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.

Christmas tree installed at Rockville Town Square ahead of lighting on Dec. 6

The Christmas tree is up at Rockville Town Square, but it's not lit yet. That will officially happen this coming Friday, December 6, 2024 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM in the town square. Mr. MoCo himself, Alex Tsironis, will be your host for the evening. King Teddy will perform live music in the square, and there will be food, drinks, activities for the whole family, and a chance for selfies with Santa Claus.

Indecent exposure at Rockville Library

Rockville City police responded to a report of indecent exposure Sunday afternoon, September 8, 2024. The incident was reported at the Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. Police were called at 2:40 PM Sunday.

The great HalfSmoke saga ends in Rockville

Where there's HalfSmoke, there isn't always fire. A four year odyssey of disappointment came to a whimpering conclusion at Rockville Town Square yesterday. It was almost exactly four years ago that local sausage chain HalfSmoke had announced plans to open a Rockville location at 36-A Maryland Avenue. During the long period of befuddled anticipation, a HalfSmoke kiosk came and went at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. But the Rockville HalfSmoke never came to pass.

Last night, the "coming soon" signage that had covered the windows of the former Austin Grill and American Tap Room space since November 2020 was gone. Passersby could finally see through the large windows, and judge for themselves what had - or hadn't - been done inside since the last presidential election. This is a huge space that needs a really good restaurant tenant. Meanwhile, HalfSmoke still has a Washington, D.C. location, with a second D.C. restaurant rumored to be in the works.

Little Miner Taco sets opening date in Rockville

Little Miner Taco has set an opening date for its new Rockville location. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is now scheduled to be held at the restaurant at 39 Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Little Miner Taco was previously located inside The Block, the food hall at Pike & Rose that recently closed. The signature dish that has gained them fame in the Washington, D.C. region is their birria taco.

Kusshi opens in Rockville

Kusshi has opened at 36-G Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. The popular local sushi chain has now grown to seven locations with this opening in Rockville. Initial operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 12:45 AM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 1:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Kusshi replaces Sushi Damo in this space, which has been vacant since October 2023.

Dawson's Market closes in Rockville (Photos)

Dawson's Market has closed at 225 N. Washington Street at Rockville Town Square. The permanent closure ends a long but tumultuous run for the grocery store at the struggling Town Center development. It also leaves an anchor retail space vacant at property that already has no shortage of empty storefronts. A bigger-name chain grocer could spur more shoppers to patronize Rockville Town Square, but property owner Morguard faces the same challenge as the original developer here, in that the poorly-designed-and-placed grocery space was turned down by many such supermarkets almost twenty years ago.

The space is well-sized for brands like Aldi, Lidl or Trader Joe's. If one of those can be attracted here, the famous brand will have to overcome the shortfalls of being hidden away from the busy state highway MD 355 at the very back of the development, and the almost universally-despised parking scheme at Rockville Town Square. The latter was improved in recent years by finally allowing free parking for 2 hours. But the dungeon-like garages, paid parking and validation memories of the past persist in the minds of many, and there is a Giant and a Food Lion with free, hassle-free surface parking only a short distance from Rockville Town Square. 

New public art installed at Rockville Town Square (Photos)

When life gives you a failing town center, make art. That's just what the City of Rockville and property owner Morguard have done with a large storefront that has been vacant for a painfully-long time at Rockville Town Square. The windows of what was to be HalfSmoke at 36-A Maryland Avenue are now hosting a new public art installation. "The LOVE Mural" was painted by artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer with assistance from members of the community during this month's Rockville Pride event.

"Together, we are painting this world a rainbow," a plaque near the mural states. "'The LOVE Mural' project honors the beautiful diversity of our world and connects us through the power of public art creation. Through love we can come together and solve our world's most challenging issues, empowering us to listen and value each other. By painting LOVE we celebrate each other and amplify positive energy authentically around the world, elevating respect and equity for all beings."

Kusshi signage installed at Rockville Town Square

The sign is up at Kusshi, opening soon at 36-G Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. This is the latest location for the local sushi chain in Montgomery County, joining existing spots in Bethesda, Pike & Rose, and downtown Silver Spring. There are also locations in Arlington, Tysons, and Glover Park. Here, Kusshi will more than fill the void left by the exit of Sushi Damo. Stay tuned for an opening date!

