Wintergreen Plaza

New restaurant on Rockville Pike, Starbucks goes Venti in Potomac Village — plus our raffle winners

December 8, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Two new restaurants for Congressional Plaza

The dining scene at Congressional Plaza is looking way up for 2017. Modern Market, the scratch-made chain from Colorado that’s been earning raves in downtown Bethesda, opened its doors this week next to Chopt. And the center just landed Honeyfish Poke, a West Coast chain featuring Hawaiian-style bowls of raw fish with fresh toppings and Asian sauces. Honeyfish Poke is set for a spring opening a few doors down from Starbucks, near Congressional’s new outdoor seating area. To check out the menu, click here.

Starbucks goes Venti in Potomac Village

Starbucks in Potomac Village is finally nearing the end of a major expansion that has annoyed its customers for months. The tiny store, which never had enough space to meet the demands of its latte-loving neighborhood, will kick off 2017 with more coffee machines, more baristas and lot more seating. The extra room is coming from a frame shop that closed next door; employees say the work should be done before Christmas.

Who won our biggest raffle ever?

Congratulations to the winners of our latest raffle, featuring fabulous gifts from vendors at the Washington Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood Holiday Boutique & Silent Auction. Here’s a list of who won what:

Rori Malech won a PJ Salvage sweater from Barbie B (shopbarbieb.com)
Michèle Morgan won a pair of workout leggings from LavaLoka (lavaloka.com)
Amy Stolker won a zirconia necklace from Artfully Designed Jewelry (click for more).
Betsy Fader Goldstein won a choker necklace from Gemini Jewelry (click for more).
Leela Berman won a photo canvas from Photos by Freddi (photosbyfreddi.com).
Michael Reiser won a bottle of vintage vinegar from All things Olive (allthingsolive.com).
Meredith Wernick won a $25 gift certificate from Bows Etc. (bowsetc.com)
Karla Rosenfeld Azachi won a pair of girls’ leggings from Shop Marti (shopmarti.com).
Greg Overcamp won a $50 certificate for kids’ clothing from Blue Elephant (shoptheblueelephant.com).

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Something dazzling from Kaufman Jewelers

If you’re looking for a gift that really dazzles, Kaufmann Jewelers at Park Potomac is the place to go for gorgeous custom jewelry. Take this stunning 18-karat gold ring with oval tanzanite and diamonds. Not quite what you’re looking for? Third-generation jeweler Corey Kaufman can design something special or find a piece that fits your budget, from diamond and gold jewelry priced in the thousands to silver and gemstone rings, bracelets and earrings for less than $100. Kaufmann Jewelers, 12500 Park Potomac Ave., #107S, 301-978-7778. For more info, click here.

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Something sparkly from JT Interiors

The holiday sparkle is in full swing at JT Interiors in Potomac Village, where you’ll find shimmering gifts around just about every corner. We love the tabletop glitter trees ($62 for a set of two), the gold and silver glitter wreath ($70) and the mercury glass lamp ($128), all shown here. The gold leaf tray makes a great hostess gift at $17, as do the candles and illuminaries priced from $10 and up. Visit JT Interiors at 9906 River Road, call 301-299-0485 or click here for details.

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BBQ replaces Benjarong, Apple opens early, new mall stores — plus our Pieology winners

November 17, 2016 By Store Reporter 2 Comments

BBQ replaces Benjarong

Moving into the former Benjarong space at Rockville’s Wintergreen Plaza: Mission BBQ, the Maryland-based chain specializing in brisket, pulled pork and patriotism. The five-year-old company has ties to the military and is known for its generous donations to the USO, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation among others. Oh, and we hear the food’s good too (click here to check out the menu). Mission BBQ plans a spring opening at Wintergreen, part of a new restaurant lineup that includes The Habit Burger Grill and Jersey Mike’s Subs. Also on the way: Wingstop, opening next week.

