Update on La Baguette Antojitos, opening soon in Rockville

The sign is up at La Baguette Antojitos at 275-B N. Washington Street in Rockville Town Center. Last night, it was already lit. Under the logo are two more clues about the highly-secretive bakery, the words "Pasteleria" and "Panaderia." Tacos are also on the menu, as I previously reported. La Baguette Antojitos replaces Lavande Patisserie at this space.

Roy Rogers closes in Rockville (Photos)

Devastating news from Rockville Pike: Roy Rogers has permanently closed at 718 Rockville Pike in Rockville. It seemed like Roy Rogers had just returned to Montgomery County, and now it is retreating before even opening a location in every town in MoCo. There's no question the lack of a drive-thru was a very poorly thought out plan, when drive-thrus account for over 70% of sales at fast food restaurants, and it certainly significantly reduced the number of times I did business there. But if they can't make it on Rockville Pike, it raises serious questions about the brand's future. Customers are being redirected to the Lost Knife Road location, one of the highest-crime streets in the County, and definitely not "nearby."

Ace Hardware installs signage ahead of January opening in Rockville

Permanent signage has been installed at the future Ace Hardware store at 835 Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville. A secondary Benjamin Moore paint logo has also been attached above the storefront. The highly-anticipated hardware store is now expected to open in January 2026, missing the original target by only a few days or weeks, and just in time to stock up on snow shovels, snow blowers, sleds, and deicer. This will be the first Ace Hardware store in Rockville.

Rockville restaurant broken into

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a restaurant in Rockville on December 11, 2025. The burglary was reported in the early morning hours at Torchy's Tacos at 12266-A Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the business. However, it was determined that, after all of the effort to break into the restaurant, the burglar(s) left empty-handed. Police say they have no suspect descriptions at this time. It's unclear how surveillance cameras failed to provide footage of the incident.

Italian aerospace firm chooses Virginia for rocket motor manufacturing facility

Were Maryland and Montgomery County even courting global aerospace firm Avio S.p.A in its search for a site to build a $500 million solid rocket motor manufacturing facility? We may never know. But we do know that the Italian firm has selected Virginia as the winner for the high-tech factory. The 860,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility will produce solid rocket motors for defense tactical and strategic propulsion, as well as commercial space propulsion sectors. 

“I want to thank Avio USA for choosing Virginia,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “Today’s announcement marks another exciting milestone for our aerospace and defense industry. Avio USA’s decision to build a new rocket motor manufacturing facility here is both an important investment in America’s national security infrastructure and underscores Avio USA’s confidence in Virginia.”

“Avio looks forward to establishing on U.S. soil a solid rocket motor production facility to contribute in strengthening the U.S. industrial base by providing decades of experience in engineering and manufacturing,” Avio S.p.A. CEO Giulio Ranzo said. “In particular, we are thankful for the Commonwealth and local governments’ warm welcome for our project and count on their future support for effective execution.” 

Does Maryland and its counties extend a warm welcome to aerospace firms? Not in this century. The County Council tried to run the last remaining big aerospace firm - Lockheed Martin - out of the county not once, but twice, with radical legislation that made us look like idiots after the bills received national news coverage. "We don't need the Lockheed headquarters," former Councilmember Nancy Floreen declared in the summer of 2010. 

It's no surprise that the County has failed to attract a single major new corporate headquarters in over 25 years. Or that, thanks to the highest personal and corporate tax and fee burden in the Mid-Atlantic region, Montgomery County and Maryland have effectively been in a recession for much of this century. MoCo's crime rate has risen faster and higher than its business and job growth rates as a result. Once the economic engine of the region, Montgomery County is now at or near the bottom across every major economic benchmark tracked by the federal government. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Dave's Hot Chicken opening today in Rockville (Photos)

 

Dave's Hot Chicken will open today, December 18, 2025, at 11564 Rockville Pike, according to a sign posted at the restaurant, which was conducting training for employees last night. After a languid construction process, an inspired burst of energy over the last week got all the equipment and menus into place. Speaking of menus, I was not familiar with Dave's, and am delighted to see milkshakes and Hi-C Orange and Fruit Punch "Slushers" among the beverage choices. Operating hours are 10:30 AM to midnight, seven days a week.

