Big Papi's Tacos opens in Rockville

Big Papi's Tacos is now open at 201 E. Middle Lane in Rockville Town Center. They are holding a soft opening this week with a limited menu. A ribbon-cutting will be held this Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM with taco samples. Finally, they will close out the week with their grand opening on Saturday, April 19.

Tesla vandalized in Rockville Town Center

Politically-motivated vandalism against Tesla vehicles and facilities has come to Rockville. A Tesla owner reported that their car was parked in the 200 block of N. Washington Street at 1:22 AM on March 26, 2025, when a male suspect approached and intentionally scratched a rear door on the vehicle. Rockville City police describe the suspect as a "Hispanic or light-skinned" Black male with long dreadlocks. He was wearing a black jacket with yellow shoulders and yellow-and-red trim, light-colored blue jeans, and a black shirt. No images of the suspect from the Tesla vehicle's many cameras have been released as of this writing. If you can assist detectives in identifying the suspect, call 240-314-8900.

Trader Joe's construction advances at Rockville Town Square (Photos)

Trader Joe's is inching closer to opening at Rockville Town Square. Any Trader Joe's regular will quickly recognize the wood checkout counters and wall trim now visible inside the former Dawson's Market at 225 N. Washington Street. Some refrigerated displays and shelving are in place. There is another Trader Joe's down the Pike at Federal Plaza, but this one will be much closer to many Rockville neighborhoods, and walking distance for residents in the Town Center area. Don't expect the other to close, as Trader Joe's has recently adopted a CVS Pharmacy/Starbucks geographic strategy, as demonstrated by its opening of two more locations near its longtime Bethesda store.

No opening date has been announced by the grocery chain. It has confirmed that, under Montgomery County's antiquated liquor laws, no beer or wine will be sold here. There are several beer and wine retailers in the Town Center vicinity, but your elected officials want to ensure that you will not just be able to grab a bottle of wine conveniently when you purchase your dinner at Trader Joe's!

"At Trader Joe's in Rockville Town Square, we see ourselves as your neighborhood grocery store," the company says. "Step inside and you'll find unconventional and interesting products in the Trader Joe's label like Mandarin Orange Chicken and Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, as well as everyday basics like milk, eggs and fresh produce. Most importantly, we offer all of our delicious, quality products at the very best prices. We’re happy to be part of your community, and proud to offer you unique products and an exceptional shopping experience, every day."

First look: The Lady Vintner wine bar in Rockville (Photos)

The window coverings have been removed at The Lady Vintner wine bar at 42 Maryland Avenue in Rockville Town Center. Located in the ground floor of the BLVD 44 apartment building, the craft-beer-and-wine bar and retail store has been in the works for about a year, following the closure of previous tenant Pour Vino N' Hops. The 1300-square-foot space will offer a diverse selection of high-quality wine and beer, an in-house sommelier, and a specially-curated food menu including paninis, flatbreads, charcuterie, fine cheeses, and more. It is scheduled to open in "early spring," which means very soon - stay tuned for an opening date.

Update on Big Papi's Tacos, opening soon in Rockville (Photos)

A giant neon mustache has descended upon Rockville Town Center. Several lighted signs have been installed at Big Papi's Tacos, opening soon at 201 E. Middle Lane. Last night, they were all lit. Still to come is the exterior signage. Stay tuned for an opening date!

Big Papi's Tacos opening soon in Rockville

Big Papi's Tacos is "opening soon" in Rockville, according to signage posted in the windows of its future storefront in Rockville Town Center. The Mexican restaurant will be located at 201 E. Middle Lane, in the ground floor of the BLVD 44/Cambria Hotel. Big Papi's has two existing locations in Maryland, in Frederick and Hagerstown. The growing chain was founded by Victor Alvarez and Carlos Jimenez, two disc jockeys who found themselves idled when the pandemic lockdown happened in 2020.

The specialty of Big Papi's is their quesabirria, which they describe as a "crispy, meaty taco that’s made when chili-spiced corn tortillas are cooked on a smoking hot flat top grill and topped with tender carne asada, melted cheese, diced onion and a bit of cilantro. The crispy taco is then served alongside a savory, chili-tinged consomme broth." They suggest you "think of it like the spicy Mexican equivalent of a French dip."

Vacant Rockville Town Center storefronts could become homes with City approval

A proposal to turn vacant retail storefronts in the struggling Rockville Town Center into two-level loft homes is again moving forward. Property owner Comstock is seeking permission from the City of Rockville to convert 13,011-square-feet of vacant storefronts in the ground level of its BLVD Ansel apartment building into 13 dwelling units, which would be branded as "BLVD Lofts/The Lofts at Ansel." Functionally, they will be like townhomes flush with the building, and residents will enter via doors right on the sidewalk.

Several floorplans would be available. Comstock says that residents of the new loft units would have access to the building amenities available to the other residents of the apartments upstairs. Some units will have steps up to the front door where grading makes that necessary; most units would also have ADA-compliant access from a "rear corridor." Mail delivery to the loft units would be served by a mail and package room in the lobby. Comstock says it is not going to entirely give up on retail at the property; 6500 SF of vacant retail space would be retained for potential retail or restaurant tenants under the proposal.

