Galvan at Twinbrook

Apple Store closing confirmed — plus burgers, delis and spring discounts

April 14, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

It’s official: Apple Store will close May 7th

Our report last week about the spring shakeup at Westfield Montgomery Mall is now official: The mall has confirmed that the Apple Store will close April 30th for a major expansion that affects multiple tenants in the Macy’s wing. As we predicted, Apple will take the space formerly occupied by the recently closed BCBG and newly closed Teavana. The cosmetics store Sephora also is expanding to a larger space across the hall, but in Sephora’s case the old store will stay open until the new one’s ready. We’ve been told that Teavana plans to reopen elsewhere in the Macy’s wing… but with the debut of competitor David’s Tea just around the corner, it’s unclear whether that’s actually going to happen. For more on these changes, including the possible move of Kay Jewelers from its prime corner spot, click here for our April 4th special edition.

New burgers beefing up the Pike

Smashburger is set to open its doors next Wednesday (April 20th) at the new Galvan at Twinbrook complex, which is nearing completion on Rockville Pike. This will be the first Rockville location for the Denver-based chain, which has been beefing up its presence in Montgomery County for the past few years. Smashburger, so named because its fresh burgers get smashed before they’re seared on the grill, also offers chicken sandwiches, salads, fries, and an array of great-looking shakes and malts. But competition is on the way: The Habit Burger Grill, a California-based chain with a similar menu, is scheduled to open this fall at nearby Wintergreen Plaza. Click here for more in our Feb. 11 issue.

Deli deal at the mall

This month marks the one-year anniversary of Chloe’s NY Style Deli, an old-school gem that you may have missed in the bounty of dining choices at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Owner Caje Fernandes, who spent 20 years behind the scenes at Celebrity Delly, Attman’s and Shalom Kosher, offers a surprisingly robust menu — plus breakfast all day and a full array of catering services — from his Dining Terrace space next to Chick-fil-A. Looking for matzoh ball soup, kippered salmon, half-sour pickles and homemade knishes, rugelach, macaroons and latkes? Chloe’s has them. And from now through May 15th, you can try them all — at 20% off. Just show our coupon on your phone… and share it with a friend who appreciates a great corned beef sandwich.

Are you up on the latest?

Did you know that the former Addie’s restaurant reopened this week as Helen’s? Heard about the new Duck Donuts on Rockville Pike? Wondering why River Falls Tavern changed its name, or whether a bowling alley is really opening at Westfield Montgomery Mall? (Hint: Yes!) If you missed these stories — or just want to see what else we’ve written about — there’s no time like now to catch up on back issues of Store Reporter. You can find them all in our guide to previous issues; just click here.

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.

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.

Rockville Pike: who’s in, who’s out, who’s moving

September 10, 2015 By Store Reporter 4 Comments

We’re back… and we’ll get you up to speed

The kids are back in school, and Store Reporter is back on the retail and restaurant beat — with far more news than we can possibly squeeze into one issue. In the next few weeks we’ll get you up to speed on all the news of summer and early fall: who’s closed, who’s moving, and who’s on the way to greater Rockville and Potomac. This week we’ll start with a look at Rockville Pike, where many businesses said goodbye in the past few months — but plenty of new ones are on the way.

New eateries, new Ethan Allen and a rock-&-roll barbershop

The big news for Rockville Pike this winter is the impending arrival of Galvan at Twinbrook, a residential, retail and restaurant complex that will bring some new dining and shopping options to the area. Tenants announced so far include Safeway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Smashburger and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop — plus Pie 360, a build-your-own pizza chain from the owners of Coal Fire; and Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, a rock-&-roll-themed chain that’s expanding in our area. Also on the way is a new home for the Ethan Allen Design Center, returning to its original location on the Pike after two years in a temporary site nearby.

REI takes a hike down the Pike

REI is the newest tenant to join the party at Pike & Rose, with plans for a 36,000-square-foot store that willreplace its current digs at 1701 Rockville Pike. “It’s going to be a much bigger store, so we’re going to have a lot more opportunity to spread out,” says Carli Davenport, sales manager for the popular outdoor store. “We’ve been waiting quite a while for this to happen.” But the wait’s not over yet: The new REI isn’t scheduled to open for two more years.

Last chance to win $50 at Urban Heights

There’s still time to enter our giveaway for a $50 gift card to Urban Heights, 7940 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda. New executive chef Cliff Wharton, formerly with D.C.’s TenPenh, draws on his Filipino heritage for the Asian-influenced menu and fresh Tuna Bar. If you’re already a Store Reporter subscriber, look in your weekly email for a personalized link to enter our contest. New to Store Reporter? Click here to subscribe and enter simultaneously.

Who’s left, who’s leaving

There were more closings than usual on the Pike this summer, as a number of longtime businesses made quiet exits while the crowds were out of town. Ted’s 355 Diner and The Potomac Grill both packed up their kitchens in recent months, while the Entenmann’s Bakery Outlet relocated to Jessup. Plow & Hearth closed its store at Congressional Plaza, making way for a Chop’t salad restaurant that’s scheduled to move in next spring. Hank Dietle’s ended its brief partnership with the Curley’s Q food truck, which served barbecue from the Dietle’s kitchen from May through the end of August. And Hudson Trail Outfitters, a locally owned competitor to REI, is closing its store at Montrose Crossing along with the rest of its D.C.-area locations.

White Flint update

The owners of White Flint Mall are fighting the outcome of last month’s U.S. District Court case, in which a jury awarded Lord & Taylor $31 million for lost profits and renovation costs while the mall is torn down and redeveloped. Attorneys for the mall’s owners, Lerner Enterprises and The Tower Cos., have started the appeal process and announced that the project may not happen if they don’t win. Meanwhile, the whole mess has likely scuttled any hopes that a Wegmans supermarket would be part of the new development. Watch this space for news on where else Wegmans may be looking.

Galvan at Twinbrook

Apple Store closing confirmed — plus burgers, delis and spring discounts