Rockville shopping center owner says plan to redevelop with 760 apts. is a 20-year-vision

The owner of Pike Center at 12137 Rockville Pike gave an overview of the plan to redevelop the shopping center with 760 apartments with ground floor retail last night, but stressed that this is the company's vision for the future, and predicted no demolition or construction would begin until five to seven years from now. Real estate investment trust Kimco Realty of Jericho, New York was founded in 1958, but only acquired Pike Center at the end of 2021, when it obtained the previous owner's portfolio of properties. Greg Reed, VP of Development for Kimco, said the company has new dining tenants in the works for the short term, and already holds a permit for 15,000-square-feet of fit-out construction related to those from Montgomery County. That includes Luna Hall, which will be a multi-tenant food hall, and celebrity chef Jose Garces' Buena Onda Baja Taqueria.

Kimco representatives emphasized that the company holds its properties for the long-term, and doesn't redevelop them to flip in a sale. That's one reason that the residential buildings constructed in the future are expected to be apartments, not condos, as Kimco wants to retain control as sole owner. Last night's meeting was not required, as the company is not filing immediate plans with Montgomery County. When each phase of the redevelopment moves forward in the future, community meetings will be held for public input. 

The Phase 1 building, which is likely to be the one on the south end of the property along Bou Avenue, is expected to be anchored by a grocery tenant. Interior streets, sidepaths along the exterior property lines, and a half-acre park would be constructed. 15% of the apartments would be Moderately-Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs), the minimum affordable housing required by Montgomery County. The site is in unincorporated Rockville, and is within a half-mile of the Twinbrook Metro station.

One concern expressed at last night's meeting was the fate of the current Shell station. A member of the family who owns the gas station asked what will happen when the Phase 2 building - which currently includes the Shell site - is constructed. Kimco expects to allow tenants at the center who hold leases up to nine years to run those out. The Shell owner asked if the gas station could be part of the new development, and was told that nothing is set in stone yet about the future plans.

Renderings courtesy Kimco Realty

Montgomery County blocked revival of Rockville retail center; now it could be demolished for apartments

Pike Center has been a fixture at 12137 Rockville Pike for decades, surviving several waves of economic tumult and retail trends, and even boasting a movie theater from 1964 to 1988. When it faced its biggest challenge yet after the 2008 "Great Recession," the shopping center's ownership thought it had found a solution to revitalize the property: welcoming Walmart as its new anchor tenant. The Montgomery County Council stepped in and aggressively blocked the Walmart plan, ultimately deep-sixing the ubiquitous big box store's expansion plans in the County, which would have begun with superstores at Pike Center and in Aspen Hill. Instead of reversing its decline and filling empty storefronts via the incredible foot traffic Walmart would have generated, Pike Center saw some of its longest-standing tenants exit, the most-recent being stalwart Goodyear. Now Pike Center's years may be numbered, as the newest proposal for the property's future would replace the strip mall with a 760-unit apartment development.

A virtual public meeting has been scheduled for the proposed redevelopment of Pike Center for June 24, 2024 at 6:30 PM. You can call in by phone at 301-715-8592 and use passcode 584842, or join by internet at http://tiny.cc/fpq9yz and use passcode 815 6544 6741. 

The new development proposed by property owner Kimco Realty would have 760 residential units, with 15% Moderately-Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs), and up to 90,000 gross floor area of retail and restaurant space. You can't say Pike Center didn't try to stick with retail, as business would have been booming there today if their original Walmart plan hadn't been blocked by the County Council. Now Pike Center will likely be demolished, and the proposed Aspen Hill Walmart site remains an abandoned property a decade later. The shopping centers of Rockville Pike are the largest generator of commercial revenue in the State of Maryland, but that revenue will decline as more and more of them are redeveloped into housing, which generates more new costs than revenue for the County. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Goodyear closes on Rockville Pike (Photos)

Goodyear has closed its tire and auto service center at 12103 Rockville Pike at the Pike Center in Rockville. The space is being cleared out. Goodyear is putting a positive spin on the closure. In a message to customers, it invites them to its Gaithersburg location at 457 N. Frederick Avenue. There, the company says, it has "combined facilities" and "expanded services" offered.

Cabinet Era opening in Rockville

Cabinet Era is opening its fourth area location at the Pike Center, at 12145 Rockville Pike. The wholesale cabinet retailer is aimed as much at builders and contractors, as to the individual resident seeking to upgrade their kitchen. Prepare to save as much as 65% on name brand cabinets and vanities, along with design services and delivery. Stay tuned for details on their grand opening event.

Golfdom opens in Rockville

Attention, golfers! Golfdom has opened at 12137 Rockville Pike in the Pike Center shopping center. A sporting goods store for the discerning golfer, Golfdom features all the major brands. The store also sports Launch Monitor club-fitting technology, golf simulators, full-service club repair, major brand fitting carts, and an indoor putting green. This Golfdom location is open 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturdays, and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays.

