Marijuana sign lights up on Rockville Pike

A "CANNABIS DISPENSARY" sign has been activated at 1470 Rockville Pike in Rockville. This is a quite brilliant workaround of increasingly-restrictive sign regulations by Stash Cannabis Co., which will open in the former bank building there next month. The sign in question was previously erected by a previous bank tenant, and its use by Stash is therefore grandfathered in. Occasionally, you'll see a new tenant or a developer knock down a sign like this, apparently unaware of the value being lost in doing so. Too many businesses along the Pike are losing customers who can't see that they are there when driving past.

Update on Cold Stone Creamery, opening soon in Rockville

The sign is up at Cold Stone Creamery, opening soon at 891-H Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville. Window coverings remain in place, so we still can't see the state of progress on the interior fit-out of the chilled slab ice cream parlor. But this location does now appear on the Cold Stone website.

Ice cream lovers have previously had to patronize the Cold Stone kiosk at Montgomery Mall, but now we're going to get the full ice cream parlor experience. Austin 3:16 says Rockville Pike will get a replacement for the cruel closure of Baskin Robbins several years ago, and that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold said so. 

Model homes open at Watkins Mill Station in Gaithersburg

Model homes are now open to tour at Pulte Homes' Watkins Mill Station development at 506 Parkview Avenue in Gaithersburg. The development features stacked 2-level townhome-style condos, which start at $584,990. When completed, the property will offer a Clubhouse with a fitness room, an outdoor swimming pool, a pavilion, a tot lot, and two pocket parks. What's most interesting is how close it is to the actual train station that inspired its name. You are literally steps away from the platform at the Metropolitan Grove MARC commuter rail station. This could be a real boon for the person who works in downtown Silver Spring, or near Union Station in Washington, D.C., or for train buffs who want a front row seat to the Amtrak, CSX, and MARC Brunswick Line trains passing through this station.

Gorjana opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Gorjana has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A midsummer opening is perfect timing for this Laguna Beach-inspired jewelry boutique, even if you're more likely to be sporting pieces from your Gorjana haul at O.C., rather than in The O.C. New additions for this summer include scallop earrings, the Scallop Padlock Bay Necklace, and the 18K gold plated Crab Single Stud earring, all at surprisingly reasonable prices. Look for Gorjana on Level 1 of the mall, next to Sunglass Hut in the Nordstrom wing.

SLT coming this fall to Rockville

SLT is coming this fall to Rockville. It will be located at 1643-A Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza, between Shoe Fly and Appalachian Spring. The boutique fitness studio utilizes an advanced, custom version of the traditional Pilates reformer called the Megaformer. Following the Lagree Fitness Method, SLT's 50-minute workouts combine high-intensity strength training with cardio and low-impact Pilates. SLT stands for Strengthen • Lengthen • Tone.

Arby's coming soon to Derwood

Derwood will soon "have the meats." Arby's has leased the building formerly home to McDonald's at 7200 Muncaster Mill Road at the Red Mill Shops shopping center. The McDonald's closed here this past March. It will be an ironic transformation, as an Arby's restaurant on Rockville Pike was recently converted into a McDonald's. Now Arby's will return the favor in Derwood.

Little Miner Taco closes in Rockville

Little Miner Taco has closed at 39-A Maryland Avenue at The Square at Rockville in Rockville Town Center. The birria taco restaurant opened there two years ago. A sign in the window says the restaurant is closed for maintenance. However, the Rockville location has been removed from the Little Miner Taco website, which still lists their Brentwood and Northeast Washington D.C. spots.