Dirty Dough opening in Rockville

Cookies are most definitely the new cupcakes and fried ice cream rolls. And here comes the latest entry in the latest trend, Dirty Dough. The rapidly-expanding chain has leased a space at 36-B Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. How does Dirty Dough differentiate itself from the Crumbl Cookies, Levain Bakeries, and Chip Cities of the world? With stuffed fillings that render their creations not as mere cookies, but "super-stuffed cookie bombs." 

Like the competition, Dirty Dough is constantly producing limited-edition flavors, on a weekly basis in this case. If you need more sugar to go with your cookies, they also serve Dirty Shakes, in which you can have any cookie of your choice mixed in, and Dirty Scoops of ice cream. "Coming soon" signage has been posted in Dirty Dough's future Rockville storefront. The chain has an existing Maryland location in Halethorpe, with new ones coming soon in Baltimore and Laurel.

Peter Chang signage removed at Rockville Town Square

The final trace of local celebrity chef Peter Chang has been removed from his former restaurant at 20-A Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. Kungfu Kitchen abruptly took over the space when Chang made his unexpected exit from the struggling Town Center property in April. Chang's eponymous restaurant operated at Rockville Town Square for ten years. His exit stings all the more as the Montgomery County-averse dining critic of The Washington Post just wrote rave reviews of Chang's newest restaurants in Gaithersburg and Arlington. 

Chang's status among celebrity chefs and prolific restaurateurs is remarkable in that his fame derives entirely from the products of his kitchens. He is rarely seen or heard in the media via interviews or public relations efforts, and doesn't belittle aspiring chefs on competitive cooking TV shows, or engage in publicity stunts. Chang is known for one thing: his cooking. Rockville Town Square is increasingly known for...empty storefronts.

Indecent exposure at Rockville library

Rockville City police were called to the Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Avenue late Thursday afternoon, June 13, 2024, to investigate an indecent exposure incident. The incident was reported at the library at 5:47 PM Thursday. An individual was also accused of disorderly conduct and obstructing a criminal investigation in the same incident. The adult male suspect was arrested and faces all three charges, which are all misdemeanors.

Assault at Rockville Town Square

Rockville City police responded to a report of an assault at Rockville Town Square late Friday night, June 7, 2024. The incident was reported at the development at 10:34 PM. It reportedly took place in a parking garage in the 100 block of Gibbs Street.

Kung Fu Kitchen replaces Peter Chang in Rockville

Peter Chang has left the building. The beloved restaurateur and chef recently opened a Gaithersburg location, but now his Rockville outpost has closed. His space at 20-A Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square isn't going dark like so many others in the struggling town center, though. It has quickly been filled by Kung Fu Kitchen. Promising a new menu of "authentic Chinese cuisine," it still has the Peter Chang signage above the storefront, but that will change in the coming weeks.

Police respond to assault at Rockville grocery store

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a grocery store Monday afternoon, April 22, 2024. The assault was reported at a store in the 200 block of N. Washington Street at 2:09 PM Monday. Dawson's Market is located on that block, at 225 N. Washington Street, at Rockville Town Square.

Police respond to assault at library in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to the Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Avenue on Monday, April 1, 2024, after an individual reported being the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at the library at 12:50 PM Monday. The library is located at Rockville Town Square.

Rockville food delivery drivers gone wild, Part II

Bad behavior by food delivery drivers in Rockville has landed them back on the radar of Rockville's finest again. Rockville City police were called to a restaurant on Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square at 8:04 PM on March 20, 2024, after a driver began behaving erratically while picking up an order. 

A female restaurant employee told officers that the driver approached her from behind, and "hovered" there. The driver then "aggressively" grabbed the bagged order from the employee, knocking her off-balance. 

Police have not released a physical description of the driver, whose identity they say remains unknown at this time. No word if the driver asked the "inappropriate question," however.

Eko House to close in Rockville

Eko House, the African restaurant and lounge at 150 Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square, will cease operations "effective Sunday, January 14th, 2024." The business is citing "misalignment with our landlord" as the reason for closing. Owners Yomi Ajao and Francis Odiase say they are actively seeking a new location for Eko House, and hope to reopen soon in that new space. Eko House opened two years ago at the struggling Rockville Town Square, which has a number of vacant storefronts.

Assault at Rockville Town Square

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Rockville Town Square Monday night, November 6, 2023. The assault was reported in the unit block of Maryland Avenue at 6:16 PM.

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.