Hobby Lobby opens in Gaithersburg

Hobby Lobby is now open at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center on the border of Gaithersburg with Rockville. This is the first Hobby Lobby store to open in Montgomery County. Right when you enter the vestibule, you are greeted with displays of decor and furniture that are currently on-sale. Operating hours for Hobby Lobby are 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday. The store is closed Sundays "to allow employees time for family and worship."

Hobby Lobby opening June 1 in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby store is currently expected to open on June 1, 2026 at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center in Gaithersburg, a spokesperson for the big box crafts and decor chain said yesterday. Barring any construction or permitting setbacks, the chain plans to host a grand opening event that day. Formerly home to Best Buy, the building is positioned on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville, and is right by off ramps from I-270. 

This is arguably the most-anticipated retail opening of 2026 in Montgomery County. There is pent-up demand among MoCo residents who have never had a local Hobby Lobby store to shop at. But there is also the vacuum left by the closure of local JOANN Fabrics and Crafts stores, including the Gaithersburg location. Construction continues on the Gaithersburg Hobby Lobby, but completion is now within sight.

Burlington sets opening date for Montgomery Village store

We now have an opening date for the new Burlington store at 19142 Montgomery Village Avenue at the Montgomery Village Center. The store is now scheduled to open on April 24, 2026, just in time to shop for your summer wardrobe. Burlington is replacing Big Lots at the center. I was sad about the closure of Big Lots, but Burlington is an excellent replacement, and better than I expected.

FineWine in Gaithersburg holding major auction

FineWine at 20-A Grand Corner Avenue at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg will be holding a major auction on February 19, 2026. The auction is not of fine vintages, but of shelving, display cases, signage, refrigerators, printers, wine glasses, seating, a sound system, office equipment...basically everything in the store. However, the auction listing does not say the store is closing.

Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby store construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the construction progress on Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby store, at 15750 Shady Grove Road in the 270 Center, on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville. While the interior fit-out is currently hidden behind a construction wall, you can see the modifications being made to the exterior of the former Best Buy starting to take shape. The arts and crafts megastore is highly anticipated, as not only has the chain never had a location here, but smaller competitor JOANN Fabrics and Crafts recently closed all of its stores, including the one in Gaithersburg. Hobby Lobby's main competition here will be Michaels.

Amazon Fresh closing in Gaithersburg

The Amazon Fresh grocery store at 15790 Shady Grove Road in Gaithersburg will permanently close this Sunday, February 1, 2026. Amazon is closing all of its Amazon Fresh and Go grocery stores across the country, as a very expensive experiment with Amazon-branded physical grocery stores by the retail giant concludes. In Montgomery County, that means the losses of Amazon Fresh stores at Chevy Chase Lake, Friendship Heights, Shady Grove Road on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg, and White Oak. It's an especially raw deal for all involved at the Chevy Chase locations, as residents of Chevy Chase Lake had expected to have an on-site grocery store, Friendship Heights residents will now have only the hipster house brands of Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market as full-size supermarkets within walking distance, and the Chevy Chase Land Company was counting on both to anchor their respective developments of Chevy Chase Lake and the Collection at Chevy Chase.

Panic grocery buying begins ahead of snow in Montgomery County (Photos)

Several days of media coverage of the snow storm expected to arrive Saturday night in the Washington, D.C. area has inspired a run on essential items at local grocery stores. Empty shelves were visible in some aisles at Harris Teeter in downtown Bethesda last night. Products being snapped up include the old stalwarts of milk, toilet paper, and paper towels. 

Shoppers are dutifully following new health advice from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and are buying whole milk over the low-fat options. Of course, if power goes out due to ice or falling trees, massive supplies of milk will be of little value. Also going fast under RFK, Jr.'s guidelines: red meat. 

