Monday, September 29, 2014

POTOMAC RIVER RUNNING CLOSES AT ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE (PHOTOS)

Potomac River Running is the latest tenant to close at Rockvile Town Square. One pink sock, a message from a loyal customer and a few odds and ends are all that remain of the family-owned, local chain's Rockville store.

Cosi, Oro Pomodoro, Pho & Rolls, Carbón and the Hair Cuttery, have all vacated the Federal Realty property in only the last 3 months. Capital One bank is scheduled to close its Rockville Town Square branch permanently on October 17 at 6:00 PM.





11 comments:

  1. It would be a real public service for Rockville Nights to do an A to Z listing of ALL businesses that have closed since Town Center opened. Surely YOU must have this data. AND, whatever the number, is it above or below the national average for business closures at such venues. (BTW, Bob, do you read/respond to comments on your blog?)

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    1. Yes, I do read the comments. I'll see what I can find in terms of other closures in the short history of Rockville Town Square. I was aware of just about all of them at the time, but some were before I started this blog, so I don't have an easy way to just pull a definitive list from my own files.

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    2. I'd like to see that too. At least work out what % of current retail spaces are now empty there. That should be easy to work out.

      Pretty soon the Town Center will be like White Flint!

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  2. I agree completely. This is unbelievable! I visit the Rockville Town Center quite frequently and it seems like every time I turn around something else has closed. What is the deal??? The only thing I can figure is that the rent must be astronomical making it feasible only for corporate chain restaurants to have the financial backing to stay in business. It's a real shame for the Rockville community. No wonder young professionals are looking to live elsewhere.

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  3. I spoke with the owner of Tippy's Taco once it was clear that they were going out of business. She indicated that the rent was high and going higher. I'm not sure whether that's the primary reason for all the closings, but certainly it has to play a part.

    Vacancies drive down rent. With Oro and River Running holding such marquis locations, I would think that would stabilize the market. And, with the new spaces coming online across by the movie theater (and eventually up the pike) that those inexpensive types of spaces can appear elsewhere.

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  4. Robert, please write up the real deal on whats happening here. Is this going to happen at Pike and Rose? Why can't retail/restaurants stay in an area with decent disposable income.

    I'm a big fan of this style of community but I'm worried about whats happening here and what might happen in White Flint.

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    1. Because even with 'disposable income' if you have not noticed, you can't take a family for a meal and not spend $50-60, unless it is Chipotle or soemthing like that. And the retail is useless stuff. Frivolous fashion shops or stores full of "running supplies." Hair Cuttery is the most concerning. They were a useful business that said "screw this" and went to greener pastures. And instead of a Trader Joes, which would have fit there, we get some frou frou grocer thats always empty. How long you think that is going to last?
      Buffalo wild wings defies explanation. Its always very full. Selling thousand calorie sandwiches!
      But FRIT now has to compete with the other projects, and cant just charge whatever they want. Competition is good.

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  5. They're gonna get squeezed by Pike & Rose and Crown Farm.

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    1. You're absolutely right. I work near the Rockville Town Center and that's why I'm up there frequently at lunch time. However, after work or on weekends I'll be much more likely to visit P&R and Crown Farm. I actually went to Coastal Flats on Wed and not only was that restaurant HOPPING the entire Crown Farm area was busy that night. Something needs to change at the Town Center.

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  6. I wonder if the issue is more structural, speaking in terms of the business climate Maryland provides for businesses. Maryland seems to have more hole in the wall places than surrounding states. Is it easier to open a place in MD than it is to keep a place running in MD?

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  7. I think that Federal Realty has lost interest in the property. Not only are they losing tenants, but things are just not being maintained- lights burnt out and not replaced; planters damaged and not repaired; etc. And with Downtown Crown finishing up and launching, Town Center is already become a 'has been.' Sad.

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