Cabin John Shopping Center

Trader Joe’s says hello Travilah, goodbye Gaithersburg — plus sushi burritos and our favorite gift shops

October 13, 2016 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

Trader Joe’s update: Hello Travilah, Goodbye Gaithersburg

After months of speculation about a new Trader Joe’s at Travilah Square Shopping Center, the California-based grocer has signed on the dotted line. A 13,000-square-foot store will open in late 2017 or early 2018 at the intersection of Travilah and Darnestown roads. This is good news for North Potomac but bad news for Gaithersburg: A Trader Joe’s spokesman tells us the company will be closing its store on Contour Road in Montgomery Village on the same day the Travilah store opens. No need to worry about the other Rockville store at Federal Plaza: That location isn’t going anywhere. (Editor’s note: For an update on this story, click here.)

Sushi burritos at Wildwood

Buredo, the two-year-old D.C. eatery known for its burrito-sized sushi rolls, is heading to Wildwood Shopping Center on Old Georgetown Road. Plans call for a spring opening in the space that previously belonged to Fraîche Cupcakery. This will be the first Maryland location for Buredo, which has earned an avid fan following for its generously sized seaweed wraps with a surprising mix of ingredients. (Sample roll: the Pai Mei with salmon sashimi, asparagus, pea shoot leaves, pickled red onion, daikon, katsuo mirin crunch and toasted sesame mayo.) Click here to check out the menu. And click here to read last week’s report on another D.C. sushi restaurant that’s opening right across the street.

Goodbye Chili’s

This week we say goodbye to Chili’s in North Bethesda, which has closed its doors after 25 years on Rockville Pike. Although the exit was blamed on plans to demolish the building, we think there’s more to that story: Chili’s has been quietly reducing its presence in the D.C. area for several years, including recent closings in Tysons Corner and Crystal City. The good news for Tex-Mex fans: Chuy’s is now open at Federal Plaza. Click here to check it out.

Our picks for great gifts

With colder weather just around the corner, it’s not too early to start thinking about holiday shopping. In the next few weeks we’ll have news about craft markets, gift boutiques and holiday open houses. In the meantime, here’s a quick guide to our favorite locally owned gift shops.

Appalachian Spring: The Congressional Plaza location is part of a four-store chain focusing on handmade products by American artists, most of which are functional as well as beautiful. Wood and glass are the primary materials here, from jewelry boxes and cutting boards to hand-blown vases and luminous dinnerware — plus a large collection of kaleidoscopes. “That’s my favorite part of the store,” says co-owner David Brooks. Details at appalachianspring.com.

As Kindred Spirits: Owner Wendy “Rukmini” Walker travels the world for handmade clothing, accessories and jewelry, as well as decorative household objects from clocks to frames to wine bottle holders. If you’re looking for Roman glass pendants, men’s silk ties or scarves from India, you’ll find them here. The Congressional Plaza location is the flagship, and Walker is in talks to open a new store at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Details at askindredspirits.com.

JT Interiors: The go-to place for gifts in Potomac Village, JT Interiors makes the most of its charming setting inside a house at 9906 River Road. From guest towels, pillows and stylish handbags to serving platters, bowls and baskets, decorative objects are displayed in a way that makes it easy to imagine them in your own home. And for those who can’t get enough of the whole look, the store also offers interior design services. Details at the JT Interiors Facebook page.

Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels: At Cabin John Shopping Center near California Tortilla, Leila is the place for unique hostess gifts, decorative kitchenware, colorful glass and crystal, and a wide variety of affordable jewelry. If you’re looking for a mitzvah gift or a lovely piece of Judaica, you’ll find plenty of choices here. Owner Deb Shalom says she’s always on the lookout for gifts that are “fun, beautiful and functional — all at a comfortable price point.” Details at leilajewels.com.

Occasions: Inside Cabin John Mall across from McDonald’s, Occasions carries gifts from Scout, Kate Spade and Lilly Pulitzer as well as paper goods, jewelry, decorative wooden signs and items for babies, teens and tweens. The store also specializes in monogrammed and personalized items, from notepads to cocktail napkins. Details at occasionsgiftstore.com.

Red Orchard: A longtime fixture at Wildwood Shopping Center, Red Orchard has moved away from its original focus on American-made furniture to specialize in artisan-produced home accessories that are “interesting, funky and functional,” says co-owner Caroline Liberty. Here you’ll find a unique and modern selection of decorative kitchenware, wall art, kids’ gifts, bath and body items, handmade jewelry and local gourmet foods. Details at redorchard.com.

Silver Moon Jewelry & Accessories: This is the new incarnation of the former Tiara Galleries & Gifts, still at Congressional Plaza but now focused primarily on jewelry and handbags. Figurines and ceramic pieces have largely disappeared to make way for Pandora and Alex and Ani, plus a variety of lesser-known jewelry lines and handbags by Vera Bradley and Spartina. Details at silvermoonstyle.com.

Tell us about your favorites

We’re working on more Store Reporter Favorites for upcoming issues, and we’d love to hear about your go-to places in the greater Rockville/Potomac area. Tell us your picks for date night, fast casual meals, fabulous desserts and party venues. And if you know of any hidden gems — either stores or restaurants that our readers should hear about — please tell us about those too. Email your favorites to editor@storereporter.com.

Sports stores at Wintergreen Plaza, Moby Dick in Potomac Village, Aéropostale update

September 15, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Sports stores score at Wintergreen Plaza

Wintergreen Plaza is reinventing itself as a one-stop shopping center for sporting goods. TennisTopia is the latest addition to a lineup that already includes Total Hockey, Aardvark Swim & Sport, Capital Martial Arts, Gold’s Gym and Rockville Soccer. Darrell Haines, co-owner of TennisTopia, says he and wife Amy had been looking for a larger home on Rockville Pike after a decade at Congressional Village Shopping Center. “With the closing of Sports Authority and City Sports before that, we thought this was the right time to expand our business,” he says. “We liked the fact that Wintergreen Plaza is really becoming a mecca for sports.” It’s also becoming a mecca for post-sports meal breaks: The Habit Burger Grill and Jersey Mike’s Subs opened at Wintergreen this summer, and Wingstop is on the way.

Goodbye Aéropostale?

Just as teen retailer PacSun emerged from bankruptcy court last week, Aéropostale announced “store closing” sales at all of its 800 locations across the country. But we’re not predicting Aéropostale’s exit from Westfield Montgomery Mall just yet: Staffers say they’re still expecting large shipments of winter merchandise — enough to last at least through the holidays — and no specific closing date has been set. Aéropostale, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last May, has proposed a reorganization plan that would save more than 200 of its best-performing stores. No word yet on which will be the survivors. Meanwhile, click here for a look at the bargains to be found right now.

Is Moby Dick still opening in Potomac Village?

Remember last April when we told you that Moby Dick House of Kabob was heading to Potomac Village? Nearly five months later, the Falls Road storefront that once housed Toys Unique is still sitting empty as ever. The project has been held up by permitting issues, we’re told, and the restaurant’s owners don’t want to open in the middle of winter. Bottom line: If they don’t start construction in the next few weeks, we probably won’t be ordering kabobs in the Village until next March. In the meantime, you can check out the Moby Dick menu here.

Cabin John is on the market

Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, which has been owned by Carl M. Freeman Cos. since it was built in 1968, is up for sale. Freeman, a family-owned business with a dozen other commercial properties in its portfolio, confirmed this week’s report in the Washington Business Journal but declined to comment further. So did Eastdil Secured, the investment banking firm that’s been hired to market the property. In the meantime, it’s business as usual at Cabin John. For dates and times of this month’s concert series, see the ad below.

