Crust & Crumb Bakery Cafe opens in Rockville

Crust & Crumb Bakery Cafe is now open at 718 Rockville Pike in Rockville. That was formerly home to Roy Rogers. Operating hours of the Taiwanese-inspired bakery are 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for November 13 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, there will be free gift bags for the first 50 customers, activities, giveaways, and music by a live DJ.

Sneak peek: Xi'an Famous Foods in Rockville

Xi'an Famous Foods is opening soon at 12031 Rockville Pike at Montrose Crossing in Rockville. The fast-casual Chinese restaurant is currently expanding into the Washington, D.C. region, and Rockville's status as one of the top destinations for Asian cuisine on the East Coast made it a priority opening. You can see the menu below, and it looks fantastic. Highlights include their signature pulled-to-order biang-biang noodles, and the cumin-spiced lamb burger raved about by none less than Anthony Bourdain. Initial operating hours will be 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week.

Assault at convenience store in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to a convenience store on Rockville Pike this past Sunday, October 25, 2026, after someone was assaulted there. The assault was reported at a store in the 700 block of Rockville Pike at 10:50 PM. Police have not identified the specific business, but there is a 7-Eleven store at 785 Rockville Pike. 

According to police, a verbal argument escalated when one of the participants assaulted the other. The identity of the alleged assailant is known to police, but no description of the suspect has been released at this time.

Aerospace firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for 2nd headquarters

Colorado-based defense and aerospace firm Auria, following the model of Amazon with its HQ2, sought a location to establish a new East Coast corporate headquarters. You will be absolutely shocked to learn that the company came to the same conclusion as Amazon, and has chosen Fairfax County over Montgomery County. Auria announced it will open its HQ2 at 2000 Edmund Halley Drive in Reston. The headquarters will also contain research, development, and system integration facilities, which will enhance testing and product demonstration capabilities. Meanwhile, the Montgomery County Council will have to again save their ribbon cutting scissors for the next convenience store opening.

"We are proud to welcome Auria’s East Coast headquarters to Fairfax," Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said in a statement yesterday. She said the company's decision "reflects confidence in our business environment, strategic location, and our continued support of innovative aerospace and defense companies."

We could talk about the lower taxes and business-friendly environment of Northern Virginia compared to Montgomery County, which has the highest total tax and fee burden in the entire region. But let's look again at the critical factor of access to Dulles International Airport, essential for any serious international businessperson. The site chosen by Auria is an 8 minute drive away from Dulles. Montgomery County still lacks direct access to Dulles, thanks to the Montgomery County Council canceling the long-planned Potomac River crossing of I-370 to Route 28 in the Dulles area. Doh!

New Taco Bell taking shape on Rockville Pike

The total remodel of the Taco Bell restaurant at 1100 Rockville Pike is taking shape, and resembles the fast food chain's Kitchen X store model. It rises to two stories in height, compared to the single-story height of the original restaurant. Hopefully it will have the Tron-esque neon accents on the rear of the building. It's sure to have a dual lane drive-thru, and more space dedicated to pickup and delivery orders, however. The best Taco Bell in Montgomery County is about to get even better!

Wingpop coming soon to Rockville

It's not Wingstop - it's Wingpop. And chicken wing lovers in Rockville will soon have a chance to judge who has the better wings. That's because Wingpop has leased a 1,421-square-foot space at The Shops at Congressional Village at 1701-B3 Rockville Pike. Construction is essentially completed, and the restaurant hopes to open before the end of fall. 

Wingpop is not a chain - yet - but is a new concept from parent company IVEA, which owns the shopping center. Operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Update on Just Salad in Rockville

Permanent signage has been installed at Just Salad, opening soon at 12242 Rockville Pike at Towne Plaza in Rockville. It's already lit at night. Inside, the interior fit-out for the fast-casual restaurant appears complete. Everything from seating to electronic menu boards is in place. Here's a sneak peek inside:

Nordstrom Rack announces grand opening event in Rockville

Nordstrom has announced details for a grand opening event at the new Nordstrom Rack store at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The store, which is located at 1683 Rockville Pike, will open - as previously announced - on October 29. Doors will open at 9:00 AM that morning for the grand opening celebration. But you'll want to get in line earlier than that, as drawings for gift cards will begin at 7:00 AM. A drawing for the grand prize of a $1000 Nordstrom Rack gift card will be held at 8:45 AM. Fifteen minutes later, it will be time to shop 'til you drop, with savings up to 70%.

Skating rink under construction at The Square at Rockville

It's that time of year again, when the chill of fall is in the air, and the holiday season is only 19 days away. I can almost smell the Thanksgiving stuffing, and once again the ice skating rink is under construction at The Square at Rockville. The rink is scheduled to open on October 19. Hours of operation will be 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Fridays, 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Saturdays, and 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Sundays. Skating time is not free; tickets range from $12 (under 13 and senior citizens) to $13 for ages 13 and up.

Montgomery County police called after assault at restaurant in Rockville

Montgomery County police were called to a restaurant in Rockville on Thursday, October 8, 2026, after someone was allegedly assaulted there. The assault was reported at a restaurant in the 11800 block of Grand Park Avenue at Pike & Rose at 6:20 PM, the height of the dinner hour. Police have not yet identified the specific restaurant where the assault took place.

