Rockville Trader Joe's construction update (Photos)

Most of the Rockville grocery store excitement at the moment is focused on the June 25 opening of Wegmans on Rockville Pike. But those living closer to "The Square," a.k.a. Rockville Town Square, are eagerly awaiting the opening of Trader Joe's at 225 N. Washington Street. This is one of 21 new Trader Joe's stores opening nationwide this year. Three will be in the Washington, D.C. area, including this one, which will take the place of former grocery tenant Dawson's Market.

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."

Verizon moving at Rockville Town Square

Verizon will be moving a short distance at Rockville Town Square. The phone store is currently located at 20 Maryland Avenue, next to Gold's Gym. Their new space will be at 33-D Maryland Avenue, next to Buffalo Wild Wings. Shelving and furniture are now being moved into the storefront.

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!

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.

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.