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.

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.

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.

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.