Marshalls sets opening date at Gaithersburg Square

Marshalls has finally announced an opening date for its new store at the Gaithersburg Square shopping center. The department store will open at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2021. As you can see here, inventory is currently being put into place on the sales floor.

Royal Farms bricking up in Gaithersburg (Photos)

A brick exterior is now being added to the future Royal Farms convenience store building at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg. Bricks are stacked up on scaffolding to be added to the facade. There is still no target opening date for this location, which is at a prime spot off Watkins Mill Road at the I-270 interchange, but construction continues to advance rapidly.

Carter's closes in Gaithersburg

Carter's has closed at 520 N. Frederick Avenue at Gaithersburg Square. The interior has been cleared out, and customers are being redirected to their Clarksburg store. This is one of around 200 locations the children's clothing chain expects to close nationwide between now and next year. That is about a quarter of the company's stores.

Armed robbery at Gaithersburg gas station

Gaithersburg police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a gas station early yesterday morning. The robbery was reported at a gas station in the 10000 block of Fields Road around 2:21 AM, according to crime data.

Laundromat use proposed for Olde Towne Gaithersburg bank building

The Gaithersburg Historic District Commission will conduct a courtesy review of proposed modifications to the bank building at 22 N. Summit Avenue in Olde Towne Gaithersburg at its July 28, 2021 meeting. Changes proposed would allow the building to be converted to a laundromat. The bank was constructed in 1891.

Proposed changes include a new door along the south elevation; new air vents along the North, South and West elevations; removal of the drive through window; additional landscaping beds added to the parking lot; the addition of a fence in the existing drive-thru lane to screen new HVAC equipment; and the adaptive reuse of the freestanding drive-through canopy for required motorcycle parking.

Planning staff is recommending approval of the plan. A staff report suggests the proposed changes will not harm the integrity of the building or the surrounding structures. 

Slow progress at Taste of Greece at Spectrum in Gaithersburg

Not much has happened inside Ela Mesa Taste of Greece since last year. However, there appears to have been some recent work on flooring, and construction supplies have been loaded into the space. Currently, there is an electrical permit posted that allows for the installation of eight speakers. Ela Mesa Taste of Greece is located at 109 Paramount Park Drive at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg.

Royal Farms Gaithersburg update (Photos)

It's Tyvek City at the Royal Farms construction site at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg. The convenience store building continues to take the form we all recognize, including where the Royal Farms logo will be placed over the entrance. Excavation for gas pumps is underway under the mega gas station canopy. Royal Farms will be right off Watkins Mill Road by the I-270 interchange.

Montgomery Village Lidl update (Video+Photos)

There has been much progress on the construction of the new Lidl grocery store at the intersection of Montgomery Village Avenue and Centerway Road since my last update. That is quite a change in pace from the sluggish early phases of the project. Signage is up outside and inside. Some lighting fixtures are in place. 

Outside, the parking lot is taking a more finished shape. There still is no corporate announcement of an official opening date, but stay tuned!

Gaithersburg Planning Commission to make official recommendation on Lakeforest Mall draft master plan

Gaithersburg's Planning Commission will make its official recommendation to the Mayor and Council on whether or not to approve the draft Lakeforest Mall master plan at its virtual meeting tomorrow night, Wednesday, July 21, 2021. The plan will set design standards, and make recommendations that any future redevelopment is expected to remain consistent with. Planning staff has recommended approval of the draft master plan, with conditions. Those conditions will be mandatory, and will be subject to their own public hearing.

South House Garden aiming for August opening in Gaithersburg

South House Garden has announced on Instagram that it intends to open next month at 317 E. Diamond Avenue in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. The beer garden and restaurant also mentioned it will have live music, over 50 beer taps, pool tables, darts, a jukebox, and an arcade with machines like Ms. Pac-Man and Mortal Kombat. 

Goodyear Auto Service coming to Gaithersburg

Goodyear Auto Service is coming soon to Gaithersburg. The auto repair facility will be located at 457 N. Frederick Avenue at Odendhal Avenue. They are now hiring for all positions.

Montgomery County to rifle through residents' recycling bins with camera crews in tow

Montgomery County is experiencing a violent crime wave, but has defunded 27 police officer positions. The County was chastised last year for leaving 54 positions unfilled at its 911 call center, a failure that was highlighted by a 36 minute response time to a fatal drowning incident. Those are far from the only areas of government understaffed, as witnesses to the collapse of a rusted-out traffic signal pole in Bethesda this week can attest. But the County's Department of Environmental Protection appears to be well-staffed, as it will demonstrate this morning in Bethesda. 

According to a press release, DEP inspectors will go house-to-house in the neighborhood near Walt Whitman High School, and rifle through each resident's recycling bin. "Reporters and camera crews will be able to follow the inspectors" starting at 6:30 AM this morning, in what appears to be a massive violation of residents' privacy. This was clearly the wrong week to toss your unshredded sensitive documents or Playboy collection. Do you read the wrong newspaper, or drink too many boxed alcoholic beverages? We may find out this morning!

The "Oops Tag" program quietly began two months ago, the press release states. Inspectors have had the time and manpower to already sweep through those early-targeted neighborhoods "two to three times." Rummaging through residents' recycling bins, they have left a tag on those which contained items that cannot be recycled, identifying the ineligible items. Such ineligible items cost taxpayers approximately $750,000 in 2020, the press release says.

Bear's Shaved Ice named one of DC's area's 10 best icy treat destinations by Washingtonian

Washingtonian magazine has named Gaithersburg's Bear's Shaved Ice one of the D.C. area's 10 best icy treat destinations. Bear's is located at 9811 Washingtonian Boulevard at Rio Lakefront.

Photo courtesy Bear's Shaved Ice

Indecent exposure in Germantown parking lot

Montgomery County police responded to a report of indecent exposure at a parking lot in Germantown on Monday morning. The incident was reported at a residential parking lot in the 18700 block of Curry Powder Lane around 11:32 AM, according to crime data.

Manginos Pizza & Subs for sale in Germantown

Manginos Pizza & Subs at 13015 Wisteria Drive in Germantown is for sale, according to an online listing. The asking price is $170,000, and includes inventory, furniture, fixtures and equipment. Manginos is located in the Germantown Plaza shopping center. This could be a turnkey opportunity for anyone wanting to open their own pizzeria.