Store Reporter

Retail & Restaurant news for Rockville & Potomac. We know it all. And we like to share.

CRAVE Bethesda

What’s on the way to the mall — and your chance to weigh in

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ArcLight Cinema/Westfield Montgomery Mall New Entrance Rendering

 

More at the mall

Last year marked the beginning of a $90 million transformation for Westfield Montgomery Mall, including the addition of several full-service restaurants, a posh new Dining Terrace, luxurious public seating areas and a 16-screen movie theater. But there’s much more to come in 2015, says mall manager Eric Howard. “The story in 2014 was the renovation,” he says. “The story this year will be about upgrading our tenant mix, getting the right retailers to come in.” Read on for an update on what’s coming — and a chance to tell mall management what else you’d like to see.

 

CRAVE exterior

 

More new restaurants

This week marked the debut of the high-end restaurant CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar (shown here), joining the recently opened MET Bethesda and soon to be followed by Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria. Today (1/15), Chipotle will open in the mall’s Dining Terrace. Coming soon: Cold Stone Creamery and Chloe’s NY Style Deli. We expect to see several more destination restaurants joining the lineup for 2015.

 

Tiffany blue box

 

More luxury stores

We’re betting on the arrival of Tiffany & Co., whose presence at Montgomery Mall would help pave the way for a whole new group of similarly high-end retailers. Mall management will confirm only that a “luxury jeweler” is on the way, and Tiffany remains tight-lipped about its plans. But our Mall Crystal Ball has been pretty accurate so far: This is one of three predictions we made back on May 29 (you can read that issue here) — and two of them (Lululemon and the Microsoft Store) have since come true.

 

Peet's Cappucinno

 

More coffee

Peet’s Coffee & Tea will open a kiosk this spring in the mall’s Sears wing, offering another alternative to those long lines at Starbucks. This will replace (and hopefully improve on) the old Caribou Coffee kiosk, which closed in 2013 after Caribou was sold to Peet’s. Expect some light food and a casual seating area, similar to the coffee shop just outside Nordstrom.

 

I Voted Sign

What else would you like to see?

The mall is actively courting new tenants for 2015, and manager Eric Howard wants to know what Store Reporter readers are looking for. “We don’t want to just fill space — we want to figure out who’s missing,” he says. “Who is that retailer we don’t have yet?” So here’s your chance to offer some feedback to Howard and his team: Are you hoping for a housewares store to replace Crate & Barrel? Do you have a favorite place at Tysons Corner that you’d like to see in Maryland? Is there something you miss from the former White Flint Mall? Tell us what you think by email (click here) or on our Facebook page (click here). We’ll tally up your suggestions and pass them on to mall management.

 

 

Potomac Grocer logo

 

Cheesemaker event at Potomac Grocer

Potomac Grocer, 10107 River Road, will show off its new selection of artisan cheeses with a Cheesemaker Event from 4-6 p.m. next Wednesday (Jan. 21st). Andy Hatch, lead cheesemaker with Uplands Cheese in Wisconsin, will be sampling his award-winning Pleasant Ridge Reserve while the store cooks up some special dishes for cheese lovers. For details, call 301-299-4200.

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Bonobos and Cold Stone Creamery to the mall; Goodbye P.F. Chang’s, hello Roy Rogers

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Bonobos chinosNew place for men at the mall

Bonobos, the online men’s clothing company known for its well-fitting pants, will soon have a physical store at Westfield Montgomery Mall — but you won’t be able to buy anything there. Bonobos stores, known as “Guideshops,” don’t stock much merchandise or handle any real-time sales transactions. Instead, they function as showrooms where men can make an appointment to be fitted, figure out what they like, and then follow up with an online order. It’s all part of a trend for online retailers (including Warby Parker, Athleta, Piperlime and even Amazon) to open physical spaces in major cities where customers can try before they buy. Montgomery Mall’s Bonobos store, which will be the third for the D.C. area, will open in a couple of months — right across from the guy-magnet Tesla showroom. Click here to check out the Bonobos website.

