Sneak peek: Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby opening June 1 (Photos)

The sign is up at Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby store at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center, on the border of Gaithersburg with Rockville. And the window coverings are down, and you know what that means: It's sneak peek time, for our first look at the interior of the County's first Hobby Lobby. All of the shelving and display stands appear to be in place, as well as wayfaring signage. I can see signs at the back wall of the store denoting the adult long sleeve shirts section.

Cash registers are in place and plugged in at the checkouts. They are currently set to Training Mode, as the newly-hired employees prepare for the June 1, 2026 opening date. The big sign above the storefront has only increased the excitement level about Hobby Lobby's imminent arrival. Readers of this blog have known about it since I first broke the story way back last August. But now the many people who don't follow any local news websites are seeing this sign as they drive past. They're pulling into the 270 Center parking lot just to take a closer look. Even the other tenants here are pumped up, as you can imagine the increase in foot traffic Hobby Lobby is going to bring to the 270 Center.

Sneak peek: Gap Factory opening May 20 in Rockville (Photos)

We've been watching the signs going up in recent weeks at Gap Factory at 1667 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. Now, the most important sign of all is up: the one announcing the store's opening date, which is now set for this Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The sign has to mention that the store is not currently open, because the lights are on and workers are busy stocking shelves and displays ahead of the big day. For whatever reason, the window coverings were removed from the front entrance area, and that means it's time for a sneak peek at what awaits you on Wednesday!

Montgomery County police searching for Rockville hotel killer

Montgomery County police are still searching for the suspect who allegedly shot and killed a man outside of the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center at 5701 Marinelli Road in Rockville at 11:35 AM yesterday, May 14, 2026. Police say the victim, Quentin Tyrone Davis, 41, was a guest at the hotel. He was walking in the parking lot toward the hotel entrance when he was "confronted" by the suspect, who then shot Davis. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but Davis tragically died at the scene.

Incredibly, police have no description of the suspect, not even a gender. They say that County officers and Metro Transit police canvassed the area, the White Flint Metro station, Metro trains, and other Metro stations, but came up empty-handed. The suspect appears to have melted into the ether.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding this homicide to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Update on Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby, opening June 1

The Tyvek is off the facade at what will soon be Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby store at 15750 Shady Grove Road on the border of Gaithersburg with Rockville. In its place are red brick and concrete facade treatments. Glass has also been installed, but the new vestibule lobby makes it difficult to see the interior at the moment. The store is scheduled to open on June 1, ten months after I broke the news that MoCo was finally going to get a Hobby Lobby. Let's hope Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Cracker Barrel, and Waffle House can break through the truly-weird Montgomery County Council's obstacles next!

Sign installed at Gap Factory in Rockville

The main sign is up at Gap Factory, opening soon at 1667 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. It has the widely recognizable Gap logo, but is otherwise understated in size and color. They could go bigger and louder, in my opinion, especially when you have to make what little signage you're allowed these days count. The windows are still papered over, so we can't see just how close opening day is. The sign installation - and especially the removal of the construction wall, suggests it is not far off.

Update on Gap Factory in Rockville

The construction wall across the storefront has been removed from the future Gap Factory at 1667 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. Alas, the windows are still papered over, blocking view of the progress on the interior fit-out of the store. A sign has been installed over the sidewalk out front, but the main sign above the storefront is still to come. Gap Factory sells apparel exclusive to Gap Factory stores, designed with less-expensive materials at lower prices by "real" Gap designers. So, if you want to look like you shop at Gap, but pay less, Gap Factory will be for you.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe opens in Rockville

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is now open at 835-F Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza. The cafe will host a special Grand Opening event this weekend to celebrate their arrival on the Pike. If you are one of the first 50 guests to enter the cafe this Saturday, May 9, 2026, you will win free smoothies for a year. Everybody will get one free 24 oz. smoothie with in-store ordering of any food or bowl from this Friday, May 8 through Sunday, May 10. 

Nordstrom Rack "coming soon" to Rockville

Nordstrom Rack is "coming soon" to Rockville, according to signage posted across its future storefront. It will be located at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. This is the former Buy Buy Baby space.

What is the difference between Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall and Nordstrom Rack? Well, unlike a couple of competitors I recently wrote about, Nordstrom Rack actually does sell some overstock, clearance, and past-season items from the "real" Nordstrom. So this means that you actually are going to be able to find a significant number of Nordstrom-quality products by top labels at great savings at Nordstrom Rack.

