D.C.'s HalfSmoke opening at Rockville Town Square

The Starbucks of half smokes is coming to Rockville Town Square. HalfSmoke founder Andre McCain has leased space at the struggling development at 36-A Maryland Avenue, formerly home to American Tap Room and Pandora Seafood. McCain opened the original HalfSmoke at 651 Florida Avenue N.W. in the District.

HalfSmoke's menu will feature four kinds of sausage, as well as grilled chicken and falafel. Another specialty of HalfSmoke is adult milkshakes, although non-alcoholic shakes are available, too.

McCain told QSR Magazine in 2017 that he is trying to put an upscale spin on what is considered wrongly to be a cheap product. Part of that is in providing high-quality ingredients. But the other part is providing a Starbucks type of atmosphere where customers are encouraged to linger at the restaurant in comfortable seating, rather than run out the door gobbling a half smoke.

It's a tough time to be launching a restaurant empire, to be sure. HalfSmoke is also expanding to Baltimore. I love hot dogs, so it won't be a tough sell to get me in the door.

Gyuzo Japanese BBQ sign installed, lit at Rockville Town Square

The sign is up at Gyuzo Japanese BBQ at Rockville Town Square, and last night it was lit. Construction inside appears to be nearly complete, but the restaurant says it won't be opening until October. Gyuzo touts itself as the first Japanese BBQ restaurant in Maryland, where diners will cook their meals on a personal-size grill at their tables, making this a dine-in oriented establishment.

Gumbo YaYa has closed at Rockville Town Square

Gumbo YaYa has closed at Rockville Town Square. Rockville residents are growing used to businesses at the property closing, but it seems like the life of a business is shorter than ever here.

Longtime anchor Gordon Biersch lasted for well over a decade before closing recently, but businesses departing in recent years have sometimes lasted a year or less. Gumbo YaYa opened in November 2019.

Don't push the button!

Signs around Rockville Town Square warn pedestrians, "Don't push the button!" Walk signals are now programmed to activate automatically without having to press the button. The change is in response to the coronavirus pandemic, to provide "contactless crossing" of streets.

First Watch temporarily closed in Rockville due to coronavirus pandemic

First Watch at Rockville Town Square has temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. CEO Chris Tomasso said it was a "difficult decision," but that he decided to close all of the chain's locations to protect employees from contracting covid-19. He also announced that First Watch employees will receive medical coverage and additional health benefits related to coronavirus. First Watch is located at 100-D Gibbs Street.

Gordon Biersch closed at Rockville Town Square, Buffalo Wild Wings temporarily closed

Gordon Biersch has closed at Rockville Town Square, perhaps the deepest blow to the struggling property so far. And a temporary closure of the neighboring Buffalo Wild Wings was providing another unneeded jump scare for RTS patrons Monday night. It turns out the chicken wing chain has only closed this location through this Thursday, for "equipment upgrades and installation."

Buffalo Wild Wings is temporarily closed
at Rockville Town Square; it will reopen Friday

Both restaurants have remained highly popular even as some of the center's longest-standing anchors have departed in recent years. The Rockville Gordon Biersch was dark Monday night. Large Home Depot packing boxes could be seen inside. A sign in the window thanked longtime customers, and directed GB fans to their not-so-convenient Annapolis location.

The closure is another body blow to the County's cratered nightlife scene, which collapsed in the wake of the Montgomery County Council's disastrous Nighttime Economy Task Force debacle, which saw eighteen nightspots shutter in downtown Bethesda alone. Gordon Biersch's demise is a rare one that isn't the direct result of County Council incompetence, however. The chain has closed many other locations, as well. Finnegan's Wake on Gibbs Street now finds itself the beneficiary of one fewer nightlife choice at RTS, as they gear up for their biggest day of the year, St. Patrick's Day.

"How doers get more done"

Mavana Nails & Waxing closes at Rockville Town Square

Mavana Nails & Waxing has closed at 100-H Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square. The salon opened in the spring of 2017.

Bella Sena boutique opens at Rockville Town Square

Bella Sena boutique has opened at Rockville Town Square. Owned by Bethesda resident Bella Sayag, Bella Sena carries casual and activewear apparel, hats, handbags and jewelry among its inventory. Bella Sena is located at 156 Gibbs Street, which was most recently home to Sunday Kitchen & Bath.

