MoCo misses out on Mitsubishi HQ, relocation expert cites importance of airport access

Montgomery County hasn't attracted a single major corporate headquarters in over twenty years, and Mitsubishi North America won't break that humiliating streak of failure. The Japanese industrial giant's U.S. headquarters has been in sunny California since 1988. After a nationwide search, they've chosen Franklin, Tennessee.

"I’m proud Mitsubishi Motors will call Franklin its U.S. home, and bring 200 high-quality jobs to Middle Tennessee," Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said in a press release announcing the victory. The press release notes that corporate headquarters jobs have grown by 37% in Tennessee since 2013. "Mitsubishi Motors’ decision to relocate its U.S. headquarters from California to Franklin underscores Tennessee’s growing profile as a hub for U.S. and international companies," Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Chair Bob Rolfe said. "Tennessee will continue to actively recruit quality headquarters jobs from higher-cost coastal states, and we are honored Mitsubishi will make this significant investment in Williamson County.”

This is just the latest major corporate HQ contest the Montgomery County Council and economic development officials have either lost, or simply dozed through without even making a bid. One ongoing disadvantage Montgomery has, besides its national reputation as a business-unfriendly jurisdiction with high taxes, is its lack of direct access to Dulles International Airport.

We could have had direct access by now, had our elected officials not canceled the long-planned Potomac River crossing to the Dulles area. John Boyd of corporate relocation firm The Boyd Company reaffirmed the importance of such access in recent comments about Sherwin Williams dissatisfaction with their current Cleveland HQ location, that has spurred them to begin a relocation search.

Boyd's analysis was reported by Cleveland's Fox 8 as follows:

He said air transit is a key factor in site selection. As Cleveland vies to keep the company that employs more than 33,000 people worldwide, Boyd said the region's lack of non-stop flights to markets around the globe is its biggest hurdle.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport was ranked second-worst among 16 similar-sized airports in the J.D. Power 2019 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. The airport has commissioned a firm to create a new master plan for upgrades.

"Every time there's a major trophy headquarters project, you always think about the usual suspects: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston. Cities with major gateway airports," Boyd said.

Dulles is unmatched in our region for the frequency of flights and variety of international business destinations. It would be so simple to eliminate this major obstacle to economic growth by merely greenlighting the new bridge to Dulles. The Council's stubborn refusal to do so speaks volumes about their radical, fringe ideology, and total lack of competence.

Utah firm buys Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Gaithersburg

Sky Zone Trampoline Park, located at 15813 Gaither Drive in Gaithersburg, has been sold. The indoor entertainment and fitness center was acquired by Provo-based CircusTrix. Sky Zone parks are owned and operated by independent franchisees. The Gaithersburg center is one of 12 acquired by CircusTrix, the company announced Tuesday. Sky Zones in Manassas and Fredericksburg were also purchased by CircusTrix.

McDonald's to get bigger in Derwood

The Derwood McDonald's at 15801 Frederick Road is planning an expansion. Under the site plan submitted by McDonald's USA, LLC to Montgomery County, the restaurant will increase in size on the lot from the current 5586 SF to 6082 SF.

The drive-thru will be changed to the dual lane design found at many McDonald's locations these days, allowing two rows of cars to line up at once. There will be "three small building additions" to the restaurant itself, and bicycle parking will be added.

McDonald's' site plan will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Board on November 7, 2019. Planning staff is recommending approval of the site plan.

Germantown man missing

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing Germantown man. Han Pham, 45, hasn't been seen since 2:00 AM Saturday, when he left his Rushing Water Way home on foot.

Police describe Pham as an Asian male, 5’9″, and 140 pounds.  He has brown eyes and collar-length black hair.  He was wearing a brown fleece jacket and blue jeans when he disappeared Saturday morning.

Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Han Pham is asked to call the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 (24 hours).

Red Door Salon & Spa rebrands as Mynd Spa & Salon in Rockville, Gaithersburg

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa is in the process of rebranding nationwide as Mynd Spa & Salon. While the rebranding will occur one region at a time, their Rockville and Gaithersburg salons have now officially made the change. The revamped salons will focus on seven primary services: massage therapy, body treatments, skin care, nail care, haircut and color, makeup, and waxing. There will be a new emphasis on products from the European Union, where the company says environmental and purity standards are higher than in the United States.

Rockville's spa is at 934 Rose Avenue in the Canopy by Hilton hotel. Gaithersburg's is in the Kentlands at Kentlands Place, located at 62 Market Street.

Photo courtesy of Mynd Spa & Salon

State to take public input on I-270 congestion between Gaithersburg and I-70

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan

The Maryland State Highway Administration will hold two meetings in upper Montgomery County next month, to get public feedback on options to reduce traffic congestion on I-270 between I-370 in Gaithersburg and I-70 in Frederick County. Gov. Larry Hogan is already moving forward on existing plans for Express Lanes south of there on I-270.