January 1 plastic bag ban looms over Montgomery County

 

The Montgomery County Council is known for doing little beyond raising taxes and the cost of doing business, and banning stuff. Councilmembers were able to do all three in their highest-profile ban of the 2025 legislative session, that of plastic bags. The ban takes effect on January 1, 2026, and impacted businesses across the county are now trying to prepare their customers to buy paper bags (remember how paper bags were causing deforestation, so we were told to use plastic?!) or reusable bags, or - ew! - reuse dirty reusable bags teeming with e coli, salmonella, and God knows what else. Ironically, Safeway, whose customer alert signage is pictured here, got its start as the Sanitary Grocery Company.

MCPS leases final space at former Leidos site in Gaithersburg

 

Matan Companies has announced that its 44-acre life science and industrial campus fronting I-270 in Gaithersburg, which consists of two 198,000-square-foot Class A buildings at 700 and 750 Progress Way, is now 100% leased. The final piece was the recent execution of a 161,500 SF lease with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), which has leased 161,500 square feet at 700 Progress Way. MCPS joins existing tenants AstraZeneca (198,000 SF full-building lease at 700 Progress Way, signed December 2023) and Daikin Comfort Technologies Distribution, Inc. (36,145 SF at 750 Progress Way, signed May 2024). Matan's announcement did not specify what MCPS plans to use the space for, or the annual cost of the lease to Montgomery County taxpayers.

“We are extremely proud to have delivered and fully leased this state-of-the-art campus,” Matan Companies Director of Leasing James Matan said in a statement. “The diversity of best-in-class occupants—AstraZeneca in life sciences, Daikin in advanced HVAC distribution, and now Montgomery County Public Schools—demonstrates the incredible flexibility and strategic location of these assets along the I-270 corridor.”

Tiger Sugar space marketed for lease in Rockville

Have we reached peak boba tea? Tiger Sugar's space at 12266 Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza in Rockville is now being marketed as a sublease opportunity. The tea shop's existing lease runs through January 2029, but they apparently want out now. According to the online listing, the space can become available to a new tenant on 30 days' notice. Tiger Sugar remains open for business at this time.

Buffalo Wild Wings closes in Rockville

The lights are on, but nobody's home. While the signs are lit outside of Buffalo Wild Wings at 33-C Maryland Avenue at the Square at Rockville, prospective diners pulling the front door handles were dismayed to find the restaurant has permanently closed. The nearest alternative location is Buffalo Wild Wings GO at 16256 Frederick Road at the Rock Grove shopping center. The departure of B Dubs leaves a sizable space vacant at The Square - I'm casting my early vote for Olive Garden. And Texas Roadhouse for the "half smoke coming soon" vacancy across the street.

Go Fresh 365 supermarket opens in Rockville (Photos)

There's a new grocery store in Rockville. Go Fresh 365 has opened at 1800 Rockville Pike, at the Galvan at Twinbrook development. Last night, there were more helpful employees than customers in the store, which will have to fight the same nutty Montgomery County sign regulations that former tenant Safeway did - most safe drivers will pass the Galvan without seeing any of the businesses there because there is no monument or pole signage at the roadside, and the development is set back far from the road. 

The Long Island City, New York-based grocery chain boasts that it is the "No.1 Asian/Chinese Supermarket Chain" on the East Coast of the United States. Founded in 1995, the company has grown by leaps and bounds through a focus on freshness, and exclusive partnerships with businesses in the fields of fresh produce, livestock breeding, marine fishing, catering services, and commercial real estate.Its mission, it says, is to "create greater values for overseas Chinese and the American people." 

