Always Ice Cream "coming soon" to Rockville

Always Ice Cream is coming soon to Rockville Pike, according to signage posted in its future storefront. It will be located at 11802 Rockville Pike at Pike & Rose. The Maryland-based chain manufactures over 250 handcrafted flavors in the state, but has attracted the attention of national media. Always Ice Cream is expected to open this fall. Most of its scoop shops are located in the Annapolis area, but the brand is now expanding into Montgomery and Charles counties.

Just Salad opening in Rockville

Just Salad is "coming soon" to Rockville, according to signage posted in the windows of its future storefront. It will be located at 12242 Rockville Pike, right next to the recently-opened Wonder food hall. The fast-casual salad restaurant is the latest dining addition at the revitalized Towne Plaza development. Reusable bowls and a large number of plant-based alternatives to meat (the real thing is also still available at Just Salad, though) are part of what the chain calls "Earth-friendly" dining. Another location is "just down the Pike" in the Residences at Mazza in Friendship Heights NW.

Rockville Pike/MD 355 bus lanes to be removed next week

Temporary bus-only lanes along Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, and along Rockville Pike in North Bethesda and White Flint, will be removed next week, the Maryland State Highway Administration announced yesterday. Starting Monday, September 7, all vehicles will again be able to use the lanes. MDSHA crews will work overnight between September 7 and September 11 to remove the bus lane markings, and restore painted lines destroyed by the project.

Montgomery County elected officials were applying heavy pressure to MDSHA behind the scenes to make the temporary bus lanes permanent as late as this week. When ABC 7 News reporter Tom Roussey asked MDSHA on Tuesday if the lanes would be left in place after the Metro station shutdown ended next week, the MDSHA spokesperson was unable to answer his question. This shows just how intense the pressure from County politicians was, as MDSHA had sworn up and down that these lanes were temporary, and would not typically be waiting until the last minute to schedule overnight road work.

By Thursday, MDSHA - in a rare return to professionalism in an agency that has become increasingly politicized over the last decade - declared that it would indeed be removing the lanes, as promised. MDSHA further told Roussey in a follow-up interview Thursday that the data the agency collected during the lane closures this summer "showed the best decision was to remove all bus-only lanes along Route 355." In other words, giving buses their own lanes does not generate more commuter throughput than automobiles can, no matter how many explainer graphics anti-highway radicals post on X. Of course, residents of Staten Island could have told them that ten years ago.

One of many Metro shuttles seen
traveling in the center or left lanes of MD 355,
despite having been given its own exclusive bus lane

Montgomery County's War-on-cars elected officials - all of whom hypocritically drive to "work" at their very-part-time Council "jobs" - must be furious with MDSHA at this hour. The agency not only vetoed their wishes, and foiled their Trojan horse scheme to achieve a permanent 33% in reduction of vehicular capacity on a major commuter route for two counties, but also made public that the data shows County officials are dead wrong in their claims regarding bus lanes and BRT. Again, this is how MDSHA and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation used to function up until the last decade. They would regularly veto and reject the wishes and whims of rabid, radical politicians when they conflicted with traffic engineering best practices. I would strongly encourage MDSHA to use Thursday's decision as a turning point to restore the agency's previously sterling reputation for professionalism and independence.

We've also got to credit the public for being more engaged this time, compared to when the County successfully cajoled MDSHA into making similar "temporary" lanes - in similar "Metro stations are closed!" Trojan horse fashion - permanent in Silver Spring a few years ago. MDSHA and WMATA heard loud and clear the outrage from drivers on the already-congested MD 355, on which MCDOT still does not synchronize the traffic signals during rush hour to not turn red at every block. Stay engaged, and make your displeasure effective by voting these bums out in November.

Sneak peek: Crust & Crumb in Rockville

Crust & Crumb looks like it is getting very close to opening in Rockville. It is located at 718 Rockville Pike, in the former Roy Rogers space. Everything appears to be in place inside, except for the baked goods. Still to come are exterior signage, and an opening date. In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek!

