Rockville Pike McDonald's construction update (Photos)

Construction of the new McDonald's restaurant at 11710 Rockville Pike is nearing the finish line. The Golden Arches are now in place on the front facade of the building, as are the ordering screens in the two drive-thru lanes - which are currently blocked off with tape. Last week I broke the news that this will be only the third of the chain's "McDonald's On-the-Go" store concept to open in the U.S., with a focus on drive-thru, takeout, and delivery orders only, and no indoor dining room. That means you will be one of the first to experience the new concept outside of Los Angeles and Fort Worth, when this location opens.

Signage installed at UNIQLO at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Permanent signage for UNIQLO has been installed on its outdoor-facing storefront at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Japanese apparel store is scheduled to open this Friday, May 23, 2025. Operating hours for UNIQLO will be 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday (including Memorial Day on May 26), and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sundays. When it opens, look for UNIQLO on Level 2 of the mall, in the space where Express and Express Men used to be.

Rockville Trader Joe's construction update (Photos)

Permanent signage has been installed on the facade of Trader Joe's, opening soon at 225 N. Washington Street at Rockville Town Square. Inside, cash registers and shopping carts are now in place, the screens of the former already active. Trader Joe's replaces departed grocer Dawson's Market as the retail anchor of the struggling development in Rockville Town Center. No official opening date has been made public as of this writing. 

Rockville Wegmans installs seating for outdoor dining (Photos)

The new Wegmans grocery store at 1590 Rockville Pike continues to prepare for its opening next month. Furniture has now been installed on an outdoor dining patio, with seating and umbrellas for those enjoying takeaway foods from the store in the fresh air of the Pike. Menu items will include sushi, pizza, chef-made salads, and sandwiches. Wegmans is scheduled to open on June 25, 2025.

ICE MS-13 arrest exposes Montgomery County's soft-on-crime leadership

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 26-year-old Salvadoran national Nelson Vladimir Amaya-Benitez in Gaithersburg on May 12, 2025, the agency announced yesterday. ICE described Amaya-Benitez as "a validated MS-13 gang member." ICE Baltimore acting Field Officer Director Nikita Baker blasted Montgomery County officials for not honoring four detainers it placed on Amaya-Benitez at times he was in custody since 2017. But what's equally-astonishing, is the list of crimes he committed in Montgomery County between 2017 and 2024, and the favorable treatment he received from Montgomery County judges and elected officials, who allowed him to continue preying on the community until his arrest by ICE on Monday.

Amaya-Benitez already had a criminal record in Texas, before he even arrived in Montgomery County in 2017. Yet, knowing this, and that Amaya-Benitez was in the country illegally, MoCo judges gave him incredibly light sentences. In 2017, he was convicted of armed robbery in Montgomery County, but received a sentence of only 18 months. In 2023, he was convicted of theft in Montgomery County. Despite his criminal record now including the previous armed robbery, a Montgomery County judge suspended his entire sentence(!!). Less than a month later, Amaya-Benitez was convicted of motor vehicle theft, and rogue and vagabond (the act of breaking into - or testing door handles of - cars with the intent to steal items inside). He then received a jail sentence of only 18 months.

Three days later, Amaya-Benitez was convicted of 2nd-degree malicious burning in Montgomery County. The judge in that case also sentenced him to 18 months. ICE lodged a detainer on him with the Montgomery County Detention Center on October 11, 2023, which was not honored by Montgomery County. The agency reported yesterday that Montgomery County not only prevented ICE from deporting Amaya-Benitez, but released him as a free man "on an unknown date."

With Montgomery County sending a clear message of minimal consequences for criminal activity, and protection from deportation, Amaya-Benitez was arrested and charged with attempted motor vehicle theft in Montgomery County on September 29, 2024. He was convicted of that crime on April 4 of this year. What was his sentence from the Montgomery County judge, with the above rap sheet in front of the court? Hold on to your seat, folks: 7 months and 19 days.

If your mind isn't blown yet, Amaya-Benitez never even served that light sentence. According to ICE, Montgomery County released him into the community again on April 18, 2025, only 14 days after his conviction. 

Montgomery County officials were clearly delighted to host Amaya-Benitez, and to allow him to prey on the residents who pay their salaries. His case underscores yet again their soft-on-crime, anti-police, pro-criminal policies, which have helped sustain a violent crime wave since 2020. On this matter alone, no Montgomery County elected official should be returned to office in 2026. 

After eight years of committing crimes against Montgomery County residents with the help of Montgomery County officials, Amaya-Benitez is now in ICE custody. Perhaps this "Maryland Man" will receive a last-minute assist to remain in the country from Senator Chris Van Hollen or a federal judge, to ensure he can once again return to Montgomery County and continue his good work.

While ICE official Baker did not comment on the ridiculously-light sentences Amaya-Benitez received from Montgomery County judges, Baker did slam County officials for repeatedly refusing to honor the agency's detainers on him. "ICE lodged five detainers — four of which were not honored — allowing him to return to the streets and reoffend time and time again," Baker said in a statement Thursday. "This pattern is unacceptable. We strongly encourage our local law enforcement partners to honor our detainers to ensure that dangerous individuals like this are held accountable and removed from our communities to protect the law-abiding residents we serve."