Teavana and Apple open for the holidays

Teavana opened its new store at Westfield Montgomery Mall this week, and Apple wasn’t far behind: The company moved up its grand opening from Black Friday to Saturday, Nov. 19th. We’ll have photos in an upcoming issue.

Congrats to the winners of our Pieology gift cards

This week four Store Reporter readers won gift cards to Pieology, the new make-your-own pizza restaurant next to Nordstrom Rack in Gaithersburg. The winners of our raffle — Scott Goff, Mark Hamrick, Marilyn Grafman and Amy Wollins — will each get $50 to treat family, friends or coworkers to fresh customized salads and personalized pies. You’ll be seeing more of Pieology in 2017 as the company expands in Montgomery County. In the meantime, check out the Gaithersburg location at 15780 Shady Grove Road — or click here for a quick video tour.

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Gift shop exits Rockville, moves to the mall

The As Kindred Spirits gift shop made a quick switcheroo this week, closing its doors at Congressional Plaza and opening three days later at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Owner Wendy Rukmini Walker, who had run pop-up stores at the mall but was looking for a long-term lease, snagged a space right next to Nordstrom after GameStop relocated across from Old Navy. The move happened so quickly that there wasn’t time for renovations, but Walker says the store will close briefly for a facelift after the holidays. Walker also shuttered her store at Reagan National Airport last month — so for now, the mall is the only place to find As Kindred Spirits. To see what’s in stock, click here.

Italian fashions for mothers and daughters

Patrizia Luca Milano, a women’s clothing store carrying Italian-inspired fashions, is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall next to Apple. This is the first Maryland venture for owner Mike Nassaj, who previously ran similar boutiques in D.C. “Our clothes are chic for work but also can transition into evening,” Nassaj says. “We specialize in mother-daughter looks, where the mom will buy it for herself but the daughter will want to wear it as well.” Aside from the fur and outerwear, most items are priced below $100.

Nespresso, Teavana, Congressional Plaza and a pizza giveaway

November 10, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Nespresso, Teavana and Apple will be here for the holidays

The Macy’s wing at Westfield Montgomery Mall is nearing the end of its six-month-long renovation, with Teavana and Apple almost ready to open and the nearby Nespresso store not far behind. Teavana, which closed its original store last spring to make way for Apple’s expansion, is set to return Nov. 15th in its new space across the hall. Apple will be back ten days later, on Black Friday. And just around the corner, Nespresso is hoping to open Dec. 1.

Win $50 for pizza at Pieology

Have you checked out Pieology on Shady Grove Road? The make-your-own pizza chain, which opened this summer a few doors down from Nordstrom Rack, is planning a major expansion into Montgomery County. What’s on the menu? Forty choices of unlimited fresh toppings over three types of crusts (including gluten-free) plus customizable salads, all at a price point below $10. Click here for a quick video to see what Pieology’s all about. And click here to enter your name for a chance to win one of four $50 Pieology gift cards. That’s enough to treat your family — or your favorite coworkers — to some great personalized pies. Update: Congratulations to our four winners: Scott Goff, Mark Hamrick, Marilyn Grafman and Amy Wollins.

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Have a seat at Congressional Plaza

Congressional Plaza in Rockville is putting the final touches on its new outdoor seating area, offering comfy chairs and couches at the corner of Chopt and Starbucks. The project is part of a general spruce-up as the shopping center adds new stores and restaurants, including last month’s debut of Saks Off 5th. Next up: Modern Market, a Colorado-based restaurant chain that caters to both paleo and vegetarian diners. Click here for more in our June 9th edition.

Turkey with all the trimmings at O’Donnell’s Market

If you thought O’Donnell’s was all about seafood, think again: The gourmet market, which celebrates its first anniversary next month, is rolling out a complete Thanksgiving menu. Along with the traditional turkey and sides, you’ll find specialty items like lobster mashed potatoes, cornbread sausage stuffing, seafood bisque and mini versions of the market’s famous crab cakes — not to mention those classic O’Donnell’s rum buns. Click here to check out the menu, and be sure to place your order by Saturday, Nov. 19. For details, call 301-251-6355 or stop by O’Donnell’s, 1073 Seven Locks Road next to Walgreens at Potomac Woods Plaza.