Rockville Taco Bell closes for remodeling

Taco Bell has temporarily closed at 1100 Rockville Pike for a complete remodeling of the restaurant. The demolition and construction are expected to take four to six months, according to a restaurant employee. This is, hands down, the best Taco Bell in Montgomery County, so it will be a long four to six months! Based on newer store models being rolled out elsewhere in the country, you can probably expect to find a dual lane drive-thru, more Fight For $15 ordering kiosks, and a design that favors speedy fulfillment of delivery and mobile orders. 

Marijuana sign lights up on Rockville Pike

A "CANNABIS DISPENSARY" sign has been activated at 1470 Rockville Pike in Rockville. This is a quite brilliant workaround of increasingly-restrictive sign regulations by Stash Cannabis Co., which will open in the former bank building there next month. The sign in question was previously erected by a previous bank tenant, and its use by Stash is therefore grandfathered in. Occasionally, you'll see a new tenant or a developer knock down a sign like this, apparently unaware of the value being lost in doing so. Too many businesses along the Pike are losing customers who can't see that they are there when driving past.

Update on Cold Stone Creamery, opening soon in Rockville

The sign is up at Cold Stone Creamery, opening soon at 891-H Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville. Window coverings remain in place, so we still can't see the state of progress on the interior fit-out of the chilled slab ice cream parlor. But this location does now appear on the Cold Stone website.

Ice cream lovers have previously had to patronize the Cold Stone kiosk at Montgomery Mall, but now we're going to get the full ice cream parlor experience. Austin 3:16 says Rockville Pike will get a replacement for the cruel closure of Baskin Robbins several years ago, and that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold said so. 

SLT coming this fall to Rockville

SLT is coming this fall to Rockville. It will be located at 1643-A Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza, between Shoe Fly and Appalachian Spring. The boutique fitness studio utilizes an advanced, custom version of the traditional Pilates reformer called the Megaformer. Following the Lagree Fitness Method, SLT's 50-minute workouts combine high-intensity strength training with cardio and low-impact Pilates. SLT stands for Strengthen • Lengthen • Tone.

Armed robbery at ATM in Rockville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at an ATM machine in Rockville early last Friday afternoon, June 26, 2026. The robbery was reported at an ATM in the 12200 block of Rockville Pike at 1:01 PM Friday. An adult male suspect tried to grab the victim's wallet in front of the ATM, and threatened to shoot the victim if they did not let go of it. But the victim was able to not only hold onto their wallet, but overpowered the suspect and pinned him until officers could arrive. The suspect was taken into custody.

Drive-thru marijuana dispensary opening on Rockville Pike

A drive-thru marijuana dispensary is coming soon to Rockville Pike. Stash Cannabis Co. will be opening this summer at 1470 Rockville Pike. That is a former BB&T Bank branch building. Stash will serve recreational adult users, as well as medical marijuana patients. The dispensary has been in the works for over a year, but great progress on the construction has been made recently, and it's expected to be finished very soon.

The Container Store-Bed Bath & Beyond merger coming to fruition in Rockville

Bed Bath & Beyond has returned to Rockville Pike. This time, it is inside of The Container Store at 1601 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. The struggling home organizing chain has turned to the defunct but well-known Bed Bath & Beyond brand to revitalize foot traffic to its stores. This transition is expected to be completed at all impacted Container Store locations nationwide by the end of next month. As you read this, Bed Bath & Beyond merchandise continues to arrive daily, and is being stocked on shelves that Container Store merchandise was liquidated from to make room. Now, can they fit Tower Records in there?

Fatal shooting outside of Marriott North Bethesda hotel in Rockville

Yet another shocking violent crime has been committed in broad daylight in Montgomery County, a disturbing new trend in the County's six-year crime wave that has picked up steam this spring. An adult male was fatally shot outside of the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center at 5701 Marinelli Road in Rockville around 11:37 AM this morning. Yes, that's AM, not PM. One would like to assume it would be safe to walk outside this hotel at 11:37 PM. It's astonishing that one now must be hesitant to do so just before lunchtime under bright sunshine. 

According to Montgomery County police, officers were dispatched to respond to a report of a shooting outside the hotel. Upon arrival, first responders found an adult male in "serious condition." The victim was subsequently declared deceased, and police say they are investigating the case as a homicide.

@TheDMVLive reports on X that the victim was shot in the back of the head outside the hotel around 11:35 AM, and that the alleged shooter fled on foot toward the White Flint Metro station across Rockville Pike. 

