers wider aisles and a streamlined layout that will likely make for quicker shopping (see our interior photos on Facebook and Instagram). For the time being, we’re told that Walgreens plans to keep both stores in business.

After 25 years at Kensington’s White Flint Plaza, Art & Chemistry is moving north. On April 1 the salon will relocate to Downtown Crown, where it replaces the blow dry bar Blo at 317 Ellington Blvd. “This opportunity literally fell into our lap, and we loved the location,” says Nikol Paez, who co-owns the salon with husband Diego. “It has great parking, great foot traffic, and it’s really a destination where our clients can go shopping or out to eat after they’re done.” Also making the move is Rayna Badwey Matz of R Boutique, who subleases space inside the salon and will continue to sell her clothing, accessories and jewelry at the new location.