Arby's coming soon to Derwood

Derwood will soon "have the meats." Arby's has leased the building formerly home to McDonald's at 7200 Muncaster Mill Road at the Red Mill Shops shopping center. The McDonald's closed here this past March. It will be an ironic transformation, as an Arby's restaurant on Rockville Pike was recently converted into a McDonald's. Now Arby's will return the favor in Derwood.

Little Miner Taco closes in Rockville

Little Miner Taco has closed at 39-A Maryland Avenue at The Square at Rockville in Rockville Town Center. The birria taco restaurant opened there two years ago. A sign in the window says the restaurant is closed for maintenance. However, the Rockville location has been removed from the Little Miner Taco website, which still lists their Brentwood and Northeast Washington D.C. spots.

Maryland has 2nd-worst economy in America, CNBC finds

Maryland has the second-worst economy in the U.S., CNBC found in its 2026 Worst State Economies in America survey, the results of which were released today. "Economic growth and job growth nearly flatlined in Maryland over the past year," the cable TV business channel noted in its analysis. "[H]igh costs, unpredictable taxes, and growing regulatory burdens," are each a drag on the state's economy, as is an over-reliance on government jobs and federal funds. A new IT services tax walloped businesses, sending many firms packing for greener pastures in other states. Especially hard hit by the IT tax were government contractors, a painful irony in a state where little beyond government has been growing this century.

Some factors in CNBC's criteria certainly hit Maryland where it hurts. These included job growth, economic growth, and the number of major companies headquartered in the state. The first two "flatlined" over the last 12 months, in CNBC's own word, and Maryland hasn't attracted a single new major corporate headquarters this century. In fact, the story has been the number of companies leaving the state. "Budget situation" isn't a category any Maryland elected official would want to delve into publicly. Debt? Maryland and Montgomery County are both in deadly serious trouble on that front, as well.

"Small business survival rates?" Ho ho. The ubiquitous "Going Out of Business" and "Everything must go!!!" signs in Montgomery County storefront windows tell a most tragic story indeed.

"Maryland finds itself in a deep hole in 2026, with no easy way out of it," CNBC concluded. But the picture is even bleaker than the one painted by the already-stinging rebuke of a friendly, liberal news outlet. They didn't even mention the budget apocalypse currently forecast for the state in 2030. 

Can we continue to whistle past the graveyard, raising taxes and instituting new ones? Refusing for radical ideological reasons to construct the long-delayed new Potomac River crossing to the Dulles area? Continuing to block completion of our master plan highway system? Keep on losing, and often hardly trying, in the corporate HQ relocation sweepstakes?

We could. And we just might end up topping CNBC's worst list in the future. It's one of the few things within easy reach for the buffoonish incompetents currently running Montgomery County and Maryland. After all, "We're number two - we try harder."

Maryland could face blackouts in 2027, utility CEO warns

The CEO of Exelon, parent company of Pepco and BGE, is warning that Maryland and other Northeast U.S. customers may be facing blackouts next year "due to a shortage of power plants," the Financial Times reports. "We came very close this past winter to having to curtail power for about 400,000 customers on some of the coldest days of the year," Calvin Butler told the FT. "And it's only getting worse." 

Electrical grid operator PJM, which supplies power to Pepco and BGE customers, reported a 6.5 gigawatt deficit last December. That deficit is anticipated to increase tenfold over the next decade, if more generation capacity is not added to the system.

Among the obvious causes of the failure to generate adequate power was Maryland elected officials' radical forced shutdown of 8 power plants statewide. But Butler brought up another devastating critique of Maryland legislators in his interview with the FT. It turns out that Exelon actually wants to construct new power plants in Maryland, but is being actively blocked from doing so by the state's limits on power plant ownership by utilities. In fact, legislators allowed two bills that would have allowed Exelon to move forward on new plants to die in committee.

Butler told the FT that legislators seem to be living in a different reality from the energy crisis Maryland is experiencing right now. "[R]ight now they don't perceive it as a crisis," Butler lamented. He said he is more optimistic that Delaware and New Jersey will update their rules on power plant ownership.

Maryland drops to 36 on CNBC Top States for Business 2026 list, Virginia is #3

Maryland has become an even worse state to do business in over the last year, according to CNBC's Top States for Business 2026 list, which the cable TV business channel unveiled today. Moribund Maryland dropped four spots to #36 this year based on CNBC's criteria, which examine each state's infrastructure, economy, workforce, quality of life, cost of doing business, and technology and innovation. Virginia, by contrast, moved up to #3, and is perennially in the top 5 on this list.