Sephora, Trader Joe’s, Nike, Payless and the end of Great Beginnings

August 25, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Sephora’s makeover is nearly complete

Sept. 1 marks the debut of the new Sephora store at Westfield Montgomery Mall — the first of three longtime tenants in the Macy’s wing that are racing to open bigger and better stores before the holidays. Teavana, which closed last spring to make room for a major expansion of the Apple Store, will return this fall in a new location just across the hall. Apple was originally expected to reopen around November, but the project started late and construction delays could make it difficult to meet that timeline. Meanwhile, Swiss coffee maker Nespresso will soon announce plans for a retail store and tasting cafe right next to Teavana. Click here for more on that in our Aug. 18 edition.

Sad ending for Great Beginnings

Great Beginnings, the baby and children’s furniture chain that served Montgomery County for nearly three decades, has come to a not-so-great ending. After the original Gaithersburg location closed its doors last summer, owner Jim Streight told Store Reporter that he planned to reopen in North Bethesda. But this summer brought the abrupt closing of a second Great Beginnings store in Chantilly, which was said to have sustained damage from a burst water pipe. Customers were notified via email that the business could not “financially recover” from the incident and wouldn’t be reopening. Those with outstanding orders were advised to seek refunds from their credit card companies.

Payless in, Hardwood Artisans out in Rockville

Payless Shoe Source opens a new Rockville store this Friday (Aug. 26th) at Federal Plaza on the Pike. The space became available this summer with the departure of Hardwood Artisans, which had been a fixture at that shopping center for nearly 20 years. The furniture company is shifting its attention to downtown Bethesda, where it opened a new store last winter. Click here for more in our May 26th edition.

New Trader Joe’s for Travilah

Stay tuned this fall for the latest on plans for a proposed Trader Joe’s store at Travilah Square Shopping Center. The grocer is hoping to open on Darnestown Road early next year, replacing a Burger King restaurant and small office building at that property. We’ll keep you posted as this proposal moves forward.

Nike store opens, beer garden for Pike & Rose

The Nike Factory Store opened its doors last week at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, where it’s well-positioned to pick up customers from the recently departed Sports Authority. Nike replaces the City Sports store that closed last fall when its parent company went out of business. Next up for the Pike & Rose: Owen’s Ordinary, a beer garden and restaurant from the developers of Vermilion, Iron Gate and Birch & Barley. More on that in an upcoming issue.

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Beefsteak opens, Apple Store update, Flora’s flies the coop

June 23, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Beefsteak ready to open at the mall

Beefsteak, the new veggie-centric restaurant from celeb chef José Andrés, is set to open next week in the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall. A fast-casual concept from the man who brought us Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel and Minibar, Beefsteak has rolled out five locations in its first 15 months as Andrés sets his sights on a national expansion. (Investors include actress/health guru Gwyneth Paltrow.) The menu isn’t entirely vegetarian — you can choose to top your meal with a poached egg or salt-cured salmon — but the focus here is on pairing veggies with grains, nuts, seeds and sauces. Click here to check out the menu for yourself.

Apple Store closing pushed back again

It’s been almost three months since we broke the news that the Apple Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall would be closing for a major expansion. But while the other predictions in our April 4th report have all come to pass (see story below), the start date for the Apple renovation has been pushed back from late April to early May to a new projection of “sometime this summer.” Apple will be taking over the adjoining storefronts once occupied by BCBG and Teavana, rolling the whole space into a massive new store that was supposed to be ready before the holidays. The longer it takes for construction to begin, the more challenging that timetable will become. Either way, Apple fans will likely find it worth the wait: Click here for a Bloomberg report on the company’s striking new store in San Francisco.

On the move: Sephora, Teavana & Kay Jewelers

While the Apple Store expansion is on hold until later this summer, construction is moving forward on three other stores in the Macy’s wing at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Sephora is moving into a larger space across the hall from its current location, which will remain open during construction. Teavana, which closed in April to make room for the Apple expansion, is building a new store of its own just down the aisle. And Kay Jewelers, as we predicted in our April 4th report, will be moving out of its corner spot to a new home next to Swarovski. All three stores should be open by early fall.

Flora’s flies the coop

Closing this summer after 12 years: Flora’s Feathered Nest, the artsy Potomac gift shop in a quaint two-story house at 12211 River Road. Flora’s fans appreciated the store for its creative displays and one-of-a-kind gifts, from herb gardens in the summer and holiday decor in the winter to giant clocks, nautical accessories and farm-themed artwork. “I loved my customers and made some great friends along this journey, but the square footage here is just too big to maintain,” says owner Marcia Copenhaver, who is contemplating whether to retire or reopen in a smaller space. “I simply need to take a break and reevaluate how much time and energy I want to devote to my passion.” In the meantime, three-year-old JT Interiors will have the Potomac Village gift-shopping market to itself.

Irish update, Teavana competitor, Mosaic Café, Subway and Sports Authority

March 3, 2016 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

New Irish restaurants will likely miss St. Patrick’s Day

If you were hoping to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at one of our new local Irish restaurants, you may be out of luck. Lahinch, which was scheduled to open this month in the former Benny’s space at Cabin John Shopping Center, has run into the usual construction delays. “Unfortunately, it looks like we won’t be open for St. Patrick’s Day,” says owner Barry Nolan, who also operates the Irish Inn at Glen Echo. “We’ll know more in a week.” (For more on Nolan and his plans for Lahinch, click here for our Oct. 29 issue.) Also missing out on St. Patrick’s Day crowds is Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub, a new venture from local entrepreneurs that originally was supposed to open last fall at Rockville Town Square. No word yet on the timetable for that one.

Restaurant returning to French roots

Mosaic Cuisine & Café, the Rockville Pike restaurant that closed for renovations after the holidays, is scheduled to reopen by Easter with a new name, modernized decor, a bar showcasing French wines and a renewed focus on classic French cuisine. “What’s old is new again,” says owner Thierry Jugnet, who opened Mosaic in 2003 and also operates the Wicked Waffle chain. The newly named Mosaic Bistro will showcase dishes like beef bourguignon, rack of veal, chicken paprika and traditional French soups. “It’s difficult nowadays to find a truly French restaurant,” Jugnet says. “And I don’t just mean in Rockville — I defy you to find a great beef bourguignon in Washington, D.C. Nobody does these things anymore. I am French. And I am betting on going back to my roots.” For a look at Mosaic’s menu (which is still being tweaked before the reopening), click here.

David’s Tea heading to the mall?

David’s Tea, a Montreal-based company with a large fan following, appears poised to make its Maryland debut at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Details haven’t been announced yet and the mall couldn’t confirm, but David’s has posted job listings for employees at that location. David’s, which made its initial public offering last year, has announced long-term plans for 550 stores in the U.S. and Canada. At the mall, it would compete directly with the Starbucks-owned Teavana store and the independent shop Rumi Tea & Spice, both of which similarly sell fresh tea and tea-making equipment. We’ll let you know when David’s is a done deal. Meanwhile, click here for a preview of what the company has to offer.

Size matters

Things haven’t been going so well for Subway lately. First there was the whole Jared mess. Then came this week’s news that the fast-food chain has settled a class action lawsuit charging that its “footlong” sandwiches didn’t always measure up. As part of the settlement, Subway has promised that its franchisees will now use a tool to accurately measure their bread loaves. If you bought a Subway sandwich over the years and were hoping to benefit from this settlement, we’re sorry to report that your only reward will be a properly sized footlong with your next order. No money is being awarded to the class, and the Associated Press reports that the 10 plaintiffs received only $500 each. Their lawyers, on the other hand, got more than half a mil.

