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.

Dave's Hot Chicken "coming soon" to Rockville (Photos)

Dave's Hot Chicken is "coming soon" to Rockville Pike, according to a banner posted on the restaurant building. It will be at 11564 Rockville Pike in Rockville. That was formerly an old-style McDonald's restaurant, until the golden arches moved a short distance north to the old Arby's site. Before expanding to Montgomery County, Dave's Hot Chicken was best known to Marylanders as the fast food company that promoted itself via influencer videos on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Other Maryland locations have already opened in White Oak and Waldorf.

K Bap Express opens in Rockville

K Bap Express is now open at 121-B Congressional Lane, at the Congressional North shopping center in Rockville. The Korean restaurant replaces Pines of Rome Express. Dishes served include bibimbap, mandu, and kimbap. They have a couple of small tables for outdoor dining, and a small indoor dining room, so takeout sales are the primary focus here.

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.

Meow Claw relocating in Rockville

Meow Claw is relocating at the Shops at Congressional Village in Rockville. The claw machine arcade will make a short move this month from the storefront at 1701 Rockville Pike Suite B-9 to 1701 Rockville Pike Suite B-6. Equipment is already being loaded in at the new space, as you can see below. Their existing space is still open for business until the move.

Current location, which is still open

Pickpocket strikes at restaurant in Rockville

Watch your wallet! Montgomery County police responded to a report of a pickpocketing incident at a restaurant in Rockville on Monday, September 29, 2025. The stealthy theft was reported at a restaurant in the 12200 block of Rockville Pike at 5:04 PM Monday. Later, the thief attempted to use at least one credit card from the wallet at an unidentified store. Remember to keep your wallet in a front pocket, if possible, especially in crowds.

California Fish Grill aiming for November opening in Rockville

California Fish Grill is now targeting a November 2025 opening at 12238 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza in Rockville, according to Google. This is one of the first East Coast locations for the Newport Beach-based fast-casual seafood chain, which previously had been limited to the southwestern states of California, Arizona, and Nevada. It won't be the very first to open, however, as their Fairfax location opened a week ago at 11048 Main Street, while construction has taken longer here. 

Construction barriers at the Rockville location prevent getting a sense of how far along the interior fit-out is here. There is a recently-posted video giving a preview of what types of dishes you can expect to find on the menu at California Fish Grill. The restaurant is similar to the short-lived Slapfish in operation, in that you don't sit down and give your order to a waiter. Orders are placed on flatscreens.

Police officer assaulted in Rockville

A Rockville City police officer was assaulted while responding to a shoplifting call on September 17, 2025. The officer was dispatched to an appliance/electronics store in the 1500 block of Rockville Pike sometime after 5:00 PM. At the store, the officer was allegedly assaulted at 5:24 PM by an unknown male subject who apparently was able to flee the scene.

Police describe the suspect as a Black male, 6’2” in height, with a black goatee. He was wearing gray pants, a gray hoodie, black New Balance sneakers, and a Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap. If you can identify this suspect, or have any other information about this incident, call police at 240-314-8900.

Cold Stone Creamery "coming soon" to Rockville

The devastating loss of Baskin Robbins is still being felt along Rockville Pike. But a cone-solation prize may soon be at hand. Cold Stone Creamery is "coming soon" to 891-H Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza, according to signage posted at its future storefront. It will be located between The UPS Store and Paisano's Pizza. 

Cold Stone Creamery's ice cream is made fresh in every store. Products include sundaes, Signature Creations, prepackaged pints of ice cream, ice cream cakes and pies, Silk Almondmilk frozen desserts, milkshakes, and smoothies.

Assault at bus stop in Rockville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a bus stop in Rockville Friday morning, September 19, 2025. The assault was reported at a bus stop in the 12100 block of Rockville Pike at 8:45 AM Friday. That is in the vicinity of the Montrose Crossing shopping center.

Construction begins on Bartaco in Rockville

Construction has begun on Bartaco at 11886 Grand Park Avenue at Pike & Rose. Walls have been erected on both sides of the storefront, suggesting that the exterior configuration of the facades may be altered for the new restaurant. Yes, Bartaco is yet another taco joint opening in Rockville, replacing another taco joint in this same space. But the chain's focus on smaller soft tacos and hybrid coastal decor of Southern California and South America have been a big hit so far in new developments like Reston Town Center, the Mosaic District in Fairfax County, and The Wharf in Washington, D.C.

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.

Slurp Noodle House "coming soon" to Rockville

Slurp Noodle House is coming soon to Rockville, according to signage posted at its future storefront. The ramen and dumpling restaurant will be located at the corner of Halpine Road and Chapman Avenue, on the ground level of the Milton apartments at Twinbrook Quarter. Contrary to Western table manners, slurping one's noodles is a sign of enjoying your meal in Japan, and is therefore encouraged. And from a practical standpoint, the practice also cools down the ramen. 

Go Fresh 365 supermarket "coming soon" to Rockville

A Go Fresh 365 supermarket is "coming soon" to 1800 Rockville Pike at the Galvan at Twinbrook development in Rockville, according to signage posted at its future storefront. The Long Island City, New York-based grocery chain boasts that it is the "No.1 Asian/Chinese Supermarket Chain" on the East Coast of the United States. Founded in 1995, the company has grown by leaps and bounds through a focus on freshness, and exclusive partnerships with businesses in the fields of fresh produce, livestock breeding, marine fishing, catering services, and commercial real estate. 

Here in Rockville, Go Fresh 365 will attempt to fill the vacuum left when Safeway closed at the Galvan earlier this year. The chain says it takes very seriously a responsibility to promote and spread Chinese food culture. Its mission, it says, is to "create greater values for overseas Chinese and the American people." Go Fresh 365 is expected to open in Rockville in November.