Tipping Point opening in Rockville

Tipping Point is coming soon to Federal Plaza in Rockville, according to a liquor license application sign posted on its future storefront at 12274-C Rockville Pike. According to the store's liquor license application, Tipping Point will sell wine and beer. It expects to open before the end of the month. Operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to midnight on Sundays. Those are pretty late hours for Montgomery County these days!

Maryvale Market for sale in Rockville

A landmark business in East Rockville is now available for sale. The owner of the Maryvale Market, a beer-and-wine shop, convenience store, and deli, is retiring. Maryvale Market has been a fixture at 500 N. Horners Lane for 18 years. It can keep going for another 18 years or longer if a new owner can be found. The asking price for the business is $319,000, according to the online sale listing. 

Go Fresh 365 supermarket nears opening in Rockville

The sign is up at the future Go Fresh 365 supermarket at 1800 Rockville Pike at the Galvan at Twinbrook development. It was not yet lit when these photos were taken Monday night, but the interior fit-out appears to be on track for the anticipated November opening. Go Fresh 365 replaces Safeway at the development, and will likely be more competitive with the new Wegmans a few blocks away, as it will offer so many products Wegmans doesn't carry. 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.

Kako Claw arcade to open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

 

The claw machine craze is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Kako Claw, a claw machine arcade located in several other malls in the region will be opening soon here. It will be on Level 1 of the mall in the Old Navy/Cheesecake Factory wing, appropriately next to GameStop. One selling point of Kako Claw is that the company and some customer reviews note that the machines are on a fair setting, increasing odds of winning a prize in relative terms.

Fontina Grill to open at The Laureate in Rockville

Fontina Grill, a longtime fixture in the Rockville dining scene, is relocating. In the fall of 2026, it will move to a 5,135-square-foot space at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Gramercy Boulevard. That is at The Laureate, a new multifamily building at the Westside development near the Shady Grove Metro station built by EYA. The popular Italian restaurant has operated at the King Farm Village Center for 15 years. 

"We are thrilled to bring Fontina Grille to The Laureate," Fontina Grill owner Ali Abduljabbar said in a statement. "This new chapter gives us the opportunity to continue serving our loyal guests, while welcoming new neighbors in a dynamic and growing community.

"We are thrilled to welcome Fontina Grille to Westside," said McLean Quinn, President and CEO of EYA, LLC said. "As a beloved part of the broader community already, Fontina Grille will bring a new gathering place to the heart of Westside, serving as a lively community hub where neighbors can come together and enjoy an exceptional dining experience."

Tea Spa Wellness relocates in Gaithersburg

Tea Spa Wellness has successfully relocated in the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg. It has completed its move from 209 Market Street W. to 621 Center Point Way at Kentlands Market Square. Tea Spa Wellness offers massages, facials, and healing rituals inspired by "tea culture and natural balance." 

"At Tea Spa, our mission is to create a haven of peace where everyone can find moments of deep serenity," Tea Spa CEO Cathy Shao says. "My journey through nursing school revealed the incredible power of professional massage therapy, inspiring me to share this healing art with a broader audience, which led to the birth of Tea Spa. In the last decade, my path as an energy healer has strengthened my belief in the link between inner peace and mindful living. As the caretaker of Tea Spa, I am dedicated to assembling a team of service providers who embody generosity, tranquility, and vibrant positivity. With each healing touch, we strive to make the world a better place, one person at a time."

La Baguette Antojitos opening in Rockville

La Baguette Antojitos is "coming soon" to Rockville, according to signage posted in the windows of their future storefront. The bakery will replace another bakery - Lavande Patisserie - at 275-B N. Washington Street in Rockville Town Center. Images displayed include baked goods, coffee and tacos. This appears to be an independent, small business, as this appears to be the first and only location for this enterprise. There are no social media accounts for La Baguette Antojitos as of this writing, either.

