Aggravated assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda early Thursday afternoon, November 5, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 1:00 PM Thursday. It took place in a parking garage on the property. This assault is the third to be reported at the retail center since Westfield instituted a 3:00 PM juvenile curfew on September 28. It is the tenth assault reported at the mall this year. Twelve assaults were recorded at the property in 2025.

QToys closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

QToys has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It has been removed from the mall tenant directory. It's a surprising closure for two reasons: First, we are approaching the peak toy-buying season of the year. And second, QToys only opened this location one year ago. A Chinese collectible toy importer, QToys may have been overshadowed by recent competitors at the mall like Pop Mart and Kako Claw. On a larger scale, the Financial Times recently reported that the Labubu toy craze is showing signs of running out of steam.

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.

T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs, Lilly Pulitzer reopen at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Three big names at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda have reopened after completing major renovation projects. T-Mobile, Häagen-Dazs and Lilly Pulitzer are now open well ahead of Black Friday and the peak holiday shopping season. Lilly Pulitzer has been making over its stores recently to give them the aesthetic of a resort residence with Mediterranean-inspired, Palm Beach-style design and decor. T-Mobile has focused its renovations on transforming its stores from transactional retail outlets to experiential spaces with interactive displays. Both retailers are emphasizing a more open floorplan. Häagen-Dazs is...well, Häagen-Dazs.

Police respond to assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police officers responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall last night, October 24, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 7:00 PM Saturday. This assault is the second to be reported at the retail center since Westfield instituted a 3:00 PM juvenile curfew on September 28. It is the ninth assault reported at the mall this year. Twelve assaults were recorded at the property in 2025.

Tesla returns to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tesla has returned...sort of...to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The electric vehicle manufacturer had a strong partnership with the mall for many years. It leased a prominent space for a showroom, and for a row of charging stations in the parking garage off the Nordstrom wing. There were ambitious plans to build a Supercharger station on the mall property. But after Elon Musk enraged many in the region with his involvement in the DOGE initiative, Tesla became a target for protest, and its mall showroom abruptly closed.

The return of Tesla is quite underwhelming compared to what came before. A single vehicle on display as you often see from other auto dealerships. A simple display. A white logo cube with a bottle of hand sanitizer on top. As competitor Rivian readies a Bethesda Row showroom, and superior options from China are held off by Detroit lobbyists hoping the free enterprise dam won't burst, is a display car enough to compete in one of the biggest EV markets in the country?

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.

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.

Kickz closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kickz has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The streetwear and sporting goods boutique has been cleared out inside. Empty shelves and packing boxes are all that remain on the sales floor. Kickz has also been removed from the tenant directory on the mall's official website. Two area locations remain, at Potomac Mills Mall and Francis Scott Key Mall.

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.

Fashion Q opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

After a few hiccups and false starts, Fashion Q has finally opened its doors at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It's an encore for the Los Angeles-based fashion wholesaler, which is returning to the mall after a sudden exit in 2025. A couple of grand opening dates had come and gone, but the important thing is that the boutique is now open in time for the peak holiday shopping season. Look for Fashion Q on Level 1 of the mall, across from Build-A-Bear.

Juvenile curfew goes into effect at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

A new 3:00 PM curfew for juveniles goes into effect today at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The controversial new policy comes in response to juvenile crime at the popular retail center, primarily in the forms of shoplifting, assault, and robbery. All patrons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian after 3:00 PM, seven days a week. That adult will be held responsible for any crimes committed by the minors under their supervision at the mall.

The policy essentially ends the American pastime of teens hanging out at malls after school, and at night, at Westfield's Montgomery and Wheaton Plaza malls. This past Saturday night, teens crowded into Montgomery Mall's Dining Terrace food court, the last to enjoy a rite of passage of a Saturday night at the mall. In a sign of what brought us to this point, however, Montgomery County police officers were seen rushing to respond to a crime in progress at Champs Sports.

Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The first chill of fall is in the air. That means two things: it's time to buy warm clothes, and the holiday shopping season is rapidly approaching. One herald of both is the annual arrival of Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Just seeing the store back at the mall gives a warm feeling to those who can't wait for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Lilly Pulitzer window coverings get glow-up at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

They heard us, folks. The trash bags in the windows of Lilly Pulitzer at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda are gone. In their place are branded window screens with images of Via Mizner in Palm Beach, where the label was founded over 60 years ago. There's also now a message to customers regarding the temporary closure for remodeling, and a number you can text to receive updates when the reopening timeline is solidified. This is definitely a better look for the upscale mall, and upscale brand.

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!