Snow totals were expected to top 13" in initial guesses, but the National Weather Service Winter Storm Watch is now talking about 5-10" of snow accumulation. Given the decline of area government resilience in the face of even a few inches of snow this century, 5-10" could paralyze the region for days. Back in the 90s, Metrobus and Ride On kept going on major routes under reduced frequency, and Metro certainly ran on underground segments if not aboveground with more intense snow plowing operations. In recent years, the entire transit system shuts down during moderate to heavy snowstorms, and governments urge residents to "shelter in place." Heckuva job, Brownie!

Incompetence of government means you're on your own until plows and utility crews belatedly reach your neighborhood. Make sure you have plenty of batteries for flashlights and a transistor radio to receive news and weather updates in the event of a power outage. Warm clothes and blankets are essential, as well. Shelf-stable milk will be a lot more useful than those perishable plastic jugs people are hoarding. And fill your gas tank at least halfway.

Hobby Lobby begins hiring for Gaithersburg store

 

Hobby Lobby's first Montgomery County store is currently under construction at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center. Now the big box crafts retailer has begun hiring employees for this location. An ad posted on X seeks a Retail Co-Manager for the store, which sits on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville. "Join our team and let your creativity flourish in Gaithersburg, MD," the Christmas-sweater-themed post says. "Are you ready for the opportunity to thrive as a manager?"

Bobby Furniture closing in Gaithersburg

2025 has been a bad year for some furniture stores in Montgomery County. One of the biggest regional names, Marlo Furniture, closed its Rockville showroom. Now Bobby Furniture has announced it will be closing its store at 317 Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg. A closing sale is underway at all three of its Montgomery County locations, including the two that aren't closing, in Montgomery Village and Germantown. However, the company is not specifying the percentage you'll be saving over the regular price, so you may want to call ahead if you have a specific piece of furniture in mind, to inquire about the price and avoid making a long trip that ends in disappointment.

Dash In mega gas station proposed for Gaithersburg

The Dash In mega gas station and convenience store chain has proposed the construction of a new location on Shady Grove Road, on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville. If approved, it will be located on the site of the shuttered Red Lobster restaurant at 15700 Shady Grove Road, next to 270 Center, and across the street from Upper Rock. Montgomery County has lagged behind other areas in the development of these large-scale convenience stores for many years, but they are now appearing with increasing momentum, including Sheetz, Wawa, and Royal Farms. Dash In has revamped its store design and food offerings in recent years to better compete with those rivals.

A public meeting regarding the Shady Grove Dash In store proposal will be held tonight, October 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM. Not exactly an accommodating hour for the working person to participate. To join the meeting, use Zoom with Meeting ID: 862 4259 7632 and Passcode: 856064. You can also dial in using your phone at "+13017158592,,86242597632#,,,,*856064#" US (Washington DC) or "+13052241968,,86242597632#,,,,*856064#" US. To receive future communications about the project, you can sign up using this online form.

Gaithersburg shopping center for sale

Want to own a shopping center in Gaithersburg? Quince Orchard Marketplace at 12215 Darnestown Road is on the market for sale. Comprised of five individual properties, the shopping center is anchored by a Safeway grocery store. Other tenants include CVS Pharmacy, a Sunoco gas station, a Capital One bank branch, and California Tortilla. Beyond the revenue generating possibilities, of course, is the redevelopment potential of the site. The online sale listing does not include the asking price. 

Tesla Supercharger station planned for Germantown

A new Tesla Supercharger station is in the works for Germantown. It will be located at the Shops at Seneca Meadows at 20600 Seneca Meadows Parkway. The charging spaces will be located in the ground level of the parking garage at the shopping center, which is best known for its anchor tenant, Wegmans. Twelve charging spaces are expected to be furnished at this Supercharger station.

Arrest made in Montgomery Village 7-Eleven assault

Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect in the August 25, 2025 strong-arm robbery at the 7-Eleven at 19235 Watkins Mill Road, at the Montgomery Village Center. Police were called to the store at 9:07 PM that night, after a suspect allegedly assaulted the female clerk and stole merchandise. Sheldon King, 31, of Montgomery Village has been charged with felony robbery, 2nd-degree assault, and theft. According to Maryland court records, bail has been set at $5000 by Judge Michael O. Glynn III.

