Rockville library assault ends in arrest

Rockville City police were called to a public library on July 25, 2025, after someone was reported to have been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at the Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Avenue at 4:38 PM. That is located at The Square at Rockville. Police arrested an unidentified male, 30, at the library. He has been charged with assault and theft.

MWBC Shop Local to host opening party 4-8 PM today at The Square in Rockville

MWBC Shop Local at 36-D Maryland Avenue at The Square in Rockville will host an Opening Party today, August 1, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. There will be a "sip and shop experience," face painting, and giveaways every hour. Attendees will also have a chance to meet the six local artisans whose products are sold at the store. A retail storefront initiative of the Maryland Women's Business Center designed to provide an incubator opportunity for local artisans and small-scale manufacturers, MWBC Shop Local provides program participants with mentoring, practical experience, and access to capital. Once open, the store's operating hours will be 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays.

Dolan Uyghur Restaurant opening in Rockville

Dolan Uyghur Restaurant will hold a "soft opening soon" at 20-A Maryland Avenue at The Square in Rockville. According to Google, the Central Asian restaurant will open this Sunday, July 27, 2025. Owner Hamid Kerim, originally from East Turkistan is working to preserve "the food and flavor of Uyghur culture." To that end, he has three existing locations, in Washington, D.C., Chantilly, and Falls Church. Dolan will replace the very-short-lived Kung Fu Kitchen, which replaced the high profile Peter Chang.

Rockville City Hall looking into AC outage at Gold's Gym

Patrons of Gold's Gym at 26 Maryland Avenue at The Square at Rockville report extended air conditioning outages at the facility this summer. It turns out that similar outages were also being reported by members last summer, as well. This summer, as with last year, Gold's Gym has sometimes brought in large fans to provide whatever cool air they could generate. But members say that solution was far from sufficient, and the latest AC outage has had some of them breaking their regular workout routines because it is simply too hot in the gym to comfortably or safely exercise, even though they are still being charged membership and equipment maintenance fees all the while. 

Multiple members say the current outage has lasted for about four weeks. The outages this summer have not only been stifling temperature-wise, but the fact that Gold's Gym closed its other Rockville location at Wintergreen Plaza has meant a significant increase in the number of people working out at the Square location. 

At least one member has contacted Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton, and the City Council, about the AC problems. Ashton said that she has now contacted the property owner, Morguard, regarding the matter. She has also made City Manager Jeff Mihelich aware of the situation, and he is part of the communication loop with Morguard. Ashton said both she and Mihelich will be following up with the company about the Gold's Gym problems.

Trader Joe's opens in Rockville (Photos)

Trader Joe's fans lined up as far as the eye could see Thursday at the grocery chain's newest Rockville location at 225 N. Washington Street at The Square. A temporary power outage delayed the grand opening ceremonies about two-and-half hours, but did not deter the folks who were lined up all the way down Gibbs Street, toward E. Middle Lane. Once electricity was restored by Pepco, Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton presented Morguard Associate Vice-President Joshua Nolan with a proclamation from the Mayor and Council. Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust is the new owner of the development, and recently rebranded it from Rockville Town Square. Morguard Corporation is the management firm for the property.

Morguard AVP Joshua Nolan and
Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton

Rockville Town Square had its struggles over the last two decades, but had never had a true grocery store in the anchor space until now. That has given Morguard confidence that the development can start fresh, with the popular grocer to draw the kind of foot traffic that this corner space had been intended to generate from the beginning. The property hadn't seen the kind of enthusiasm and excitement on display Thursday since the early days of its debut in the summer of 2007.

"This opening reflects Morguard's commitment to creating spaces that enrich local communities," Morguard President and Chief Operating Officer Angela Sahi said in a statement. "The Square is a prime example of how thoughtful reinvestment can spark neighborhood revitalization." Morguard's home run swing in landing Trader Joe's has impressed many local commercial real estate observers, as it immediately solves one of the fundamental flaws that had been a drag on the property, and a source of frustration for City officials.

"We're excited to welcome Trader Joe's and continue expanding the experiences offered at The Square," Nolan said Thursday. "Working with the city and Mayor Monique Ashton, we continue to focus on bringing people together and supporting our community."

Photos courtesy Morguard Corporation

Trader Joe's grand opening today in Rockville (Photos)

The new Trader Joe's grocery store at 225 N. Washington Street at The Square in Rockville opens today, June 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM. Trader Joe's is the new anchor retail tenant for the development, which gets another chance at a fresh start with the addition of a real grocery store, and that traffic that can generate for the other businesses. A grand opening ceremony will be held at the store at 10:30 AM, with Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton, and officials from property owner Morguard and the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Here is a photo preview of what you will see today:

Trader Joe's filling shelves ahead of Rockville opening (Photos)

Merchandise is hitting the shelves and display cases inside the future Trader Joe's grocery store at 255 N. Washington Street at Rockville Town Square. Bags of chips, jars of salsa, and neatly-stacked boxes of Joe's Os cereal are among the items visible through the store windows. Also visible is a series of Rockville-themed art high on the walls. Some are obvious, like a Trader Joe's rebranding of the Regal Rockville cineplex, while we could guess that the vintage cars are a riff on The Great Gatsby, whose author is buried in Rockville. Which reminds one of the historic moment when the idea of naming one of the parking decks at the Square "The F. Scott Fitzgerald Garage" after the greatest American novelist was very briefly under consideration by City of Rockville officials. Wasn't Gatsby's car yellow, though?

Rockville Trader Joe's construction update (Photos)

Permanent signage has been installed on the facade of Trader Joe's, opening soon at 225 N. Washington Street at Rockville Town Square. Inside, cash registers and shopping carts are now in place, the screens of the former already active. Trader Joe's replaces departed grocer Dawson's Market as the retail anchor of the struggling development in Rockville Town Center. No official opening date has been made public as of this writing.