New Rockville menswear shop has a Porsche inside the store

Collars & Co. is now open at 1643-A Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The Shark Tank-backed retailer specializes in modern business casual menswear. Its current featured product is the patent-pending Dress Collar Polo. The 2900-square-foot store includes a vintage Porsche (shown below) and private jet replica for selfies, and a bespoke custom closet by Bethesda Custom Closets and Blinds. Operating hours for Collars & Co. are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays.

Spirit Halloween opens late in Rockville (Photos)

Better late than never! That's the only consolation for the Spirit Halloween store at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The store had never opened this Halloween season, and last week cited its inability to receive the necessary permits to operate. Those permits were apparently finally expedited the day after my report, and the store is now open for business. The selection is slightly better than some other locations, as the inventory hasn't been picked over for weeks. This store also has the best presentation of the haunted subway car that is the centerpiece of this year's product line.

Spirit Halloween ghostbusted by government red tape in Rockville

The second week of October is well underway, and the Rockville Spirit Halloween store has yet to open at Congressional Plaza. In a world where Pumpkin Spice lattes go on sale in August, and most Spirit Halloween locations open shortly thereafter, the sight of a shuttered Spirit store in October is, well, downright spooky. An explanation has now surfaced in the form of a sign on the front doors at 1683 Rockville Pike.

"We are awaiting legal permits to operate," the sign states. "We apologize for the inconvenience. This will hopefully be resolved by next week." Why the permits are allegedly being held up is not disclosed, but it is a very costly delay for the store, as it has now lost over 50% of its operating season. That is quite a financial blow, and an unexpected boon for other stores in Rockville that carry costumes, props, and animatronics. An opening next week would give this Spirit store less than two weeks of prime Halloween sales time.

Spirit Halloween haunting Congressional Plaza in Rockville

Spirit Halloween is returning to Rockville for 2025, and wisely, once again on Rockville Pike. Their store will have more visibility this year compared to last, as it will be at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. That's the former Buy Buy Baby space. According to the Spirit Halloween website, the store has not opened yet, although merchandise is visible inside; "Opens September" is the current message as of this writing.

Rockville Hallmark store under new ownership

The Hallmark Gold Crown store at 1663 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville is under new ownership. Previously known as "Banner's Hallmark," the greeting card, ornament, stationary and gift shop has been acquired by Norman's Hallmark. Norman's is the nation's largest independent owner of Hallmark Gold Crown stores. The Bethesda Hallmark store was also recently acquired by Norman's. Hallmark's big season begins in mid-summer, with the rollout of its annual keepsake Christmas ornaments, so the timing of the ownership change makes sense.

Banner's is a local company, headquartered in Gaithersburg, while Norman's is based in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Banner's region has been Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Norman's has been focused in the Keystone State and New Jersey, but seems to be slowly expanding southward into Maryland. Norman's takes the prize for longevity; Banner's has been around since the 1970s, while Norman's was founded in 1939.

Buy Buy Baby's last day in Rockville is Tuesday

Buy Buy Baby is saying Bye Bye to Rockville this week at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. And this time, it's likely for good. Tuesday, February 25, 2025 will be the last day at this location, and your last chance to take advantage of the closing sale. 

Buy Buy Baby tried closing for good in the summer of 2023, when the oddly-named and unknown New Jersey company Dream on Me acquired the struggling chain, and planned to make it an online-only retail operation. It abruptly changed course that fall, and reopened some of the bricks-and-mortar locations, including this one. 

Closing time tomorrow night will truly be the end of an era, as the very first Buy Buy Baby store in America opened here in Rockville in 1996. You may almost be able to see Tower Records through your tears as you exit the store for the last time. He's reaching for "Crash," but - oh, last minute save! - he's wisely picking up "Pinkerton" instead. Into the yellow bag it goes! Buy Buy!

