Assault at convenience store in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to a convenience store on Rockville Pike this past Sunday, October 25, 2026, after someone was assaulted there. The assault was reported at a store in the 700 block of Rockville Pike at 10:50 PM. Police have not identified the specific business, but there is a 7-Eleven store at 785 Rockville Pike. 

According to police, a verbal argument escalated when one of the participants assaulted the other. The identity of the alleged assailant is known to police, but no description of the suspect has been released at this time.

T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs, Lilly Pulitzer reopen at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Three big names at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda have reopened after completing major renovation projects. T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs and Lilly Pulitzer are now open well ahead of Black Friday and the peak holiday shopping season. Lilly Pulitzer has been making over its stores recently to give them the aesthetic of a resort residence with Mediterranean-inspired, Palm Beach-style design and decor. T-Mobile has focused its renovations on transforming its stores from transactional retail outlets to experiential spaces with interactive displays. Both retailers are emphasizing a more open floorplan. Häagen-Dazs is...well, Häagen-Dazs.

Aerospace firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for 2nd headquarters

Colorado-based defense and aerospace firm Auria, following the model of Amazon with its HQ2, sought a location to establish a new East Coast corporate headquarters. You will be absolutely shocked to learn that the company came to the same conclusion as Amazon, and has chosen Fairfax County over Montgomery County. Auria announced it will open its HQ2 at 2000 Edmund Halley Drive in Reston. The headquarters will also contain research, development, and system integration facilities, which will enhance testing and product demonstration capabilities. Meanwhile, the Montgomery County Council will have to again save their ribbon cutting scissors for the next convenience store opening.

"We are proud to welcome Auria’s East Coast headquarters to Fairfax," Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said in a statement yesterday. She said the company's decision "reflects confidence in our business environment, strategic location, and our continued support of innovative aerospace and defense companies."

We could talk about the lower taxes and business-friendly environment of Northern Virginia compared to Montgomery County, which has the highest total tax and fee burden in the entire region. But let's look again at the critical factor of access to Dulles International Airport, essential for any serious international businessperson. The site chosen by Auria is an 8 minute drive away from Dulles. Montgomery County still lacks direct access to Dulles, thanks to the Montgomery County Council canceling the long-planned Potomac River crossing of I-370 to Route 28 in the Dulles area. Doh!

New Taco Bell taking shape on Rockville Pike

The total remodel of the Taco Bell restaurant at 1100 Rockville Pike is taking shape, and resembles the fast food chain's Kitchen X store model. It rises to two stories in height, compared to the single-story height of the original restaurant. Hopefully it will have the Tron-esque neon accents on the rear of the building. It's sure to have a dual lane drive-thru, and more space dedicated to pickup and delivery orders, however. The best Taco Bell in Montgomery County is about to get even better!

Police respond to assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police officers responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall last night, October 24, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 7:00 PM Saturday. This assault is the second to be reported at the retail center since Westfield instituted a 3:00 PM juvenile curfew on September 28. It is the ninth assault reported at the mall this year. Twelve assaults were recorded at the property in 2025.

Israeli defense firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Israeli defense firm Smart Shooter has selected the location for its new U.S. headquarters, and - surprise! - it's Northern Virginia, not Montgomery County. The company, known for its rifle-mounted and hand-held fire control systems, chose Dulles Office Park in Herndon for its U.S. operations center. As you might surmise from the property name, the site is 5 minutes from Dulles International Airport, an essential amenity for international businesspeople. Montgomery County infamously lacks direct access to Dulles, by virtue of County elected officials cancelling the long-planned new Potomac River crossing from I-370 in Gaithersburg to Route 28 in the Dulles area. "I coulda been a contender!" Womp, womp.

Photo courtesy Fairfax County Economic Development Authority/Nikolai Roster

Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival tickets now on sale

Tickets for the 2026 edition of the Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival are now on sale. The festival will run from November 27 through New Year's Eve, with the exception of Christmas Day. Festival hours will be 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Advance ticket purchase is required for all Winter Lights Events, to control the flow of traffic and ensure a pleasant experience for all participants. Tickets are $15 Monday through Thursday, and $25 Friday through Sunday. Vehicles with 15 or more passengers will be required to pay $35. Tickets may sell out in advance. 

Tesla returns to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tesla has returned...sort of...to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The electric vehicle manufacturer had a strong partnership with the mall for many years. It leased a prominent space for a showroom, and for a row of charging stations in the parking garage off the Nordstrom wing. There were ambitious plans to build a Supercharger station on the mall property. But after Elon Musk enraged many in the region with his involvement in the DOGE initiative, Tesla became a target for protest, and its mall showroom abruptly closed.

The return of Tesla is quite underwhelming compared to what came before. A single vehicle on display as you often see from other auto dealerships. A simple display. A white logo cube with a bottle of hand sanitizer on top. As competitor Rivian readies a Bethesda Row showroom, and superior options from China are held off by Detroit lobbyists hoping the free enterprise dam won't burst, is a display car enough to compete in one of the biggest EV markets in the country?

Police investigate shots-fired incident in Rockville

Rockville City police are investigating a shots-fired incident that took place on a residential street near Rockville Town Center and Mount Vernon Park on October 12, 2026. According to police, they have confirmed that a firearm was discharged in the 400 block of Blandford Street around 2:00 PM that afternoon. However, no suspect has been identified yet. Police say that the shooting was not reported to them until the following day.