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New coffee spot in Rockville

Now open at Rockville’s King Farm Village Center: Coffee Republic, a locally owned shop in the former Mayorga space at 801 Pleasant Drive. Besides the usual lattes, mochas and espressos, you’ll also find a selection of baked goods and specialty drinks like cortados and Nutella chais. Coffee Republic is the second venture for a group of friends who also operate the BeanGood coffee shop in Arlington. To see what’s pouring, click here.

Apple store opening, goodbye Offenbachers, new outlet shops, chocolate truffles and a bad week for ShopHouse

October 27, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Apple store’s back next month

The Apple store at Westfield Montgomery Mall is set to reopen on Black Friday, revealing the results of a months-long renovation that has both annoyed and intrigued local Apple fans. What we know for sure: The new store will be about twice its previous size, encompassing the neighboring spaces that formerly belonged to BCBG, Teavana and Sephora. What we’re expecting, based on Apple’s new direction: A “town square” vibe with generous seating, free Wi-Fi and occasional concerts; a “Genius Grove” lined with live indoor trees; a giant video wall showcasing the latest and greatest; and a business boardroom for private meetings with Apple experts. To see what the new Apple stores look like in other markets, click here.

Goodbye Offenbachers

Offenbachers, the outdoor furniture and fireplace chain, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week after 44 years in the D.C. area. Going-out-of-business sales began today (Oct. 27th) at the company’s eight locations in Virginia and Maryland, including the one on Randolph Road in Rockville. Some $9 million worth of inventory will be priced to move, including Hanamint and OW Lee patio furniture, Coyote and Legacy billiards tables, Kozy Heat fireplaces, and grills from Traeger and Big Green Egg. To see what else is up for grabs at Offenbachers, click here.

The end of ShopHouse?

This week Chipotle said it will discontinue expansion of its ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen chain, which opened at Pike & Rose just last year. The D.C. area was one of three test markets for ShopHouse, but Chipotle says sales weren’t impressive enough to continue the experiment. Now the company is turning its attention to two newer concepts: Pizzeria Locale, which currently has a handful of locations in four states, and Tasty Made, a Shake Shack-style burger chain that launches this week in Ohio. As for ShopHouse, the existing locations will remain open for now while Chipotle tries to sell them off.

New sweet treats at the mall

In case you don’t have enough Halloween candy around the house this week, Westfield Montgomery Mall has a new place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Chocolate Moonshine, now open in the former Chloe’s Deli space next to Chick-fil-A, offers handmade fudge and giftable decorative truffle bars that are gluten-free and relatively low in sugar. “We get everything fresh from our factory in Pennsylvania,” says local distributor Edward Heller, a former executive with Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. “It’s all natural and organic, but it’s the attention to detail and beautiful craftsmanship that really makes our product special.” To check it out for yourself, click here.

New outlet mall opens this weekend

This weekend marks the grand opening of Clarksburg Premium Outlets, less than 30 minutes from the Rockville/Potomac area off I-270 at Exit 18. The 90-store tenant list has something for everyone, from Adidas, Ann Taylor and Armani Exchange to Theory, Tommy Hilfiger, Ugg and Under Armour. Grand opening festivities will be happening all weekend with live music, DJs, kids’ activities, giveaways and Halloween events. To view the full list of new places to shop, click here.

As Kindred Spirits departs from Reagan Airport

As Kindred Spirits, which exited Westfield Montgomery Mall last summer, is also closing its D.C. store at Reagan National Airport. The Congressional Plaza location in Rockville will remain open, says owner Wendy “Rukmini” Walker, who’s still working on plans to return to Montgomery Mall. As Kindred Spirits is one of seven gift shops that made our list of Store Reporter Favorites for 2016. To see who else got our vote, click here for our Oct. 13th edition.

