New 6th District Montgomery County police station officially opens in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the new 6th District County police station in Gaithersburg this week. County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Kate Stewart were among the dignitaries to christen the new station, which is located at 222 Paramount Park Drive in the Watkins Mill Town Center area. 

Developers never delivered the promised movie theater, upscale restaurant, or even the actual "town center" of Watkins Mill Town Center, but did rake in all the profits from the residential housing portion of the development. Heckuva job, Brownie! New residents did get a Royal Farms gas station, a Starbucks, and now the police station, however. They'll likely welcome the latter, given the ongoing crime wave that has bedeviled the county since the summer of 2020.

“The new 6th District Police Station is an important project for the County that will strengthen critical emergency services to our residents in an area that has seen tremendous growth,” Elrich said in a statement this morning. “The Gaithersburg area has seen a great deal of development over the years, and as the community changes, the demand changes. We recognized the importance of adapting to the needs of a growing community, and this station is a testament to our ability to meet those needs. The new station will help to improve the safety and security of residents and businesses and address our current and future needs for the decades to come.” 

Almost 200 department staff and volunteers may be on-site at any given time. The station will serve as the base for investigative units, as well as the Central Traffic Unit, which was established in July 2021. It also features a public space "designed to foster engagement, collaboration and dialogue within the community." 

Sixty Vines opening at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Sixty Vines is coming soon to Gaithersburg, according to signage posted at its future storefront. It will be at 212 Ellington Boulevard at Downtown Crown. Sixty Vines calls itself "the winemaker's restaurant," and the concept and menu will be familiar to those who have dined at Vino Volo or Cooper's Hawk. Your choice of sixty wines will be poured from the restaurant's "sustainable wine on tap system," which you can see installed in the photo below. I would estimate construction is about 50% complete inside the space, which was formerly home to Pour House.

"Show me all the blueprints."

Auto Spa Express car wash proposed for Gaithersburg

Car washes have been a tough sell for approval in Gaithersburg in recent years. Auto Spa will be the latest chain to make the case for one before the Gaithersburg Planning Commission tomorrow night, April 16, 2025. The property in question is 10009 Fields Road, which is bounded by Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road, right smack between Downtown Crown and Rio Lakefront. As such, the traffic expected for the car wash is controversial, but Gaithersburg planning staff are now supportive of a car wash use. 

The property owner has tried and failed over the last five years to attract a retail or restaurant tenant to the site. Three letters of intent were signed: one by a bank, one by a casual restaurant, and one by a drive-thru fast food restaurant. However, none of those proposals were "economically feasible or sustainable," the owner concluded.

Will last-minute Big Lots deal save Montgomery Village store?

All Big Lots stores across America were anticipated to close in the near future, after the company filed for bankruptcy and a potential sale of the chain fell through. However, last Friday, Big Lots reached a tentative agreement to transfer between 200 and 400 of its stores to a firm called Variety Wholesalers, via a sale to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners. Neither party has yet announced which specific stores will be saved in the deal, including the Big Lots at the Montgomery Village Center, the last one remaining in Montgomery County.

There is reason for optimism, though. The other chain stores operated by Variety Wholesalers are concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern states. It would be logical for Variety to focus on acquiring Big Lots stores located in those regions, with the Montgomery Village location being one.

The sale agreement will still have to be approved by the bankruptcy court."We are pleased to reach this strategic agreement with Big Lots and partner with Variety Wholesalers to achieve a path forward that allows Big Lots to continue to serve customers with extreme bargains and an outstanding shopping experience," Gordon Brothers Head of North America Retail Rick Edwards said in a statement.

Maryland AG office investigating Gaithersburg death in police custody

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that his office's Independent Investigations Division (IID) is beginning an investigation into the death of a person who was in Gaithersburg City police custody on the night of December 24, 2024. Officers were dispatched for a disturbing the peace call in the 300 block of N. Summit Avenue at 10:15 PM that night. Arriving at the scene, they found a man covered in blood on the ground outside of an apartment building.

The man was conscious, but acting erratically, Brown said. After the man rose from the ground and began to walk away from the scene, he was grabbed by the officers, and placed back on the ground. The officers called for assistance from Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services, and held the man down while awaiting their arrival. The man then lost consciousness, and stopped breathing. Officers attempted to render lifesaving care, which was taken over by MCFRS personnel after they arrived at the scene.

MCFRS transported the man to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, Brown said. His office said it will release body camera footage from the officers within 20 days of the incident, unless more time is needed for the investigation, or to contact family members of the decedent. 