Win March movie tickets for the ArcLight

This month we have one more set of ArcLight Cinema tickets to give away — and you have one more chance to vote for your favorite kids’ businesses in the Rockville/Potomac area. To enter, just click here to send us a note about your favorite places for dining, shopping, birthday parties and just hanging with your kids. Or enter via our Facebook page by clicking here. Everyone who sends us suggestions will be entered into our latest ArcLight drawing.

Chapter 11 for Sports Authority

Sports Authority filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week, a move that had been expected after the retailer fell behind on payments toward its debts of more than $1 billion. Sports Authority is expected to stay in business through this process, but the company says it will lay off some 3,400 people and close 140 of its 464 stores across the country. An updated closing list shows that the Rockville store on Rockville Pike and the Gaithersburg store at Rio/Washingtonian Center are expected to remain open. But several other Maryland stores, including a second Gaithersburg location near Lakeforest Mall, will be shutting down. If you’re holding a Sports Authority gift card or store credit, now would be a good time to use it: There’s no telling how long those credits will be honored.

Benny’s update, new local bakery, Cava, coupons and a free workout

December 16, 2015 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Irish restaurant hopes to open by St. Patrick’s Day

Lahinch, the new restaurant moving into the Benny’s Bar & Grill space at Cabin John Shopping Center, will not be opening next month as originally planned. Owners Barry Nolan and Chris Hughes say they’re still finalizing their lease, with tentative plans to take over the space on New Year’s Day and open around the end of February. Lahinch, named after a famous golf course in Ireland, will offer a mix of locally sourced American-style dishes and traditional Irish entrées like lamb stew, fish-‘n-chips and corned beef with cabbage. Hughes knows his way around an Irish menu: He opened the Irish Inn at Glen Echo 12 years ago, and before that he ran the Four Provinces pubs in D.C. and Falls Church.

Rockville bakery is fresh out of the oven

Just a few weeks after its opening in downtown Rockville, Lavande Patisserie on North Washington Street is already earning kudos from our readers. The tiny bakery is aiming to be “that neighborhood place where you can always pop in for hand-crafted baked goods and the best coffee you’ve ever had,” says co-owner Andrew Liang, who left an IT career to start the business with mom Julie Yi. Lavande specializes in custom cakes, seasonal breads, sandwiches and desserts; coffees are nitro-brewed and can be infused with the bakery’s signature lavender flavor. Most ingredients are either locally sourced or imported from Europe, like the croissants made from French flour and Valrhona chocolate batons. You can find Lavande at 275 North Washington Street, a few blocks north of Rockville Town Square, in a newly opened shopping center whose other tenants include Kung Fu Tea and Quickway Hibachi. Click here to check out the bakery’s Facebook page.

Free Megaformer classes at Sculpt Studio

If you’re thinking about changing up your workout for the new year, Sculpt Studio in downtown Bethesda is offering one free class for new clients between now and Dec. 31. Sculpt is a brightly lit, friendly studio owned by Bethesda local Mary Farber, a longtime Pilates teacher whom some may remember from Life Time Athletic in Rockville. Her studio follows the Lagree Fitness Method, a 50-minute core workout using Pilates-based Megaformer machines that involve every major muscle group. Sculpt Studio is located in the Bethesda Triangle at 4900 Auburn Ave., with easy parking nearby. To book a class, call (240) 600-0730 or click here.

Sponsored Content

Cava opens in Olney

Cava Mezze, the restaurant chain that got its start on Traville Gateway Drive almost a decade ago, opens its fifth location today (12/17) in Olney at 3122 Olney Sandy Spring Road. The new place features a 20-seat bar with a focus on D.C.-area breweries and quirky cocktails like the Rabbit Hole, made with fresh juiced carrots, apple, ginger and bourbon. The restaurant also will highlight some exclusive menu items from chef/owner Dimitri Moshovitis, including a pork souvlaki entrée with orange herb gremolata. Cava Mezze is the big sister to the quick-serve and fast-expanding Cava Grill chain, as well as Sugo at Park Potomac and Brusco in Baltimore. For more on Cava Mezze, click here.

Last chance to redeem our holiday coupons

This is the last week to take advantage of the deals and discounts in our holiday gift issue. Inside you’ll find special pricing on local restaurants like River Falls Tavern and Wildwood Kitchen; local stores like The Bottle Shop, On Cloud 9, Leila Jewels and Ibhana Boutique; jewelry from Valerie Nahmani Designs; teen decor from Dormify; original artwork and more. The discounts are good through Dec. 24. Click here to check them out.

New Safeway opens on the Pike

The Galvan at Twinbrook project took a step forward last week with the opening of its first tenant, a 62,000-square-foot Safeway store along Rockville Pike near the Twinbrook Metro station. Other businesses scheduled to open soon include Smashburger, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, Dunkin’ Donuts, a Pie 360 pizza restaurant and Floyd’s 99 Barbershop. And the Ethan Allen Design Center, which once stood at that spot, will be moving back after two years at a temporary location elsewhere on the Pike.

Out-of-the-box holiday gift guide — with special deals and discounts

December 3, 2015 By Store Reporter 2 Comments

Holiday gifts, deals and discounts

Welcome to our special advertorial holiday gift issue, where you’ll find our picks for some of the best gifts from local businesses, working artists and other stuff we love. We also have great deals and discounts to make the most of your holiday budget. Feel free to forward to friends and family who can use the discounts… or the hints.

Giant coloring gifts at Leila

Coloring books for adults and families are a big trend this year — and it doesn’t get any bigger than these giant coloring posters from Pirasta, $40 including a box of markers at Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels. Leila also sells Posh coloring books by Sterling Publishers ($13) with markers or colored pencils for a few dollars more. “Coloring is better than therapy,” says store owner Deb Shalom. “Just light a fire, put on some good music, get some hot chocolate or a glass of wine, and enjoy! The books are great on a winter weekend afternoon, or spread one of the posters out on the floor and let everyone go at it after a holiday dinner.” Not into coloring? Leila has plenty of other gifts for everyone on your list — including jewelry, Judaica and beautiful housewares. Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels, next to Dunkin’ Donuts at Cabin John Shopping Center, 7737 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac. Call (301) 299-5675 or click here for more.

A premium restaurant gift card

Everyone loves to receive dinner at a fabulous restaurant. Here’s one gift card that offers nearly a dozen places to choose from. RW Restaurant Group, headed by chef Robert Wiedmaier, sells flexible gift cards that work for almost all of the company’s restaurants: Marcel’s and Brasserie Beck in D.C.; River Falls Tavern in Potomac Village; Boulevard Tavern in The Kentlands; Wildwood Kitchen, Urban Heights and Villain & Saint in Bethesda; and three locations for Mussel Bar & Grill. Pick up a certificate at a restaurant near you — or click here to order online — and let your recipient do the choosing.

Gorgeous silk scarves from Ibhana Boutique

For a woman looking to dress up a work wardrobe or add some flair to a simple black top, you can’t go wrong with these paisley silk scarves from Ibhana Boutique. Made in India and measuring a generous 66 inches in length, they’re available in a rainbow of colors: red, turquoise, purple, pink, beige and grey. The scarves normally sell for $35, but Store Reporter readers pay just $25 while supplies last. Ibhana, which opened last August, specializes in wrinkle-free, washable and travel-friendly clothing and accessories from designers like Damee, Fridaze, Joanel, Joseph Ribkoff, Lior and Lipault. Ibhana Boutique, Potomac Woods Plaza, 1079 Seven Locks Road. For more information, call (301) 424-0906 or click here.