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.

Apple Store, Macy’s, Jennifer Convertibles and Jersey Mike’s

July 28, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Apple Store is closed for the summer

The Apple Store expansion is finally under way at Westfield Montgomery Mall — several months later than originally planned, but still in time to reopen before the holidays. The new store will be nearly twice its former size, encompassing the neighboring spaces that previously belonged to BCBG and Teavana. If you need to visit the Genius Bar between now and November, the next-closest Apple locations are in downtown Bethesda and Tysons Corner.

A Summer of changes at Macy’s

Macy’s shoppers may be noticing some changes this summer as the retailer strives to update its image. Workout wear is getting a lot more floor space as the “athleisure” clothing trend continues to drive sales. In the cosmetics department, old-fashioned glass cases are increasingly giving way to self-service kiosks à la Sephora. And clearance items from all over the store are now being shoved into one big “Last Act” section aimed at bargain hunters. “We are testing this approach to see how our customers react to it,” says Macy’s spokesman Elina Kazan. “We think it’s easier to find the discounts this way.” Also new is Macy’s On Call, a chatbot from IBM’s Watson system that can help you navigate the store or find what you’re looking for via your phone instead of a sales rep. Westfield Montgomery Mall is one of 10 locations where Macy’s On Call is being tested. To try it out for yourself, click here.

Flowers, fun and music at Cabin John

Have you noticed the flowering plants, free yoga classes, cornhole tournaments and sidewalk concerts at Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall this summer? It’s all part of a long-term effort to “surprise people, provide some entertainment, and encourage shoppers to walk around more when they’re here,” says marketing manager Hilary Shure. “You never know what you’re going to find just around the corner.” September will bring a series of parking lot concerts from local rock and oldies bands, including Lloyd Dobbler Effect, Sandra Dean Band and the Retro-Rockets. Show dates haven’t been posted yet, but you can click here to see what’s coming up for August.

Goodbye Jennifer Convertibles

Jennifer Convertibles and Jennifer Leather closed their doors on Rockville Pike this week as the New York-based retailers exits the D.C. area. “We still have locations in New York and New Jersey, but the ones in Maryland and Virginia just weren’t profitable,” a sales rep tells us.

Hello Jersey Mike’s Subs

Jersey Mike’s Subs made its Rockville debut at Wintergreen Plaza this week, just two doors down from the new Habit Burger Grill. The two restaurants have replaced Tedd’s 355 Diner, which was torn down last fall. To check out the Jersey Mike’s menu, click here.

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Hello to Pieology and Habit Burger — and goodbye to another mall restaurant

June 2, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Make-your-own pizza on Shady Grove Road

Pieology, a make-your-own pizza restaurant in the style of the recently departed Blaze, made its Maryland debut on Shady Grove Road this week in the former Chicken Out space near Nordstrom Rack. This is the beginning of a planned mid-Atlantic expansion for Pieology, a California-based chain that offers 40 choices of fresh toppings over three types of crusts (including gluten-free) at a price point below $10. Click here to see the menu, which also includes Chopt-style customizable salads. Pieology is actively looking for additional Maryland and D.C.-area locations, says local franchise exec Todd Stallings. He and his associates already know the market: They’re also the regional franchisees for Five Guys.

Habit Burger opens in Rockville

The Habit Burger Grill, named by Consumer Reports as one of the top fast food restaurants in the country, arrived ahead of schedule this week at Wintergreen Plaza on Rockville Pike. Like Pieology, this is a California-based chain opening its first store in Maryland. Click here to check out the Shake Shack-style menu of burgers, fries, onion rings and ice cream-based drinks. If burgers aren’t your thing, Jersey Mike’s Subs is set to open next door in early July. The two restaurants stand in the spot once occupied by Tedd’s 355 diner, which closed last fall.

