Mobile crane work at Whole Foods Market at Kentlands Market Square (Photos)

A mobile crane was spotted at the Whole Foods Market at 316 Kentlands Boulevard at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg last night. It appeared that it would be working overnight to replace the rooftop HVAC system or to replace roofing materials, such as insulation. The store last underwent a major renovation in 2014.

Stedwick Pool renovations underway in Montgomery Village

A major renovation of the Stedwick Pool and Bathhouse has begun in Montgomery Village. The project is the most-expensive such renovation funded by the Montgomery Village Foundation to date. It will essentially be a brand-new facility when it reopens for the Summer 2026 season. The facility will include a completely-upgraded heated pool.

Photo courtesy MVF

Montgomery Village McDonald's to add 2nd drive-thru lane

The menu items at McDonald's keep getting smaller, but the drive-thru at the Montgomery Village location is about to get bigger. A second lane will be added to the drive-thru later this summer. This will bring the fast food restaurant in line with current McDonald's drive-thru standards, and with the dual-lane capacity of rivals like Chick-fil-A. McDonald's is located at 19388 Montgomery Village Avenue, and is one of the few 24-hour drive-thru fast food restaurants in Montgomery County. Don't tell the County Council!

Renovations ahead for Germantown Safeway

The Safeway at 19718 Germantown Road will be undergoing renovations in the coming months. Changes will include removal of one of the existing entrances to the grocery store, something stores like Target have been doing in recent months, due to rampant shoplifting and looting in Montgomery County. That entrance will become an emergency exit. New display cases, checkouts, and shelving will be installed, along with some remodeling updates of the interior design. The work is expected to begin before the end of spring.

Damascus Library closing for more than one year for renovations

The Damascus Library at 9701 Main Street in Damascus will close on Friday, January 31, 2025 for major renovations, Montgomery County Public Libraries announced. It is expected to remain closed until the fall of 2026. The renovations will include work on the senior center that shares the site with the library.

Updates planned include new flooring, paint, furniture, collaboration and study spaces, and a new customer service desk. Roof repairs will be made, and the building will be made compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. An "all-gender" restroom will be constructed, and the HVAC system and windows will be upgraded.

“This renovation is a major investment in the future of Damascus,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement. “By improving both the library and senior center, we are enhancing the experience for our residents and ensuring these spaces serve future generations. These updates will help us provide a vibrant, inclusive community space.”

Renovations ahead for Germantown Starbucks

Renovations are planned for one of the Starbucks stores in Germantown. The store at 20934 Frederick Road in the Neelsville Village Center will be remodeled. All of the work will be on the interior of the store. The project is expected to begin by fall 2024.

Walnut Hill Shopping Center remodeling going full steam, including Gaithersburg-themed mural

The massive makeover of the venerable Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg is going full tilt. We can now see the distinctive storefront facade of the future Aldi grocery store emerging outside the former Weis Markets. All tenants are getting remodeled fronts and new signage. 

What stands out the most at the moment is a new piece of public art. Unlike some of the abstract murals that have popped up around Montgomery County in recent years, this one is 100% Gaithersburg-themed. The Baltimore & Ohio - now CSX - railroad tracks lead off into infinity, if not Chicago. On the right side is the Bowman Bros. Mill, known today as the Granary Row shopping center. There's the clock that stood diagonally across from Diamond Drugs.

Best Buy to remodel Germantown store

Best Buy is planning significant renovations to its Germantown store at 20914 Frederick Road, at the fabulous Milestone Shopping Center. Remodeling will update the store to the chain's latest design for its larger, big box locations. Upgrades will include new flooring and fixtures, and more room for in-store pickup retrieval of orders. More fundamental changes to the store's infrastructure will include refreshing of the building's electrical and HVAC systems. The renovations are expected to begin this spring.

Renovations ahead for Germantown Dunkin' Donuts

A remodeling project is ahead for the Dunkin' Donuts store at 19781 Frederick Road, at the Fox Chapel Center in Germantown. It is a design update required by the brand, as it continues to convert stores across the country to its Next Gen design. 

There will not only be a new cosmetic look, but also changes to the layout, in line with the increasing trend of making it faster and more convenient to pick up takeout and delivery orders. Greater energy efficiency is another goal of the new store design. 

Work is expected to commence in the coming months. The availability of drive-thru service at this location will minimize disruption to customers from interior work.

