Coach Westfield Montgomery Mall

Nespresso cafe, Shark Tank handbags, Macy’s closings & more

August 18, 2016 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

Hello Nespresso

This week we have good news for coffee lovers: Nespresso, which sells high-end coffee machines and accessories, is about to announce plans for a retail store at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Nespresso will take over the second-level space that was vacated this week by Kay Jewelers, which has relocated next to Swarovski. This is all part of a long-term plan to upgrade the mall’s Macy’s wing, where Nespresso will be joining neighbors Apple, Teavana and Sephora in the race to open their new stores before the holidays.

Macy’s store closings: Can it happen here?

If you saw last week’s news that Macy’s plans to close 100 of its 675 stores, you may have wondered whether there’s reason to worry about the retailer’s future at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The answer: Probably not, given this area’s demographics — but a final decision won’t be made until early 2017. “We’re going to be looking at the year-end numbers before we decide which specific ones will close,” says Macy’s spokesman Elina Kazan. Last year 36 Macy’s stores closed their doors after the holidays, including one in Hagerstown. For more on what Macy’s is doing to bring back lapsed customers, click here for our July 28th report.

R. Riveter marches in

R. Riveter, a patriotic purse company backed by Shark Tank‘s Mark Cuban, opened its first D.C.-area store this month at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The North Carolina-based retailer offers high-end handbags made from canvas, leather and recycled military materials — all hand-sewn by military spouses who work remotely wherever their families are stationed. The store also carries other military-related products that have been featured on Shark Tank, including bottle openers made from hollow bullets. You can find R. Riveter in the mall’s Nordstrom wing, in the former Eileen Fisher space across from Coach.

Bye bye bargains on Coach and Michael Kors

Speaking of luxury handbags: If you enjoy trolling the mall for discounts on your favorite high-end brands, this may not be the best year to find them. Coach recently announced plans to reduce its presence at department stores, while Michael Kors says it will start opting out of coupon and discount offers at stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom. Both companies have complained that frequent price cuts are “confusing” for customers, who ultimately become less willing to pay full price for luxury goods. Stay tuned to see how this no-discount strategy plays out over the holidays.

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Tara Thai, Apple update, Coach and a Sugo giveaway

May 5, 2016 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

Tara Thai opens at the mall

Tara Thai finally made its debut at Westfield Montgomery Mall this week after nearly a year of construction at the former Legal Sea Foods space, which has been redesigned to resemble a beach resort in Thailand. This is the ninth location for Tara Thai and the third new Asian restaurant to open at the mall in the past few months, following Shanghai Bao Kitchen and B/Bop/Q near the Dining Terrace. Next up on the Montgomery Mall restaurant scene: Beefsteak from celeb chef Jose Andrés. Read more about that here.

A little more time to visit the Genius Bar

The closing date for the Apple Store at Westfield Montgomery Mall has been pushed back yet again, pending the resolution of construction issues for its upcoming renovation and expansion. The store was originally supposed to close on April 30th, then May 7th, but now it appears the doors may stay open for a couple more weeks. All parties are motivated to get going on the project quickly, as construction could take six months and Apple wants to reopen before the holidays. For more on the expansion of Apple and its neighbor Sephora, click here for our April 4th special edition.

Vote for your favorites — and win dinner at Sugo

For our next Store Reporter Favorites section, we want to know where our readers like to go for the best appetizers in town. From deviled eggs and roasted beets to fried calamari and tuna tartare, which restaurants do you think have the best light bites in greater Rockville and Potomac? Click here to comment on our Facebook page, or click here to email our editors directly (subject line: Best Appetizers.) Everyone who weighs in will be entered in our drawing for a $60 gift card to one of our favorites: Sugo at Park Potomac.

Is Coach cool again?

If you’ve noticed the lack of logos on Coach bags this year, it’s not your imagination: The 75-year-old company is moving away from its iconic “C” branding — which now represents just 5 percent of overall sales — to focus on quality and craftsmanship of its leather goods. Customers will “have a hard time finding a logo brand” at a Coach store these days, CEO Victor Luis said this week in an interview with thestreet.com. Coach has been renovating hundreds of its stores, including the one at Westfield Montgomery Mall, in an effort to modernize its image and make room for more footwear, outerwear and an increasingly popular collection of men’s products. Also on the horizon: More cross-marketing efforts like this year’s Coach x Peanuts collection, and an upcoming $150 strap for the Apple Watch.