Big Lots closing in Montgomery Village

Big Lots will be closing its last store in Montgomery County. A closing sale is underway at the store at 19142 Montgomery Village Avenue at the Montgomery Village Center. Big Lots is closing all stores after filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. The company has not announced an official closing date for the Montgomery Village store, as it says each store's closure will depend on how quickly it eliminates its inventory.

Bowlero Rockville, Gaithersburg to rebrand as Lucky Strike

All three Bowlero locations in Montgomery County will rebrand as Lucky Strike. Bowlero Bethesda at 5353 Westbard Avenue, Bowlero Gaithersburg at 1101 Clopper Road, and Bowlero Rockville at 15720 Shady Grove Road will become Lucky Strike bowling alleys over the next two years. Bowlero, which acquired Lucky Strike last year, has decided to make the name change to reflect its intention to broaden its entertainment empire beyond bowling. 

Lucky Strike has an existing Montgomery County location at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The future of the Westbard location is unclear, however, as its lease ends in 2027, requiring a decision by property owner Regency Centers.

Bowlero told The Wall Street Journal this week that profits from its Raging Waves water park in Illinois have exceeded expectations, fueling confidence that the company can expand its horizons, while staying centered on its core business of food and beverage sales. CEO Tom Shannon told the Journal that he envisions the company one day selling passes that are accepted at all of its entertainment businesses.

2nd Montgomery County Sheetz on Gaithersburg Planning Commission agenda Dec. 4

The addition of a second Montgomery County Sheetz convenience store and mega-gas-station will take another step toward reality this Wednesday night, December 4, 2024 in Gaithersburg. City Planning Commissioners will take up a request by the Walnut Hill Shopping Center to install an additional monument sign that will display the Sheetz gas prices. A similar sign was allowed at the Montgomery Village Sheetz further up MD 355. The amendment to Walnut Hill's sign package will also allow additional signage on the Sheetz convenience store building. City staff are recommending approval of the Sheetz amendment.

Thanksgiving burger this week only at Dogfish Head Alehouse in Gaithersburg

Give thanks for the Thanksgiving Burger, the appropriate Burger of the Week at Dogfish Head Alehouse at 800 W. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg this week. A 4 oz. beef patty is topped with turkey, melted provolone cheese, homemade stuffing, and sweet-tart cranberry sauce. For $17, it comes with a side of Beach Fries. Pairing the burger with a pint of Punkin' Ale is the recommendation of the house. 

Photo courtesy Dogfish Head Alehouse

Montgomery County's second Sheetz store nears approval

The Final Site Plan for the second Gaithersburg location of Sheetz will go before the city's Planning Commission this Wednesday night, October 16, 2024 for possible approval. Proposed for the parking lot of the Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue are a 4959-square-foot Sheetz convenience store, with six, double-sided gasoline filling stations. The plan also includes new east and west sidewalk connections to increase pedestrian access to the site, a new retaining wall and fence to be constructed to the east of the site, and a new trash enclosure facing South Westland Drive. Planning staff are recommending approval of the site plan with conditions, including correction of minor drafting errors on the Final Site and Forest Conservation plans, and revision of the recently-approved comprehensive sign plan for the shopping center to include the new Sheetz signage.

Big Lots closing in Germantown, Montgomery Village store to stay open for now

Big Lots is closing at 20926 Frederick Road at the Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown. This is one of 46 additional Big Lots store closures found on a list posted by Columbus Business First. Fortunately, the Big Lots in Montgomery Village is not on the list. Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 9, 2024, the latest victim of America's vanishing middle class. 

NIST awards potential $1.5 million to develop regenerative medicine curricula

Gaithersburg's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a potential $1.5 million to two organizations, with the goal of developing regenerative medicine standards curricula. Brammer Bio, LLC, and Gaithersburg's own Standards Coordinating Body (SCB) for Gene, Cell and Regenerative Medicines and Cell-Based Drug Discovery, will each receive $250,000 per year, with the option to renew for up to three addition years of funding. 

Regenerative medicine includes cell therapy, gene therapy, and therapeutic tissue engineering. It relies on the human body's own healing abilities to regenerate or replace damaged organs, cells, and tissue. As a rapidly-growing field in medicine and research, regenerative medicine is a promising new avenue in preventing, treating, and curing cancer and genetic disorders.

NIST was charged by the U.S. Congress last year to help develop the regenerative medicine workforce of the future. It oversaw a competitive process earlier this year, through which the two winning organizations were identified. Now these organizations will endeavor to create training programs on the standards, protocols, and measurements that will provide a foundation for the field going forward.

