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March 28, 2019 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Big move for Rockville’s Barnes & Noble — plus Smashburger goes dark & Japanese steakhouse sets a date

Big move for Barnes & Noble

Remember last month when we tipped you off that something big was about to happen at Congressional Plaza? Well, that rumor we told you about turned out to be true: Barnes & Noble is moving in. The bookseller will trade its longtime digs at Montrose Crossing, home to discounters like Marshall’s and Target, for a smaller space at Congressional among the posh likes of Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Off 5th and The Fresh Market. Plans call for a 2020 opening next to The Container Store, where there’s plenty of space after the recent departures of Thomasville (bankrupt), White House Black Market (closed), Chico’s (relocated elsewhere in the plaza) and Lebanese Taverna (likewise). (More details on all of these changes in our Feb. 21st edition.) Barnes & Noble has been trying stay afloat in this online economy by closing many of its big-box locations (we’re looking at you, downtown Bethesda) in favor of slimmed-down stores with a carefully edited merchandise mix.

Realtor Jacqueline Band-Olinger of Greystone Realty
Wink Eyecare Boutique

Japanese steakhouse sets a date

After months of construction delays and lots of speculation about whether it was ever going to happen, the Viva Japanese steakhouse at Westfield Montgomery mall is finally setting a date. The hibachis are scheduled to fire up May 1st across from the ArcLight Cinema, right above newcomer Urban Plates. Meanwhile, check out our March 21st edition for news about another interesting tenant that will move in just down the hall.

Biker Barre

Mall stores say goodbye

As we move into the spring shopping season, several stores are reaching their final days at Westfield Montgomery mall. Invisalign, whose parent company is shuttering all its retail operations, will depart on April 3rd. Crabtree & Evelyn, also closing stores across the country, is nearly empty after a lengthy going-out-of-business sale. Italian men’s store Fascino is calling its quits just two months after relocating to a prime spot in the Macy’s wing. But Gymboree and Payless, whose parent companies both filed bankruptcy in the past few months, will hang around awhile longer as they continue to unload excess merchandise.

Shin Orthodontics

Rockville Smashburger goes dark

The lights were out and the doors were locked at Smashburger on Rockville Pike this week, but owner Julian Goodman says the closing is likely temporary. Goodman, a franchisee, says he’s “turning back” this location to Smashburger’s parent company and expects that it will reopen. The Rockville Smashburger, which debuted three years ago on the ground floor of Galvan at Twinbrook, never seemed to pack in the crowds like neighboring Asian eateries Akira Ramen, Urban Hot Pot and Gong Cha. Three other Smashburger restaurants in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Germantown all closed their doors in 2017.

Diener Denim Plus Diamonds
CASA Voices for Children Montgomery
mailto:publisher@storereporter.com

Did you miss these issues?

Two openings at Cabin John, construction near Life Time, designer shoe store closes
New golf store, new booze store, new fitness options for Potomac & Rockville
Rockville movie theater reaches “The End,” Party City goes bankrupt
Macy’s closing sale, new Potomac pet shop and a sushi sneak peek
Amazon grocery stalls, Bed Bath & Beyond at a breaking point, home-baked desserts & new teen store at the mall
Year-end wrap-up: The biggest openings & closings in Rockville, Potomac & North Bethesda
Last-minute shopping for kids & “kidults,” new teen store on the way
New sushi & Chinese BBQ, new place to chill at Wintergreen Plaza
New Potomac salon, Pike & Rose restaurant & Squishables

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Filed Under: Asian Food, Burgers, Congressional Plaza, Montrose Crossing, Rockville Pike, Steakhouses, Westfield Montgomery mall

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Recent Issues

  • Two openings at Cabin John, construction near Life Time, designer shoe store closes
  • New golf store, new booze store, new fitness options for Potomac & Rockville
  • Rockville movie theater reaches “The End,” Party City goes bankrupt
  • Macy’s closing sale, new Potomac pet shop and a sushi sneak peek
  • Amazon grocery stalls, Bed Bath & Beyond at a breaking point, home-baked desserts & new teen store at the mall
  • Year-end wrap-up: The biggest openings & closings in Rockville, Potomac & North Bethesda
  • Last-minute shopping for kids & “kidults,” new teen store on the way
  • New sushi & Chinese BBQ, new place to chill at Wintergreen Plaza
  • New Potomac salon, Pike & Rose restaurant & Squishables
  • Cabin John sushi, new owners for Amalfi, Popeyes goes dark
  • Holiday deals, unhappy returns and kosher bowls at Cabin John
  • New Indian & Italian food for Rockville Pike, holiday pop-up bar at the mall
  • Dick’s on the Pike, Red Orchard expands, Slapfish is fried
  • Middle Eastern & Greek food, collectible sneakers, latest on Pike & Rose
  • Hello Thai food, goodbye Vera Bradley, new jewels for the mall
  • Hello Toys R Us, goodbye Sport & Health — plus a store that will knock your socks off
  • New plan for Rockville shopping center, Chopt on the way to Cabin John
  • Latest on Wegmans, Rockville shopping center auctioned — plus Psycho Bunny & more at the mall
  • Rockville rundown: Town Square is sold, Dick’s on the way, bye bye Bambū
  • New businesses for Potomac Woods Plaza, tastings are back at Trader Joe’s, Miller’s exits Rockville
  • Falafel, FAO Schwarz, Pier 1 and Tuesday Morning
  • Nordstrom Rack, Cabin John Village, designer watches & more
  • New hope for Bed Bath & Beyond — plus halal platters & southern soul food
  • New drinks for Rockville Pike, new scoops for Cabin John & the first sign of Halloween
  • New sushi scene in Potomac Village, last call for Rockville sports bar
  • New pizzeria & ice cream for Cabin John, young Asian designers hit the mall
  • New Gregorio’s, falafel & soul food, Rockville deli closes
  • PGA Tour Superstore, new Rockville boutiques, boozy milkshakes & boardwalk food at the mall
  • Baskin Robbins, Village Yoga & Toys R Us on the comeback trail
  • Chicken and waffles, DQ/Orange Julius update and the summer of bargains
  • Italian food & Warby Parker for Pike & Rose; sushi’s in & ice cream’s out at the mall
  • Psycho Bunny, Orange Julius, closings at Wildwood & Potomac Village
  • Three openings at Pike & Rose, Normandie Farm says goodbye
  • Mussel House to Cabin John Village, HomeSense lands in Rockville, sneak peek of Amazon Fresh
  • Mall movie theater update, two new sushi spots, hello Pama Thai & goodbye Snowbots
  • Wegmans update, new development on Rockville Pike, HomeSense sets a date
  • 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

Who's the Store Reporter?

Cheryl Kane Heimlich has been a staff writer, columnist, editor and contributor to a dozen publications including the South Florida Business Journal, Bethesda Magazine, Miami Today, Miami Metro, Vista Magazine, St. Louis Magazine, the Boca Raton Observer, Washington Jewish Week and Variety. She has won numerous awards for her magazine profiles, parenting columns and business news coverage.

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