Whether it is a gunfight inside a Silver Spring grocery store or outside of a Westbard Avenue bowling alley, a gun being fired at students in a downtown Bethesda park at lunchtime, or someone being shot in broad daylight outside a hotel in White Flint at 11:35 AM, these things were not happening in Montgomery County twenty - or even ten - years ago. 

What is happening to our community, and why do we keep electing the people who have done this to us?

Sign installed at Gap Factory in Rockville

The main sign is up at Gap Factory, opening soon at 1667 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. It has the widely recognizable Gap logo, but is otherwise understated in size and color. They could go bigger and louder, in my opinion, especially when you have to make what little signage you're allowed these days count. The windows are still papered over, so we can't see just how close opening day is. The sign installation - and especially the removal of the construction wall, suggests it is not far off.

Update on Gap Factory in Rockville

The construction wall across the storefront has been removed from the future Gap Factory at 1667 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. Alas, the windows are still papered over, blocking view of the progress on the interior fit-out of the store. A sign has been installed over the sidewalk out front, but the main sign above the storefront is still to come. Gap Factory sells apparel exclusive to Gap Factory stores, designed with less-expensive materials at lower prices by "real" Gap designers. So, if you want to look like you shop at Gap, but pay less, Gap Factory will be for you.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe opens in Rockville

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is now open at 835-F Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza. The cafe will host a special Grand Opening event this weekend to celebrate their arrival on the Pike. If you are one of the first 50 guests to enter the cafe this Saturday, May 9, 2026, you will win free smoothies for a year. Everybody will get one free 24 oz. smoothie with in-store ordering of any food or bowl from this Friday, May 8 through Sunday, May 10. 

Nordstrom Rack "coming soon" to Rockville

Nordstrom Rack is "coming soon" to Rockville, according to signage posted across its future storefront. It will be located at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. This is the former Buy Buy Baby space.

What is the difference between Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall and Nordstrom Rack? Well, unlike a couple of competitors I recently wrote about, Nordstrom Rack actually does sell some overstock, clearance, and past-season items from the "real" Nordstrom. So this means that you actually are going to be able to find a significant number of Nordstrom-quality products by top labels at great savings at Nordstrom Rack.

However, like those other competitors, Nordstrom Rack also carries items specifically designed and manufactured for Nordstrom Rack. These are essentially going to be pieces that look like what you expect to see in the higher-end Nordstrom department store, but that might be made with a lower-cost material. You can quickly identify apparel made for Nordstrom Rack by checking the tag, which will say... Nordstrom Rack, not surprisingly.

You won't have the department store Nordstrom services like personal shoppers and alterations at Nordstrom Rack. And there won't be a cafe or somebody tinkling away on a grand piano. But bargain hunters won't mind, as they search for and score deals on items that might have been out of their price range at the department store a season ago.

Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng closes in Rockville

Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng has closed at 825-G Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza. The tea shop operated for over 20 years. In addition to bubble tea and milk tea beverages, the shop was a popular place to purchase loose-leaf teas and ginseng. They sold a high-grade ginseng, as well as imported teas from Asia that weren't always easy to find elsewhere.

Brothers Sew & Vac opens in Rockville

Brothers Sew & Vac, one of the longest-operating family-owned businesses in Bethesda, has moved to Rockville. Formerly located at 4826 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda, they have relocated and opened at 1067 Rockville Pike in the Talbott Center across from Taco Bell. The Morris family has owned and operated the business for seven decades. Brothers carries vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, and medical grade air purifiers. They also repair and service all brands of sewing machines and vacuum cleaners.

Hours of operation at the new Rockville store are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Right now, you can get 10% off anything in the store if you mention the code "Bethesda10" at purchase. Free shipping is also available on online orders. Another benefit of the Rockville location? Free parking!

Bonne Nail Bar "coming soon" to Twinbrook Quarter in Rockville

Bonne Nail Bar is "coming soon" to the Twinbrook Quarter development in Rockville, according to signage in the windows of its future storefront at 850 Festival Street. Permanent signage is also already in place above the storefront. Bonne Nail Bar is currently hiring nail techs. The nail spa joins Wegmans and several restaurants in the ground floor of the Milton apartments.