File photos 

Armed robbery at convenience store in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed robbery this past Tuesday night, October 6, 2026. The robbery was reported at a convenience store in the 200 block of Park Road at 10:15 PM. That appears to be 24/7 Grocery and Food at 202-B Park Road. A knife was the weapon employed in the robbery.

Spirit Halloween opens in Rockville

Spirit Halloween has returned to Rockville Pike once again this year. America's favorite pop-up shop has opened at 1601 Rockville Pike, at Congressional Plaza. Horrifyingly familiar faces include those from Earth like Michael Myers, as well as a Xenomorph ambassador from beyond the stars. For those seeking to cut funerary costs in these inflationary times, there is an inflatable coffin for just $17.59. Speaking of containers, look for Spirit Halloween above The Container Store.

WSSC asks Maryland customers to limit water use due to power outage at filtration plant

Water utility WSSC has issued an Essential Water Use Only request to its customers in Montgomery County and Prince George's County, Maryland. A power outage at the utility's Potomac filtration plant has led to concerns that the supply of processed water could run out before Pepco can restore power. However, WSSC says water is currently safe to use and drink at this time, and that no Boil Water Advisory has been issued yet. Customers are asked to limit shower time and toilet flushes, and to postpone outdoor uses and running of clothes washers and dishwashers until the emergency is over. If you are within the City of Rockville's separate water service area... congratulations!

Mango Mango opens to long lines in Rockville

Mango Mango House of Desserts is now open at 1617 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. Lines have been out-the-door, and trailing down the sidewalk since the opening. Waits of 45 minutes to over an hour for smoothies or crepe cakes have led to negative reviews among the online raves. In one case, Google has temporarily shut down reviews of the establishment for what it calls "a spike in spam reviews," something you rarely see. Mango Mango is open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Nordstrom Rack sets opening date in Rockville

The new Nordstrom Rack store in Rockville now has an opening date. It will open on October 29, 2026 at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza, according to signage in the window. What is the difference between Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall and Nordstrom Rack? Nordstrom Rack sells 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, 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. Holiday shoppers: Start your engines!

Pike & Rose among 6 Starbucks stores closing in Maryland

Starbucks announced a new round of downsizing nationwide, and the closure list includes six stores in Maryland. Montgomery County stores at Pike & Rose in Rockville, and 12255 Prosperity Drive in the White Oak area of Silver Spring are among those getting the axe. That's particularly devastating for residents of the buildings at Pike & Rose, as having an on-site Starbucks was among the amenities of living there. Also shuttering will be Starbucks stores in Chester, Easton, Frederick, and Pocomoke City.

UK quantum computing firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. HQ

It's Groundhog Day once again for economic development in the Washington, D.C. region, as yet another firm has chosen Virginia over Maryland, and Arlington County over Montgomery County for its corporate headquarters. This time it's British quantum computing firm Phasecraft. The company announced that Virginia is the winner in the sweepstakes for its new U.S. headquarters. Phasecraft will open the HQ at a not-yet-announced address in Ballston.

The announcement has to particularly sting Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who has repeatedly claimed that he wants to make his state a leader in quantum computing. It certainly didn't help Maryland's bid that Moore declared four days prior to the company's decision that he would sign a total ban on data centers, if the legislature sent one to his desk. This forehead-smacking faux pas is reminiscent of the Montgomery County Council announcing it was canceling the biggest infrastructure project in the White Flint sector plan on the very day that Amazon's HQ2 search team was touring the County's suggested site in White Flint. Whoops!

Just as the Council's transportation infrastructure cancellation cost it the HQ2 of a logistics company, Amazon, announcing you are going to possibly totally ban data centers would almost certainly terminate the consideration of any quantum computing firm to locate in our state. Doh! A decade later, we continue to be led by very stupid people.

A smarter governor, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, found herself once again taking a victory lap. "Virginia continues to grow as a global hub for cutting-edge companies and groundbreaking technologies," Spanberger said in a statement. "I’m thrilled to welcome Phasecraft to the Commonwealth and look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they grow and build on Virginia’s world-class innovation ecosystem. This investment will create new high-tech jobs, attract other leading companies to Virginia, and strengthen the Commonwealth’s growing role in bringing next-generation technologies to market."

Virginia, in contrast to Maryland, is known as the data center capital of America. How Maryland will become "a leader in quantum computing and cybersecurity" without data centers is indeed a puzzling and even humorous dilemma for observers of Governor Moore, who has proven so far that he's far from the sharpest tool in the drawer. What we already do know is that Maryland and Montgomery County haven't attracted a single major new corporate headquarters in over 25 years. Will voters quintuple down on futility on Election Day in November?

Bogotá Coffee House opening Thursday in Rockville

Bogotá Coffee House will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 115 N. Washington Street in Rockville. The new coffee shop will not only serve Colombian coffee, but its decor will ensure you feel like you've been transported to that nation's capital. Operating hours will be 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, seven days a week. Here's a sneak peek inside:

Commercial building for sale in Rockville

A commercial property currently home to a restaurant building is on the market for sale in the Twinbrook area of Rockville. 12710 Twinbrook Parkway could be leased to a new restaurant tenant to generate income, but it also has well-defined redevelopment potential. That's because the property already has approval for a 75'-tall mixed-use building with 49 apartments, and 4,089-square-feet of ground floor retail and restaurant space. The asking price for the property is available "upon request," according to the online sale listing.