Spirit Halloween opens in Gaithersburg

Spirit Halloween is now open in Gaithersburg. Their temporary store location is at 30 Grand Corner Avenue at Rio Lakefront. That was once home to Pier One.  New items for 2025 include an apparent "Giant Rat" trend for 2025 that could get Donald Trump's attention. Also on sale is a Montgomery County Council-inspired Stuffed Dummy Prop. Gardez Bien! Operating hours for the store are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sundays.

Claire's closes at Gaithersburg Square

Claire's has closed at 524 N. Frederick Avenue at Gaithersburg Square. The interior has been mostly cleared out, with shelving and other leftover materials stacked up behind the counter. This closure can't be blamed on the moribund Montgomery County economy (though there's something odd about a Claire's in an open-air shopping center instead of an indoor mall). Claire's has filed for bankruptcy, and over 200 locations are closing nationwide.

Sula Latin Market opens in Gaithersburg

Sula Latin Market has opened at 122 E. Diamond Avenue in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. Just ignore the "coming soon" banner on the building. The Latin grocery store is located right across the street from Cancun Mexican Cuisine. Operating hours for the supermarket are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week.

Spirit Halloween returns to Gaithersburg for 2025

Spirit Halloween returns to Gaithersburg for a spooky 2025 season. It is once again in the former Pier One space at 30 Grand Corner Avenue. Boxes with Spirit logos and a telltale skeleton or two are being unpacked inside the store. The Spirit Halloween website says the store will open before the end of the month.

Hobby Lobby to open in Gaithersburg

Hobby Lobby is planning to open its first store in Montgomery County. It will be at 15750 Shady Grove Road in the 270 Center, on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville. That is the former Best Buy space. Hobby Lobby will take advantage of the big box building dimensions, and the immediate access to I-270 just west of the shopping center.

Hobby Lobby was founded by David Green in 1972, initially operating out of a garage with a $600 loan to create miniature picture frames. The success of these frames, which could be sold to larger retailers, allowed Green to open the first Hobby Lobby store in Oklahoma City in 1972. The company's growth was fueled by its focus on providing a wide array of craft and hobby supplies at competitive prices, coupled with a strong emphasis on customer service. Similar to Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby followed a practice of closing its stores on Sundays. Their strategy resonated with a broad customer base, enabling steady expansion across the United States.

The Hobby Lobby concept centers on offering a vast selection of arts, crafts, and home decor items under one roof, catering to a diverse range of creative interests and decorating styles. Their merchandise typically includes framing supplies, floral and wedding décor, fabric, jewelry making components, scrapbooking materials, and various craft supplies for painting, drawing, and needlework. Beyond crafts, Hobby Lobby also stocks a significant amount of seasonal decorations, party supplies, and general home furnishings, all curated to appeal to a family-friendly demographic interested in DIY projects and affordable home embellishments.

Miniso opens in Germantown

Miniso has opened at 19745 Frederick Road, in the Fox Chapel Center in Germantown. The Japanese-inspired Chinese lifestyle goods chain offers toys, health and organization products. Some characters are licensed, like Marvel and Coca-Cola, while others are original intellectual property of the growing international company. You may find stuffed animals or pillows in one aisle, kitchenware or fitness equipment in the next, and face masks and hand sanitizer in yet another.

Poke Bros., Charm City Run close in Gaithersburg

Is the poke bowl fad officially over? Poke Bros. has closed at 107 Market Street at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. The restaurant opened in November 2023. Their signage is still up, but the space is being marketed for lease. Also cleared out is Charm City Run at 255 Kentlands Boulevard, although a sticker remains on the glass out front. The Baltimore-based chain's stores in Annapolis, Bel Air, Columbia, Fells Point, Frederick, Rehobeth Beach, and Timonium remain open, according to the company website.