Express your emojis at On Cloud 9

Emoji pillows are a must-have for many girls and teens this season — and the ones at On Cloud 9 are soft enough for sleeping as well as room decor. (Hint: They also do double duty as both a holiday gift and pillow for visiting friends and cousins.) The store has a variety of emoji pillows, including holiday themes and light-up styles, with prices starting at $20. Shop On Cloud 9 for these and other stylish gifts for babies, girls, teens and women. On Cloud 9, Potomac Woods Plaza, 1085 Seven Locks Road. For more information, call (301) 251-1331 or click here.

Holiday deals at The Bottle Shop

The Bottle Shop at Potomac Woods Plaza can help you find the right libation for every occasion. The store carries wine, craft beer, olive oil and chocolates, with an expert staff that can guide you toward premium selections or great deals like this $17 bottle of Carignan. On Saturday, Dec. 12 from 2-5 p.m., The Bottle Shop will host a special year-end tasting event with door prizes plus wine and beer reps pouring premium selections for the holidays. There’s no obligation to make a purchase — but if you do, everything will be 15% off. The Bottle Shop at Potomac Woods Plaza, 250 Fortune Terrace, Suite 102 in Rockville. For more information, call (301) 738-WINE (9463).

Three personal training sessions for $99

After weeks of holiday parties — and the extra pounds that come with them — couldn’t we all use a little help getting back on track? Fitness Together offers an introductory package of three personal training sessions for just $99. Clients receive metabolic testing, nutrition and weight loss coaching, heart rate zone training and more in the company’s private studios. “We see a lot of people who spend an hour and a half at the gym and they don’t get results,” says co-owner Rick Coe, who runs Fitness Together with wife Robin. “When you have a coach and accountability mechanisms, you’re going to change that dynamic.” Fitness Together, 6708 Wisconsin Avenue above Staples in Bethesda, or 12189 Darnestown Road in Gaithersburg’s Shops of Potomac Valley. For more information, call (301) 219-0094 or click here.

Fabulous teen decor at Dormify

The teen retailer Dormify has offices in New York, but its roots are in Potomac: It was founded in 2011 when Churchill mom Karen Zuckerman was struck by the lack of stylish options for decorating her daughter’s dorm room. Four years later, Zuckerman and daughter Amanda have turned Dormify into a nationally known website for trendy decor that appeals to teens of all ages. We tested a few of this seasons’s selections and picked some that would work for almost any girl: the cuddly Essentials Throw Blanket and Faux Mongolian Pillow ($49 and $36); the initial-shaped marquee lights ($30); and various accessories with our new favorite slogan: “Namast’ay in bed.” Another popular item this year is the inflatable travel HoodiePillow seen on Shark Tank. Dormify’s holiday sale is going on now, with some items as much as 70 percent off. To shop the site, click here.

Something sparkly from Valerie Nahmani Designs

Druzy jewelry is on the wish list for many women this year, and Bethesda-based Valerie Nahmani Designs has some gorgeous examples to choose from. The designer, a Potomac native, says her typical customer is a busy mom who wants pieces that are equally at home on the beach or at a cocktail party. Necklaces, rings and bracelets range from $95 to the mid-$300s, featuring semi-precious stones in 24-karat gold-plated settings. See the pieces in person at the Landon Greens Sale this weekend (Dec. 3-5) or at Bloomingdale’s in Chevy Chase every weekend starting Dec. 11. Through Dec. 24, Store Reporter readers get 15% OFF any order from Valerie Nahmani Designs. To start shopping, click here.\

Your favorite city in a frame

Is there someone on your gift list who adores New York or San Francisco? Perhaps a Northwestern grad who love Chicago, or a Tulanian with a soft spot for New Orleans? Vermont-based artist Michael Mullan lends his fun, quirky, mid-century sensibility to colorful illustrations of these cities and more, including Seattle, Los Angeles, London and Paris. Mullan also has prints that celebrate beer, cocktails, camping, the Beatles, vintage jazz and other favorite subjects. Most can be purchased in the form of greeting cards, art prints or cheery canvases that will add a pop of color to any wall. Through Dec. 24, Store Reporter readers can get 25% off anything from Mullan’s site (www.groovy-gravy.com) with the promo code GOODGRAVY. To shop now, click here.

An original sketch for your little Mousekin

Maggie Smith, a popular children’s book author and illustrator, has an especially delightful holiday book called Christmas with the Mousekins. If you order directly from Smith’s Etsy shop, she’ll include a personalized inscription (“A Merry Mousekin Christmas to the Perry Family!”) plus some hand-drawn mice and snowflakes for decoration. The book is perfect for snuggling on a winter night with poems and stories about picking out the perfect tree, baking cookies for friends and neighbors, welcoming Nana Mousekin and more. And it’s filled with interactive touches that encourage readers to follow the Mousekins’ lead: recipes for baking gingerbread mice, instructions for cutting out paper snowflakes, and other projects that grow increasingly complex as the kids get older. $25 including shipping and personalization; for details, click here.

A month to play at My Gym

A month of classes at My Gym makes a great gift for parents of little ones or a thoughtful gift from a grandparent. There are Tiny Tykes classes for babies and Waddlers for toddlers, all the way up to Cardio Kids for the “older crowd” of 7-to-10-year-olds. Through Dec. 24, Store Reporter readers can get a month-long My Gym special for $99 including four classes, unlimited free play sessions, lifetime membership and a “swag bag.” Classes must begin by March 31st at My Gym Potomac (Cabin John Mall at 11325 Seven Locks Road) or My Gym Bethesda (5110 Ridgefield Road). For My Gym Potomac, call (301) 983-5300 or click here. For My Gym Bethesda, call (301) 652-2820 or click here.

The Container Store — when you need a gift quick

If you’re really in a jam for last-minute gifts, The Container Store on Rockville Pike is always good for stocking stuffers that work for just about anyone. We tested some selections from this year’s batch, and it just so happens that two of our favorites have to do with beverages. The Portable Wine Glass ($11.99) features an incredibly clever design that stores the stem in the bowl for easy travel, then assembles instantly via built-in magnets. And the S’well Water Bottle ($34.99) is prettier than most, with a leak-proof top and a promise to keep your liquid hot for 12 hours or cold for 24. (The wine glass goes in the dishwasher but the water bottle, alas, does not.) Shop these and other stocking stuffers at The Container Store in Congressional Plaza, 1601 Rockville Pike, or shop online by clicking here.

Benny’s out at Cabin John, Irish Inn takes over — plus O’Donnell’s Market, a Jodi’s winner and a nifty Halloween app

October 29, 2015 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

Irish Inn owners buy Benny’s at Cabin John

Benny’s Bar & Grill closed its doors last weekend after two years in business at Cabin John Shopping Center. But the space won’t be empty for long: The owners of Glen Echo’s Irish Inn are taking over with a new restaurant called Lahinch. “I heard that Benny’s was for sale, and I figured that if I didn’t buy it somebody else would,” says Lahinch co-owner Chris Hughes, a native Irishman who once ran Ireland’s Four Provinces pubs in D.C. and Falls Church. “Benny’s was ideally set up with two rooms, two bars and a stage for us to have live music,” Hughes says. Lahinch, which takes its name from a famous golf course in Ireland, will offer a more casual atmosphere than the Irish Inn with traditional dishes like lamb stew, fish-and-chips and corned beef with cabbage. But the menu will be broader than you might expect. “We’ll specialize in American cuisine using fresh local meats, seafood and produce,” says general manager Barry Nolan. “We’re not your typical Irish pub.” After a few renovations to the Benny’s space, Lahinch is expected to open in mid-January.