Photo courtesy ICE

Jonathan's Sports Pub changes hands in Rockville

Jonathan's Sports Pub at 820 Baltimore Road in Rockville is under new ownership. The popular restaurant and bar at the Burgundy Park Shopping Center was acquired yesterday by Amy Shin Huang, who also owns Fusion Bar & Grill at the Cloverly Village Center in Silver Spring. While she plans to keep the general "dive bar" aesthetic longtime patrons have come to know and love, upgrades to the menu and decor are planned. High ratings on Yelp and Google for Fusion Bar & Grill - also termed a "dive bar" by customers - suggest she has a recipe for success in this dining and nightlife category.

The establishment will also get a new name, although forty customers have signed a petition asking the new owner to keep the Jonathan's moniker. Other patrons have expressed openness to a name change. Despite its dive bar reputation, venerable strip mall location, and dated decor, it should be noted that the quality of the food at Jonathan's is high. According to Yelp, Montgomery County health inspectors found no violations at the restaurant during their last visit.

Peeping Tom at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda after someone reported a Peeping Tom incident there on Tuesday afternoon, May 13, 2025. The voyeur was reported at the mall at 4:10 PM Tuesday. No further information is available at this time.

The Farragut Flasher strikes in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a flasher in the Twinbrook Forest area on May 8, 2025. The female victim was in the 1600 block of Farragut Avenue at 2:40 PM when an unknown suspect exposed his privates to her. He fled in a black SUV. Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 30s, with long hair and wearing an orange shirt. He spoke only Spanish, police say. If you can identify this suspect, call police at 240-314-8900.

Maryland credit rating downgraded by Moody's, losing coveted AAA rating

Maryland's cost to borrow money will soar after credit agency Moody's downgraded the state's credit rating from the coveted AAA to Aa1 today. Moody's ratings system charitably denotes Aa1 as being a "high quality" investment, as opposed to AAA's recognition of a "highest-quality" investment. In practice, however, the lower grade means you - the taxpayer - will pay a higher rate of interest when Maryland issues bonds to pay for infrastructure projects, for example.

The rating downgrade was first reported by Maryland Matters, which noted that today's change ends a remarkable streak of the state holding a AAA rating from Moody's since 1973. That success was sustained under Democratic and Republican governors alike. Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) attempted to deflect blame to Donald Trump in a rant on X this afternoon, despite frittering away a $5.5 billion budget surplus left to him by previous governor Larry Hogan (R). 

Maryland has been hamstrung by the fiscally-deadly combination of out-of-control spending, the flight of the rich and retirees to lower-tax states, and a failure to lure any major corporate headquarters to the state this century. Yet, Moore and the Maryland General Assembly have continued to support the controversial Blueprint for Education, a state teacher's union-driven boondoggle every rational budget expert warned could lead to fiscal disaster down the road.

Our state is now closer to that disastrous destination with today's credit downgrade. Maryland was already barely able to close a budget deficit this year. What will it do next year, now that borrowing money will cost significantly more, and its economy remains moribund?

UNIQLO sets opening date at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

UNIQLO has stayed on-schedule with the interior fit-out of its newest store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and as a result, will meet the promised "Spring 2025" opening timeframe. The Japanese casual apparel boutique will open on Friday, May 23, 2025, the chain announced on Instagram yesterday. UNIQLO has two existing locations in Montgomery County, at Pike & Rose in Rockville, and in downtown Silver Spring. The company's origin in Japan was initially inspired by The GAP's business model, but UNIQLO evolved into its own original concept, best known for its partnerships with high-profile brands and designers while keeping prices reasonable.

Fork & Kitchen opening in Rockville

Fork & Kitchen is coming soon to Rockville. The restaurant will be located at 150 Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square, according to a liquor license notice posted there. That fairly large space was most memorably home to Bar Louie. Fork & Kitchen does not appear to have a website or social media presence yet, but it does have a liquor license hearing scheduled for June 5 at 10:30 AM.

McDonald's opening prototype store design in Rockville (Photos)

The new McDonald's at 11710 Rockville Pike in Rockville will be the third of the company's prototype store design that focuses entirely on drive-thru and takeout orders, and entirely dispenses with indoor dining. Two previous variations on the "On-the-Go" store model have opened in Forth Worth, Texas in 2022, and in Los Angeles in 2024. The Rockville store will have two drive-thru lanes outside. But inside, there is only a small lobby with touchscreen kiosks for ordering purposes. Orders are placed via the kiosks, or in advance using the McDonald's app. Instead of a wide counter with multiple cashier stations, there is only a small window cut out of the kitchen wall, where a crew member will hand out your order when it is ready, using the pickup number you received when placing the order.

This new store model solves many problems at once. It streamlines ordering, and gets pickup and delivery orders out faster. Fewer employees are needed to operate the restaurant. And the issue of loitering is virtually eliminated, since there is no place to "hang out" inside the building. While bulletproof glass would be necessary to fully "crime-proof" the restaurant, it would be more difficult for robbers and other criminals to gain direct access to the employees than at a traditional McDonald's store.

The new McDonald's was already expected to be an improvement over the nearby location that closed last year, simply because this one will have drive-thru service. But the opening will be even more exciting now that the interior construction reveals that this is a rare and new McDonald's store design that few around the country have experienced yet, and the performance of which will influence future McDonald's store designs around the country.