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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?

New Bethesda Bagels, mirror mall crawl, goodbye Lolli and Pops, hello Chocolate Moonshine
Wegmans underway, Colada Shop gets ready to pop, Yardbird lands in Rockville
All about the mall: Who’s in, who’s out and what’s up with that renovation?
King Street Oyster Bar, Fabletics, Rose’s Dinner Club & more
Aerie on the way, Amazon’s secret supermarket and the painting that broke records
Cuban cafe for Cabin John, Potomac nursery packs up, another Aldi on the way
Zohra returns, Pike & Rose goes to the dogs, another closing at the mall
Twenty-five restaurants and two dozen stores that won’t be back
Athleta, at-home workouts and the return of indoor dining

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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

  • New Bethesda Bagels, mirror mall crawl, goodbye Lolli and Pops, hello Chocolate Moonshine
  • Wegmans underway, Colada Shop gets ready to pop, Yardbird lands in Rockville
  • All about the mall: Who’s in, who’s out and what’s up with that renovation?
  • King Street Oyster Bar, Fabletics, Rose’s Dinner Club & more
  • Aerie on the way, Amazon’s secret supermarket and the painting that broke records
  • Cuban cafe for Cabin John, Potomac nursery packs up, another Aldi on the way
  • Zohra returns, Pike & Rose goes to the dogs, another closing at the mall
  • Twenty-five restaurants and two dozen stores that won’t be back
  • Athleta, at-home workouts and the return of indoor dining
  • Quiet times at the Cabin John mini-mall, indoor dining, auctions & more
  • Oysters on the way, goodbye Godiva & Eyebobs, Burlington heads to Rockville
  • Dog park on the Pike, Korean food at the mall, another shoe store walks away
  • New taqueria for Rockville, Quincy’s debuts in Potomac, Walking Company walks away
  • Trading Addie’s for oysters at Park Potomac; closings for Abercrombie and Not Your Average Joe’s
  • Goodbye to Lord & Taylor and three Rockville stores — plus our latest guide to winter takeout
  • Gameworks to the mall, Wildwood restaurant reopens, Mexican food for Rockville
  • Indoor dining is out, new Potomac sports bar is in — plus holiday meals & gift ideas
  • Restaurant restrictions rolling back in, closings at Park Potomac — plus holiday meals, Korean hot dogs & Chick-fil-A
  • More closings at the mall, new salon for men, start the bidding for holiday auctions
  • Black Friday shopping, Call Your Mother Deli, new stores & two surprise comebacks
  • Goodbye Wine Harvest, hello to three new restaurants
  • County cracks down on dining crowds, Fish Taco returns, two more stores go dark
  • Latest on Lord & Taylor, county faces new COVID dining restrictions, Pet Valu goes belly-up
  • Three more restaurants out at the mall, new stores on the way
  • Cabin John update: Who’s moving in, who’s moving out & what’s up with Sisters Thai

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