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October 11, 2018 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Life Time Athletic eyeing the mall — plus the latest on Cabin John, Wildwood & Rockville Town Square

Here’s your retail & restaurant scoop for the week of Oct. 11, 2018.

Life Time Athletic in Rockville

Life Time Athletic eyeing the mall

Big news on the fitness front: We’re hearing that Life Time Athletic is making plans for a posh new location at Westfield Montgomery mall. The club would offer similar amenities to Life Time’s two-year-old location in Gaithersburg, including a restaurant, a spa and possibly a swimming pool. Mall-based clubs are a new initiative for Life Time, which opened a massive one just this week in Oklahoma City. At Westfield Montgomery, construction would take about two years and would likely start after the Sears store is demolished next winter. The new gym would be part of a major upcoming expansion for Westfield Montgomery; click here for more in our June 21st issue. (Editor’s note: For an update on this story, click here for our Oct. 25th edition.)

1-800-GOT-JUNK
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster
Cabin John Shopping Center

Construction begins at Cabin John

Cabin John Village will begin a new round of construction on Monday (Oct. 15th), kicking off a nine-month project that will transform the center’s outdated facade and front parking lot. It’s the next phase of a long-term master plan from D.C. developer Edens, which has been studying the community’s needs since it bought Cabin John two years ago. “We heard you, we watched, we observed, we listened,” says spokesman Meghann Klein. The ’70s-style maroon roofline is going away, to be replaced by a clean, contemporary design with a wood under-canopy and updated lighting. New landscaping, benches and tables will be added throughout the property, especially in the area outside Goldberg’s Bagels. The front parking lot will be re-paved and reconfigured, with brighter lights, wider spaces and curbside parking for quick trips. Also on the way: decorative string lights and better signage. “The property is going to feel more homey, more like a neighborhood,” Klein says. All businesses will remain open during construction, which should be done by next spring.

Taff & Levine D.D.S.
Shin Orthodontics
Pandora Seafood House & Bar

More closings in downtown Rockville

Rockville Town Square took another hit this week with the closing of Pandora Seafood House & Bar, which replaced the failed American Tap Room just a year ago. The glitzy restaurant, which is exiting amidst legal battles over its rent and lease agreement, joins Mellow Mushroom and Dawson’s Market in a fall exodus that may not be over yet. The nearby Apollo restaurant also is planning to leave, Samovar has been closed for several weeks due to water damage, and some other Town Square tenants say they may not stay much longer. At a jam-packed community meeting this week, two types of complaints were voiced repeatedly: Rents are too high for tenants to make a profit, and visitors resent paying for parking when it’s free at almost every other shopping center in Rockville.

Wintergreen Plaza
Wink Eyecare Boutique
Wildwood Shops parking lot

Parking is back at Wildwood

Parking at Wildwood got a whole lot easier this week as the Bethesda shopping center wrapped up construction in its front lot. When the second phase of the buildout is completed next spring, the center will have gained 42 new parking spaces plus a new outdoor common area with tables, chairs and lounges. Also: In case you’ve been hearing some buzz that parking meters are on the way, owner Federal Realty tells us those rumors are not true. Parking at Wildwood will continue to be free.

Explore Kensington
Coco Blanca at the Wildwood Shops

Coco Blanca on the way out

On a sadder note for the Shops at Wildwood, the charming Coco Blanca boutique is closing its doors after a three-year run. This was the third and last location for Coco Blanca, which started at National Harbor and also had a store in Old Town Alexandria. The chain had an avid following for its tone-on-tone mix of clothing, accessories and home goods, but owners say they’re ready to move on. Doors will remain open until Thanksgiving weekend, unless the inventory sells out sooner.

Washington Hebrew Congregation Holiday Boutique

Did you miss these issues?

Summer ice cream scoop: New creamery for Cabin John and a Baskin Robbins update
French bakery opens, farmers market on the way to Cabin John Village — plus J. Crew debuts on Rockville Pike
Last days for Lahinch — plus new restaurants & new boutiques at the mall
New owners for Normandie Farm, pet store for Park Potomac, goodbye to two Rockville restaurants
New toy store, four closings and a makeover at the mall
Pretzels & Carmen’s at Cabin John, sushi at Park Potomac, Burlington opens on the Pike
Butter Me Up and new boutique at the mall, comings and goings on Rockville Pike
First look at Cabin John’s French bakery, Park Potomac’s sushi spot and the Pike & Rose bar-on-a-boat
Mall movies getting another update, Frank Pepe arrives and a spring switcheroo at Pike & Rose

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Filed Under: Cabin John Village, Clothing and Accessories, Downtown Rockville, Fitness & Beauty, Rockville Town Square, Seafood, Westfield Montgomery mall, Wildwood Shops

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Recent Issues

  • Summer ice cream scoop: New creamery for Cabin John and a Baskin Robbins update
  • French bakery opens, farmers market on the way to Cabin John Village — plus J. Crew debuts on Rockville Pike
  • Last days for Lahinch — plus new restaurants & new boutiques at the mall
  • New owners for Normandie Farm, pet store for Park Potomac, goodbye to two Rockville restaurants
  • New toy store, four closings and a makeover at the mall
  • Pretzels & Carmen’s at Cabin John, sushi at Park Potomac, Burlington opens on the Pike
  • Butter Me Up and new boutique at the mall, comings and goings on Rockville Pike
  • First look at Cabin John’s French bakery, Park Potomac’s sushi spot and the Pike & Rose bar-on-a-boat
  • Mall movies getting another update, Frank Pepe arrives and a spring switcheroo at Pike & Rose
  • Italian deli for Cabin John, new restaurants for Rockville and a Japanese variety store
  • Cabin John cut-through, goodbye Goldberg’s, Frank Pepe delayed
  • Frank Pepe’s ready, Sarku sues, Burlington sets a date
  • Movies are back & Amazon’s out at the mall — plus a new boutique for Wildwood
  • Sushi & sausages, Warby Parker, Baskin Robbins ices out Ibhana
  • Chopt, croissants & more changes for Cabin John, Aldi arrives at White Flint
  • AMC/ArcLight ready to reopen, bar-on-a-boat sailing to Pike & Rose
  • New Raku, adiós La Limeña, big bucks for Bark Social and an AMC/ArcLight update
  • New J.Crew, so long Loft, Cabin John construction & tapas at the Square
  • Hello Bethesda Bagels, goodbye gelato and a Boston Market comeback
  • New home store for Rockville, spa time at Pike & Rose, Butter Me Up & HalfSmoke
  • Goodbye Amici Miei – plus more closings for Potomac, Rockville Pike, Pike & Rose
  • Game over for GameWorks, bye bye Broadway & Taylor Gourmet
  • Shake Shack arrives at the mall, new Bethesda Bagels ready to roll, Baskin Robbins on the move
  • Frank Pepe makes progress, Thai food & pet boutique for Park Potomac
  • Cabin John Village update: Who’s open, who’s about to leave, major construction ahead

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