Prime commercial properties for sale in Damascus for only $800,000(!!)

Two adjacent commercial properties in a high-visibility location are now available for sale in Damascus. 26323 and 26315-26317 Ridge Road (MD 27) are located near the intersection with Main Street in the downtown business district. There is a high volume of traffic passing daily from Montgomery County through Damascus, Mount Airy and Westminster, and even a fairly high number of semi-trucks from Pennsylvania. A drive-thru fast food restaurant could do quite well here. The asking price is only $800,000 for the whole thing, and we can say "only" because of the obscene price of real estate in Montgomery County these days. Land in a high-traffic spot in MoCo for just $800,000? A steal!

Brothers Sew & Vac opens in Rockville

Brothers Sew & Vac, one of the longest-operating family-owned businesses in Bethesda, has moved to Rockville. Formerly located at 4826 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda, they have relocated and opened at 1067 Rockville Pike in the Talbott Center across from Taco Bell. The Morris family has owned and operated the business for seven decades. Brothers carries vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, and medical grade air purifiers. They also repair and service all brands of sewing machines and vacuum cleaners.

Hours of operation at the new Rockville store are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Right now, you can get 10% off anything in the store if you mention the code "Bethesda10" at purchase. Free shipping is also available on online orders. Another benefit of the Rockville location? Free parking!

Montgomery County vineyard hit hard by late frost

The late frost earlier this week that impacted agricultural businesses across several states on the eastern seaboard did not spare Windridge Vineyards in Montgomery County. Windridge announced today that it "suffered one of the most devastating frost events that we have experienced in our history." Temperatures at the Darnestown vineyard dropped to 26 degrees at one point, and were below freezing for over four hours. Despite taking several high-tech measures to reduce the impact on vines, the crop sustained significant frost damage. 

Windridge prepared for such an event in advance. Not only in measures to combat the cold, but also for the worst case scenario. To the latter end, the vineyard will fall back on its inventory of library wines to continue to serve customers during the affected period. It does remind one just how precarious life was when our ancestors' food supply could be reduced by the whims of weather and nature. There were no grocery stores or food stamps; your crop was it for the season.

Strong-arm robbery of takeout food in Rockville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Rockville yesterday afternoon, April 20, 2026. The assault and robbery took place in the 14900 block of Shady Grove Road at 4:34 PM. Police say the victim was seated inside his vehicle with a takeout order of food. A suspect approached, physically assaulted the victim, grabbed his food and fled on foot.

Police have not released a description of the suspect as of this writing. They did not indicate how the suspect managed to evade multiple surveillance cameras in the Fallsgrove Village Center parking lot. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call 301-279-8000.

Sheetz construction advancing at Walnut Hill Shopping Center (Photos)

The convenience store building at the future Sheetz at 733 S. Frederick Avenue at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg is looking a lot closer to a finished product since my last update - at least on the outside. Brick and stone facade treatments are in place where Tyvek was previously. Gaping squares and rectangles are now filled with window glass and doors, the latter already sporting Sheetz logos. And construction is now underway on the canopy that will protect the gas pumps and those pumping them from the elements.

Purse snatched at grocery store in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a purse-snatching at a grocery store Thursday afternoon, April 16, 2026. The theft was reported at a supermarket in the 600 block of Hungerford Drive at 4:55 PM Thursday. Giant is located on that block of Hungerford (MD 355), just north of the Rockville Town Center area. Remember to be alert when shopping in crowds, wear your purse diagonally rather than hanging off one side, and never leave it unattended in your shopping cart.

Bedroom intruder strikes in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a home intruder on April 7, 2026. The burglar was reported at a home in the 1000 block of Veirs Mill Road at 12:28 PM. According to police, the suspect entered through an unsecured bedroom window. The identity of the suspect is known to police.