Another restaurant exits the mall

Westfield Montgomery Mall lost its fourth restaurant in two weeks with the closing of Chloe’s NY Style Deli, which exited over Memorial Day weekend shortly after celebrating its first anniversary. Chloe’s had been the first independent venture for owner Caje Fernandes, a veteran of Celebrity Delly, Attman’s and Shalom Kosher whose menu had offered everything from knishes to latkes to matzoh ball soup. Fernandes says he simply couldn’t generate enough traffic with so many food choices at the mall, especially at his location away from the central Dining Terrace. Chloe’s closed just a week after the simultaneous departures of Blaze Pizza, Lobster ME and Jamaican Mi Crazy. (Click here for more in our May 23rd edition.) Mall officials say there are several new leases soon to be announced, in addition to next month’s opening of Beefsteak by celeb chef José Andrés. (Click here for more in our Feb. 18 edition.)

Vodka, blintzes and belly dancing in Rockville

Samovar, the Russian/Central Asian restaurant that’s been under construction for more than a year at Rockville Town Square, finally opened this week at 201 North Washington Street. Owner Solijon Nasimov, a longtime restaurateur in his native Tajikistan, will be working with daughter Ika Nasimova of Rockville’s European Delight market. Entrées include caviar dishes, blintzes, beef stroganoff, smoked fish and kebabs, with a drink menu that ranges from Turkish coffee to infused vodkas to Czech and Ukranian beers… and White Russians, of course. Click here to check out the menu, as well as the upcoming schedule for live music and belly dancing.

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.

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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.

José Andrés brings veggies to the mall, Potomac Village Deli on the comeback trail, new store for sleepaway campers

February 18, 2016 By Store Reporter 2 Comments

José Andrés brings veggies to the mall

Coming this summer to Westfield Montgomery Mall: a new vegetable-centered restaurant from local celeb chef José Andrés. Beefsteak, a year-old concept with two locations already open and two more on the way to D.C. and Philadelphia, is the newest venture from the man who brought us Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel and Minibar. The menu isn’t entirely vegetarian — you can 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. Pricing is moderate: Most dishes are less than $10, and the signature Beetsteak sandwich shown here sells for $5.99 with a side of chips. At the mall, Beefsteak will move into the Dining Terrace space that was recently vacated by Qdoba. (See our Feb. 11th issue for more on that.)

Potomac Village Deli on the comeback trail

Potomac Village Deli, which left the Village a decade ago to focus on its catering business, is making a comeback this spring — in The Kentlands. The new deli will take over the Gaithersburg location of its sister business, Potomac Pizza, where the owners say they’ll be serving pent-up demand for a kosher-style deli with matzoh ball soup, fresh-sliced meat sandwiches, lox and baked goods. Bagels will be provided by another sister company, Bagels ‘n Grinds, and the restaurant will continue to offer pizza and calzones in the evenings. Potomac Village Deli was an institution on Falls Road from the late ’70s until it closed in 2006, after which many customers continued to support the catering business. Owners say the pizzeria/deli switcheroo will not affect their other three Potomac Pizza restaurants in Potomac Village, Traville and Chevy Chase.

Camp store on the way to King Farm

The winter weather is far from over, but sleepaway camp is already on the radar for many local parents. Enter Bee Bee Designs, a New Jersey-based camp outfitter that will open a pop-up shop at King Farm Village Center early next month. Bee Bee sells all the camp essentials and plenty of just-for-fun stuff, from packing trunks and personalized pillows to monogrammed stationery and custom camp lip gloss. Most of the business happens online, but the company operated a similar pop-up store in Bethesda last year to serve its sizable customer base in Montgomery County. Many people appreciate the chance to shop in person, says co-owner Brian Bailey — especially the parents of first-time campers. “A lot of our staff is made up of camp moms who just went through this themselves,” Bailey says. “For parents who aren’t quite sure what their kids will need, we offer one-on-one shopping appointments where they can get all of their questions answered.”

Congrats to our ArcLight winners — and keep sending us your family favorites!