Why is Maryland once again a bottom dweller, and sinking? The primary new factors are the state's IT tax, which has not only massively increased IT costs (including my own) for Maryland businesses, but has only increased the exodus of companies from the state. Maryland's highest profile infrastructure project, the Key Bridge replacement, has stalled out. That missing highway link not only remains a logistical nightmare for businesses large and small that relied on it, but only adds to Maryland's national notoriety as a state with inadequate infrastructure, and an ideological hostility to road construction. And after Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the state legislature used Zohran Mamdani slight-of-hand tactics to raid precious funds for a desperation one-year budget fix, S&P downgraded Maryland's long-term outstanding debt outlook from stable to negative.

Continuing to plague our state are our own elected officials. For another year, Montgomery County and Maryland officials failed to take any steps toward construction of the long-delayed new Potomac River crossing, which would give us the critically-needed direct access to Dulles International Airport that corporate executives demand (and currently get in Northern Virginia). In fact, our leaders proudly stand against the new bridge, which was supposed to have been constructed 50 years ago. Multiple highways planned to handle explosive housing growth that has already taken place over decades in Montgomery County not only remain unbuilt, but have been criminally removed from the master plan, a blatant dereliction of duty by our elected officials.

Electricity costs continue to skyrocket, again the direct result of actions by our elected officials. They forced the closure of 8 power plants statewide, and implemented clean power mandates. These buffoonish diktats brought us where we are now: not only unable to provide cheap and abundant energy for business, but unable to even provide sufficient electricity capacity to meet existing demand. This has required Maryland to import electricity at inflated boardwalk prices from out of state.

Maryland has only increased the tax burden on business, when our corporate tax rate was already not competitive for business. The Montgomery County Council not only implemented multiple tax hikes this year, including yet another property tax increase, but actually created new taxes amid an affordability crisis. And despite their minimum wage increases having been an utter catastrophe, ushering in the age of restaurants using touchscreens and fewer employees, the Marxist radicals on the Council are now poised to join the national bankruptcy movement that is calling for a $30 minimum wage. 

Yet another chance to change direction is quickly slipping through the fingers of MoCo and Maryland voters. Turnout in last month's primary election was humiliatingly small. The Banner, whose billionaire oligarch owner puts his news behind a paywall(!!) and is a well-known Democratic operative, actually posted a story on Facebook claiming Democratic Montgomery County Executive nominee Will Jawando "is expected to be sworn in as the next Montgomery County executive in December." In fact, The Banner wrote, Jawando "will almost certainly be sworn in as the next Montgomery County executive in December." 

The November general election hasn't even taken place, folks. This is classic voter suppression by The Banner: make voters feel hopeless. Why bother to vote when The Banner has told you the outcome is already known? "Democracy," right? At The Banner, democracy dies in a $50 million grant from the billionaire Democratic operative owner to run that propaganda outlet, which was warmly welcomed in Montgomery County by the very politicians who would fear a true journalistic examination of their true crimes and corruption. Fortunately, the Montgomery County and Maryland cartels don't control CNBC, and the results truly speak for themselves.

GEICO building for sale in Rockville

GEICO continues to liquidate its real estate portfolio in Montgomery County. After selling off its main headquarters campus in Friendship Heights, the insurance firm has now placed a claims center warehouse property in Rockville on the market. 2800 Tower Oaks Boulevard is a vintage 1976 industrial building complete with midcentury modern GEICO logo. It is well placed near Interstate 270 for use as a distribution center or warehouse. But in the moribund Montgomery County economy, it's more likely to end up as yet another cookie cutter townhome development. The asking price for this gem is not provided in the online listing.

Rockville fireworks delayed until 9:45 PM

The City of Rockville announced last-minute changes to its official July 4th program tonight at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park at 1800 Piccard Drive in the King Farm neighborhood. Activities scheduled through 9:15 PM have been canceled. The fireworks display is still on, but has been delayed until 9:45 PM tonight. Severe weather was cited as the reason for the changes.

Zbounce closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Zbounce has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Signage has been removed from their space next to Hallmark. The children's moon bounce and play center first opened at the mall in the fall of 2016, so this could be a ten-year lease ending. Or an unannounced move within the mall, but Zbounce has not posted any message to customers regarding such plans.

