Police seek man they say damaged computers at Rockville Library

Rockville City police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect accused of damaging computers in the Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. Police allege the adult male suspect damaged two computers at the library around 4:10 PM that afternoon. They describe the suspect as a Black male who does not have a right arm, and was wearing short dreadlocks, a red knit hat, and a gray blanket. If you have any information about this incident or suspect, call Rockville City police at 240-314-8900.

Prime redevelopment site on the auction block in Rockville Town Center

A property with one of the most-desirable and high-traffic locations in Rockville Town Center will be auctioned off in 28 days. 255 Rockville Pike is currently improved with a three-story office building and heavily-used parking garage. While that would provide a steady income for the winning bidder, the site is also directly across from - and connected to via skybridge - the Rockville Metro station. That means the property is also eligible for a transit-oriented redevelopment at much greater height and density than the current structure.

255 Rockville Pike was once part of the now-demolished Rockville Mall. In recent decades, it was home to Montgomery County government offices. Now that those have been moved to the County's new government building in Wheaton, the vacant building is being put on the auction block. This puts a transit-oriented site on the heavily-traveled MD 355 highway corridor into play on the City of Rockville's economic growth chessboard. The Metro station across the street is not only served by WMATA's Red Line subway trains, but also Maryland's MARC commuter rail, and Amtrak's Washington D.C. to Chicago route trains.

Transwestern, which is marketing the Ten-X Commercial auction, notes that the current building's 12-foot ceilings would also make it a prime candidate for conversion to a biotech facility. It could also be redeveloped as a high-visibility corporate headquarters. Of course, as Montgomery County hasn't attracted a major corporate headquarters in a quarter century, there is also the very real probability of the site being redeveloped as a mixed-use residential tower. Some have long touted the need for more residents in the Town Center, to support the businesses in that struggling area, which the latter use would provide, although others have pointed to parking issues as the primary culprit for the area's empty storefronts.

The City of Rockville's 2040 Comprehensive master plan anticipates that 255 Rockville Pike will indeed be demolished and redeveloped. "It is recommended that the City take an active role in the

redevelopment of this area as a prominent site in Rockville’s downtown," the plan states regarding 255 Rockville Pike. "Redevelopment of this property should contribute to the realization of the Town Center downtown L-shaped ‘spine,’ and incorporate an expanded pedestrian promenade over MD-355 to the Rockville Transit Station."

Such recommendations suggest that the City, which is about to elect a new mayor and City Council, will be heavily engaged in any redevelopment of this property. While this could add to the complexity of building something new here, it's also likely that the new property owner could wrangle some benefits or concessions from the City if it presents a project with the amenities and potential to improve the Town Center/Metro station area's environment, business climate, and pedestrian safety. With such a rare opportunity for new construction at the Rockville Metro station, there should be no shortage of bidders. As the auction listing notes, the site's PD-RCI zoning allows for high-rise construction, but also the most Metro-accessible location for a biotech facility in the I-270 life sciences corridor.

Photos courtesy Transwestern

Police called after assault at Rockville bar

Rockville City police responded to a report of an assault at a bar in the Rockville Town Center early yesterday morning, October 7, 2023. The assault was reported at an establishment in the 100 block of Gibbs Street at 12:00 AM Saturday. That is at Rockville Town Square.

Rockville garage assailant sought by police

Rockville City police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the alleged assailant in a September 14, 2023 assault in a parking garage in the Town Center area. Police say the male suspect suddenly approached the male victim, and assaulted him. The victim does not know the suspect.

Police describe the suspect as a White male with a "very heavy build," 5'8" in height, and around 35-40 years old. The suspect was wearing a beard, black baseball cap and glasses at the time of the assault. If you have any information about this incident or suspect, call Rockville City police at 240-314-8900.

Kung Fu Tea closes in Rockville

Kung Fu Tea has closed its Rockville Town Center location at 275 N. Washington Street. Rockville Kung Fu Tea customers are being directed to the chain's Rio Lakefront and Pike & Rose locations. The closure is particularly surprising given that the store was just renovated earlier this summer. "Kung Fu Tea Rockville has closed its doors," the company said in a statement. "We sincerely thank you for your support and patronage over the years."

Juvenile stabbed in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault in the Rockville Town Center area Monday night, August 28, 2023. The assault was reported in the unit block of Monroe Place at 10:20 PM. A juvenile victim told officers that he was stabbed several times at 10:10 PM, after having agreed to fight another individual. The victim "was reluctant to give additional details," police say.