O’Donnell’s Market eyes November opening at Potomac Woods

Construction is humming along at the new O’Donnell’s Market, where owner Bill Edelblut hopes to open before Thanksgiving at Potomac Woods Plaza off Montrose and Seven Locks Road. The market will offer fresh meats, fish and seafood plus a salad bar, grab-and-go items, and a bakery stocked with bread, pies and the famous O’Donnell’s rum buns. Edelblut, whose family ran the O’Donnell’s Sea Grill restaurant chain for almost 100 years, says he thought about taking it easy after selling his last restaurant in The Kentlands two years ago. “But it turned out that 18 months of retirement was enough,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to do a market where people can buy something to take home rather than going out to dinner. We’ll have some products that are pre-cooked, and some that are raw and come with heating instructions. And people will be able to just call up and say, ‘Hey, Bill — cook me a lobster and two crab cakes, and I’ll be there in 20 minutes to pick it up.'”

Who won the gift card for Jodi’s Jamboree?

Congratulations to Store Reporter reader Abby Signer Gleicher, who won our $50 gift card for Jodi’s Jamboree. Abby’s daughter will have her pick of jewelry, pajama pants, monogrammed robes, personalized rain jackets, sweatshirts and much more from the teen-oriented Rockville business. If you have a teen of your own to shop for — or you’re looking for personalized merchandise for your sports team, school or upcoming mitzvah — click here to shop the Jodi’s Jamboree Facebook page or call owner Jodi Pasternak at 301-742-1468. You also can find a booth full of Jodi’s merchandise at the upcoming Washington Hebrew Congregation Holiday Boutique, Nov. 15-17 at the Bindeman Center on Falls Road.

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Walgreens buys Rite Aid

This week Walgreens announced plans to buy Rite Aid in $17.2 billion transaction that’s expected to close next year. The deal could have a direct impact on Potomac Village, where Walgreens and Rite Aid have stores right across the street from each other — and one would be likely to close. Walgreens currently has more stores than any other U.S. drug chain, but rival CVS — which recently announced plans to take over Target’s in-store pharmacies — does a bigger business in dollar volume. The Rite-Aid acquisition would potentially give Walgreens greater purchasing power to cut deals with its suppliers and possibly offer better prices to its customers.

Can Target trick you into buying more candy?

If you’re taking the kids out for Halloween this Saturday, Target has a new trick for your cell phone. Treatster, which launched this week, is a crowd-sourced mobile app that allows its users to rate the best Halloween houses in their neighborhoods. The app uses a pumpkin image that constantly changes sizes as it’s up-voted or down-voted by trick-or-treaters on the move. Here in the Rockville/Potomac area, we all know plenty of little trick-or-treaters who already have their own cell phones. But we wonder if this app is really a just clever way of getting the parents to buy more candy — at Target of course — to make sure they get the best pumpkin rating on the block. If you’re game to play along with Treatster, click here for more inf

New spa on the way to North Bethesda, Potomac jeweler returns, and another Asian market for Rockville — plus a Leila Jewels discount

April 23, 2015 By Store Reporter 2 Comments

New spa on the way to North Bethesda

The Red Door Spa at Wildwood is about to get some serious competition: Woodhouse Day Spa, a Texas-based chain with more than three dozen locations nationwide, is on its way to the North Bethesda Market on Rockville Pike. The 6,000-square-foot spa will open this fall with a wide range of services from massages and mani/pedis to facials and “sleep treatments” (guided naps with aromatherapy and heated herbal compresses). The spa should mix well with some of the other health-oriented tenants at North Bethesda Market, including Whole Foods and Seasons 52. Click here to check out the Woodhouse website.

Robert Bernard Jewelers partner to open new store

George Kaufmann, former co-owner of the Robert Bernard jewelry store at Potomac Woods Plaza, will soon be back in the jewelry biz. His new venture, Kaufmann Jewelers, is set to open in August on the ground floor of a condo building at Park Potomac — just around the corner from his former digs. Kaufmann, who closed Robert Bernard Jewelers last December after his business partner retired to California, says he wanted a fresh start as he brings son Corey into the business. “My own father, Herbert Kaufmann, had a store in D.C. from the 1940s on,” he says. “When I started doing business in Potomac in 2004, I still had customers coming in who had gotten their engagement rings and bar mitzvah rings from my father. He would have been very happy that I’m bringing back the name in this new business.”

Join us for some Pre-Mother’s Day shopping at Leila Jewels

Would you like some Mother’s Day gift inspiration — plus a chance to talk shop with the Store Reporter? Join us on Sunday, May 3rd from 2:00-4:00 p.m. for our Pre-Mother’s Day shopping event at Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels in the Cabin John Shopping Center. Say hello to the Store Reporter, enter a jewelry raffle, and take 15 percent off everything you buy — or 25 percent off a single item (like this gold vermeil “shaker” necklace with ruby crystals, $135). Use the discount for your mom, or buy something for yourself — we won’t tell.

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Asian market replaces Magruder’s in Rockville

New York Mart, an Asian grocery store based in Manhattan’s Chinatown, is scheduled to open this spring in the former Magruder’s space at College Plaza on Rockville Pike. We couldn’t find out much about New York Mart — their website is written entirely in Chinese, and no one answers the phones — but the flagship store gets mixed reviews on Yelp, and it could be tough to win over new customers in an area that already has several Asian markets. Magruder’s, a family-owned grocery chain with a long history in the D.C. area, closed its last remaining stores in 2013. There’s still one store with the Magruder’s name in Washington, but it has new owners and sells only beer and wine.

Congrats to the winners of our ArcLight Cinema ticket giveaway

Congratulations to Store Reporter readers Benjamin Alpert, David Chu and Andrea Savada, who won last week’s ticket giveaway to Beyond the Reach at the ArcLight Cinema at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Stay tuned for more great giveaways in upcoming issues of Store Reporter.

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The Corned Beef King is back — plus new restaurants in Rockville, new shops at Wildwood and a Cava giveaway

April 2, 2015 By Store Reporter 3 Comments

The Corned Beef King rolls back into town

Remember a few months ago when the Corned Beef King food truck appeared on Falls Road near Montrose — and then disappeared the following week? Well, the King is coming back — and this time it sounds like he’s here to stay. “My goal was to get back into Potomac, and I’ll definitely be there by mid-April,” says truck owner Jon Rossler, whose family once owned the Celebrity Delly at Potomac’s Cabin John Shopping Center. Rossler signed a deal last December to operate from the parking lot of the Montgomery Square Copenhaver Swim Club, but he was quickly driven out by neighbors who complained to the county. This time, Rossler says the county has granted him express permission to be there — and he’ll keep the neighbors happy by choosing a less conspicuous parking spot with some tree coverage. “We’ll be there Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” he says. “We’ll have an extended menu including matzoh ball soup, chili, mac-and-cheese, hot dogs, and maybe even chicken nuggets.” For more on the Corned Beef King, click here for our Dec. 4 issue.

Three new restaurants heading to Rockville

Last year was a rough one for restaurants at Rockville Town Square — but things seem to be looking up for 2015. The big news this spring is the still-unnamed restaurant from famed Chinese chef Peter Chang, opening soon in the former Taste of Saigon space on Maryland Avenue. Meanwhile, two more eateries have announced plans to open over the summer. First up is Samovar, a new venture from a father/daughter team that currently handles catering for the Tajikistan Embassy in Washington. They’ll be renovating the former Cosi space on North Washington Street, with plans for a menu of Russian food with Central Asian influences. Also on the way is Miso Cafe, a Korean/fusion restaurant from Annandale that’s opening its second location in the former Pho & Rolls space on Maryland Avenue.