Meetings will be held on the following dates at these locations:

• Tuesday, November 12, 2019 – Clarksburg High School, 22500 Wims Road, Clarksburg
• Thursday, November 21, 2019 – Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg

Lil' Cakes & Creamery opening today in Gaithersburg

Lil' Cakes & Creamery, a dessert shop specializing in house-made ice cream and cupcakes, will open today at 488 N. Frederick Avenue, in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center. If 50 flavors of ice cream and at least 14 varieties of cupcakes aren't enough for your sweet tooth, consider their cookies, cake pops, macarons, ice cream tacos and milkshakes. The 1200 SF shop is owned by Mohammed Nadeem.

Watkins Mill I-270 interchange status update

The new Watkins Mill Road interchange with Interstate 270 is now 80% complete, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration. SHA says the delivery date is now anticipated to be Fall 2020. Expect nighttime closures of up to 3 lanes in each direction when workers are placing concrete decks. There will also be occasional closures of the left lane in the northbound local lanes between I-370 and Exit 11, to allow installation of overhead sign foundations.

Gaithersburg to hold public hearing tonight on Royal Farms, Starbucks at Spectrum development

Gaithersburg's Mayor and Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing tonight on three proposed additions to the Spectrum development along Watkins Mill Road between I-270 and MD 355. A Royal Farms convenience store, with gas station and car wash, has been proposed for a site near the future interchange with I-270. Also on the drawing board is a Starbucks, and a pad site for a future retail or restaurant tenant.

Royal Farms has shown some renderings of what its structures will look like. The store, best known for its award-winning fried chicken, will have 61 parking spaces. If approved, it will be the first Royal Farms in Montgomery County.

Rendering of car wash at
proposed Royal Farms

City staff have not made a recommendation on the proposal yet, as it is very early in the process. The Mayor and Council will determine how long to keep the public comment period open at tonight's meeting, which will be held at 7:30 PM at City Hall.

Germantown woman missing

Montgomery County police are searching for a missing Germantown woman. Matilda Wilson was last seen by family members today around 4:00 AM, in the 20400 block of Apple Harvest Circle. Detectives say she suffers from dementia.

Wilson, 73, is described by police as a black female, 5’6″ tall, and about 150 pounds.  She has brown/burgundy hair and brown eyes.  When she was last seen by family, she was wearing a tan robe, black pants, and black dance slippers.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Matilda Wilson is asked to call the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 (available 24 hours). Callers may remain anonymous.

Top Golf Germantown construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress at Top Golf, right off I-270 in Germantown. You can see a logo painted on the main building. The individual bays for players are also taking shape.

Montgomery County officer shooting was self-inflicted, coroner rules

Officer was a 

Gaithersburg resident

An already-tragic story took a sadder turn Tuesday, as the Chief Medical Examiner of Washington, D.C. declared the gunshot wound that caused the death of Montgomery County police officer Thomas J. Bomba was self-inflicted. Bomba was found wounded on the rooftop of a downtown Silver Spring garage Monday morning by colleagues, who were responding as backup to Bomba's earlier report of disorderly conduct he said was investigating in that garage.

Bomba's body camera was not activated during the shooting, police said. They did not indicate if the camera was active at any point prior to the shooting incident Monday morning. However, the police department announced it will conduct an "exhaustive investigation" of Bomba's death. No memorial service details have been announced as of this writing.

Montgomery County police officer who died in Silver Spring shooting was Gaithersburg resident

Montgomery County police have identified the officer killed in a downtown Silver Spring parking garage shooting as 13-year veteran and Gaithersburg resident Thomas J. Bomba, 38, who was assigned to the 3rd District. Bomba is survived by his wife and two children. He passed away at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, after being shot around 8:49 AM Monday morning in the garage at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street.

Bomba had radioed the police dispatcher that he was responding to a disorderly conduct call in the garage. The first officer to arrive as backup found Bomba suffering from a gunshot wound on the top level of the garage.

Police have not publicly released any leads, suspect descriptions or details about the shooting incident. They have only stated that the public is not in immediate danger.

Montgomery County Council places anti-police legislation
announcement directly above their statement on officer death

"Our hearts are hurting today. Officer Bomba is a hero," the Montgomery County Council said in a press release commenting on the shooting. Gone unsaid in that press release, and in media coverage, is the fact that the Council has spent the last ten months attacking, defaming and slandering the men and women of MCPD, which is arguably the finest and most-professional police department in the country. In fact, the Council had the audacity to post a press release announcing yet another anti-police bill directly above their statement on yesterday's shooting! Truly disgusting. Shameful.

New Starbucks proposed for Kentlands in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg could be getting another Starbucks if the project is approved by the city's Planning Commssion. This one would be in the Kentlands, at the Kentlands Square shopping center. It would include a drive-thru.

The project needs approval from the Planning Commission only because the Starbucks will have the recent generation electronic sign in the drive-thru lane. Staff is recommending approval of the Starbucks.

Sears Gaithersburg closing sale begins at Lakeforest Mall

The Sears store at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg is scheduled to close around December 1. Sears has now officially begun the closing sale at the store. According to sales materials, for starters, everything in the store is at least 25% off.

Major appliances are up to half-off. All shoes and bras are 50% off. Fine jewelry is 70% off. Famous Craftsman tools are up to 40% off. All "fashion clothing" except Lands' End is 50-70% off. Not bad. It's actually quite a good sale.

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.