A sample floorplan for one of the loft units

The Rockville Planning Commission will receive a briefing on the loft conversion proposal at its March 12, 2025 meeting at 7:00 PM. Four residents have submitted comments on the plan so far; three residents expressed support, and one opposed it.

Images courtesy Comstock/City of Rockville

Chef Wang Kitchen opening soon in Rockville

Chef Wang is getting ready to open his kitchen in Rockville Town Center. Awning signage for Chef Wang Kitchen has been installed at 199 E. Montgomery Avenue at Regal Row. It is located in the former California Tortilla space. Operating hours of Chef Wang Kitchen will be 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Rockville police apprehend alleged hit-and-run driver who struck 3 pedestrians in 2023

Rockville City police, in cooperation with other local law enforcement agencies, have located and arrested a Gaithersburg man they allege struck 3 pedestrians with his vehicle outside of 199 E. Montgomery Avenue in Rockville on December 14, 2023. The driver of the dark SUV that struck the victims drove away after what detectives determined was a deliberate vehicular attack. Police identified Walter Giovanni Marquez-Aviles, 44, of Gaithersburg as the suspect in the attack.

Yesterday at 10:15 AM, police located and arrested Marquez-Aviles in Hyattsville, Maryland. He has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of 1st-degree assault.

Rockville police thanked the public for their many tips that assisted with the investigation, and successful apprehension of the suspect. They also thanked the agencies that assisted, including the Montgomery County Police Department Repeat Offender Unit, and the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Task Force.

Pelicana Chicken opens in Rockville

The King of Chicken has ascended the throne in Rockville. Pelicana Chicken is now open at 4 N. Washington Street at the Courthouse Center shopping center. The Korean chicken restaurant has already racked up 17 reviews on Google, with a perfect 5-star score. Many reviewers declared this is the best Korean chicken spot in town. Diners also praised the other authentic Korean dishes on the menu, as well as the atmosphere with K-pop music, a photo booth, and ample television screens.

Pelicana Chicken opening soon in Rockville (Photos)

Pelicana Chicken looks close to opening at 4 N. Washington Street at the Courthouse Center shopping center in Rockville. The opening date has slipped from the fall 2024 debut the chain was targeting when I broke the story into very early 2025. Virtually everything appears to be in place inside the restaurant, including most of the seating, and permanent signage has been installed above the storefront. Pelicana's reputation as the "King of Chicken" precedes it, and is sure to reignite the Korean chicken debate in Rockville, with Bonchon a block away. For now, you can check out the Rockville location's menu online.

Rockville Town Square drops "Rockville" from name

Rockville Town Square property owner Morguard announced that it is dropping the "Rockville" part of its name. From this point on, the mixed-use development will simply be called "The Square." Ouch. What an insult to the City of Rockville, that the city name is seen as a marketing problem. We were always told by the evangelists of urbanization that 15-minute-city town centers would create "a sense of place."

Does "The Square" represent a geographical place in any sense? No. How would anyone know where "The Square" is, especially when so many retail centers utilize "Square" in one fashion or another. "The transition to The Square marks just the beginning of a reimagined and revitalized experience at this well-loved community epicenter," a Morguard rebranding announcement declares. "Get ready for a fresh perspective on shopping, dining, and entertainment. Coming 2025!"

The struggling Rockville Town Square, like much of the Rockville Town Center area, has been through a difficult decade. There are many ideas among residents, patrons, and business owners about what should be done. Dropping "Rockville" from the name is not one I have heard before!

Rockville robbers demand coat at knifepoint

Armed robbers in Rockville demanded a man's coat in broad daylight on December 6, 2024, Rockville City police say. When he refused to take it off and hand it to them, they pulled out a kitchen knife to make their point. The two suspects approached the victim as he was at work cleaning outdoors in the 300 block of Hungerford Drive at 9:00 AM, in the busy Rockville Town Center area. 

Having threatened the victim with the knife, the suspects were successful in obtaining the victim's coat, wallet, and additional outerwear he had been wearing at the time. Police describe Suspect #1 as a Black male, tall with a muscular build, and wearing a black Nike hat, blue coat, and brown pants. Suspect #2 is described as a Black male "significantly shorter” than his partner, wearing a ski mask, brown sweater, white shirt, and brown pants. If you can identify either of these suspects, call police at 240-314-8900.

Dirty Dough opens today in Rockville

Signage is up and lit at Dirty Dough at 36-B Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. The new cookie bakery is opening today, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Enjoy "super-stuffed" soft cookies with fillings and toppings, as well as milkshakes and ice cream. Operating hours for the shop will be 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Dirty Dough sets target opening date in Rockville

Dirty Dough has set a target opening date for its Rockville Town Square location at 36-B Maryland Avenue. The cookie shop is now hoping to open on December 18, 2024. If you missed my first report, Dirty Dough's selling point amongst its competitors is its stuffed cookie fillings, as well as the availability of milkshakes and ice cream that employ the cookie ingredients and toppings. Dirty Dough has an existing Maryland location in Halethorpe, with Baltimore and Laurel stores in the works.