“We are thrilled to announce our new partnerships to develop an innovative standards education program, paving the way for flexible and immersive learning experiences that support advanced biomanufacturing,” Sheng Lin-Gibson, chief of NIST’s Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, said in a statement this morning. “These educational programs will facilitate the adoption of standards and best practices to increase quality and consistency of advanced therapies and ultimately bring down costs.”

Photo courtesy Robert Rathe/NIST

Public hearing on Lakeforest Mall redevelopment agreement tonight in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg's Mayor and City Council will hold a public hearing tonight, Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 7:30 PM, at 16 S. Summit Avenue, regarding the Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA) for Lakeforest Redevelopment, LLC. This is in relation to the redevelopment of the Lakeforest Mall site. A DRRA provides for "the creation of an agreement that can provide certainty and stability to developers, while allowing the City to negotiate enhanced public benefits in return," the City said in a statement. "A DRRA aims to enhance development flexibility, innovation, and quality, while ensuring the protection of public interests, health, safety, and welfare."

Montgomery County's last Bowl America becomes a Bowlero

The last Bowl America bowling alley at 1101 Clopper Road in Gaithersburg has become a Bowlero. It's the end of an era, as the bowling centers "where thousands cheer" fade into history with a final crash of the pins. A permanent Bowlero logo has been attached to the exterior of the building, but the sign out front has simply been covered with a Bowlero drape for now. "New name, same epic fun," the company said in announcing the change. The bowling alley was renovated before reopening as Bowlero.

Bowlero has largely cornered the market on bowling in the region. The global company started as Bowlmor in New York in 1997. An original Bowl America on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda was acquired by Bowlmor, and then became a Bowlero when the brand changed its name in 2014. The AMF Bowling on Shady Grove Road is a Bowlero today, as a result of Bowlmor's 2013 acquisition of AMF. If you're still looking for the Bowl America experience in 2024, locations remain in Northern Virginia in Alexandria, Bull Run, Burke, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Woodbridge.

Aldi opens at Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg

Aldi is now open at 737 S. Frederick Avenue at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. The grocery store is the new anchor tenant for the retail center, which has undergone major renovations to update the property. Aldi hopes to succeed where previous grocers like Weis Markets failed here, and will also have to compete with the new Amazon Fresh opening nearby on Shady Grove Road on August 8. Still to come at Walnut Hill is a Sheetz convenience store and mega gas station. 

Walnut Hill Shopping Center makeover nearly complete (Photos)

The cosmetic upgrades at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg are entering the home stretch. New facades and logo signage for storefronts are the most obvious updates. Resurfacing and restriping of the center's parking lot is underway. The updated appearance was a requirement by Aldi to agree to become the property's new anchor retail tenant. Still to come are new monument and wayfaring signage, and the eventual construction of a Sheetz convenience store and mega gas station.

Aldi opening in July at Walnut Hill in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Construction has accelerated in the final phase at the Aldi grocery store opening soon at 737 S. Frederick Avenue at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. The store, which is the center's new anchor tenant, is now expected to open on July 24, 2024, according to Google. Signage is up on the storefront, and checkout counters and shelving are in place inside. Operating hours have been posted on the door. This Aldi is likely to draw many customers from communities like King Farm and Upper Rock in Rockville, as well as from Derwood, as it will be more convenient than the 1501 Rockville Pike location.

NIST begins joint research on Secure Digital ID for public benefits

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg has embarked on a collaborative project to adapt NIST's digital identity guidelines to the administration of public benefits programs. These include programs that help beneficiaries pay for food, housing, medical and other living expenses. The initiative gained momentum due to large-scale fraud related to COVID-19 pandemic benefits.

NIST is teaming up with the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University, and the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology, on the project. The partners are attempting to balance security concerns with potential impacts on privacy, "due process," and "potential biases in systems that disproportionately impact communities of color and marginalized groups."

"To improve benefits delivery to the U.S. public, it is vital that agencies balance access and security," Undersecretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio said in a statement this morning. "Different populations have different needs, barriers and circumstances that must be considered, and this collaboration will bring together a diverse set of communities to do just that."

Walnut Hill Shopping Center remodeling going full steam, including Gaithersburg-themed mural

The massive makeover of the venerable Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg is going full tilt. We can now see the distinctive storefront facade of the future Aldi grocery store emerging outside the former Weis Markets. All tenants are getting remodeled fronts and new signage. 

What stands out the most at the moment is a new piece of public art. Unlike some of the abstract murals that have popped up around Montgomery County in recent years, this one is 100% Gaithersburg-themed. The Baltimore & Ohio - now CSX - railroad tracks lead off into infinity, if not Chicago. On the right side is the Bowman Bros. Mill, known today as the Granary Row shopping center. There's the clock that stood diagonally across from Diamond Drugs.