Armed robbery on residential street in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed robbery on a residential street in the Twinbrook neighborhood this past Saturday night, October 17, 2026. The robbery was reported in the 13200 block of Atlantic Avenue at 10:15 PM. A knife was the weapon employed in the robbery. No suspect description is available at this time.

Wingpop coming soon to Rockville

It's not Wingstop - it's Wingpop. And chicken wing lovers in Rockville will soon have a chance to judge who has the better wings. That's because Wingpop has leased a 1,421-square-foot space at The Shops at Congressional Village at 1701-B3 Rockville Pike. Construction is essentially completed, and the restaurant hopes to open before the end of fall. 

Wingpop is not a chain - yet - but is a new concept from parent company IVEA, which owns the shopping center. Operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Assault at office building in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to an office building in the King Farm neighborhood late Friday morning, after someone reported having been assaulted there. The assault was reported at an office in the 800 block of Pleasant Drive at 11:23 AM. That is in the King Farm Village Center commercial area.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on the evening of October 14, 2026. The assault was reported at 8:31 PM. It was related to a shoplifting incident at one of the stores in the mall. 

The assault is the first to be reported at the retail center since Westfield instituted a 3:00 PM juvenile curfew on September 28. It is the eighth assault reported at the mall this year. Twelve assaults were recorded at the property in 2025.

Update on Just Salad in Rockville

Permanent signage has been installed at Just Salad, opening soon at 12242 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza in Rockville. It's already lit at night. Inside, the interior fit-out for the fast-casual restaurant appears complete. Everything from seating to electronic menu boards is in place. Here's a sneak peek inside:

Nordstrom Rack announces grand opening event in Rockville

Nordstrom has announced details for a grand opening event at the new Nordstrom Rack store at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The store, which is located at 1683 Rockville Pike, will open - as previously announced - on October 29. Doors will open at 9:00 AM that morning for the grand opening celebration. But you'll want to get in line earlier than that, as drawings for gift cards will begin at 7:00 AM. A drawing for the grand prize of a $1000 Nordstrom Rack gift card will be held at 8:45 AM. Fifteen minutes later, it will be time to shop 'til you drop, with savings up to 70%.

Thief rummages through cars, garage in Rockville

A thief searched vehicles and a garage at a home in Rockville early Monday morning, Rockville City police report. The incident took place in the unit block of Big Tree Court at 4:23 AM on October 12, 2026. A suspect entered and rummaged through two unlocked vehicles that were parked outside the home. Finding a garage door opener inside one of the vehicles, the suspect used it to open the garage door of the house. Apparently again failing to find anything of interest or value, the suspect fled. 

No description of the suspect has been released at this time. It's another inconvenient reminder to lock your car, remove all valuables from the interior, and never leave keys or key fobs inside the vehicle.

Montgomery County farmland for sale in Damascus

A 67-acre farm has hit the market for sale in Damascus. 25804 Bowman Acres Lane backs up to a forest buffer of Great Seneca Stream Valley Park. Offered "as is, where is, with all faults," the property is currently improved with a modern primary home built in 2005, but which needs work. There are also the original farmhouse, which needs restoration, and a split-level ranch home constructed in 1994. A pond and several outbuildings complete the portfolio.

The owner has stipulated that only pre-qualified buyers will be permitted to tour the property, so this is a serious-buyers-only situation. Located in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, the property can be subdivided into 11 lots, 8 of which already have approved percs from the County. That means that the owner has already gone through the rigorous and expensive process of testing the soil to determine that at least 8 homes could be built without contaminating the groundwater, and that the soil already has adequate drainage to support that development. The asking price for the farm is $4,000,000, according to the online sale listing.

Skating rink under construction at The Square at Rockville

It's that time of year again, when the chill of fall is in the air, and the holiday season is only 19 days away. I can almost smell the Thanksgiving stuffing, and once again the ice skating rink is under construction at The Square at Rockville. The rink is scheduled to open on October 19. Hours of operation will be 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Fridays, 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Saturdays, and 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Sundays. Skating time is not free; tickets range from $12 (under 13 and senior citizens) to $13 for ages 13 and up.

Shotted Specialty Coffee opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Shotted Specialty Coffee is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Saudi-inspired coffee and dessert bar features several unique beverages and menu items you won't find at Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. Try a Karak Chai or Warm Date Toffee for a taste of the Arabian Gulf. They even have soft-serve ice cream. 

The chain, which is thriving in Northern Virginia, was conceived by its founder as a way to use coffee as an ambassador for Saudi culture. Its corporate values are aligned with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 initiative, part of which is aimed at diversifying the Saudi economy beyond oil with the promotion of culture and tourism. Customers are invited to experience Saudi culture and hospitality at all Shotted locations, and three Saudi holidays are celebrated with special events.

But Shotted isn't ignoring trends closer to home. Witness their Pumpkin Series menu for fall, which features the limited-time-only Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Chai Latte, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and Pumpkin Cream Matcha beverages. It will be interesting to see what seasonal drinks they might have as the holidays and winter approach. Look for Shotted Specialty Coffee in the former Gold Bunny Donut space in the Dining Terrace food court, on Level 2 of the mall.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Montgomery County police called after assault at restaurant in Rockville

Montgomery County police were called to a restaurant in Rockville on Thursday, October 8, 2026, after someone was allegedly assaulted there. The assault was reported at a restaurant in the 11800 block of Grand Park Avenue at Pike & Rose at 6:20 PM, the height of the dinner hour. Police have not yet identified the specific restaurant where the assault took place.

File photos