Golfdom to open Rockville store

Golf megastores come and go, but they always seem to pop up in the Rockville Pike corridor. Golfdom is the latest to take a swing at the Montgomery County golfer market. It will open a new location at 12137 Rockville Pike, in the Pike Center. 

This is the former Pier 1 space, which in the center's current configuration is technically the anchor space for the property. Walmart had sought to open an 80,000-square-foot store at Pike Center twelve years ago, until its plans were blocked by the Montgomery County Council.

Golfdom has an existing store in the region in Tysons, and touts itself as "THE Golfer's Store." The chain's lease at Pike Center was first reported by the Washington Business Journal.

Photo courtesy Golfdom Tysons

Spirit Halloween returning to Rockville for 2022

Spirit Halloween will once again open a seasonal store in Rockville for Halloween 2022. It will be in the former Pier 1 space at the Pike Center, at 12137 Rockville Pike. A tour of Spirit Halloween has become a Halloween activity and tradition in itself. New animatronics this year include Lord Raven, Bog Zombie, Monty the crazed cymbal-wielding monkey, Lucky Bottoms, Bag o'Bones, and Nozzles the Clown.

Spirit Halloween opens in Rockville

Spirit Halloween returns to Rockville for 2021. This year, it has leased a space in the Pike Center at 12137 Rockville Pike, near TGI Friday's. A tour of Spirit Halloween is a Halloween-season event in itself. 

Pike Center gets new signage in Rockville (Photos)

Pike Center at 12137 Rockville Pike has new entryway signage. The signage features a vertical Pike Center logo, and several horizontal, lighted panels designed to feature tenants of the shopping center. Only TGI Friday's has been added so far. Its panel manages to squeeze in both the restaurant chain's logo, and its current marketing tagline, "In here, it's always Friday."

Outdoor dining returns at TGI Friday's in Rockville

Spring is finally here, and that means the return of outdoor dining. That includes this covered outdoor seating area for TGI Friday's at Pike Center on Rockville Pike that we saw during the warmer months last year.

Bagel City contents to be auctioned off in August

Bagel City has permanently closed at the Pike Center on Rockville Pike. Now the contents of the shuttered bakery and deli will be auctioned off online next month. Items available for bid will include a 2-barrel Triumph mixer, a convection oven, bakery display cases and a cappuccino machine. Bidding will take place online on August 6, 2020.

TGI Fridays creates outdoor seating in Rockville

The TGI Fridays at 12147 Rockville Pike in the Pike Center didn't have the benefit of their own dedicated patio for outdoor dining. But they have improvised to create room by using space in the parking lot outside the restaurant. Tables with umbrellas have been set up inside of fenced-off areas.

Pup Scouts Daycare & Boarding opening in Rockville

Pup Scouts Daycare & Boarding is a locally-owned daycamp and boarding facility for dogs in the Rockville and Bethesda areas. They have just located in the Pike Center shopping center, behind 5-11 Tactical at 12220-B Rockville Pike. Daycamp offers daycare services for dogs, while boarding is an option if you are leaving town for a vacation, for example. Pup Scouts may especially come in handy for folks living in the apartment buildings along the Rockville Pike corridor.

New Rockville store offers designer apparel for plus-size men (Photos)

The models and mannequins are huskier than usual in the display windows at the new DXL men's apparel store in the Pike Center, now open at 12137-C Rockville Pike. DXL, short for Destination XL, offers familiar brands, including high-end labels, in waist sizes 38-64 and Tall Sizes to 6XLT. They also carry shoes up to size 16, and widths up to 5E.

DXL says it is the only retailer that carries Brooks Brothers, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Reebok and True Religion in these largest sizes. Other famous labels include  Polo Ralph Lauren, Levi's, Cutter & Buck, Nautica, Jack Victor, Lucky Jeans, Robert Graham, and Cole Haan.

NEW VAPING SHOP OPENING IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

A new vaping supply retailer is joining pioneer Vape Ink in Rockville, but just outside of the city limits. AVAIL Vapor is coming to the Pike Center at 12107 Rockville Pike (also home to TGI Fridays and Pier 1 Imports).

Richmond-based AVAIL says all of its juices are made in Virginia, and that they contain no artificial sweeteners, oils, GMOs or preservatives. It emphasizes its juices are manufactured in a hygienic facility in Richmond, under the supervision of Dr. Baylor Rice, RPh, FIACP, a licensed compounding pharmacist.

BELLINI JUVENILE DESIGNER FURNITURE CLOSING IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Bellini Juvenile Designer Furniture is closing in the Pike Center, at the corner of Rockville Pike and Bou Avenue in south Rockville. The store is holding a closing sale, and "Everything Must Go!!!"

FedEx OFFICE STORE OPENS IN PIKE CENTER IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

A FedEx Office store has taken the place of Catherine's Plus Sizes at Pike Center on Rockville Pike. The shopping center is located at the intersection of MD 355 and Bou Avenue. FedEx Office stores offer not only the obvious shipping services one would expect, but also computer rentals, faxing and copying, passport services, office supplies and document shredding, among others.