Congratulations to Store Reporter readers Marilyn Feldman and Jennifer Primerano, who each won ArcLight Cinema movie tickets in our February drawing. And thanks to all who entered by contributing suggestions to our upcoming Store Reporter Kids Issue. We are still taking nominations, and we’d love to hear your thoughts about the best kid-friendly businesses in the greater Rockville/Potomac area: restaurants, toy stores, children’s clothing stores, after-school classes… all the local places that you and your kids enjoy. To post your comments on our Facebook page, click here. To email your suggestions to us directly, click here.

Sorry, Jersey Mike’s

More than a few sharp-eyed readers caught our mistake in last week’s article about The Habit Burger Grill and Jersey Mike’s Subs. The two fast-casual chains are still scheduled to open at Wintergreen Plaza this fall, but we were wrong when we said that both were new to Maryland. It turns out that Jersey Mike’s already has several restaurants here, including one in The Kentlands. If you’d like to read the updated version of that story — plus some other news for burger fans from our Feb. 11th issue — you’ll find it by clicking here.

Habit Burger in, City Burger out, subs on the way and goodbye Qdoba

February 11, 2016 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

Burgers & subs on the way to Rockville Pike

Two popular fast food restaurants are on the way to Rockville Pike, opening this fall outside Wintergreen Plaza in the space once occupied by Ted’s 355 Diner. The Habit Burger Grill, a fast-growing chain from California that’s making its Maryland debut, offers a Shake Shackish menu of burgers, fries, onion rings and ice cream-based drinks. Jersey Mike’s Subs, with nearly 200 locations nationwide, has a extensive selection of subs and wraps plus gluten-free and carb-free options.

Adiós Qdoba

Qdoba, a food court staple here for most of the past decade, has cashed in its tortilla chips at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The closing comes almost exactly a year after the arrival of Mexican juggernaut Chipotle, one of the most popular additions to the mall’s recently renovated Dining Terrace. Chipotle, which appears to be on the comeback trail after its recent food safety scare, will now have the mall’s black-bean-and-burrito crowd to itself. Qdoba fans can visit the chain’s Rockville restaurant on Rollins Avenue.

Goodbye City Burger, hello Fish Taco

Local restaurateur Francis Namin, who’s about to open his second Fish Taco restaurant at Wildwood Shopping Center, has made a surprising decision about where to open Fish Taco #3. Namin tells Store Reporter that he’ll soon close City Burger, his two-year-old eatery on Wisconsin Avenue, with plans to convert it to the Fish Taco concept. The rebranding will take about two months, Namin says, with a grand reopening scheduled for April. The Wildwood location, as we reported in last week’s issue, is expected to open in early March.

Sears says it will close more stores — but not here

This week Sears Holdings announced it would shutter another 50 unprofitable Sears and Kmart stores across the country. This follows several previous rounds of store closings for the once-mighty chain, whose equity now is said to lie primarily in the value of its real estate holdings. But Sears says the closings will not affect its Bethesda location at Westfield Montgomery Mall. “That store will remain open,” company spokesman Howard Riefs told us this week.

Tell us about your kids’ favorite places — and win ArcLight movie tickets

For our upcoming Store Reporter Kids Issue, we’re asking readers to help us choose the best kid-friendly businesses in the greater Rockville/Potomac area. We want to hear about your kids’ favorite restaurants, toy stores, clothing stores, after-school classes… all the local places that you and your kids enjoy. Send us your suggestions, and we’ll also enter you into this month’s drawing for FREE tickets to the ArcLight Cinema! To post your comments on our Facebook page, click here and scroll down to the ArcLight photo. To email them to us directly, click here. Update: We’ve already named the winners for this contest, but stay tuned to Store Reporter for more ArcLight giveaways coming up.

