Strong-arm robbery in Montgomery Village

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Montgomery Village in the morning hours of November 11, 2025. A lone assailant assaulted the adult female victim, and stole her property. Police describe the suspect only as a Black female of unknown age. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Armed robbery in broad daylight in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in Germantown yesterday afternoon, November 25, 2025. The robbery was reported in the 13000 block of Middlebrook Road at 4:26 PM Tuesday. It took place in a commercial parking lot.

Lakeforest Transit Center to be relocated and redeveloped at former Gaithersburg mall property

There's a new development in the redevelopment of the Lakeforest Mall site in Gaithersburg. A ceremony was held yesterday to kick off the first phase of a newly-announced partnership to relocate and redevelop the Lakeforest Transit Center. Transit is key to transforming the former community hub into a vibrant, mixed-use development, especially with no new highways or rail service planned for the massive housing and commercial growth that will occur.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Maryland State Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, and County Councilmembers, including Marilyn Balcombe, Sidney Katz, Dawn Luedtke, and Laurie-Anne Sayles, joined Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Chris Conklin, WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments Principal Kevin Rogers, and other community leaders to celebrate the milestone.

The redevelopment is a joint effort between Montgomery County and WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments. WRS is set to redevelop the nearly 100-acre site into a dynamic mixed-use community featuring residential housing, entertainment, shopping, and public gathering spaces.

“Lakeforest Mall was a place where people came together for decades, and this redevelopment gives us a chance to reimagine this site,” Elrich said Monday. “Transportation, housing, and economic development are connected, and this project reflects that.”

The now-closed Lakeforest Mall holds a special place in the community, having served as the County's largest mall for a time and a well-known gathering spot for 45 years since its opening in 1978. Greed on the part of the mall's final owner, and chronic failure by County leaders to address violent crime and gang activity at the mall resulted in the disgraceful demolition of the once-luxurious shopping mecca now underway at the site.

The first phase of the agreement focuses on site preparation for the new transit center. WRS will prepare nearly two acres of land, which includes filling in a drainage pond and grading the site to make it build-ready. This initial phase is expected to take about one year.

Following the completion of site preparation, MCDOT will purchase the land from WRS and commence construction on the new transit center itself.

The new transit center will continue to serve the eight existing Ride On bus routes currently using the Lakeforest Transit Center. Crucially, it is also being designed with scalability to accommodate the future MD 355 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. "The new transit center will support the nearly 2,000 riders per day who rely on the current Lakeforest Transit Center, as well as create capacity to accommodate the planned Flash Bus Rapid Transit corridor along MD 355 and any future developments," Conklin said.

Walnut Hill Shopping Center to add drive-thru Chipotle

 

Next year, you could be picking up a Chipotle burrito without even getting out of your car in Gaithersburg. The Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue will be adding a Chipotle restaurant on the North Westland Drive side of the property. A bank building will be demolished to clear the way for the restaurant, which will have a drive-thru. The drive-thru will be only for online pickup orders, and is called a Chipotlane. There is at least one other Chipotlane in Montgomery County, at the Briggs Chaney Chipotle at 13801 Outlet Drive.

Assault at hotel in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg City police were called to a hotel Wednesday evening, November 19, 2025, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The assault was reported at a hotel in the 200 block of Professional Drive at 7:02 PM Wednesday. An Extended Stay America hotel is located on that block.

Andy's Pizza opens in Gaithersburg

Andy's Pizza has opened at 145 Commerce Square Place at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. Andy's serves New York-style pizza in whole pies, or by the slice, and is quite an upgrade from previous tenant MOD Pizza. It is a double win to be able to order by the slice, with such high-quality pizzas. Next up for Andy's: a Montgomery Mall location in Bethesda.

Damascus bank branch to be auctioned off

A former Truist bank branch in the center of Damascus is about to be auctioned off. The building and associated structures are located at 9916 Main Street. This is a prime location for business, or for potential redevelopment as residential or mixed-use, with such redevelopment eagerly sought by the Montgomery County cartel, who have been working overtime to urbanize rural Damascus. They also want to jam as many Democrats as possible into the Republican town, before the U.S. Supreme Court declares their gerrymandered legislative and council district maps illegal. The opening bid is a ridiculously low $175,000, according to the online listing.

