Royal Farms, Starbucks opening at Spectrum development in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Mega gas station/convenience store

will include car wash

Documents filed with the City of Gaithersburg show plans to construct a Royal Farms convenience store and mega gas station, and a Starbucks with outdoor patio seating, at the Spectrum development at Watkins Mill Road and MD 355. Unlike competitor Wawa, which will be a significant distance from any interstate off-ramp, Royal Farms will have a prime, high-traffic location right at the I-270/Watkins Mill Road interchange. That long-delayed interchange is now nearing completion.

Rendering of front of Royal Farms
Gaithersburg opening at Spectrum development

Royal Farms will feature a 5300 SF convenience store building, including gas pumps and a car wash. The project's developer will have to obtain an amendment to the original Spectrum approval to do this, as the service station use approved by the Mayor and Council called for a 4800 SF retail store.

Fill'er up at the 10-pump
Royal Farms mega gas station

Plans show Royal Farms will have a ten-pump gas station with canopy. Fuel tanker trucks will enter the site from Paramount Park Drive. This will be the first Royal Farms in Montgomery County.

Royal Farms site plan; gas pumps
at bottom, car wash at left

The Starbucks will include a drive-thru; whether it will compete with the other drive-thru Starbucks in Gaithersburg by operating 24-hours-a-day is not yet known. Also proposed as a change to the approved plan is a reduction in size of a retail/restaurant/office building to 4500 SF, in order to provide more parking spaces on-site.