Gaithersburg Amazon Fresh store to offer Just Walk Out technology

The future Amazon Fresh grocery stores at Chevy Chase Lake and on Shady Grove Road on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg will feature the Just Walk Out payment technology, an Amazon spokesperson said. That system allows the shopper to scan an in-store QR code on their Amazon app, or insert a credit or debit card, to open the Just Walk Out gates upon entering the store. Everything put in and out of the shopping cart will automatically be tabulated as the shopper travels through the store. To check out, the customer simply scans their app, or inserts the same card, to exit the store.

Shady Grove Road at 270 Center

Shady Grove is the closest to opening, and work is far along at the Chevy Chase Lake store, but the Amazon spokesperson said there are no official opening dates set for either location. As you can see, the sign is now up at the Shady Grove store in the 270 Center. If you look at the interior photos, you'll notice many sensors and cameras hanging from the ceiling. You'll also notice the shelves are not stocked yet.

Three Amazon Fresh stores are in the process of opening across the river in Northern Virginia, and also offer the Just Walk Out shopping experience. The Manasssas store opened last week at 7807 Sudley Road. Lorton's Amazon Fresh will open June 23 at 9409 Lorton Market Street. A third store in Arlington will be opening soon at 1550 Crystal Drive. All Amazon Fresh stores offer a $15.50-an-hour starting wage, and donate surplus food to local food banks in each jurisdiction.

Lapu Lapu opens in Gaithersburg (Photos + Menu)

Lapu Lapu is now open at 216 Market Street W. at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. The Filipino restaurant specializes in breakfast sandwiches. Lapu Lapu is named after the Filipino national hero who repelled the expeditionaries of Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521. The battle took place in the Visayas islands region of the Phillipines, where Lapu Lapu's chef-owner was born.

2 cars stolen from parking lots in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to two reports of vehicles being stolen from parking lots in Germantown in the space of 39 minutes on Tuesday. The first vehicle was reported stolen from a commercial parking lot in the 12900 block of Wisteria Drive at 3:00 PM. Thirty-nine minutes later, a second vehicle was reported stolen from a residential parking lot in the 19300 block of Circle Gate Drive.

Rio Grande Grill for sale in Germantown

Rio Grande Grill at 13541 Clopper Road in Seneca Park Plaza in Germantown is for sale. The Tex-Mex restaurant opened in 2020, and is still open for business. According to the sale listing, the asking price is $165,000, and includes everything needed for a turnkey operation of the restaurant by a new owner.

The family that owns Rio Grande has taken over Bassett's in Poolesville, and has come to find they can't operate both restaurants at once. An end unit space, the restaurant also features an outdoor dining patio.

Assault in Gaithersburg parking lot

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in a Gaithersburg parking lot Sunday afternoon. The assault was reported in a commercial parking lot in the 18200 block of Flower Hill Way at 6:21 PM, according to crime data.

Auto repair shop broken into in Damascus

An auto repair business was broken into in Damascus on Saturday night. The burglary was reported at a business in the 10000 block of Lewis Drive at 8:00 PM, according to crime data. When Montgomery County police officers arrived at the scene, they found evidence of forced entry.

Car stolen in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in Gaithersburg early Thursday morning. The vehicle was parked in the driveway of a home on Pissaro Court, and was reported stolen at 6:01 AM, according to crime data. That's in a neighborhood right next to Quince Orchard High School.