Purse snatching at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg City police responded to a report of a purse-snatching at Rio Lakefront around lunchtime this past Sunday, October 8, 2023. The theft was reported at a restaurant in the unit block of Grand Corner Avenue at 12:07 PM Sunday. Initial reports indicate that the purse was not taken by force, but had been left unattended or unsupervised.

35-foot communications light pole proposed near Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Telecommunications giant Crown Castle has proposed the erection of a 35' communications light pole near Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. If approved, the pole would be installed at 10007 Fields Road. That is near The Lube Center, at the intersection of Sam Eig Highway (I-370) and Washingtonian Boulevard. It sounds like a small cell or 5G tower, as opposed to a taller cellphone tower.

Assault at Germantown apartment complex

Montgomery County police were called to an apartment complex in Germantown Wednesday evening, October 4, 2023, to investigate an assault that was reported there. The assault was reported in a park at the Cherry Knoll Apartments on Bent Willow Circle at 7:09 PM Wednesday.

Police investigate report of shots fired in Germantown townhome community

Montgomery County police were called to investigate the sound of gunshots around a townhouse community in Germantown Sunday morning. The incident was reported in the parking lot of a townhome development in the 19500 block of White Saddle Drive at 7:39 AM Sunday, October 1, 2023. That is in the Olde Seneca Woods neighborhood.

Assault at grocery store in Montgomery Village

Montgomery County police were called to a grocery store in Montgomery Village on Monday afternoon, October 2, 2023, after someone reported a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at a supermarket in the 19200 block of Montgomery Village Avenue at 3:01 PM Monday. Based on the block number, that appears to be the Lidl store at 19225 Montgomery Village Avenue.

IKEA opening soon at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

IKEA is opening what it terms a "Plan & order point with Pick-up" at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg this fall. It is across Boardwalk Place from Copper Canyon Grill. This store model combines "home furnishing inspiration and personalized interior design planning" with a pick-up area where online customers can receive their items ordered from the IKEA website. "While the Plan & order point and Plan & order point with Pick-up are different from our traditional IKEA stores, we hope they better meet the needs of our local customers and provide an IKEA that’s not only more accessible, but also affordable and sustainable," Carmen Spinola, Market Area Manager, IKEA U.S., said in a statement. 

IKEA has posted "coming soon" signage in the windows of the future store. Shouldn't they have a Volvo in the photo instead of a Volkswagen? Hur konstigt!

Sheetz "highly impressed with the performance" of its first Montgomery County store in Gaithersburg

Sheetz says it is "highly impressed with the performance" of its first store in Montgomery County, which opened in August at 751 Progress Way in Gaithersburg. The rapidly-growing convenience store and mega gas station chain provided its impression of the early financial success of the store in a new memo to the Gaithersburg Mayor and Council, which provided answers to questions raised at a previous public hearing regarding its planned second store at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center. In the unsigned memo, the company also expressed its appreciation for the support it has received from the City and the public, as it enters the Montgomery County market. 

The Altoona, Pennsylvania-based chain also reports 350 people attended the grand opening. In addition to the $2500 donations it made to Special Olympics Maryland and Feeding America that day, Sheetz says it has now made a second $6000 donation to SOM, which was generated by proceeds from its special discount fuel promotion during the grand opening period.

Gaithersburg has provided a welcoming launch point for the chain, as its zoning is friendlier to Sheetz than Montgomery County's, as well as to its fellow Pennsylvania competitor, Wawa. That is why both firms are launching their entry into Montgomery County within its city limits. It's also why the Walnut Hill Shopping Center is seeking annexation into the City, so that it can add the Sheetz store to its property.

Sheetz says its Walnut Hill store will be smaller and have less gas pumps, due to its closer proximity to a residential neighborhood than its Progress Way store - although that store was also smaller than the typical Sheetz operation found on major highways. It predicts that there is enough drive-by traffic on I-270 and MD 355 to support both Sheetz locations. Sheetz also believes that the lack of fast food restaurants in the immediate proximity of Walnut Hill provides demand for its quick-service fresh food operations. An attorney representing Walnut Hill Shopping Center, in separate correspondence to the Mayor and Council on September 19, says that the revenue provided by the Sheetz store will cover the cost of needed upgrades to the property.