New boutique opens at Wildwood

Spring is bringing some changes to the Shops at Wildwood off Old Georgetown Road and Democracy Boulevard. Hadlee opened last week in the space formerly occupied by Madeline, which closed in November after 24 years in business. Hadlee owner Jackie Pletcher, who also operates the neighboring Sequel boutique, will target Madeline’s former customers by carrying some of the same designers — particularly Canadian dressmaker Joseph Ribkoff. This is the fourth venture for Pletcher, who also owns Wear It Well on Bethesda Row and Corby at Mazza Gallerie. But Hadlee will be somewhat less conservative than the other three stores, says company spokesperson Julianne Pulvirenti. “The look is going to be very colorful, with lots of prints and patterns.”

Another Wildwood boutique set to open next month

Also on the way to the Shops at Wildwood is Coco Blanca, offering a tone-on-tone mix of furniture, home accessories, jewelry and clothing. “The entire store will have the palette of a coconut, with a bit of black and a splash of turquoise,” says co-owner Susan Neithamer. She and her business partners, who have another Coco Blanca store in Old Town Alexandria, had been looking for a shopping center with similar demographics and plenty of room to park. “A lot of our customers in Old Town had been coming to us all the way from Bethesda, so we knew this was an area with our kind of shopper,” Neithamer says. Doors are expected to open next month.

Toys ‘R’ Us leaving NYC?

If you’re heading to New York City for spring break with the kids next week, take note: This may be your last chance to visit the iconic Toys “R” Us store in Times Square. The struggling toy retailer says it may not renew its lease for the 15-year-old store with the giant Barbie house and 60-foot indoor ferris wheel. The lease runs out next year. Still to be determined: Whether Toys “R” Us will find a new, smaller home in the Big Apple.

Win a gift card to Cava Mezze Grill

Hometown favorite Cava Mezze Grill is making plans to head west after this week’s $16 million cash infusion from a Virginia-based venture capital firm. Two Los Angeles locations are set to open later this year — Cava’s first expansion outside the D.C. area, where it currently has eight eateries with three more on the way. The investment money also will be used to expand Cava’s lines of dips and spreads for grocery stores. We don’t have $16 million — but we do happen to have a $25 Cava Mezze Grill gift card for one lucky Store Reporter reader. Want to put your name into our hat? Click here to enter by email (subject line: Cava Grill) or click here to enter via our Facebook page. Update: Store Reporter reader Kelly Rudolph Pashkoff won this giveaway. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for upcoming contests.

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Bye Bye to “Be well”

If you shopped at Walgreens this week, you may have noticed the absence of that annoying “Be well!” salutation at the checkout counter. Two years after the company began forcing its employees to use those words, the campaign is finally over. Walgreens says it will now look for other ways to “build relationships” with its customers — possibly by thanking them by name after each transaction. (As in, “Enjoy that acid reflux medication, Mr. Jones.”) We can’t wait to hear the reaction to that one.

Two new restaurants in downtown Rockville — plus RadioShack, a wish list and a winner

January 29, 2015 By Store Reporter

Steak Out is out, Ev & Maddy’s is in

82 Steak Out, the cozy steak-and-fries restaurant next to Noodles & Company at Rockville Town Square, closed its doors last week after less than a year in business. It’s the third eatery to fail in that space since 2007, following Bobby’s Crabcakes (another locally owned restaurant with good reviews) and Tippy’s Taco House. Perhaps the fourth time will be the charm: Ev & Maddy’s, a European-style bistro, has begun renovating the space with plans to open next month. Chef/owner Patrick Pak is a graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine, with an impressive resume that includes stints at Komi, the Blue Duck Tavern and Arlington’s Grand Cru Wine Bar & Bistro.

More Peruvian in downtown Rockville

Also new in downtown Rockville is Sazon Inka, a Peruvian restaurant in the former Pita Hut space on North Washington Street. Chef Segundo Silva, formerly with Rockville’s La Limena, is serving up charbroiled rotisserie chicken and ceviche plus specialty dishes like Aji de Gallina (shredded chicken in a spicy cream sauce) and Jalea (the fried seafood dish shown here). Ross Castillon, who’s helping his father Hugo run the restaurant, says they hope to appeal to customers of higher-end eateries like La Canela as well as quick-serve places like Crisp & Juicy. “People around here are really getting to know Peruvian cuisine,” he says. “We have a lot of competitors, and we want to make sure that we stand out.”

What’s up with RadioShack?

The future is not looking bright for RadioShack at the Cabin John Shopping Center, which is now operating as a “clearance store” carrying only heavily discounted items. All regular-priced merchandise has been shipped out to other locations, and employees say they haven’t been told whether the store will remain open. The Wall Street Journal reports that RadioShack Corp. could file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as early as next week. For now, though, it’s still business as usual at the Rockville Pike and Westfield Montgomery Mall locations — the latter of which is said to be one of the chain’s top performers.

Your wish list for the mall

Thanks to all the readers who told us about their wish lists for Westfield Montgomery Mall (see our query in the Jan. 15 issue). We received hundreds of votes, and the top choice by far was a store that sells house and kitchen items — specifically Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, Pottery Barn, West Elm, or a return of the departed Crate & Barrel. In the clothing category, Athleta led the votes for its popular women’s workout wear. Other top requests included Bloomingdale’s, Anthropologie, H&M, Restoration Hardware, a book store and a wider selection of menswear stores. The mall won’t say which of those wishes might come true — although we’re betting that a home goods store is on the horizon. But those who asked for more menswear will be glad to hear that Bonobos is opening next month (click here for more).

Congrats to the winner of our Summer House giveaway

Congratulations to Store Reporter reader Jonathan Beiser, winner of last week’s giveaway: a $50 gift card to the new Summer House Santa Monica at Pike & Rose (click here for our picks from the menu). Stay tuned for another giveaway for the adjacent Stella Barra Pizzeria, which opens next month. Also happening at Pike & Rose next month: the return of La Madeleine and Chipotle.

River Falls Market reopens; dueling crabcakes in Potomac Village; Chinese food back at Cabin John next week

December 11, 2014 By Store Reporter

Market at River Falls returns on Wednesday

River Falls Market in Potomac Village is set to reopen next Wednesday (Dec. 17) with a slight name change (it’s now The Market at River Falls) and a new husband-and-wife team in charge: James McWhorter, a VP with wholesaler Coastal Sunbelt Produce, and Yasmin Abadian, a realtor with Long & Foster in the Village. (It was the breakup of the market’s previous husband-and-wife owners that led to its closing last October; click here to read that story.) Andrew Malinowski, the market’s longtime head chef, will be back on board for the reopening along with his popular recipes. “We’re going to expand into more organic and plant-based foods,” Abadian says. “But everything that people loved is coming back, including the superior-quality fish, the chicken tenders, the meatballs and of course the crab cakes.” However, River Falls won’t be the only place to find those crab cakes. Read the next item for more.

Dueling crab cakes

After the demise of River Falls Market in October, several key staffers quickly found jobs across the street at the recently opened Potomac Grocer (10107 River Road). Among those who made the switch are executive chef Steven Fela; meat and seafood specialist Michael “Junior” Turgott; and most recently, general manager Max Devens. “This area feels like home to me,” says Devens, who spent the intervening months working at the D.C. market Wagshal’s. “Since I’ve come back to Potomac Village, the reception I’ve gotten from customers has made this one of the most heartwarming times of my life.” With the reopening of River Falls, it will be interesting to watch how customer loyalties play out now that so many have switched their business over to Potomac Grocer. They’ve been coming not only for the familiar staff, but also for the familiar recipes — which apparently will now be prepared similarly at both stores.