Fish Taco and Bethesda spa near opening — plus bubble tea, Lululemon and ArcLight tickets

February 4, 2016 By Store Reporter 1 Comment

Fish Taco is almost ready

If you’ve been waiting for the opening of Fish Taco at the Wildwood Shopping Center, the time is almost here: Owner Francis Namin says he hopes to be in business by early March. This will be the second location for Fish Taco, whose first restaurant on MacArthur Boulevard has been hugely popular since it opened in 2013. Namin, who also owns Food Wine & Co. in downtown Bethesda, says a third Fish Taco will open shortly afterwards in that area. To hear his description of the Wildwood restaurant, click here for our Oct. 8th edition.

New spa in North Bethesda

Woodhouse Day Spa is planning a late February opening at North Bethesda Market on Rockville Pike, where it will target the health-conscious customer base from neighboring Whole Foods and Seasons 52. This will be the first Maryland location for Woodhouse, a Texas-based chain with a presence in 18 states. The spa menu includes facials, massage, mani/pedis and lavish skin treatments like the Wild Lavender and Seaweed Sugar Glow shown here.

New place for bubble tea

A new bubble tea shop opened on Rockville Pike this week, in the former home of Yocake across from Wintergreen Plaza. Tea-Do, which has another location in Philadelphia, features a menu of light Japanese food as well as smoothies, specialty coffees and custom drinks with ingredients like lychee jelly, aloe, red guava, kumquat and Thai coconut. Yocake, a small family-run chain that specialized in cake and ice cream mash-ups, went out of business last summer.

Tell us about your family’s favorites — and win FREE ArcLight tickets

For our upcoming Store Reporter Kids Issue, we’re asking readers to help us choose the best kid-friendly businesses in the greater Rockville/Potomac area. We want to hear about your favorite restaurants, toy stores, children’s clothing stores, after-school classes… all the local places that you and your kids enjoy. Send us your suggestions, and we’ll also enter you into this month’s drawing for FREE tickets to the ArcLight Cinema! To post your comments on our Facebook page, click here. To email them to us directly, click here. Update: We’ve already named the winners for this contest, but stay tuned to Store Reporter for more great giveaways.

CVS starts Target takeover

This week CVS began its takeover of the pharmacy departments at Target stores nationwide. By the end of this summer, our local Targets will be sporting CVS signage (conveniently red, just like the Target logo) and staffed by CVS employees. If you’ve ever been stuck in that ridiculously long line at a CVS pharmacy — particularly the one at Cabin John Shopping Center — this may not necessarily be good news.

Peapod pickup on the Metro

This week Peapod by Giant started testing a grocery delivery service at three D.C.-area Metro stations: Fort Totten, Glenmont and Vienna. Shoppers can order their groceries online, then pick them up as they exit the Metro between 4 and 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. The three participating stations have lockers to store the groceries and staffers available to help shoppers to their cars. If things go well with this six-month test, more stations will be added to the program.

Roti closes, Rockville Soccer moves, Cal Tort goes extra-healthy

January 7, 2016 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Roti near the mall is the first to fall

Sometimes January brings a rash of store and restaurant closings, as leases end and businesses cut their losses after a disappointing holiday season. Macy’s, for example, is closing 40 stores across the country (although none in Montgomery County). But this year the Rockville/Potomac area made it through the holidays pretty much intact: The only closing we’ve noted so far is the Roti Mediterranean Grill just outside Westfield Montgomery Mall. Carl Segal, CEO of Chicago-based Roti, says traffic at that location began to suffer when Chipotle, Cava Grill and other fast-casual restaurants moved into the mall’s snazzy new Dining Terrace. So Roti signed a lease at Pike & Rose, where Segal says the hip young customer base is better suited to the modernized menu he’ll be rolling out this year. “We like to be next to the &pizzas and Shophouses of the world,” he says. “We all share customers and complement each other.”

