Gaithersburg Wawa final site plan goes before Planning Commission Wednesday

The long road to breaking ground on the construction of Montgomery County's first Wawa store may be nearing its end this week. On Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 7:30 PM, the Gaithersburg Planning Commission will review the project's final site plan. The Wawa convenience store and mega gas station, if approved, will be located at 405 S. Frederick Avenue, across from Gaithersburg High School. 

Planning staff is recommending approval of the site plan, with a condition that the applicant resolve concerns the Department of Public Works has with planned retaining walls on the property. Competitor Royal Farms' first Montgomery County store, also in Gaithersburg, is nearing completion at the Spectrum development. Wawa's arch-rival Sheetz has yet to announce any plans to open a store in Montgomery County.

Car wash erected at Royal Farms in Gaithersburg (Photos)

The car wash structure has been erected at the future Royal Farms at the Watkins Mill Road interchange with I-270 in Gaithersburg. Awnings have also been installed on the convenience store building. Parts of the site have been nicely landscaped.

The lights are on, but nobody's home (yet) at new Starbucks in Gaithersburg

The signage and exterior lighting at the new Starbucks store at 300 Spectrum Avenue in Gaithersburg is lit, but there's still no opening date. A cone blocks the finished drive-thru lane, which also has the height warning bar in place. What is known, is that this store has begun hiring staff in recent days, so it should be opening sooner rather than later.

T-Mobile store closes at Gaithersburg Square

The T-Mobile store at Gaithersburg Square has closed. T-Mobile is directing customers to a new store location at 12118 Darnestown Road, in the Shops at Potomac Valley. 

Trump endorses Dan Cox in Maryland governor race

Republican candidate Delegate Dan Cox has received President Donald Trump's "Complete and Total Endorsement" in the 2022 race for governor of Maryland. Trump declared Cox "MAGA all the way," after speaking with him by phone while Cox was visiting the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on Monday. He called Cox a "tough lawyer and smart businessman."

The Trump endorsement was another opportunity for the 45th president to roast current Gov. Larry Hogan (R) almost as much as touting Cox's MAGA bona fides. Trump's statement blasted Hogan as a "RINO," or Republican-in-name-only, who "has been terrible for our Country." Hogan has been highly critical of Trump, and briefly entertained the idea of running against him in 2020.

Trump praised Cox as an advocate for low taxes, election security, veterans, school choice, and 2nd Amendment rights, and for opposing further pandemic lockdowns of schools and businesses. Last year, Cox sued Hogan over coronavirus restrictions in a case that was ultimately dismissed, but which raised Cox's statewide name recognition.

Cox expressed his "sincere gratitude" to Trump for the endorsement in a livestream on Facebook Monday evening. He is competing against Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly Schulz, Montgomery County attorney Robin Ficker, Nottingham resident Minh Thanh Luong, and Baltimore County attorney Joe Werner in the Republican primary.

Purse snatching at Germantown grocery store

Montgomery County police were called to a supermarket in Germantown Friday night, November 19, 2021, to investigate a purse snatching that occurred at the store. The purse was snatched at a grocery store in the 19700 block of Germantown Road at 8:55 PM, according to crime data.

BurgerFi applies for liquor license at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Construction continues on BurgerFi at 5 Grand Corner Avenue at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. Other preparations for the gourmet burger restaurant are also advancing. BurgerFi has applied for its liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on its application has been scheduled for December 16. 2021.

DSW Shoe Warehouse opening at Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown

DSW Shoe Warehouse will open a new upcounty location in early 2022. It will be in the Milestone Shopping Center at 20900 Frederick Road, in Germantown. The chain currently has a store at Germantown Commons, on Middlebrook Road.

The Crossvines project moving forward at Poolesville Golf Course

Montgomery County is getting started on a promising project to increase revenue, and help further develop the County's agricultural sector, at the County Revenue Authority-owned Poolesville Golf Course at 16601 West Willard Road. Demolition permits have been requested for the existing clubhouse. In addition to a replacement clubhouse, a new winery, a banquet hall, a classroom, a crush facility and a malting facility will be constructed on the property. MCRA is partnering with the University of Maryland to not only train students in the field, but also to research varieties of grapes and other crops.

Transit, office use still haven't recovered in Montgomery County, mobility data show

Use of parks continues to surge

New mobility data released by Google indicates Montgomery County residents still aren't riding transit or going to the office in pre-pandemic numbers, despite having one of the highest vaccination rates in the country. Google compared data acquired from devices between September 29 and November 10, 2021 with pre-covid-outbreak data collected between January 3 and February 6, 2020. 

Transit use is still down 43% from early 2020 ridership numbers, the new data show. Employees are traveling to office workplaces 31% less this fall than in early 2020. 

Montgomery residents are still spending
more time in pharmacies than before the
pandemic, but less than they did this summer

County residents are still shopping in grocery stores and pharmacies more than they did before the pandemic, but only 2% more often, down from 7% more at the time of my last report. Shoppers are still not going into other types of retail stores or recreation facilities as often as they did pre-covid; those numbers are still 11% below the early 2020 baseline.

Use of Montgomery County parks during the
pandemic continues to surge

Montgomery County still has a new appreciation for the great outdoors, though. Fall use of parks countywide shot up to 42% higher than that of early 2020; that number was up only 28% more in warmer July and August 2021, by comparison. 

Gaithersburg Amazon Fresh store update (Photos)

Here's a look at the latest progress on the future Amazon Fresh grocery store in the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road. I'm still the only media outlet that has been able to authoritatively confirm this will be an Amazon Fresh store, way back in September 2020. Amazon has publicly remained silent on this location so far, and rebuffed all media requests. The exterior is nearing completion, but the Chevy Chase store proved that installation of all the wiring for the electronics in the store is a lengthier process than for your typical supermarket.

WSSC to replace water main under Montgomery Village Avenue

A major water main replacement project in Montgomery Village will take the WSSC utility about two years to complete. WSSC will replace the 1960s 24" water main that runs under Montgomery Village Avenue between Midcounty Highway and Centerway Road. Work will begin in January 2022.

Customers may experience service interruptions of up to 8 hours each over the two year period, with at least 48 hours' advance notice. Work will be performed between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Expect lane closures and parking restrictions.

First look: Starbucks at the Spectrum in Gaithersburg (Photos)

 

A new reason to exit I-270 at Watkins Mill Road is almost here. The new Starbucks at the Spectrum development in Gaithersburg is just about ready to open. Menu boards or screens are still needed, but seating is set up inside, and patio furniture is stacked and ready outside. Of course, the drive-thru is the main thing! Getting out of your car to buy coffee is so 2008.

Strong-arm robbery in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Germantown early Sunday morning, November 7, 2021. The robbery was reported in the 18800 block of Bent Willow Circle at 1:55 AM, according to crime data.

Gaithersburg Burger King construction update (Photos)

The construction, or reconstruction, of the Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road continues at a glacial pace. Since my last update on October 15, 2021, the tower at the front right corner of the building is the only significant progress visible. Also of note, as the project nears completion, it no longer resembles the new BK restaurant design the chain touted last year. Let's hope the grand reopening is sooner, rather than later, so we don't miss out on anymore limited-time menu items.