Chinese food back at Cabin John next week

China Gourmet Bistro, the new restaurant moving into the Cabin John Shopping Center, will open for business on Monday, Dec. 15. “We’re going to have a modern Asian menu with the majority Chinese food, but also some Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Singaporean dishes,” says owner Vivien He, whose family also owns a small Chinese restaurant in Ellicott City. “One of our specialties will be Ramen noodles — not the instant kind — where you can choose different toppings like braised beef, chicken or shrimp.” This will be the third Chinese restaurant to operate from the same space at Cabin John. But this one will offer something that its predecessors didn’t: Delivery.

Corned Beef King looking for a new kingdom

The Corned Beef King is no longer holding court on Falls Road. Last week, right after we reported that the popular food truck had signed a long-term lease to park at the Copenhaver Swim Club, owner Jon Rossler was forced to move after an unhappy neighbor complained to the county. The news came as a major disappointment to many Store Reporter readers who told us they’ve been driving as far as Olney for one of Rossler’s corned beef sandwiches. Click here for our Dec. 4 report on the Corned Beef King — and stay tuned to Store Reporter to find out where he’ll park next.

MET’s debut; Chinese food back to Cabin John; Vintage vinyl and holiday coffees

November 6, 2014 By Store Reporter

Meet the MET on Nov. 15

As anticipation builds for all the new restaurants under construction at Westfield Montgomery Mall, we hear that MET Bethesda is set for an unofficial opening on Saturday, Nov. 15. House specialties will include avocados stuffed with Maryland crab, a “Char Bar” of skewered meats and vegetables, and a selection of raw and cooked New England seafood — plus a martini bar with 30 flavors on tap. This will be the fifth location for Boston-based MET Restaurant Group, and the first outside of Massachusetts. Click here for more info.

Chinese food coming back to Cabin John

Chinese cuisine will soon be back at Cabin John Shopping Center. The owners of China Village, a family-run restaurant in Ellicott City, will take over the empty space next to Grilled Oyster Co. with plans to open in about three months. The spot was home for many years to local favorite Jade Billows — and then to its short-lived successor, China Jade Bistro, which departed last February. This time there won’t be any “Jade” in the name: the new restaurant will be called China Gourmet Bistro. The menu isn’t set yet, but you can click here to see what’s cooking at the family’s Ellicott City restaurant.

Coming around again

Urban Outfitters, the retail darling of the 18-to-30-year-old crowd, recently declared itself to be the world’s number one seller of vinyl records. Although that claim has since been disputed (Billboard says Amazon is really number one), any teen can tell you that Urban has played a key role in vinyl’s return to relevance. At the chain’s Westfield Montgomery Mall store, where records and record players are prominently featured near the entrance, manager Melissa Leiva says classic artists like Bob Marley, the Beatles and Prince sell nearly as well as contemporary acts like Lana Del Ray, the Lumineers and Mumford & Sons. “A lot of our young adult college audience wants to listen to these new artists on vinyl,” Leiva says. “But we also get a lot of parents who want to introduce the whole vinyl experience to their children.” Curious about what else people are buying on viny? Click here to see Amazon’s best-sellers.

Lots of lattes

‘Tis the season for calorie-laden winter coffees. This week Dunkin’ Donuts rolled out its new Snickerdoodle Lattes and Sugar Cookie Lattes. And next Wednesday (Nov. 12), Starbucks will debut its first holiday beverage in five years: The Chestnut Praline Latte will take its place in the chain’s longtime winter lineup of Gingerbread Lattes, Caramel Brûlée Lattes and Peppermint Mochas. Here at Store Reporter, we’re still fending off Halloween candy and have no immediate plans to taste-test a 300-calorie beverage. But if you’d like to do the honors, please share your reviews on our Facebook page (click here to post).

Congrats to our iPic ticket winners

Congratulations to the winners of last week’s Store Reporter giveaway: Lana Teixeira, Larry Kaplan, Andy Lieber, Caroline Sailer and Monika Woods each won a pair of Premium Plus tickets (the ones with the pillows, blankets and reclining seats) to the new iPic Theater on Rockville Pike. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for future giveaways.

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Grilled Oyster eyes D.C. expansion; hot Halloween costumes and an ArcLight ticket giveaway

October 23, 2014 By Store Reporter

Grilled Oyster eyes D.C. expansion

Business is booming at the The Grilled Oyster Co., which celebrated its two-year anniversary at Cabin John Shopping Center last month and is making plans for a second location in D.C. “We’ve stayed focused on being a regional food restaurant, not chasing every new fad and trend,” says owner Rick Dugan, noting that customers appreciate his dedication to sourcing local ingredients. “I regularly meet with the growers to talk about what they’re going to grow for us, and I go to the Eastern Shore to work with the crabmen and the oystermen,” he says. What’s popular on the restaurant’s menu right now? The Three Fish Grill, a $25 combo of seared tuna, grilled salmon and wild rockfish. Click here to see the full menu.

Win tickets to the new ArcLight Cinema

Store Reporter got a peek at Westfield Montgomery Mall’s new ArcLight Cinema this week (check out photos on our Facebook page), and we’d like our readers to see how fabulous it is. The curtain officially rises Nov. 7, but the theater is hosting special screenings beforehand — and Store Reporter readers can win free tickets. Tonight (10/23) there’s a 10 p.m. showing of the new Keanu Reeves film John Wick, followed by an exclusive live-streamed Q&A with Reeves as it’s happening in Hollywood. Next week’s offerings include three horror classics: The Exorcist, Alien and The Shining. To enter, email us at editor@storereporter.com.

Elsa costume shortage leaves little girls out in the cold

If your child is hoping to dress up as Frozen’s Princess Elsa or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle next Friday, you’d better do some fast online shopping: The coveted costumes, fueled by recent hit movies, have been sold out for weeks at local Halloween stores. “People started grabbing them up as soon as they arrived on our shelves at the beginning of September,” says Thomas Ordaya, manager of Rockville’s Party City. It’s the same story at Target and Halloween Adventure, where disappointed little girls have been forced to choose between leaving empty-handed or picking a less popular princess. (Apparently Elsa’s sister Anna doesn’t cut it. “Barely any girls want to be Anna,” one store manager told us.) If you know a little girl who simply must be Elsa, click here to see our favorite (but pricey) version of her dress. As for the boys, it seems they’re a little less picky about their costumes: When they can’t be Turtles, many are settling for just plain ninjas.

Goodbye Naartjie Kids

Naartjie Kids, the South African chain known for its vibrantly colored cotton clothing, will close its Westfield Montgomery Mall store at the end of this year. The chain filed for bankruptcy last month and is shuttering all 55 of its U.S. stores. The Montgomery Mall location was one of the company’s strongest performers, a manager said, but most of the others were operating at a loss. Click here to check out the company’s going-out-of-business sale, where we spotted these cute boots.

Grocery shakeup in Potomac Village; Chinese food back to Cabin John?

October 9, 2014 By Store Reporter

River Falls Market shuts down

Potomac Villagers were shocked this week at the sudden departure of River Falls Market, the 16-year-old gourmet store known for its fresh seafood and prepared meals. The store shut down without warning Sunday afternoon, a casualty of the bitter breakup between owner Jeff Grolig and his wife Ashley. The family also operated two neighboring restaurants, Renato’s and The Tavern, where it looks like business has resumed as usual. Enzo Iachetti, manager of Renato’s, says he’ll continue to run the restaurant under the direction of Ashley Grolig. At The Tavern, Jeff Grolig’s father has taken over day-to-day operations. “I haven’t managed the restaurant before, but I’ve been the owner since we opened it,” says John Grolig, a retired fireman and real estate agent. “I’ve got the same staff, and we’re going forward.”