 

 

Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 11.04.37 AMCold Stone Creamery headed to the mall — plus opening updates

We hear that Cold Stone Creamery will soon be joining the food lineup at Westfield Montgomery Mall, opening early next year. Arriving sooner — probably around New Year’s — will be Chipotle and CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar (click here to read more about CRAVE). In non-food news, the Kiehl’s skin-care store opens tomorrow (Dec. 19) at 11 a.m. with “mystery gift cards” for the first 50 customers.

 

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What’s cooking at Potomac Grocer

Potomac Grocer, 10107 River Road in Potomac Village, is taking holiday orders for beef tenderloins, turkeys, party platters and more. For a look at what’s cooking for the holidays, click here to see a short video. To place an order, call 301-299-4200.

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PF Chang'sGoodbye P.F. Chang’s

Here’s some news that shouldn’t surprise anyone: P.F. Chang’s at the White Flint Mall will close its doors in January, leaving only Lord & Taylor still in business while the rest of the property is slated for demolition. Although there had been talk of a relocation for P.F. Chang’s, management now says the restaurant will come back to White Flint after the mall is rebuilt as an open-air shopping/dining complex. There’s still no word on the timing of that project, which has been held up by lawsuits from Lord & Taylor and the now-closed Dave & Buster’s.

 

Screen Shot 2014-12-16 at 10.04.13 PMHello Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers rode back to Rockville this week for the first time in more than 25 years, opening Monday on the Pike across from Marlo Furniture. It’s a welcome return for many locals who have fond memories of the singing cowboy, the western-themed menu and the signature “Fixin’s Bar.” The Rockville restaurant is number 50 for a company that went from 600 locations to near-extinction before its current journey along the comeback trail. Click here to read more in our Nov. 13 edition.

 

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Holiday Giveaway at Cabin John

Cabin John Shopping Center and Mall is offering an extra incentive for shoppers this month. Spend $25 or more at any merchant (except CVS or Giant) and get a cute LED light-up mug and a pack of Ghirardelli hot cocoa mix. Some of the cocoa packs also include a $50 gift certificate to one of Cabin John’s merchants. And be sure to register for the grand prize: a $50 gift certificate to every merchant at Cabin John (a $2,750 value). 

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Elf on the Shelf

 

We’re off for the holidays

Store Reporter is taking a break for the holidays. But like the Elf on the Shelf, we’ll still be watching (and posting on Facebook). Click here to like us.

 

This fall at the mall: Six new restaurants, one new theater and a whole new look

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ArcLight Cinema Rendering, Westfield Montgomery MallComing attractions

Talk about a fall harvest: Six new restaurants and a snazzy new movie theater will open at Westfield Montgomery Mall by December as the property’s $90 million transformation continues. The food court has been reinvented as an upscale Dining Terrace with luxurious seating and decor, while several new sit-down restaurants will present some welcome alternatives for Date Night. (It’s all good news for Mr. Store Reporter, who’s been known to complain when he has to accompany us to the mall on a Saturday evening.) Check out last week’s issue for more on the ArcLight Cinema, and read on to see what the next three months will bring.

 

Blaze Blaze Pizza Assembly LinePizza and Chipotle

First out of the gate is Blaze Pizza, which recently opened in the Old Navy wing across from Aroma Coffee. The thin-crust, personal-sized pies are topped with fresh ingredients as you make your way down an assembly line, then fired in the oven for a couple of minutes while you wait. The result is surprisingly good, and so is the price: $5 to $7.65. Some people refer to Blaze as “The Chipotle of Pizza.” You can compare the two for yourself later this year when Chipotle makes its debut at the mall’s Dining Terrace.

 

MET BethesdaMET Restaurant Group cocktail

This will be the first Maryland venture for MET Restaurant Group, which has three locations in Boston and one in Nantucket. Steaks cooked on a wood-burning grill will be one of MET’s specialties, along with Rigatoni Bolognese and Steak/Salmon Tartare Duo. The spacious bar will specialize in martinis on tap — perfect for grabbing a drink before the movie. MET opens in October across from the ArcLight Cinema.