Starbucks adds Cinnamon-Shaken Waffles to menu

Check out what's new at Starbucks for the holiday season. Cinnamon-Shaken Waffles are starting to pop up on menus at Starbucks locations across Montgomery County in recent days. Three bite-size Belgian waffles are shaken in a Cinnamon Dolce Shake Shake Topping, and served warm and golden brown. The waffles are available all day long, not just for breakfast.

Dave's Hot Chicken's sci-fi salute to Rockville

Dave's Hot Chicken has been in a slow-motion construction process over the last few months, but some significant effort has been put into the exterior facades of the former McDonald's building at 11564 Rockville Pike in recent days. In contrast to the blank walls found at most fast food chains' buildings, Dave's has now emblazoned its walls with graffiti-style art. The stylings are capped off with a huge "Rockville" mural that takes up an entire wall. It's also a nice touch that the orangeish red paint on the roof overhang matches the scorching color of the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich pictured on the sign out front.

Two Story Chimney Ciderworks to close in Gaithersburg

Two Story Chimney Ciderworks at 7115 Damascus Road in Gaithersburg will permanently close before Christmas, the distillery announced on social media. "We have been so blessed to be a part of this community and so many people’s lives," the post said. "The friendships and bonds will always be cherished. It is time we trade the early morning markets and late night tasting rooms in for time with our family. Our last day will be December 21. Stop in before the end of the year and share some stories and memories."

Ding Cafe closed in Rockville, to reopen December 6 with new drinks, giveaways

Ding Cafe has temporarily closed at 785 Rockville Pike at the Ritchie Center in Rockville. It will reopen this Saturday, December 6, 2025, with new drinks on the menu. Stopping by this weekend could pay off - literally. On Saturday, they'll be giving away 100 free drinks. And on Sunday, December 7, they will offer 100 buy-one-get-one-free drinks, and customers will receive 20% off purchases all day.

Lands' End closing in Rockville

Lands' End is closing at 1667 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville, according to signage posted at the store. A closing sale is underway. The store has been open for about six years, and will be the loss of another big brand name on the Pike.

However, the Montgomery County Council probably isn't the culprit this time. A familiar villain is behind the Lands' End curtain: Fast Eddie Lampert. Yep, the same Fast Eddie Lampert who sucked all the money out of Sears and Kmart before running those American institutions into the ground. He bought another solid American brand in Lands' End, and now he wants to cash out once again. Lampert, the majority shareholder in the apparel company, has exhorted the corporate board to find a cash buyer as soon as possible.

Update on Terra Gaucha restaurant in Rockville (Photos)

Terra Gaucha is currently on pace to open before the end of the month at 1651 Chapman Avenue at the new Twinbrook Quarter development in Rockville. Signage has just been installed on the exterior of the building. "Terra Gaucha was born out of the desire to bring the best of Southern Brazil to the US. We made this dream a reality when we opened the first home of the Ultimate Churrasco Experience in Jacksonville, back in 2015," the growing chain recounts on its website. "You’ll not only enjoy our premium cuts, but will also indulge in a variety of Brazilian inspired dishes and an array of cheeses and cold cuts at your disposal at our Gourmet Hot and Cold Table."

Buffalo Wild Wings closing at The Square at Rockville

Buffalo Wild Wings will close next month at The Square at Rockville, formerly known as Rockville Town Square, according to employees at the restaurant. The sports bar-style chicken wing spot has been removed from the development's leasing map, and its space is now listed as "available." No reason for the closure has been announced yet, but I noticed that the dining room was closed one night last week, and patrons were being seated at the bar only. That could reflect a staffing issue - or employees may be dropping off after learning they won't have a job much longer. The dining room was open as usual the next night I checked.

BWW also seems to be focused on its new GO restaurant concept, with a streamlined menu and emphasis on takeout and delivery orders, that reduces overhead on inventory and staff size. One of those is now open "up the Pike" at the Rock Grove shopping center. The closure of Buffalo Wild Wings was first reported by The MoCo Show.