Big move for Rockville Soccer

Rockville Soccer, the retail home base for MSI and a long list of local soccer clubs, has moved into larger quarters on the second floor of Wintergreen Plaza. Owner Hrant Tatarian, who runs a small chain of soccer stores in the D.C. area, says his 23-year-old business had outgrown its cramped space at the Sunshine Square Shopping Center further south on Rockville Pike. The new store, near Gold’s Gym and Adventure Theater MTC, offers 4,000 square of footwear, uniforms and soccer equipment. “We wanted to have concept shops for Nike and Adidas like you’d expect to see in a Dick’s or a Nordstrom,” Tatarian says. “We really needed the extra room.”

New year, new burrito at Cal Tort

In a month when just about everyone seems to be hitting the gym and focusing on clean eating, California Tortilla has rolled out a “Super Food Burrito” stuffed with all the right buzzwords: kale, avocado, quinoa, whole wheat and “GMO-free.” The $7.39 dish is currently slated for a limited run, but a strong early response suggests it may end up sticking around. “We wanted to come out with something especially healthy during this first quarter when so many people are starting their diets,” says Keith Goldman, chief operating officer and head chef for the Rockville-based restaurant chain. “It took us a while to figure out how to make kale taste good,” he chuckles. “But if the first few days are any indication, this burrito is going to be one of our top sellers.”

What’s next for White Flint?

At this time last year, P.F. Chang’s was serving its final customers as the once-posh White Flint Mall closed its doors for the last time. Summer brought the culmination of a longstanding lawsuit when the mall’s owners, Lerner Enterprises and Tower Cos., were ordered to pay Lord & Taylor $31 million for lost profits during the mall’s redevelopment. Now White Flint has been reduced to a pile of rubble, with only Lord & Taylor left standing (and still doing business). As we swing into 2016, count on Store Reporter to keep you up to date on all things White Flint: When the new project will break ground, what shape it will take, and who might still be interested in moving there by the time this saga comes to an end. (Hint: Wegmans is over it.)

Wintergreen Plaza

Two new restaurants for Congressional Plaza

Starbucks goes Venti in Potomac Village

Who won our biggest raffle ever?

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Something dazzling from Kaufman Jewelers

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Something sparkly from JT Interiors

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BBQ replaces Benjarong

Teavana and Apple open for the holidays

Congrats to the winners of our Pieology gift cards

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Gift shop exits Rockville, moves to the mall

Italian fashions for mothers and daughters

Nespresso, Teavana and Apple will be here for the holidays

Win $50 for pizza at Pieology

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Have a seat at Congressional Plaza

Turkey with all the trimmings at O’Donnell’s Market

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New coffee spot in Rockville

Apple store’s back next month

Goodbye Offenbachers

The end of ShopHouse?

New sweet treats at the mall

New outlet mall opens this weekend

As Kindred Spirits departs from Reagan Airport

Sports stores score at Wintergreen Plaza

Goodbye Aéropostale?

Is Moby Dick still opening in Potomac Village?

Cabin John is on the market

Apple Store is closed for the summer

A Summer of changes at Macy’s

Flowers, fun and music at Cabin John

Goodbye Jennifer Convertibles

Hello Jersey Mike’s Subs

Make-your-own pizza on Shady Grove Road

Habit Burger opens in Rockville

Another restaurant exits the mall

Vodka, blintzes and belly dancing in Rockville

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

New burgers beefing up the Pike

Deli deal at the mall

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Are you up on the latest?

José Andrés brings veggies to the mall

Potomac Village Deli on the comeback trail

Camp store on the way to King Farm

Congrats to our ArcLight winners — and keep sending us your family favorites!

Sorry, Jersey Mike’s

Burgers & subs on the way to Rockville Pike

Adiós Qdoba

Goodbye City Burger, hello Fish Taco

Sears says it will close more stores — but not here

Tell us about your kids’ favorite places — and win ArcLight movie tickets

Fish Taco is almost ready

New spa in North Bethesda

New place for bubble tea

Tell us about your family’s favorites — and win FREE ArcLight tickets

CVS starts Target takeover

Peapod pickup on the Metro

Roti near the mall is the first to fall

New year, new burrito at Cal Tort

What’s next for White Flint?

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