Germantown Target to add new Ulta Beauty section

A new Ulta Beauty section is coming to the Target store at 20908 Frederick Road, at the Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown. The store-within-a-store concept offers "prestige" beauty products not ordinarily found at Target. Limited-edition products share space with Ulta's best-selling skin and hair care lines. GLAMlab, a virtual tool, allows you to preview your "results" without having to test or buy the product first. The small-scale interior renovation required for this upgrade to the Beauty department is expected to begin by spring.

Rendering courtesy Target

Van Hollen secures Pleasant View restoration funding for Gaithersburg

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D - Maryland) announced Tuesday that he has secured $943,000 in an FY-2023 U.S. Senate appropriations bill for renovations of structures at Gaithersburg's historic Pleasant View community. Pleasant View was established by free African-Americans after Maryland emancipation, following the Civil War. Many such communities were completely wiped off the map in Montgomery County by developers in the 20th century, such as those on River Road in Bethesda or in Rockville's Town Center.

The funding will be used by the Pleasant View Historical Association to renovate and stabilize structures that remain in Pleasant View. This will allow them to be reopened to the public for tours and educational opportunities. It will also expand the community's existing educational partnerships with Montgomery County Public Schools and the Universities at Shady Grove. The funding is not final until the Senate bill passes, is reconciled with the House of Representatives, and is signed by President Biden.

Photo courtesy Office of Senator Chris Van Hollen

Gaithersburg McDonald's renovations ahead

Another McDonald's renovation is ahead in Gaithersburg, a source with knowledge of the plans reports. The interior upgrades at the 9100 Rothbury Drive restaurant will be limited to the "back-of-the-house" kitchen area, though. No changes to business hours during the work have been announced yet.

Chicken Basket update in Gaithersburg

Here's a look at the progress on the renovations of the Chicken Basket restaurant at 30 N. Summit Avenue in Gaithersburg. The Olde Towne restaurant was damaged in a 2019 fire. Its website hasn't been updated with any new information about the reopening since January. Stay tuned!

New menu board activated at Shady Grove Road Burger King (Photos)

Don't go to bed before the King, or you might miss out on the latest in the slow drip of developments in the case of the truly-epic remodeling of the Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road at the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. After another few months of little visible activity, we have a new sign of progress. The new drive-thru menu board has been activated. Like the new ones at McDonald's, this has video screens.

Alas, the restaurant has not reopened yet. But it looks like we're getting close to an opening date. The other new "sign" at the site is one seeking job applicants for the pizza restaurant that will be located inside the building. This was the best Burger King in Montgomery County when it closed for renovations a couple of years ago(!!), and Whopper fans are extremely impatient for its return.

Lobby closed at Taco Bell in Germantown Town Center (Photos)

The Taco Bell at 19923 Century Boulevard in Germantown is the latest in Montgomery County to get a significant renovation. At this time, the lobby is closed, but the drive-thru remains open for business. Taco Bell, like many fast food restaurants and stores, is shifting the design of its buildings to accomodate the new emphasis on takeout, curbside pickup, delivery, and drive-thru services. Thirty locations will even get a second drive-thru lane in 2022.

The interior is completely cleared out

But the drive-thru is still open!

Shady Grove Burger King touts 2 new restaurants + first look at new interior (Photos)

One reason the major renovation of the Burger King on Shady Grove Road has taken so long may be the addition of other restaurants to the building, which is on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. New signage has been posted in the restaurant windows for Ripieno's Italian Bistro and JoJo's. Potomac Foods Group owns many restaurants across Maryland, including this Burger King.

PFG has already added a Ripieno's to the rear of its Ocean City Burger King restaurant. That location's pizza has been named to some Top 10 pizza lists since its opening there. Potomac Foods Group has operated Golden Corral restaurants in Maryland. One of its former Golden Corral locations in Salisbury is now....JoJo's Family Restaurant. The surf and turf photograph in the sign matches one on the JoJo's website.

The idea of adding two restaurants to this Burger King is not exactly brand new. PFG previously considered adding a Bojangles and a sub and salad shop to the Shady Grove location. The Bojangles was to replace the large play area at the front of the restaurant. 

There's still no reopening date announced, but it looks like opening day is getting closer. We now have our first look at the renovated interior. Furnishings now look a bit more upscale than the typical fast food dining room. There appears to be an outdoor dining patio space, as well.