Sears Gaithersburg closing to put 94 employees out of work

More details about the impact of the Sears store closing at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg are becoming known. Sears has informed the Maryland Department of Labor that 94 employees will be fired when the store and its Auto Center close.

The holding company that now owns Sears is giving a specific date of December 1, 2019 for the closure. If that holds, it means the store would miss out on the bulk of the Christmas shopping season and revenue.

Maryland in general isn't looking as "open for business" as its governor has claimed. The Nestle-Dreyer's Ice Cream plant in Laurel, Maryland has informed the DOL that it plans to lay-off 69 workers on November 1. Nice Christmas presents for Maryland workers from Wall Street!

Cinépolis Kentlands opening September 20 in Gaithersburg - here's a sneak preview (Video+Photos)

Cinépolis, the new movie theater at Market Square in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg, will officially open this Friday, September 20, 2019. The theater's new staff is being trained this week, and you can see a movie before Friday for half-price for that reason. Here's a look around at the interior, the concessions menu, and ticket prices.

Golden Bull Gaithersburg demolition - Before and After (Video+Photos)

The famous Golden Bull Grand Cafe at 7 Dalamar Street in Gaithersburg is no more. Crews have been demolishing the structure over the past week. Longtime Sam Eig readers will recall the restaurant is being replaced by a Megamart supermarket. If these photos aren't enough, the demolition contractor has uploaded a time lapse video of the destruction.

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

Madras Palace opening today in Gaithersburg

Madras Palace, a South Indian restaurant, is scheduled to host a grand opening today, September 16, 2019 at the Diamond Square shopping center on Bureau Drive in Gaithersburg. I believe this is something of a return for Madras Palace, which was displaced at this same shopping center by Limaria Pollo a la Brasa just a few years ago. This might be a good new lunch spot if you are working at the "Bureau of Standards," as I still like to call NIST.

Chevy conversion vans - they still exist in Gaithersburg

Do real American conversion vans even still exist in the age of the Euro/city van takeover? The answer is...yes. I found a couple at Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg. They are based on the 2019 Chevrolet Express 2500 Work Van, which is slightly narrower and shorter than the full-size Chevy Vans of the 1970s-1990s, but is still significantly larger than a minivan.

These vans in their stock form run in the $30,000s. With conversion package, though, they skyrocket into the $70s. That's almost to Escalade territory. But if you're a van fanatic, you know there's nothing like a van, especially a conversion van. Respect the van!

Michelle Malkin, sanctuary opponents to rally Friday in Rockville; counterprotest planned in Montgomery County immigration stand-off

Opponents and advocates of Montgomery County's policy of not detaining prisoners with ICE detainers being released from the Montgomery County jail until federal agents can take them into custody will face off outside the Montgomery County Council building at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville tomorrow, Friday, September 13, 2019 from 11:00 AM to noon. A rally headlined by political commentator and author Michelle Malkin and WMAL conservative radio host Larry O'Connor will take place on the steps of the Council building.

Rally organizers say they will call on Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich to withdraw his executive order,"Promoting Community Trust," that put further restrictions on ICE cooperation this year. Elrich has said he will review aspects of the policy, and determine whether to make changes.

Activists and organizations who support the County policy, which has come under national political fire from the Trump administration after eight immigrants in the country illegally were accused of separate sexual assaults of women and children in the County over the last few weeks, are pledging to turn out in force to counter the rally. "Let's drown out the hate with NOISE," Showing Up for Racial Justice - Montgomery County said in a Facebook announcement of their counter-rally, "MoCo Stands with Immigrants," that will take place at the same time and location.

Malkin is touring the country to promote a new book, Open Borders, Inc.: Who's Funding America's Destruction?, the release of which has coincided with the Montgomery County controversy. Others slated to appear at the original rally include Shari Rendall of FAIR, Brad Botwin of Help Save Maryland, author Ying Ma and Montgomery County Republican Party chair Alexander Bush.

The counterprotest will include members of SURJ, host Takoma Park Mobilization, Jews United for Justice, CASA de Maryland, UFCW Local 1994, Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition, Action in Montgomery, JCRC of Greater Washington, Poor People's Campaign, United We Dream, Sanctuary DMV, and other local unions and organizations.

Photo via @michellemalkin Twitter account

Cinepolis Kentlands construction update (Video+Photos)

The Cinepolis Kentlands movie theater is complete at Market Square in Gaithersburg. It will open by mid-month. The design is more understated compared to recent luxury theaters like ArcLight Bethesda and iPic at Pike & Rose. It will be interesting to see how the amenities and food compare to those, and the recent upscale upgrades at AMC Dine-In Rio Cinemas 18, the nearest competitor.