Trader Joe’s in Travilah: When is it happening?

Were you hoping to to pick up some Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s at Trader Joe’s in Travilah this holiday season? We’re sorry to disappoint, but the grocer tells us that its new Rockville location is not going to be ready quite that soon. Plans call for a late winter/early spring opening at Travilah Square Shopping Center off Darnestown Road, where the new Trader Joe’s will replace an existing location in Montgomery Village. This will be the second Rockville store for Trader Joe’s, potentially reducing congestion at the one at Federal Plaza on the Pike. (Editor’s note: For an update on this story, click here.)

Cooking on the Pike

Sur La Table had its grand opening at Pike & Rose last weekend, and the store is offering a full range of classes from Thai and Tuscan cooking to pie-making and French macaron workshops (click here for details). This is the first cookware store to open in our area since the departure of Williams-Sonoma at the doomed White Flint Mall. What’s up next for shoppers at Pike & Rose? Bluemercury and L.L. Bean. Stay tuned for opening dates.

The end of Toys R Us? 

This week Toys R Us became the latest U.S. retailer to declare bankruptcy, filing for Chapter 11 in hopes of reorganizing and restructuring some $5 billion in debt. We’re not optimistic about the future of this once-ubiquitous chain. Toy sales have been migrating not only to the web, where prices are lower and inventory endless, but also to stores like Walmart and Target where time-pressed shoppers can tackle their entire to-do list without making an extra stop for birthday gifts. In our area, where Toys R Us exited Rockville three years ago, local stores like Toy Castle and Child’s Play have stayed in business by adding value with personalized service, knowledgeable staff and extras like free gift-wrapping.

Starbucks online store shutting down

There are deals to be had on the Starbucks website this week as the coffee giant prepares to shut down its online store Oct. 1. Thermal tumblers, carafe sets, mugs and more are heavily discounted; click here to check out what’s left. Starbucks will continue to sell its merchandise at physical stores — where it hopes to lure customers with impulse buys while they’re waiting for their lattes — and some items will still be available online through Amazon and other partners.