However, like those other competitors, Nordstrom Rack also carries items specifically designed and manufactured for Nordstrom Rack. These are essentially going to be pieces that look like what you expect to see in the higher-end Nordstrom department store, but that might be made with a lower-cost material. You can quickly identify apparel made for Nordstrom Rack by checking the tag, which will say... Nordstrom Rack, not surprisingly.

You won't have the department store Nordstrom services like personal shoppers and alterations at Nordstrom Rack. And there won't be a cafe or somebody tinkling away on a grand piano. But bargain hunters won't mind, as they search for and score deals on items that might have been out of their price range at the department store a season ago.

Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng closes in Rockville

Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng has closed at 825-G Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza. The tea shop operated for over 20 years. In addition to bubble tea and milk tea beverages, the shop was a popular place to purchase loose-leaf teas and ginseng. They sold a high-grade ginseng, as well as imported teas from Asia that weren't always easy to find elsewhere.

Prime commercial properties for sale in Damascus for only $800,000(!!)

Two adjacent commercial properties in a high-visibility location are now available for sale in Damascus. 26323 and 26315-26317 Ridge Road (MD 27) are located near the intersection with Main Street in the downtown business district. There is a high volume of traffic passing daily from Montgomery County through Damascus, Mount Airy and Westminster, and even a fairly high number of semi-trucks from Pennsylvania. A drive-thru fast food restaurant could do quite well here. The asking price is only $800,000 for the whole thing, and we can say "only" because of the obscene price of real estate in Montgomery County these days. Land in a high-traffic spot in MoCo for just $800,000? A steal!

Brothers Sew & Vac opens in Rockville

Brothers Sew & Vac, one of the longest-operating family-owned businesses in Bethesda, has moved to Rockville. Formerly located at 4826 St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda, they have relocated and opened at 1067 Rockville Pike in the Talbott Center across from Taco Bell. The Morris family has owned and operated the business for seven decades. Brothers carries vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, and medical grade air purifiers. They also repair and service all brands of sewing machines and vacuum cleaners.

Hours of operation at the new Rockville store are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Right now, you can get 10% off anything in the store if you mention the code "Bethesda10" at purchase. Free shipping is also available on online orders. Another benefit of the Rockville location? Free parking!

Montgomery County vineyard hit hard by late frost

The late frost earlier this week that impacted agricultural businesses across several states on the eastern seaboard did not spare Windridge Vineyards in Montgomery County. Windridge announced today that it "suffered one of the most devastating frost events that we have experienced in our history." Temperatures at the Darnestown vineyard dropped to 26 degrees at one point, and were below freezing for over four hours. Despite taking several high-tech measures to reduce the impact on vines, the crop sustained significant frost damage. 

Windridge prepared for such an event in advance. Not only in measures to combat the cold, but also for the worst case scenario. To the latter end, the vineyard will fall back on its inventory of library wines to continue to serve customers during the affected period. It does remind one just how precarious life was when our ancestors' food supply could be reduced by the whims of weather and nature. There were no grocery stores or food stamps; your crop was it for the season.

Molly Tea sets opening date in Rockville

Molly Tea announced yesterday that it will open its Rockville tea shop on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. It is located at 860 Festival Street at the Twinbrook Quarter development along Rockville Pike. What a long road it's been, as Molly Tea first posted coming-soon signage here way back in December 2024. The opening date was first reported by The MoCo Show.

Bonne Nail Bar "coming soon" to Twinbrook Quarter in Rockville

Bonne Nail Bar is "coming soon" to the Twinbrook Quarter development in Rockville, according to signage in the windows of its future storefront at 850 Festival Street. Permanent signage is also already in place above the storefront. Bonne Nail Bar is currently hiring nail techs. The nail spa joins Wegmans and several restaurants in the ground floor of the Milton apartments.

Auto dealership available for lease in Rockville

An auto dealership facility is now available for lease in Rockville. Formerly home to Ourisman's Rockmont Chevrolet, the property is located at 15301 Frederick Road, at the intersection of MD 355 and E. Gude Drive. Constructed in 1972, the dealership can be available to a new tenant in 30 days, according to the online listing. With 33,212 total square feet of auto sales, service, and storage space, which automotive brand would you like to see here?

Hobby Lobby opening June 1 in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby store is currently expected to open on June 1, 2026 at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center in Gaithersburg, a spokesperson for the big box crafts and decor chain said yesterday. Barring any construction or permitting setbacks, the chain plans to host a grand opening event that day. Formerly home to Best Buy, the building is positioned on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville, and is right by off ramps from I-270. 

