Spirit Halloween haunting Congressional Plaza in Rockville

Spirit Halloween is returning to Rockville for 2025, and wisely, once again on Rockville Pike. Their store will have more visibility this year compared to last, as it will be at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. That's the former Buy Buy Baby space. According to the Spirit Halloween website, the store has not opened yet, although merchandise is visible inside; "Opens September" is the current message as of this writing.

Slurp Noodle House "coming soon" to Rockville

Slurp Noodle House is coming soon to Rockville, according to signage posted at its future storefront. The ramen and dumpling restaurant will be located at the corner of Halpine Road and Chapman Avenue, on the ground level of the Milton apartments at Twinbrook Quarter. Contrary to Western table manners, slurping one's noodles is a sign of enjoying your meal in Japan, and is therefore encouraged. And from a practical standpoint, the practice also cools down the ramen. 

Ba Le bánh mì sandwich shop opening September 25 in Rockville (Photos)

Ba Le, a bánh mì sandwich shop, will open September 25, 2025 in Rockville. A banner announcing the grand opening has been placed above the storefront. The Vietnamese restaurant is located at 765-FG Rockville Pike, in the Ritchie Center shopping center. You can get a sneak peek at the menu in the photos below. They've also added a "Fresh Baked Bread" sign in the window, as each of these world-famous Vietnamese sandwiches start with a fresh-baked French baguette sliced lengthwise, before it is filled with the ingredients of your choice. I notice they will have touchscreens for ordering inside, also pictured at bottom.

The Spot food hall is on the way out in Rockville

ZAP! BOOM! POW! The crash out of the food hall fad in Montgomery County is snowballing. Caught up in the downhill momentum is The Spot at 255 N. Washington Street in Rockville. Its 6033-square-foot space just hit the market for lease Friday. The listing is being handled by H&R Retail brokers Bradley Buslik and Austin Hersh. Although The Spot remains open for business, the online listing states that their space is "available now."

A series of food halls, primarily targeted at the large Asian demographic in Rockville, opened in 2018 and 2019. The Spot's biggest rival - The Block - has already exited. Down in struggling Friendship Heights, the food hall called The Heights recently shuttered, having experienced perhaps the briefest run of any such enterprise in the County. Still chugging along in Rockville is Pike Kitchen.

The departure of The Spot will be a major blow to what's left of nightlife in Rockville Town Center. Spaces occupied by bars like American Tap Room and Gordon Biersch remain vacant years after both closed their doors. Raucous rooftop nightlife events at The Square in Rockville fell victim years ago to complaints of noise by apartment dwellers at the development. Food halls survived the pandemic, but seem to have ultimately lost their novelty shortly thereafter, leaving huge spaces behind.

Go Fresh 365 supermarket "coming soon" to Rockville

A Go Fresh 365 supermarket is "coming soon" to 1800 Rockville Pike at the Galvan at Twinbrook development in Rockville, according to signage posted at its future storefront. 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. 

Here in Rockville, Go Fresh 365 will attempt to fill the vacuum left when Safeway closed at the Galvan earlier this year. The chain says it takes very seriously a responsibility to promote and spread Chinese food culture. Its mission, it says, is to "create greater values for overseas Chinese and the American people." Go Fresh 365 is expected to open in Rockville in November.

Parent company of Rockville bowling alley files for bankruptcy

The parent company of Rockville Pike bowling alley Pinstripes has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it announced yesterday. Located at Pike & Rose in the White Flint area, Pinstripes opened in 2017. The national Pinstripes chain closed several locations across the country as it made the bankruptcy announcement. But the Pike & Rose location is one that is among those that will continue operating for now.

"We will keep operating as usual - welcoming guests, hosting events, and supporting our remaining team members," Pinstripes said in an online message. "Your gift cards and event deposits remain valid at continuing locations, and this process will allow us to emerge stronger and continuously focused on providing exceptional experiences for our guests and partners." Pinstripes went public as a company just two years ago, but has run into fiscal difficulties since that time. According to Nation's Restaurant News, the company's liabilities to creditors are currently as much as $500 million.

Human BioSciences fleeing Montgomery County for West Virginia

The hits just keep on coming for Montgomery County. Its moribund economy took another cannonball to the gut yesterday. Human BioSciences announced it will be the latest company to move its corporate headquarters out of Montgomery County to a lower-tax jurisdiction in the region. It will move its current HQ from 940 Clopper Road in Gaithersburg to wild, wonderful West Virginia. 

The blow is an especially painful one for the County, as the biotech industry is the only bright spot in MoCo's private sector economy. According to the Maryland Department of Labor, all Human BioSciences employees are being offered positions at the new West Virginia facility, meaning that the taxable revenue of any MoCo residents leaving with the company will also be lost to the County's coffers.

It says quite a bit about the state of business in Montgomery County and Maryland that a biotech firm would leave. Remember, the County and State both provide financial incentives and tax breaks to the biotech sector, decisions made decades ago by smarter leaders that allowed for the creation of a strong life sciences presence in the I-270 corridor. In recent years, that strength has begun to weaken. It hasn't been helped when you have the state legislature and Governor Wes Moore wallop firms that are immersed in technology with a new 3% tech tax, as of July 1 this year. 