K-Wave opening Saturday in Rockville

K-Wave will open its first Maryland store in Rockville tomorrow, Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM. It will be located at 5534 Randolph Road in the Montrose Shopping Center (home of MOM's Organic Market and KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot). Free goodie bags will go to anyone purchasing more than $75 of merchandise "while supplies last." K-Wave will have the latest recordings by your favorite K-pop artists, artist merchandise, and a veritable arcade of Asian game machines: claw machines, vending machines, and Deco Station. Still to arrive are their gachapon machines and Photoism photo booth. 

You will also find a lot of South Korean pop culture merchandise, toys, and stationary. Popular South Korean beauty and skincare products, clothing, and home decor round out the inventory of products for the K-pop fan or Seoul aesthetic seeker. Operating hours for K-Wave will be 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week. K-Wave has an existing location in Centreville.

Drive-thru marijuana dispensary opening on Rockville Pike

A drive-thru marijuana dispensary is coming soon to Rockville Pike. Stash Cannabis Co. will be opening this summer at 1470 Rockville Pike. That is a former BB&T Bank branch building. Stash will serve recreational adult users, as well as medical marijuana patients. The dispensary has been in the works for over a year, but great progress on the construction has been made recently, and it's expected to be finished very soon.

The Container Store-Bed Bath & Beyond merger coming to fruition in Rockville

Bed Bath & Beyond has returned to Rockville Pike. This time, it is inside of The Container Store at 1601 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. The struggling home organizing chain has turned to the defunct but well-known Bed Bath & Beyond brand to revitalize foot traffic to its stores. This transition is expected to be completed at all impacted Container Store locations nationwide by the end of next month. As you read this, Bed Bath & Beyond merchandise continues to arrive daily, and is being stocked on shelves that Container Store merchandise was liquidated from to make room. Now, can they fit Tower Records in there?

Genki Wagyu Shabu House sets opening date in Rockville

Genki Wagyu Shabu House now has an opening date at 870 Festival Street at the Twinbrook Quarter development in Rockville. The all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant will begin accepting reservations this Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Genki promises the"finest unlimited Wagyu Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki, and premium Sushi experience. Savor the melt-in-your-mouth richness of high-grade Wagyu beef, meticulously sliced for the perfect hot pot in our signature Sukiyaki broth. Complement your experience with an exquisite selection of premium sushi, crafted with the freshest seafood and premium ingredients." As you can see, the dining experience is capped off with a stunning interior design.

Koala Kreme opening today in Rockville

Koala Kreme will officially open today, Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 100-I Gibbs Street at The Square at Rockville. The frozen yogurt shop replaces The Marble Slab at the development in Rockville Town Center. If you've been to a self-serve frozen yogurt place like Sweetfrog, you know the drill. Celebrate their grand opening between noon and 2:00 PM today with tastings, giveaways, a balloon artist, and face painting. 

Pepco tells Maryland customers, "It's not us"

The most recent two U.S. presidents have had to get used to having their likeness slapped onto gas pumps via "I did that!" stickers, when their policy decisions have led to rising gas prices. Less eager to take credit for exploding electricity bills is Pepco, which is once again taking pains to inform customers that government is indeed the problem. "Higher energy bills can be challenging, and we want you to understand what's driving those changes," the Exelon-owned utility explained in a message to ratepayers with this month's bill. And explain they do, but not as extensively as they should, requiring us to employ the Annapolis Anger Translator (AAT) for full disclosure.

First culprit on the list is the regional grid operator PJM. Pepco notes that PJM "is increasing electricity supply prices for our area. Pepco does not generate electricity or set these prices — we pass these charges through directly to customers with no markup. These increases are due to factors such as higher demand and tight energy supply."

Using the AAT, we can expand on this to learn that the actual electricity rates paid by consumers in Maryland are set by the Maryland Public Service Commission, a body appointed by...whoops!...the governor of Maryland, and approved by the Democratic-controlled Maryland State Senate. 

Why is there a "tight energy supply?" Perhaps because Maryland elected officials forced the closure of 8 power plants across the state. As a result, Maryland itself can no longer generate enough power to supply the demands of residents and businesses, and is now forced to import electricity from out-of-state at inflated boardwalk prices.

Pepco also highlights the EmPOWER MD surcharge that appears on your monthly bill. Like many other "sneak taxes," elected officials hope that you will assume these taxes, fees, and surcharges are being levied by the service provider, not your corrupt leaders. The reality is that this surcharge was levied by the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. It is a Karl Marxian Communist initiative of the highest order. Your hard-earned money goes into a slush fund used to pay for "green" upgrades to poor people's homes. From each according to his abilities...well, you get the idea.