 

LoLobster ME Lobster Tacosbster ME

How many ways can you eat Maine lobster? The list is surprisingly long at Lobster ME, from Lobster Tacos to Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese to Lobster Rolls with Cajun, Italian or Vietnamese spices. Not to mention the Lobsicle, a whole grilled lobster tail on a stick. Everything on the menu will be prepared from scratch in a setting designed to look like an old lobster shack, complete with old-growth timber reclaimed from the Penobscot River. This will be the first Lobster ME restaurant outside Las Vegas. It’s scheduled to open in late November in the Dining Terrace next to Cava Grill.

 

CRAVECrave Flatbread

The Minnesota-based CRAVE chain specializes in steaks, salads and sushi. “It’s a little bit of everything you crave,” says marketing director Zach Sussman. “We’ll have things you won’t find at a traditional sushi restaurant.” Store Reporter recently checked out CRAVE’s Miami location, where the sushi was good but the Margherita Flatbread was the true hit of the evening. CRAVE  is scheduled to open in December on the mall’s lower level, near Bobby’s Burger Palace and The Cheesecake Factory.

 

CCava Grill Pita Sandwichava Grill

This is a quick-service version of the popular Cava chain, but that doesn’t mean the restaurant will skimp on details. “We’re going to have a wood-fired oven where we’ll be making organic pita, roasted meats and vegetables fresh every day” along with salads and dips, says Cava co-founder Ted Xenohristos. The beverage menu will include freshly pressed vegetable and fruit drinks, as well as wine and local craft beers. Cava Grill opens in November in the food court next to Lobster ME.

 

Chipotle and sushi to the mall; New teas at Starbucks; RadioShack and Brookstone updates

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Sushi RollChipotle and sushi to Montgomery Mall

Westfield Montgomery Mall has added two more restaurants to its fall lineup. Chipotle, which made its debut in Potomac Village this week, will soon be joining the party at the mall’s newly renovated food court. And CRAVE, an upscale eatery with an elaborate sushi bar and wine list, will open on the mall’s lower level near Bobby’s Burger Palace and Cheesecake Factory. This will be CRAVE’s tenth restaurant. To catch up on news about other new eateries coming to the mall, see our Feb. 20 edition (Blaze Pizza), May 8 edition (Cava Grill) and May 29 edition (MET Restaurant Group).

 

Teavana Shaken Teavana Shaken Iced Blackberry Mojito Tea LemonadeNew at Starbucks

Now that the hot weather is officially here, Starbucks has rolled out two summertime drinks from its Teavana line: Blackberry Mojito Tea Lemonade and Peach Green Tea Lemonade. Soon the menu will also include hand-crafted sodas mixed to order in snazzy new Fizzio machines, which arrived in Starbucks’ southern stores this week. It’s all part of the chain’s plan to diversify its drink menu beyond coffee. Reception to the Teavana line has been largely positive, local baristas tell us — except for the Oprah Chai Teas, which don’t seem to be doing much business. Of course, drink trends can vary quite a bit from store to store. At the Starbucks in Congressional Plaza, for example, iced coffee is king. But at Westfield Montgomery Mall — home to roving mobs of teen girls — it’s all about the Frappuccino.

 

iPhone Cracked ScreenRadioShack looks for a fix

RadioShack, which is struggling to stay in business in the wake of rapidly declining foot traffic, is trying something new to lure customers into its stores: “Fix It Here” repair stations for Apple and Samsung mobile devices. The Westfield Montgomery Mall store is among the first to offer repairs for cracked screens, broken buttons, water damage and battery issues; cost ranges from $80 to $199.99. “People can go shopping, come back and have virtually a brand new phone,” says repair tech David Flores. Repair services are not yet available at the RadioShack stores in Rockville or the Cabin John Shopping Center, but there are plans to expand the program later this year. They’d better move quickly: RadioShack’s stock, which once traded for $76 per share, dipped below $1 this week as bankruptcy rumors swirled.

 

Brookstone Massage ChairBrookstone bankruptcy update

Speaking of bankruptcies, Brookstone is expected to emerge from Chapter 11 after this week’s sale to a Chinese retail conglomerate. The upscale gadget chain was supposed to be sold to the parent company of Spencer’s gift shops, but the Chinese buyers offered more money and are planning an international expansion. Only one or two Brookstone stores are expected to close nationwide. The Montgomery Mall store is not on that list.