The tech tax is piled on top of the fact that Montgomery County already suffers from the highest tax and fee burden in the region. We've seen the results over this century, as companies like Discovery Communications have fled. Only a week ago, Rocket Money announced it was moving its HQ from Silver Spring to Washington, D.C. 

Meanwhile, Northern Virginia has been cleaning our clock, Hoovering up the corporate HQs of Northrop Grumman, Amazon HQ 2, Nestle, Corporate Executive Board, Hilton Hotels, Lidl, Gerber, Lego, Intelsat, CoStar, Volkswagen, Blackboard, and General Dynamics. This is the direct result of decisions made by failed leaders who have no clue about the world of international business circa 2025. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Jaws 50th Anniversary screening at Regal Rockville Center this Saturday

Jaws, the summer blockbuster that created the summer blockbuster, turned 50 this year. To celebrate, many theaters around the country are bringing the Steven Spielberg classic back to the big screen. Regal Cinemas Rockville Center at 199 E. Montgomery Avenue will be screening the film this Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Tickets are limited, and available online. I'm not sure I understand why many of these screenings have been scheduled for the fall, though; Jaws was and is very much a summer movie.

Darband Restaurant nears opening in Rockville

Darband Restaurant looks pretty close to opening at 765-H Rockville Pike, at the Ritchie Center in Rockville. The window coverings have been removed. A Pepsi cooler and some shelving have been moved into the dining space. Artwork has been hung on the right wall, and new "Open," "Darband Kabob" and "Persian Restaurant" lighted signs have been installed in the front window. The flatscreens and "100% Fresh Ingredients" and "Halal" signs are holdovers from previous tenant Taste of Kabab. That restaurant's sign is also strangely still up over the storefront.

Jim Coleman Cadillac displays Escalade EV at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Jim Coleman Cadillac of Bethesda has given a glimpse of the future of the Cadillac Escalade SUV at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The 2026 Escalade IQ Sport is an electric version of the highly-popular truck. It's a big truck, with a big price: $140,430, as outfitted here. Jim Coleman Cadillac is located right across from the mall at 10400-A Auto Park Avenue.

Rocket Money to flee Montgomery County for Washington, D.C.

The latest economic development defeat for Montgomery County is coming to us from one of the hardest-hit places in MoCo's revenue exodus, downtown Silver Spring. Rocket Money, a fintech startup located at 8455 Colesville Road, is nearing a deal to relocate its headquarters to Washington, D.C., according to a report in the Washington Business Journal. The new Rocket Money HQ is expected to be located in a recently-constructed office building at 1701 Rhode Island Avenue NW. Last home to a WeWork location, the building boasts "a unique facade constructed of pre-aged copper shingles, individually hand treated by an artisan in Italy," in the words of its architectural design firm Hickok Cole.

Silver Spring already sustained one of the biggest body blows to the Montgomery County economy in history, when one of the County's few remaining Fortune 500 companies, Discovery Communications, moved its headquarters to dual facilities in New York City and Tennessee. Infamously, Discovery's suitors quietly closed the deal while the Montgomery County Council was debating a ban on circus animals. The ban passed, but so did the opportunity to retain Discovery.

Of course, Rocket Money is not a Fortune 500 company, and has far fewer employees than Discovery. But it is a prominent fintech in the region, with significant future potential. Its parent company, Rocket Companies, has made the Fortune 500 in the past, but is currently off the list at #619 as of June. Montgomery County hasn't attracted a single new major corporate HQ in over a quarter-century.

Once again, Montgomery County's highest-in-the-region tax and fee burden has bitten the County in the [pocketbook]. Another recent and devastating blow is the new Maryland "tech tax," a 3% levy on all IT services in the state that was championed to passage by Governor Wes Moore, before he left for an Italian vacation at the lake villa of George Clooney. Imagine what that tax would add up to annually for a tech firm like Rocket Money! And that's on top of that already biggest tax burden, courtesy of the County Council and Maryland General Assembly. What company in their right mind would not move if they could? Heckuva job, Brownie!

Ba Le sandwich shop nears opening in Rockville (Photos)

The interior fit-out of Ba Le, a bánh mì sandwich shop opening in Rockville, appears nearly complete. Kitchen and counter equipment, as well as refrigerated cases for beverages and neon window signs, are in place. It is located at 765-FG Rockville Pike, at the Ritchie Center. You can see the Eiffel Tower in the restaurant's logo, which emphasizes that the world-famous Vietnamese sandwiches start with a French baguette sliced lengthwise, before they are filled with the ingredients of your choice. Ba Le replaces another Vietnamese restaurant, Ốc & Crab Seafood Restaurant, in this spot at Ritchie Center.

Tron: Ares poster at Regal Cinemas Rockville

A poster for Tron: Ares on display at Regal Cinemas Rockville Center at 199 E. Montgomery Avenue. The third film in the Tron franchise opens October 10, 2025. 