Meanwhile, across the street

If you’re among those mourning the loss of River Falls Market, here’s some good news: Several of the store’s longtime employees have migrated across Falls Road in recent months to join the staff at Potomac Grocer. Familiar faces who’ve made the switch include meat and seafood specialist Michael “Junior” Turgott, chef Steve Fela plus another cook, and two longtime counter service staffers. Thomas Spencer, who opened Potomac Grocer last February at 10107 River Road, says he had no intention of poaching employees but the migration happened naturally. “These people started streaming over to us” when things weren’t going well at River Falls, he says. So if you’re wondering where to find crab cakes like the ones at River Falls, you might want to check across the street.

Chinese food coming back to Cabin John?

It looks like Chinese cuisine will soon be back at Cabin John Shopping Center. We can’t name names yet, but we hear that a favorite Chinese restaurant from elsewhere in Maryland is close to signing a deal for the longtime Jade Billows space. The spot has been empty since February, when the short-lived China Jade Bistro moved out.

Deal of the Week at Dawson’s Market

Store Reporter readers get $5 OFF a $25 purchase at Dawson’s Market in Rockville. Stop in anytime before the end of October — or time your visit during one of the store’s great events, including a Health and Wellness Fair this Sunday and a Farmer’s Market on Wednesday. Click here for our Dawson’s Market coupon, good through Oct. 31.

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We’ve “arranged” a winner

Congratulations to Store Reporter reader Amy Kossoff Smith, who won our contest for a free consultation with personal organizer Bridget Calhoun of Arranged. And for all those readers who couldn’t get themselves organized enough to enter, Arranged is offering a discount. Click here for details of our offer, which is good through Nov. 15.

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Rock on, Barre Belle, new jewels at Leila

May 1, 2014 By Store Reporter

Rock on the Pike

The new performance hall under construction at Pike & Rose has finally gotten a name — AMP — befitting its future as a local venue for live music. Strathmore Music Center is set to handle bookings for the space, which will include concert seating for 250. There will also be areas for private parties, with catering by a group of respected restaurateurs. Hence the clever tagline: “Audible. Edible.” Live jazz, rock and folk concerts are expected to start early next year.

Music and art at the Square

Even as we wait for AMP to ramp up, Rockville Town Square is working hard to keep us entertained. The Friday Night Live outdoor concert series kicks off this week from 6:30-9 p.m., with ’80s and ’90s music plus food, wine and beer from Rockville restaurants. Friday Night Live will continue every week through September; see the full schedule here. And this Saturday and Sunday only, 175 artists will fill downtown Rockville with their paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics, jewelry and other works along with live music.

Raising the barre

Go Figure, one of the first barre fitness centers to open in our area, has rebranded itself with a new name — Barre Belle Fitness Studio — and some new moves to match. Barre workouts, which offer a mix of yoga, Pilates, postural alignment and ballet, have become increasingly popular here with the recent arrival of Pure Barre and other high-profile chains. Julie Wender, a Bethesda native who opened Go Figure at Park Potomac Place in 2011, says she decided to drop her licensing agreement when it got in the way of adding cardio workouts and other classes that Potomac clients were asking for. But barre will still be the club’s focus, Wender says. “People will walk out feeling taller and leaner — not like they got hit by a truck.”

New line at Leila

Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels in the Cabin John Shopping Center has introduced a new line of necklaces by Vanessa Gade, a California artisan whose kinetic, sculptural designs can be seen at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and other prestigious museum shops. In case you haven’t picked up a Mother’s Day gift yet, Gade’s bold designs (priced at $150 and up) are just one of the many handmade jewelry pieces — and other great gifts — that you’ll find at Leila. Leila is offering 20% off to Store Reporter readers; click here for our coupon. Use it for your mom, or use it for yourself. We won’t tell.

Spotlight on hidden gems, RadioShack over and out?

March 6, 2014 By Store Reporter

Snow news is good news

All the snow this week gave Store Reporter the chance to do some digging. Allow us to shine a little sun on some tucked-away shopping spots you may have missed…

Museum quality

You know how you always find the best gifts when you visit the museum shops in D.C.? Well, here’s a little secret: The Mansion at Strathmore has a terrific shop of its own with a well-curated selection of jewelry, textiles, pottery and other gifts — many hand-crafted by local artists. Highlights include brightly patterned mismatched socks; quirky watches like the Monty Python-inspired one shown here; and herbal soaps wrapped in felted wool that shrinks to fit as the soaps get smaller. “Art for your sink,” says shop director Charlene McClelland.

Jewels and Judaica

Nestled between the restaurants at Cabin John Shopping Center is the tiny shop Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels. Owner Deb Shalom seeks out merchandise that’s “unusual, colorful, fun and different from anything you’d find somewhere else.” The two-year-old store is known for artsy Judaica such as the seder plate pictured here, which like many Leila items is made by a local designer. There’s also a great selection of jewelry and decorative household items, including lovely hostess gifts priced below $20.

Give the kids a break

If you regularly find yourself at Westfield Montgomery Mall with young kids in tow, this snazzy new “family lounge” in the Sears wing is a hidden gem you’ll definitely want to uncover. Inside you’ll find kid-friendly restrooms, a private area for nursing, and children’s movies playing on a big-screen TV. If quality time with Nemo doesn’t fix things, perhaps some French fries will do the trick: A second family lounge is now under construction near the food court.

Radio Shack: Over and out?

On the heels of a hilarious Super Bowl campaign ad promising to shed its stuck-in-the-’80s image, RadioShack announced this week that it’s closing 1,100 stores nationwide. The company has not yet released a list of the doomed stores, and staffers at the Cabin John and Rockville Pike locations say they haven’t heard any news so far. But a RadioShack employee at Westfield Montgomery Mall was quite confident that his store won’t be affected. “No way,” he said. “We’re the number one store in the district.”

Blazing fast pizza, Burton’s Olympic buzz, goodbye China Jade

February 20, 2014 By Store Reporter

Pizza in a flash at the mall

Blaze Pizza, a hot new concept from the founders of Wetzel’s Pretzels, will make its Maryland debut this summer at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The California-based chain, which has attracted such high-profile investors as Maria Shriver, is known for its Chipotle-style assembly line: Customers watch as their ball of dough is flattened into a crust, topped by their choice of 40 fresh ingredients, then flash-fired for two minutes in a super-hot oven. The Montgomery Mall location, which will open near Old Navy, is just the beginning for Blaze in this market. Virginia and D.C. locations are in the works.

Olympic buzz for Burton

Excitement about the winter Olympics has been great for business at Burton, the Vermont-based snowboarding company. At its Westfield Montgomery Mall store, which opened last August with a broad selection of boards, boots and winter clothes, “jacket sales have been up crazy amounts” since the Olympics began, says assistant manager Cory Brown. But there’s one item in high demand that the store just can’t provide: the patchwork jackets worn by the U.S. snowboarding team. “Only the athletes can wear them right now,” Brown says. Not for long, though. A civilian version is coming later this year.

No more mu shu

It looks like we’ve seen the last of China Jade Bistro at the Cabin John Shopping Center. Doors have been closed for more than a week at the neighborhood eatery, which replaced the similarly named Jade Billows just a few years ago.

Toy story

Also closing in the next few weeks, after two decades as a Potomac Village fixture, is the charming toy shop Toys Unique. “I’ve never carried computer games, Xbox or things like that — just good basic toys that don’t get outdated,” says owner Jarunee Chantraparnik, who is retiring. The mix of shops in Potomac Village has changed a lot in 20 years, she says, and her customers’ buying habits have changed too. “Now the younger parents seem to be doing everything through the Internet.”