Opening day for REI

Tuesday (April 25th) is opening day for the handsome new REI store at Pike & Rose, the beginning of a new wave of tenants that will soon include L.L. Bean and a Pinstripes bocce and bowling center. The 36,000-square-foot store replaces REI’s older location at 1701 Rockville Pike, which will close its doors for the last time Sunday night. Grand opening festivities are set for the following weekend (April 28th-30th) with classes, music, food and giveaways. For more on the new REI store — and what the company thinks about being neighbors with L.L. Bean — click here for our March 16th edition.

Hello Nespresso

The Nespresso store is finally open at Westfield Montgomery Mall — several months behind schedule, but well worth the wait for the espresso-obsessed. If you’re looking to sip a custom-brewed cappuccino while you debate the pros and cons of the Vertuo Plus vs. the Lattissima Pro, this is the place to do it. Adding to the cool factor: A towering rainbow coffee pod display that makes the store feel a bit like an art installation. You’ll find Nespresso on the mall’s second level across from Swarovski; click here for a sneak peek of those snazzy coffee machines.

Rent stars live at Strathmore — win our tickets!

This week we have a special giveaway for Broadway fans: A chance to see Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, two of the original stars of Rent, appearing live at Strathmore on Friday, April 28th. The pair will perform songs from the show that made them famous (click here for a preview), along with their solo albums and post-Rent careers. (Pascal also starred on Broadway in Cabaret and Elton John’s Aida.) Strathmore’s spring schedule also includes appearances by Tony Bennett, Audra McDonald, Gladys Knight and the creators of the Serial podcast. Want to enter our raffle for Adam & Anthony Live? Click here to send us an email, or visit our Facebook page. Update: Dara Baylinson and Gail Hyman won these tickets. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for more great giveaways.

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New home for Victoria’s Secret and Pink

Victoria’s Secret and Pink are on the move at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The lingerie sister stores are leaving their current spot in the Nordstrom wing for a new home between Macy’s and Sephora. The relocation should happen sometime this summer. Who will move in when the bras and undies move out? Stay tuned.

Lovesac, baaaaybee

Behold the Lovesac. If you’re not familiar with this line of beanbag-style furniture, that’s about to change: The Connecticut-based company is joining the lineup at Westfield Montgomery Mall, opening late summer/early fall next to Aldo in the Nordstrom wing. Besides the basic round Lovesac pictured here, the retailer also offers “Sactionals” for your family room, “Squattomans” for your feet and “Petsacs” for your dog (click here to check out the lineup). This will be the second beanbag-style furniture store at Westfield Montgomery Mall; Yogibo opened 18 months ago near Old Navy.