This is arguably the most-anticipated retail opening of 2026 in Montgomery County. There is pent-up demand among MoCo residents who have never had a local Hobby Lobby store to shop at. But there is also the vacuum left by the closure of local JOANN Fabrics and Crafts stores, including the Gaithersburg location. Construction continues on the Gaithersburg Hobby Lobby, but completion is now within sight.

Maryland Governor candidate Ed Hale puts skyrocketing electric bills in spotlight

Maryland gubernatorial candidate Ed Hale speaks with
supporters about their high electricity bills in Baltimore 

Baltimore businessman Ed Hale, a Republican candidate for governor of Maryland, used the backdrop of Geresbeck's Food Market at the Hawthorne Plaza shopping center in Charm City today to demonstrate the devastating impact of the state's skyrocketing energy bills on businesses and residents. During a press conference, he noted the grocery store's electric bill had nearly doubled in only the last 30 days. Its latest monthly electric bill? A whopping $57,000.

"I don't know how you survive this," Hale said of the crushing additional cost burden on businesses. Such costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers, adding to the already absurdly high prices that are pummeling Americans from coast to coast. Hale warned that demand for electricity will only increase during the heat of summer, and that will come with enormous cost to every consumer.

Hale showed a second electric bill, this one from his own grandson. His grandson's monthly bill increased from $185.80 to $528.51. "This is a huge, huge, huge issue affecting everybody in our state," Hale said.

Alluding to current Maryland Governor Wes Moore's non-stop national TV appearances, as Moore pursues a presidential campaign, Hale asked why Moore isn't answering questions from his constituents instead of from TV personalities. "Who's in charge here? He's on Meet the Press or Face the Nation, but who's facing Marylanders, you know? Where is he? And he's just not here. He's running for president of the United States."

"People are moving out of the state," Hale continued. "Businesses are moving out of the state. And we're going to have fewer people retiring in our state." He again cited a recent poll that found that over 60% of Marylanders are either in the process of leaving the state, or are seriously considering such a move.

"We just can't stand this," Hale said. "We need to replace this man as fast as possible." Arguing that Moore sees the state as a mere stepping stone for his national and world power aspirations, Hale drew a comparison with his own campaign's political goals. "Maryland is not a stepping stone for us. Maryland is where we all live, and we can't stand to have this anymore."

Moore and Democrats who control the state legislature have recently tried to divert attention away from the policies and laws they passed that are largely responsible for the spike in energy costs. They ordered the closure of eight power plants across the state, mandated expensive purchases of "clean" power, and implemented a literally-Communist EmPOWER Maryland surcharge on electric bills, an extra tax that Moore hiked further last year. Now they are attempting to seize on the astroturf anti-data-center movement, by falsely blaming AI for the financial destruction they themselves have wrought on communities and businesses statewide.

"I'm going to make sure that we reopen the plants that have been closed," Hale vowed. "We need to get this state reopen for jobs."

Update on Wonder food hall under construction in Rockville (Photos)

Construction is moving quickly on the Wonder food hall, opening this month at 12240 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza in Rockville. The sign is up over the storefront. Inside, you can see a pick-up window and touchscreen devices. I "wonder" if it would be more accurate to call this a ghost kitchen than a food hall, however. Much like the short-lived Ensemble in Bethesda, the concept is more about pick-up and delivery meals mixed and matched from multiple well-known restaurant brands, as opposed to wandering through a large space and stopping at individual stalls. 

Vacant CVS space in Rockville Town Center offered for sublease

A large corner space that has sat vacant for almost four years at The Square at Rockville is now being marketed as available for sublease. CVS Pharmacy was the longtime tenant of this spot at 360 Hungerford Drive (MD 355), until the drugstore fell victim to the ubiquitous chain's uncharacteristic downsizing effort in 2022. The remainder of the CVS lease extends through September 30, 2032. Now the 13,800-square-foot storefront, which includes a drive-thru, can be sublet to you at an unspecified rent. That hush-hush rate is negotiable, according to the online listing.

Man pulls knife when told coffee isn't free in Rockville

There's no such thing as a free lunch, or even a free cup of coffee, in Rockville. A man seeking just that barged into a business in the 800 block of Rockville Pike around 5:00 AM on April 1, 2026, Montgomery County police report. When he was told he would have to pay for the coffee, the man pulled out a knife and threatened the employee. Police located the caffeinated suspect outside the business, which police did not identify, and placed him under arrest.