Buy Buy Baby closing in Rockville

How many times will we have to say bye-bye to Buy Buy Baby? At least once more, according to signage posted at the Buy Buy Baby store at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The company posted a message to customers stating that it is closing its physical stores in a "strategic reset" to focus on internet sales. It's a tough time to be in the baby business, as Americans just aren't having as many babies as they used to.

Rockville police seeking this suspect in Barnes & Noble thefts

Can you identify this suspect in a series of thefts from Barnes & Noble at 1603 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza? Rockville City police released these photos today in an effort to identify and locate the alleged shoplifter. Anyone with information about the suspect, or these incidents, is asked to contact Cpl. Jessica Rogers at 240-314-8940, or at JRogers@RockvilleMD.Gov.

Win free ice cream for a year at Häagen-Dazs grand opening in Rockville July 13

The new Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop at 1615 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. If you are one of the first 500 guests through the door, you will receive a free mini cup or cone of ice cream. There will also be scratch-off cards that will give you the chance to win free ice cream for a year. The arrival of Häagen-Dazs is wonderful news after the loss of Baskin Robbins at Congressional Plaza five years ago.

Timeless Living opening in Rockville

Timeless Living, a furniture retailer, is coming to Rockville Pike. It has leased a 13,441-square-foot space at Congressional Plaza on the second level, above The Container Store. That space was formerly home to Neiman Marcus Last Call Studio. Timeless Living has an existing furniture showroom at Tysons Corner Center.

"Timeless Living offers luxury, mid-century, and modern furniture," the store's marketing materials state. "It offers high-end, premium-quality furniture with personalized service, also mid-century furniture designs from the mid-20th century with clean lines and functionality. [W]e also offer modern contemporary designs inspired by the latest trends and often feature customizable options."

Buy Buy Baby to return in Rockville this fall (Photos)

The new owners of the Buy Buy Baby retail chain have posted signage regarding their plan to reopen the Rockville location at Congressional Plaza. It is scheduled to reopen this fall. Here's a sneak peek inside the store, where you can see that shelving is in place, and even a Buy Buy Baby shopping cart. Buy Buy Baby's return in Rockville is fitting, as the chain's very first store opened in 1996 in Rockville.

Last 4 days of Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby in Rockville

The final countdown to closure is on at Bed Bath & Beyond at 1519 Rockville Pike and Buy Buy Baby at 1683 Rockville Pike. Both stores will close forever in just 4 days. As you can see from the signs in these photos, the savings are at the maximum now, with both stores touting 70-90% off the entire store. Just don't expect fully-stocked shelves overflowing with merchandise at this point.

Both brands may still have a future ahead: Overstock.com bought the Bed Bath & Beyond brand, and will rename itself...Bed Bath & Beyond. New Jersey company Dream on Me won the auction for the Buy Buy Baby IP - and then proceeded to acquire the leases of 11 Buy Buy Baby stores. But no word yet if we'll finally learn what the "Beyond" is.

Ulta Beauty thieves pursued by police in Rockville

Four thieves stole items from Ulta Beauty at 1631 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza yesterday, June 15, 2023. Around 4:30 PM, the suspects fled the store in a vehicle. Rockville City police pursued the vehicle into the area of Rollins Park. When the suspects attempted to bail out of the getaway car, officers took two into custody, and the other two remain at large. RCPD announced that the two suspects who were captured will face unspecified charges.

Buy Buy Baby, Bed Bath & Beyond closing in Rockville

Buy Buy Baby is closing its Rockville store at 1683 Rockville Pike, in the Congressional Plaza shopping center. A store-closing sale is underway. Savings are currently listed as being 20-40%-off storewide. All 122 Buy Buy Baby stores are closing as a result of parent company Bed Bath & Beyond's bankruptcy filing. 

Bed Bath & Beyond just happens to be a neighbor of Buy Buy Baby at 1519 Rockville Pike at the Congressional North shopping center. It's having its own closing sale. The savings are - surprise! - 20-40%-off storewide, as well.