Good news for riders and drivers

Last week marked the opening of a new Metrobus and Ride On Transit Center at Westfield Montgomery Mall, replacing the aging bus depot with safer and more comfortable accommodations for those who use public transportation. This is also good news for those who get to the mall by car: The new bus setup will allow room for 55 new parking spaces on the mall’s north side. That project is expected to get under way next week.

Farmers markets make their debut

May is the month when the farmers markets get started, and this year there are plenty to choose from around the Rockville area. On Saturday mornings at 6001 Executive Boulevard, the Pike Central Farm Market features regional vendors including All Things Olive, DC Dills, Lobster Maine-ia and Undone Chocolate. Also on Saturdays starting May 14th, the Rockville Farmers Market at Route 28 and Monroe Street has goodies from Brookeville Beer Farm, Ev & Maddy’s, Praline Bakery and Zeke’s Coffee among others. And on Wednesdays from 11 to 2, Dawson’s at Rockville Town Square hosts its own outdoor market showcasing local businesses like Canela Bakery and Holly Crepes.

New businesses in Potomac Village, new direction for Coach, Tara Thai nears opening

January 21, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Potomac Village shopping center goes family-friendly

Potomac Promenade, the Giant-anchored shopping center in Potomac Village, is finally bringing some new tenants to its long-dormant mini-mall. This week saw the openings of Kicks Karate and FiberArt Studio, joining the recently opened Kumon learning center as the mini-mall transforms into a family-friendly place where parents can drop off their kids while they pick up the groceries. “This used to be the mall that nobody goes to, but that’s changing now,” says fiber artist Anja Caldwell, who relocated her studio from Glen Echo Park. Caldwell will be teaching “everything grandma used to know,” from knitting and crocheting to sewing and felting. “This will be a happy place where we make hats, dolls, pillows, hair clips and jewelry,” she says. “I don’t allow glue or glitter. Everyone who leaves here will at least be able to sew on a button.” For more on Caldwell and her crafty plans for the Village, click here.

New direction for Coach

The Coach store at Westfield Montgomery Mall will reopen next month with a new look that reflects the company’s push to move beyond handbags into the world of “lifestyle brands.” Coach, which has struggled to regain its former caché with people who love purses, is renovating some 150 stores to showcase its expanding range of clothing and accessories for men and women. The new store will likely devote more space to footwear, reflecting the company’s recent acquisition of shoe manufacturer Stuart Weitzman. And you can expect fewer discounts, as Coach critics have complained for years that excessive markdowns were cheapening the brand.

Who won our ArcLight tickets?

Congratulations to Store Reporter reader Rashmi Kalla of Potomac, who won last week’s giveaway for tickets to the ArcLight Cinema at Westfield Montgomery Mall. We’ll be handing out more ArcLight tickets in the weeks to come. Want to enter our next drawing? Just forward an issue of Store Reporter to your friends, then click here to tell us their names. For every one of your friends who subscribes, we’ll enter you AND them to win the next pair of ArcLight tickets. If you’d rather enter via our Facebook page, click here to find out how. Update: We’ve named the winners for this contest, but stay tuned to Store Reporter for more great giveaways.

New Tara Thai to open next month

Tara Thai is putting the final touches on its new Bethesda restaurant, scheduled to open late next month in the former Legal Sea Foods space at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The 85-seat eatery, styled to resemble a Thai beach resort, will replace another Tara Thai that closed last spring in downtown Bethesda. This will be the 10th location for the popular chain, with five restaurants in Maryland and five in Virginia.

Try a free class at Sculpt Studio

Are your New Year’s fitness resolutions starting to falter? Sculpt Studio, celebrating its second anniversary in downtown Bethesda, is offering one free class for all new clients through Jan. 31. And just for Store Reporter readers: Sign up for a package of classes and get a free 30-minute private session with Sculpt owner Mary Farber. (Use promo code STOREJAN.) Sculpt is a friendly, brightly lit studio featuring Pilates-based Megaformer machines that work your core and every major muscle group. 4500 Auburn Avenue in the Woodmont Triangle, with easy parking nearby. To book a class, call 240-600-0730 or click here.

Grab some coffee and cuddle up with your iPad

Snowstorms are a great time to catch up with the last few issues of Store Reporter. Did you see our recent stories about the drugstore shake-up in Potomac Village, the empty Giant on Wootton Parkway and the future of Benny’s at Cabin John? Did you know that Roti closed on Westlake Boulevard and the White Flint Mall has officially been reduced to rubble? While you’re waiting out the blizzard — assuming you’ve still got power — grab some coffee and scroll through our website.