3 new Dunkin' Donuts locations to open in Rockville

Rockville is getting three more Dunkin' Donuts stores. The first will be at 4011-C Norbeck Road, in the former Sassy Cleaners space. The second will be at 2401 Wootton Parkway in Rockshire. And the third will open at 17700 Muncaster Road in Derwood. All three will be operated by franchisee Luis Group Management, which is based right here in Montgomery County.

Below Zero opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Below Zero is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cold therapy skincare boutique missed its expected spring opening date, but is now here in time for fall and the holiday shopping season. Its products are targeted at those who want to look younger and extend their lives, which is just about everybody, right? The interior fit-out of the boutique is quite nice, with upscale marble finishes.

"Many animal species live longer at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures," Below Zero notes. "Researchers found that the sense of cold activates a genetic program that enhances lifespan. The research shows that enzymes and hormonal frameworks have a role in reactions to low temperatures, which affects aging and lifespan." Look for Below Zero on Level 2 of the mall, between California Pizza Kitchen and Avalon Nails-Hair-Lashes, right outside of Nordstrom.

Assault at grocery store in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of an assault at a grocery store early Saturday afternoon, August 23, 2025. The assault was reported at a supermarket in the 800 block of Rockville Pike at 12:10 PM. There is a Food Lion on that block. An individual was accused of theft in the same incident.

Marlo Furniture confirms it is closing in Rockville

I reported back in July that Marlo Furniture's showroom space at 725 Rockville Pike was being marketed for lease. Images in the marketing materials at that time showed Marlo's logos removed from the building. Now the furniture retailer has made it official: The Rockville store is closing. In fact, after 70 years in business, Marlo is closing all of its stores.

The chain hasn't continually been run by the same people over those 7 decades, however. Marlo was acquired by Regency Furniture in 2012. Regency continued to operate some of the stronger Marlo locations under the Marlo name through this year. A liquidation sale - which Marlo is referring to as its "final Labor Day sale ever - is now underway.

French laser firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Say it isn't so! Montgomery County and Maryland have lost yet another economic development competition to Arlington County and Virginia. French laser firm Cailabs SAS wanted to move its U.S. headquarters out of Washington, D.C., but remain in the region. It announced yesterday that it had chosen the booming Rosslyn area of Arlington as the destination for the company's U.S. operations. Cailabs will move into 4,200-square-feet of office space at the gleaming Class A office building at 1530 Wilson Boulevard. The company will also add 16 new employees.

Many of Cailabs' employees hold PhDs, and the company has filed over 25 patents. It specializes in the design and manufacturing of advanced laser-light products for the defense, aerospace, telecommunications, and manufacturing industries. The Rosslyn location provides quick access to both Reagan National and Dulles International airports, as well as Metro and I-66. Montgomery County and Maryland could have had direct access to Dulles and I-66, but chose to cancel the new Potomac River crossing to Dulles, and the Northwest Freeway, which would have connected to I-66 in Rosslyn. Doh!

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin toasted his victory Wednesday, as Maryland Governor Wes Moore was declared America's "most-disappointing governor" by economist Anirban Basu, and Moore's chief-of-staff jumped ship as the state's fiscal crisis continues to slam up against its moribund economy and high crime. With plummeting poll numbers, Moore could only look on with envy, in the reflection of fellow White House aspirant Youngkin's stunning laser light show across the Potomac.

“Cailabs’ decision to relocate their U.S. headquarters to Virginia shows that the Commonwealth remains the premier location for global tech companies looking to expand their footprint in the Americas,” Youngkin said in a statement yesterday. “Virginia’s exceptional talent, reliable infrastructure, and proximity to key federal and defense partners gives companies like Cailabs a strategic advantage as they continue to innovate and expand. The Commonwealth is proud to support Cailabs’ mission of paving the way to a bright future with the power of lasers.” 

“When Cailabs first decided to open a U.S. office, they chose Washington. Two years later, when they decided to stay in the US, they chose Virginia. That decision speaks volumes,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura. “Logistically, economically, and strategically, Virginia remains the ideal location for tech companies looking to push boundaries and build a thriving business.” 

“Arlington cordially says ‘Bienvenue’ to Cailabs on their decision to establish their U.S. headquarters in Rosslyn, at the heart of our nation’s capital region,” Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said. “By choosing Arlington, Cailabs joins a community where the nation’s best-prepared, innovative and talented workforce meets exceptional quality of life in an open, welcoming and forward-thinking culture. We are excited to add a leading new technology business to the dense fabric of transatlantic partnerships that connect, strengthen and advance economies, people and values. We look forward to seeing Cailabs grow and succeed here in Arlington.” 

“I’m delighted that Cailabs has chosen to relocate its U.S. headquarters to Arlington County,” said Senator Barbara Favola. “Arlington has leveraged the investments made by the Commonwealth to create a 21st century workforce. In addition to proximity to major airports and our nation’s capital, Arlington offers a world class public education system, great transit options, and a park in every neighborhood. I am sure that Cailabs will feel ‘right at home’ in the diverse and caring Arlington community.”