Gaithersburg restaurant facing punishment from MoCo after alleged liquor violations

Montgomery County's Board of License Commissioners is summoning the owners of Hibachi Sushi Supreme Buffet in Gaithersburg to a hearing on October 17. The holders of the restaurant's liquor license are being asked to explain why commissioners should not penalize, fine, or entirely revoke the license, in light of the alleged violations of County liquor laws.

Fines can be up to $20,000, and the board can suspend or revoke a license. If a license is officially revoked, the licensee cannot again hold a liquor license in Maryland.

Gaithersburg Wawa approved by Mayor & Council

The proposed Wawa convenience store and gas station proposed for 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg was approved by the Mayor and Council last night. In approving Montgomery County's first Wawa store, the final vote was four-to-one in favor, with Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles opposed.

Several residents and local business owners spoke against approval of the store earlier at last night's meeting, citing environmental impacts and effects on nearby small businesses. Wawa has disputed these impacts in statements filed previously with the City, but the protests appear to have persuaded one councilmember to vote against the store.

For those eagerly awaiting MoCo's first Wawa, however, the countdown to opening day begins. Wawa is expected to open in November or December 2020.

McRib is back in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Damascus!

McRib is back in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Damascus! McDonald's legendary sandwich, one of a handful of fast food items to earn my 6 star rating (out of 5 stars), has returned to Montgomery County and Maryland for the first time in seven years. I hadn't had a McRib since 2012, and am pleased to report they are just as good as they were in the past. Watch my detailed review of McRib 2019, and find the McRib nearest you using the official McRib locator. Many thanks to McDonald's and the local franchise for listening to their loyal customers and bringing back McRib!

Teen with gun hidden in backpack arrested at Target in Germantown

Montgomery County police arrested a teenage boy at the Target at Milestone Center in Germantown, after finding a handgun and marijuana in his backpack. Officers responded to the store on September 27 around 3:50 PM, after an employee called police. The employee informed officers that a teen who had been thrown out of the store previously had returned.

An officer witnessed the teen and another juvenile exit a restroom in the store and approached them. When confronted, the boys attempted to flee the store. After a short foot pursuit, they were taken into custody.

Searching the alleged trespassing teen's backpack, officers found a handgun with an obliterated serial number and marijuana. Christopher Ritter-Lucas, 16, was charged as an adult with crimes to include possession of a controlled dangerous substance and firearm-related offenses to include possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a minor (under the age of 21), and knowingly altering a firearm identification number.

The second teen, also a 16-year-old male, was found to have marijuana as well. He was charged as a minor with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and obstructing and hindering, and was released to the custody of his guardian.

Police released a photo of the gun, but not of Ritter-Lucas, because he is a juvenile.

Gaithersburg Planning Commission approves final site plan for new building at Crown

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission voted unanimously last night to approve the final site plan for a 386-unit residential building with ground floor retail at the corner of Fields Road and Decoverly Drive in the Crown development. Developer Aventon Companies plans to file for building permits next week, in the hopes of a December or January groundbreaking.

Six conditions were imposed to address concerns raised by commissioners and staff. Chair John Bauer praised the development team for devising "comprehensive solution[s]" to the issues the commissioners had raised at the previous meeting. "Nicely done," he added.

One landscaping feature will be tall grass
and vegetation alongside parts of the building,
such as here at the loading dock

Bank of America nearing opening at Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg

A very modern-looking new Bank of America branch almost looks out of place at the retro Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. The pad site bank offers twin drive-thru lanes. It looks ready to go, but a note in the window warns that neither the bank nor the ATM are operational at this time.

Lidl coming to Montgomery Village

Will be first Lidl store

in Montgomery County

Grocery industry observers have been waiting to see when Lidl would enter the Montgomery County market, and where. The German supermarket chain has been rapidly expanding in Virginia, where it located its U.S. headquarters, as well. Montgomery County lost the competition for the headquarters, but it will finally get a Lidl - in Montgomery Village.

The Montgomery Village Lidl will be located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Montgomery Village Avenue and Centerway Road. This will be an exciting opening for grocery shoppers all across the county, who want to find out for themselves what all the buzz is about regarding Lidl. The project application was received by the Montgomery County Planning Department last month, and is moving through the early stages of the approval process.