Christmas at Rockville Town Square (Video+Photos)

Here are a few scenes from the holiday season at Rockville Town Square. A world champion Zamboni driver just happened to be on the skating rink at this moment, putting on a master class in Zamboni driving.

Kyoto Matcha opening today in Rockville

Kyoto Matcha Dessert is opening today at 33 Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. This is a soft opening for Black Friday, for a special treat in-between doorbuster missions. Kyoto Matcha's desserts promote both matcha tea culture and traditional Japanese tea culture, the company says.

Their matcha tea is sourced from the Uji Matcha Supply Factory in Japan. Their philosophy is that of the modern expert on matcha, Mr. Matsushita, who advocates we "Let the tea return to the forest" - experiencing the beauty of the forest through the flavor of fine matcha tea.

Sunday Kitchen & Bath goes dark in Rockville

The windows at Sunday Kitchen & Bath at Rockville Town Square were blacked out on Sunday with window coverings. According to landlord Federal Realty, the space at 156 Gibbs Street is now available for lease.

How the storefront looked last week
before the windows were covered

Golden Samovar contents to be auctioned off next week

A "3-year new upscale restaurant is shutting its doors and making a complete, urgent liquidation. Rockville, Maryland," states an online auction listing. The photographs appear to match Golden Samovar at Rockville Town Square. According to the listing, the auction will take place online on November 13, and items will be removed the next day.

Among the 183 items listed are bar equipment, four microwaves, the cash register, the "Open" sign, chandeliers, the chairs, the tables, the booths, sinks, stoves, refrigerators, and even a butane torch and the swinging door to the kitchen.

Gumbo Ya Ya sets opening date at Rockville Town Square

Gumbo Ya Ya fans in Rockville are counting down the final days until the Cajun-Puerto Rican restaurant opens its new location at Rockville Town Square. The owners have announced they will open on November 1, 2019. Their 101 Gibbs Street location was most recently home to Lab Cafe.

Rockville Town Square ice rink under construction

It's already that time of year again. A chill is in the air, and the ice rink at Rockville Town Square has emerged from storage. A crew is assembling the rink for what seems like an earlier start each year.

Okto-Bear-Fest at IT'SUGAR at Rockville Town Square

It's officially Oktoberfest season, but this year it's also Okto-Bear-Fest at IT'SUGAR at 130-B Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square. The candy shop is featuring bear and beer-themed sweet treats all month, inviting customers to "work on your bear belly."

Among the more imaginative offerings are amber and frost-colored gummy bears, simulating beer with a thick head of foam, and sold in beer mugs. Chocolate-covered Dingle Bearies feature gummy bears again, this time in a coating chocoholics will approve of. Even Duff Beer makes an appearance.

Has anyone ever been able to find an expiration date on a can of Duff Beer? I will buy some immediately the day I can, but I have a policy against consuming any perishable food or drink that doesn't have an expiration date.

Five Guys reopens at Rockville Town Square

The panic is over. Burgers and fries are once again being served at 130 Gibbs Street. Five Guys has reopened at Rockville Town Square. The food is just as you remember it, but the space has been renovated. Now we can get back to debating which premium burger is best, Five Guys, In-N-Out Burger, or Shake Shack?

Gumbo Ya Ya opening at Rockville Town Square

Gumbo Ya Ya is expanding its "Puerto-Nawlins" cuisine from Germantown to Rockville. The Cajun/Puerto Rican restaurant will open a new location at 101 Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square, formerly home to Ev & Maddy's and Lab Cafe. What started as a food truck at Joint Base Andrews is now becoming a small chain with bricks-and-mortar location number two.

Friendship BBQ opens at Rockville Town Square

Friendship BBQ has opened at 33-E Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. It's not Carolina or Texas barbecue, but Chinese barbecue. The cuisine, and even the wood used to grill the skewers, are native to the Xinjiang region of China, according to property owner Federal Realty.

Partial power outage last night at Rockville Town Square

Power appeared to be out to several businesses on the west side of Gibbs Street early last night at Rockville Town Square. The businesses impacted were those between SunTrust Bank and Five Guys.

Five Guys Rockville Town Square closes for renovations

You'll have to head north or south on Rockville Pike to satisfy your appetite for Five Guys in the coming days. Their Rockville Town Square location has temporarily closed for renovations. It will reopen September 23, 2019 at 11:00 AM.