Sugo

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday & Sports Authority, Hello Mellow Mushroom

May 19, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Sports Authority exiting Rockville Pike

Sports Authority, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, is now expected to close all 450 of its stores after failing to reach a deal with its creditors and lenders. That will mean another major vacancy for the Montrose Crossing shopping center on Rockville Pike, which also lost Hudson Trail Outfitters last fall when the D.C.-area chain went out of business. Also moving out of Montrose Crossing is the Chinese restaurant Tony Lin’s, whose owners told Bethesda Magazine that they’re retiring after 29 years.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday made a quiet exit from Rockville Pike this week after two decades as a tenant at Federal Plaza. Reps for the restaurant chain weren’t available for comment, but owner Federal Realty says it already has a new restaurant lined up to take the space. Stay tuned to Store Reporter to find out who’s moving in.

Mellow Mushroom opens in Rockville

The bright spot in a week full of closing news was the long-awaited opening of Mellow Mushroom at Rockville Town Square, taking over the former Oro Pomodoro space at 33 Maryland Ave. Fans of the Atlanta-based pizza chain have been pouring in since Saturday, says franchisee Danny Trehan, who also operates the Mellow Mushroom in Herndon. The Rockville restaurant has a pop art theme, with indoor/outdoor seating for more than 300 and delivery service coming soon. To check out the menu, click here.

Sephora move is official

Sephora has now officially announced what we reported here last month: The glam retailer at Westfield Montgomery Mall is moving across the hall to bigger and better quarters. Promotional signage has been splashed across the second floor of the Macy’s wing, where the existing Sephora store will remain open until the new one debuts this fall. Meanwhile down the hall, the Apple Store still hasn’t confirmed a timeline for its own upcoming expansion. Two adjoining storefronts have been emptied and blocked off for construction, but Apple remains open for the time being. For more on what’s happening in the Macy’s wing — including the recent departures of BCBG and Teavana — click here.

Last chance to win dinner at Sugo

Last call to place your vote for our next Store Reporter Favorites section, where we name our readers’ and editors’ picks for the best appetizers in town. 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. Everyone who weighs in will be entered to win a $60 gift card for one of our favorites: Sugo at Park Potomac.

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.

Italian market heading to North Bethesda, new day spa for Rockville, Caché and RadioShack closings — plus where to find a great Pasta Bolognese

March 12, 2015 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

A taste of Italy at Pike & Rose

An Italian restaurant and market has joined the upcoming lineup at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. This will be the second U.S. location for Carluccio’s, a British company that’s about to make its American debut in Old Town Alexandria. Carluccio’s restaurants open early and close late, with freshly prepared meals and a wide range of grocery items imported from Italy. The fast-growing chain has more than 100 locations in the U.K. and the Middle East. No word yet on the timing of the Pike & Rose location. But the U.K. menu features specialties like fish stew with spicy sausage, slow-cooked beef in red wine sauce, and green beans with mint and garlic.

New spa for Rockville

A new day spa is on the way to Rockville, moving into the onetime Natural Body space at Potomac Woods Plaza off Montrose and Seven Locks Road. AcuSpa will incorporate an “East-meets-West” philosophy with services ranging from massage, foot reflexology and acupuncture to cosmetic procedures, nail care and traditional Chinese remedies. Owner Danlu Wang-Ross is sprucing things up a bit before the spa’s April 24 opening, but she didn’t have to make too many big changes: The space was already equipped with showers, whirlpools, treatment rooms and other features from its previous occupant. In between the two spas, the same storefront was occupied for four years by the women’s clothing store Lacy Couture. Click here if you missed our Jan. 22 report on where Lacy has gone.

Last chance to catch Caché

If you’re a fan of the Caché women’s clothing chain — or more accurately, if you were a fan — now is the time stop in for some last-chance bargains. Caché filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February and had planned to keep some stores in operation, but all that changed last week when a liquidation firm purchased the company’s assets. The Westfield Montgomery Mall store has started major markdowns for its going-out-of-business sale. Existing gift cards will be honored though April 5; all sales are final.

RadioShack signing off

Auctions begin next week for the remains of RadioShack Corp., which is trying to figure out what to do with all its leases after last month’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The Cabin John and Rockville Pike stores both closed their doors in the last few weeks, while the Westfield Montgomery Mall store is still in business. GameStop Corp. is looking to take over some of the closed locations for its Spring Mobile subsidiary, and there’s been talk that Amazon might also be interested. All stores are expected to be either closed or sold by the end of this month.

Reader Favorite: Sugo’s Pasta Bolognese

Our Reader Favorite section is the perfect place to tell us about that dish you dream about, that dessert you crave, or that go-to gift from your favorite little shop. Click here to share your favorite — and read on to learn about someone else’s.

Stefanie Greenberg, a Rockville mom of three teens, is a big fan of Sugo at Park Potomac. “It has a fun atmosphere with a terrific bar, friendly staff and most importantly great food,” she says. Her favorite menu item is the Pasta Bolognese ($15). “The rich meat sauce is like a taste of heaven from Grandma’s kitchen. Tossed with perfectly cooked short pasta and then finished with a dollop of creamy ricotta — too bad I have to share with my table mates!”