Strong-arm rape in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape Sunday night, November 16, 2025, in Germantown. The sexual assault was reported in a commercial parking lot in the 12600 block of Wisteria Drive at 9:41 PM Sunday. That appears to be the Germantown Square shopping center.

Assault at bus stop in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a bus stop early Saturday morning, November 15, 2025. The assault was reported at a bus stop in the 9600 block of Lost Knife Road at 1:24 AM Saturday. An individual was also accused of a liquor law violation in the same incident. Lost Knife Road and Lost Knife Circle remain crime hotspots with frequent calls for police, as the Montgomery County Council continues to slumber at the switch.

Update on Andy's Pizza in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Signage has been installed at Andy's Pizza, opening soon at 145 Commerce Square Place at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. More art has been added to the interior walls of the pizzeria. Furniture has been set up on the outdoor patio. Andy's Pizza will be opening here, and at a second Bethesda location in Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Bobby Furniture closing in Gaithersburg

2025 has been a bad year for some furniture stores in Montgomery County. One of the biggest regional names, Marlo Furniture, closed its Rockville showroom. Now Bobby Furniture has announced it will be closing its store at 317 Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg. A closing sale is underway at all three of its Montgomery County locations, including the two that aren't closing, in Montgomery Village and Germantown. However, the company is not specifying the percentage you'll be saving over the regular price, so you may want to call ahead if you have a specific piece of furniture in mind, to inquire about the price and avoid making a long trip that ends in disappointment.

Tatte Bakery & Cafe, Mattress Warehouse construction begins in Gaithersburg

Wow, what a juxtaposition! Construction has begun on the former Buca di Beppo building at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. According to the property leasing map, the building is being subdivided into two spaces. One half will hold the upscale New York-based Tatte Bakery & Cafe. The other half will go to Mattress Warehouse. The signing of Tatte Bakery & Cafe was first reported by The MoCo Show.

Criminals strike twice at Maserati dealership in Germantown

Montgomery County police are investigating two incidents at Criswell Maserati at 19570-A Amaranth Drive in Germantown. At 5:00 AM on October 28, 2025, two male suspects trespassed on the dealership property, and attempted to steal two cars. They were unsuccessful and fled.

Four days later, police responded to a burglary call at the dealership in the early morning hours of November 1. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry to a building on the premises. They determined property had been taken from the dealership.

Police describe the suspects in the second incident as "two Black males or two Hispanic males" of unknown age. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing either of these cases, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Lakeforest Mall signs hit auction block in Gaithersburg

The large Lakeforest Mall entrance signs could be yours, if you make the winning bid in an upcoming online auction. Capital Online Auctions is handling the event. Winners have to uninstall the signs themselves, and will have to provide proof of insurance for the "uninstallers." There appear to be six signs available in total, according to the online listing. The auction was first reported by The MoCo Show.

Assault reported at school in Germantown

Montgomery County police were called to a school in Germantown yesterday, November 6, 2025, after an assault was reported there. The assault was reported at a school in the 18800 block of Waring Station Road at 2:00 PM Thursday. Roberto Clemente Middle School is located on that block.

Assault in Montgomery Village

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in Montgomery Village Tuesday night, November 4, 2025. The assault was reported in the 19200 block of Watkins Mill Road at 9:00 PM. It took place in a commercial parking lot there.

Assault at office building in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County police were called to an office building in Gaithersburg Sunday morning, after someone was allegedly assaulted there. The assault was reported at an office property in the 7800 block of Beechcraft Avenue at 8:04 AM. As you might deduct from the street name, that is very close to the Montgomery County Airpark.

Attempted armed robbery in Montgomery Village

Montgomery County police are investigating an attempted armed robbery that took place in Montgomery Village on October 21, 2025. The incident was reported in the 19300 block of Keymar Way at 4:59 PM. An armed suspect displayed his weapon to the juvenile victim, and attempted to take property from him. Police did not explain why he was unsuccessful in doing so, but describe him as a Black male of unknown age. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.