Not mentioned is the latest hoax: data centers, the latest pass-the-buck punching bag for politicians trying to divert public attention from their direct role in the affordability crisis. No, data centers in Maryland are not the reason your Pepco bill keeps going up. It's a boogeyman far more familiar to you: your unfriendly neighborhood elected official. The call is indeed coming from inside the house.

Exotic Tobacco & Vape opens in Derwood

Exotic Tobacco & Vape is now open at 16803 Crabbs Branch Way at The Grove shopping center in Derwood. The smoke shop fills the space that was formerly home to Casey Management. This appears to be a local chain, with locations in College Park and Frederick, Maryland. ET&V carries a full line of vaping products and accessories, tobacco products, kratom, and cannabis paraphernalia.

This Armand's Pizzeria truck could be yours in Rockville auction

The sad news of the last Armand's Pizzeria closing in Rockville can be good news for the collector or aspiring restaurateur. That's because it's auction time, and everything must go! And that includes what may be the ultimate collector's item for the Armand's pizza fan: a genuine Armand's delivery truck! It's what appears to be a modified 1985 Toyota pickup truck, and Japanese Toyotas run forever, right?

Imagine the chicks you could pull tooling around the DMV in this Armand's pizza truck. And here we thought that a sign left from the Montgomery Hills Armand's was the best Armand's memento left out there! As a bonus, the doors are emblazoned with the name of the venerable "Congressional Plaza." I'mma let you finish, Taylor, but the Lakeforest Mall truck was the greatest MoCo vehicular prize of all time! But Armand's is making a "bid" for close second. And in this auction, you can make a literal bid. Current bid for the truck? Thirty cents! Hurry!

Photos courtesy Rasmus Auctions

Armed robbery at Red Roof Inn in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Red Roof Inn at 16001 Shady Grove Road last Friday night, June 12, 2026. According to police, a suspect approached the front desk of the hotel at 8:46 PM, and drew a handgun. The suspect demanded the front desk clerk hand over cash. When the clerk informed the suspect that there was no cash to hand over, the suspect ran away. No description of the suspect has been released as of this writing.

Austrian life sciences firm chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Austrian life sciences firm Ringana has made the United States the target of its next international expansion push, but first it needed a U.S. corporate headquarters to operate from. It has found the perfect location, and you won't be surprised to hear it is not in Montgomery County, or even within the state of Maryland. You also won't be surprised to learn that Virginia is once again the winner in this latest corporate HQ sweepstakes. That's right: 435 jobs are on the way from the Österreich to 2797 Frontage Road NW in Roanoke, Virginia. The former Johnson & Johnson site will not only house corporate offices, but also a manufacturing facility and a distribution center.

The deal was apparently secured when Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger invited Ringana corporate leadership to meet with her personally this past February. In contrast, Maryland Governor Wes Moore has failed to turn his supposedly-massive Rolodex of Wall Street, Hamptons, and Martha's Vineyard business contacts into a single major corporate headquarters win. After an awkward few months dominated by divisive partisan politics, Spanberger seems to have found the blueprint left behind by her Democratic predecessors, who have typically been as successful in attracting corporate headquarters as their Republican counterparts.

“RINGANA’s decision to establish its first U.S. facility in Virginia underscores the Commonwealth’s reputation as a welcoming, premier destination for international investment,” Spanberger said in a statement. “With our world-class workforce, strong apprenticeship and career training programs, and unwavering commitment to supporting global companies in a global marketplace, Virginia offers the ideal environment for businesses to grow and succeed in the United States. We are excited to welcome RINGANA to Roanoke and look forward to the hundreds of career opportunities this partnership will create for Virginians.”

We should take note of the site chosen by Ringana. Look how close it is to Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, which has connecting flights to Dulles International Airport. Also nearby is Interstate 81, a major freight trucking route connecting Tennessee and Canada. Once again, Virginia tax advantages join with infrastructure to hand Maryland and Montgomery County yet another economic development loss. MoCo and Maryland elected officials will tell you with clownish pride that "we don't do highways," and that they will never allow construction of the long-delayed new Potomac River crossing to the Dulles area.

Now before we get too carried away, I don't want to overhype Ringana. We should be focused on major corporations, especially on aerospace, biotech, defense, and technology firms. Ringana is not a Fortune 500 company. But it has enjoyed $245 million in annual revenue, and 30% year-over-year revenue growth. It will be investing $85 million in Virginia and its people and communities. The Roanoke Regional Partnership is already working to connect local businesses that can provide services to Ringana with the company's leadership.

Beggars can't be choosers. Montgomery County and Maryland once again are left holding their nearly-empty begging cups.