Diner threatened with gun at Rockville restaurant

Rockville City police are searching for a diner who threatened a fellow customer with a gun at a restaurant in the Rockville Town Center area. A dispute between the two customers at a restaurant in the 100 block of E. Montgomery Avenue broke out around 4:10 PM on August 7, 2023. As the argument escalated, one of the two threatened the other with a handgun. 

Police describe the suspect as a Black male with a beard and a "heavy build," six feet in height. If you have any information about this incident or suspect, call police at 240-314-8900.

Tequila Modern Mexican opening soon in Rockville

Here's an update on Tequila Modern Mexican, the new restaurant opening soon at 11 N. Washington Street in Rockville Town Center. The chain's first Maryland location could open as soon as next month. Operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM Fridays and Saturdays. Their Virginia locations serve over 50 varieties of tequila, as well as a Cheesecake Chimichanga, according to their website.

Assault at Regal Cinemas in Rockville

Rockville City police were summoned to Regal Cinemas Rockville at 199 E. Montgomery Avenue on Friday night after an assault was reported at the cineplex. Police responded to the theater at 8:06 PM Friday, July 21, 2023. This was the second assault reported in the Town Center area on Friday.

Indecent exposure in Rockville parking lot

Rockville City police responded to a report of indecent exposure in the Rockville Town Center area on Tuesday afternoon, June 20, 2023. The incident was reported in a commercial parking lot in the 300 block of N. Washington Street at 3:31 PM.

Car stolen from Rockville apartment building

Rockville City police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at an apartment building Monday morning in the Rockville Town Center area. The vehicle was reported stolen at an apartment building in the 100 block of Monroe Street. It is believed the vehicle was stolen sometime between 6:30 PM Sunday night and 9:15 AM Monday morning.

Indecent exposure in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to an indecent exposure incident in the Rockville Town Center area early Wednesday morning, June 14, 2023. The incident was reported in the 200 block of N. Washington Street at 12:40 AM. That block is directly behind Rockville Town Square between Beall Avenue and E. Middle Lane.

Crash disrupts outdoor dining at restaurant in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to an accident outside a restaurant in Rockville Town Center this past Saturday, June 3, 2023. Multiple units arrived at the scene after a vehicle crashed into the outdoor dining area at World of Beer at 196 E. Montgomery Avenue. The accident occurred around 11:50 AM Saturday, prime brunch time, but no injuries were reported. However, property of the restaurant was damaged.

Tequila Modern Mexican restaurant opening in Rockville

Earlier this week, the signs came down at the shuttered Chuy's in Rockville. The good news is that a sign has gone up for a new Mexican restaurant in Rockville Town Center. Tequila Modern Mexican is opening soon at 11 N. Washington Street. It is a small but rapidly-expanding chain, beginning in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and opening new locations here, and in North Carolina and Kansas. The chain is small, but the menu is not, with all of the standard dishes you would expect alongside some unique ones. 

Rockville Regal Cinemas to close

Rockville Regal Cinemas will close as part of the bankruptcy restructuring of Regal parent company Cineworld, Variety reports. A closing date has not been announced, but the company said in a bankruptcy filing that it will begin to reject leases for the closing theaters on February 15, 2023. This will be another economic cannonball to the gut for the struggling Rockville Town Center area, where the Rockville Town Square development has many vacant storefronts. 

Parking continues to be an issue, but the theater closure will eliminate a significant amount of foot traffic on evenings and weekends. A study last decade showed that a cineplex can draw 20,000 additional people to an urban center per weekend than an area without a multi-screen theater might attract.

Water main break in Rockville

There is a water main break in the area of 500 N. Washington Street in Rockville. A City of Rockville Public Works crew is now on-site making repairs. The right southbound lane of N. Washington Street is currently closed. 401 and 500 N. Washington Street are currently without water service until the repair is completed.

Police called after assault at grocery store in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to a grocery store in the Rockville Town Center area yesterday morning, after an individual reported being the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at a store in the 200 block of N. Washington Street at 10:20 AM Friday, December 16, 2022. A suspect was accused of shoplifting at the store, as well. Dawson's Market is located on that block.

Police called after assault at Rockville restaurant

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a restaurant in the Town Center area early yesterday afternoon, December 11, 2022. The assault was reported at a restaurant in the 200 block of E. Middle Lane at 1:08 PM Sunday.

Car stolen in Rockville Town Center

Rockville City police are investigating the theft of a vehicle in the Town Center area Friday night, November 18, 2022. The vehicle, which was parked along the street on Helen Heneghan Way, was reported stolen at 11:20 PM.

Car stolen in Town Center area of Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in a parking lot in the Town Center area yesterday morning, September 16, 2022. The lot was on E. Middle Lane. Police were called at 8:11 AM Saturday morning to investigate.