Indecent exposure at hotel in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of indecent exposure at a hotel this past Saturday night, October 18, 2025. The incident was reported at the Hilton hotel in the 14900 block of Shady Grove Road at 8:30 PM Saturday. An individual was also accused of trespassing on the property in the same incident.

Song Dog Farm Distillery opens in Montgomery County (Photos)

Song Dog Farm Distillery has opened at 18100 Bucklodge Road in Boyds, Maryland. The distillery is located on a farm property in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, and includes a tasting room, a "front porch" outdoor patio, and expansive lawns. Song Dog Spirits was founded in 2015 by the husband and wife team of Megan Draheim and David Harris, who purchased the farm in 2021, and constructed the facilities over the past four years. 

There is a tasting room menu, and food is also available from food trucks on-site, or you can bring your own. Kids and "well-behaved" dogs are also welcomed on the premises. Song Dog produces bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, gin, and seasonal liqueurs, and all of their products reflect the agricultural produce and flavors of Maryland. Operating hours are 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday through Friday, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. For a preview of their product line, and information on planning a private event at the farm, visit their website.

Rockville cemetery burglarized for the third time in as many weeks

A Rockville cemetery that was burglarized twice in the last week of September was broken into again on October 5, 2025, Montgomery County police report. The latest burglary took place between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM that afternoon. Officers again found evidence of forced entry at the Parklawn Cemetery at 12800 Veirs Mill Road, and once again, unspecified property was made off with. 

While police had no suspect descriptions from the first two break-ins, they have a minimalist description of the suspects in the October 5 burglary. They are looking for four White males, and a fifth male of unknown race, and they say the ages of the five males are "unknown." If you have any information that can assist detectives in any of the three cases, call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Rockville cemetery burglarized twice in 24 hours

Montgomery County police are investigating two separate burglaries that took place within a 24-hour period at a cemetery in Rockville. Officers responding to the scene at Parklawn Cemetery at 12800 Veirs Mill Road found evidence of forced entry in both incidents. They determined that unspecified property was stolen in both cases.

The first break-in occurred sometime between 10:00 PM on September 27, 2025 and 7:20 AM on September 28. At 8:44 PM on September 28, a second burglary was reported. Police say they have no descriptions of the suspect(s) in either case. If you have any information about these burglaries that can assist detectives, call (301) 279-8000. 

New Rockville menswear shop has a Porsche inside the store

Collars & Co. is now open at 1643-A Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The Shark Tank-backed retailer specializes in modern business casual menswear. Its current featured product is the patent-pending Dress Collar Polo. The 2900-square-foot store includes a vintage Porsche (shown below) and private jet replica for selfies, and a bespoke custom closet by Bethesda Custom Closets and Blinds. Operating hours for Collars & Co. are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays.

Dave's Hot Chicken "coming soon" to Rockville (Photos)

Dave's Hot Chicken is "coming soon" to Rockville Pike, according to a banner posted on the restaurant building. It will be at 11564 Rockville Pike in Rockville. That was formerly an old-style McDonald's restaurant, until the golden arches moved a short distance north to the old Arby's site. Before expanding to Montgomery County, Dave's Hot Chicken was best known to Marylanders as the fast food company that promoted itself via influencer videos on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Other Maryland locations have already opened in White Oak and Waldorf.

K Bap Express opens in Rockville

K Bap Express is now open at 121-B Congressional Lane, at the Congressional North shopping center in Rockville. The Korean restaurant replaces Pines of Rome Express. Dishes served include bibimbap, mandu, and kimbap. They have a couple of small tables for outdoor dining, and a small indoor dining room, so takeout sales are the primary focus here.

Spirit Halloween opens late in Rockville (Photos)

Better late than never! That's the only consolation for the Spirit Halloween store at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The store had never opened this Halloween season, and last week cited its inability to receive the necessary permits to operate. Those permits were apparently finally expedited the day after my report, and the store is now open for business. The selection is slightly better than some other locations, as the inventory hasn't been picked over for weeks. This store also has the best presentation of the haunted subway car that is the centerpiece of this year's product line.