Robbery, assault at Marshalls in Rockville

Montgomery County police were called to the Marshalls department store at 12051 Rockville Pike at Montrose Crossing at 5:05 PM on May 8, 2024. A male suspect entered the store, assaulted a Marshalls employee, and fled with an undisclosed amount of merchandise. Police describe the suspect only as a Black male of unknown age. Anyone with information regarding this suspect or incident is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org, and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page, or call 1-866-411-8477. 

New sign of progress on Wegmans-anchored development in Rockville

Another "sign" of the future Wegmans-anchored Twinbrook Quarter development has appeared on Rockville Pike. An interior street of the Saul Centers-developed property is now being established at its connection with the Pike (MD 355). It is named Festival Street.

Festival Street, located at the north end of Phase 1 of the project, now has traffic signals in place, and cross-street signage, over its intersection with Rockville Pike. When activated, the new signals will also regulate traffic from an entrance to Congressional Plaza across the street. Wegmans is scheduled to open next year at the development.

Walnut Hill Shopping Center remodeling going full steam, including Gaithersburg-themed mural

The massive makeover of the venerable Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg is going full tilt. We can now see the distinctive storefront facade of the future Aldi grocery store emerging outside the former Weis Markets. All tenants are getting remodeled fronts and new signage. 

What stands out the most at the moment is a new piece of public art. Unlike some of the abstract murals that have popped up around Montgomery County in recent years, this one is 100% Gaithersburg-themed. The Baltimore & Ohio - now CSX - railroad tracks lead off into infinity, if not Chicago. On the right side is the Bowman Bros. Mill, known today as the Granary Row shopping center. There's the clock that stood diagonally across from Diamond Drugs.

MCPS Countywide Art Show at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Here are some of the exhibits displayed during the recent Montgomery County Public Schools Countywide Art Show at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The schools represented at the show included Ashburton Elementary School in Bethesda, Candlewood Elementary School in Derwood, and Germantown Elementary School. MCPS uses the annual art show to represent student talents, and illustrate the goals of its Visual Arts curriculum. "The visual arts promote the core competencies - Academic Excellence, Creative Problem-solving, and Social Emotional Learning - identified by MCPS as essential to prepare students for success in the 21st century," the school system explained in a description displayed alongside the artwork.

Assault in Rockville Town Center area

Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault in the Rockville Town Center area late Friday afternoon, May 10, 2024. Officers were called to the 300 block of N. Washington Street at 5:13 PM Friday. A weapon other than a firearm was utilized in the assault.

"Do not enter with mask," warns business at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

"Do not enter with mask," a sign warns patrons at Perfume World in Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A hand-drawn illustration next to the message depicts a full-face ski mask. The City of Philadelphia passed a ban on ski masks in many public places, with some exceptions, last year. Many jurisdictions across the country have a form of ski mask ban, while others have considered passing one amid a persistent spike in retail and violent crime since 2020. A few, including New York City and Washington, D.C., have repealed existing ski mask bans during that same time period.

Chocolate Moonshine reopens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Chocolate Moonshine has reopened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is now on the edge of the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2. This is the spot recently - and shockingly - vacated by 7-Eleven. Chocolate Moonshine closed in its old location in early April, where it had been in operation since 2016.

Chocolate Moonshine's chocolate bars are made with bourbon, whiskey, champagne, rum, and Barrel aged Irish whiskey. Moonshine Bars are filled with smooth and creamy centers. All bars are gluten-free, and made with only natural and organic ingredients. Their fudge is cooked in small, 50-pound batches, and made with 30% less sugar than competing products.

Pickleball thieves stock up in Rockville

Rockville City police are searching for three suspects who allegedly pulled off a major heist of pickleball equipment from a store in the 800 block of Rockville Pike last month. The suspects entered the business at 2:24 PM on April 26, 2024, grabbed "a large quantity of pickleball rackets," and fled, police say. 

Detectives describe Suspect 1 as a thin White male with a "dark complexion," black hair and a full beard. He was wearing a black jacket and black pants. Suspect 2 was a thin White female with a "dark complexion." She was wearing a black cardigan sweater over a white shirt, and a long black skirt. Suspect 3 was as equally fit and well-dressed as her alleged accomplices, a thin White female with a "darker complexion." Her outfit was a black dress accessorized with a white shawl.

Police did not provide an approximate age for any of the three suspects. If you have any information about the suspects or this incident, you are asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Police called after assault at Rockville grocery store

Rockville City police were called to a grocery store in the King Farm community on Friday afternoon, May 3, 2024, after someone reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at 4:00 PM Friday at the Safeway store at 403 Redland Boulevard. That is in the King Farm Village Center.

Tesla Cybertruck deliveries picking up in Rockville (Photos)

Here's a rare sighting: A Tesla Cybertruck in the wild without an overpaid influencer behind the wheel. Deliveries of the king of trucks appear to be picking up at the Rockville Tesla facility at 1300 Rockville Pike. A purported halt of Cybertruck deliveries in mid-April due to an accelerator pedal issue clearly has ended, at least here in Maryland. 

There was only one Cybertruck on this car carrier loaded with Teslas, but at least three more could be seen parked on the top level of the facility's garage. It seems that the production numbers of Cybertrucks and Tesla stock are both trending in an upward direction.

Armed robbery in Rockville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in Rockville early Saturday morning, April 27, 2024. The robbery was reported at a store in the 5400 block of Randolph Road at 2:37 AM Saturday. There is a 7-Eleven store on that block. A firearm was the weapon employed in the robbery. 

Police called after assault at Rockville store

Rockville City police were called to a retail store on Rockville Pike Thursday, after an assault was reported at the business. The assault was reported at a store in the 1600 block of Rockville Pike at 5:29 PM on Thursday, April 25, 2024. An individual was also accused of shoplifting in the the incident.

Police respond to assault at Rockville grocery store

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a grocery store Monday afternoon, April 22, 2024. The assault was reported at a store in the 200 block of N. Washington Street at 2:09 PM Monday. Dawson's Market is located on that block, at 225 N. Washington Street, at Rockville Town Square.

Chocolate Moonshine relocating at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

There have been rumors among employees in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall recently that a chocolate shop would be filling the vacant 7-Eleven space. But signage just installed over the storefront indicates it's existing tenant Chocolate Moonshine that will be replacing the short-lived convenience store. Chocolate Moonshine abruptly closed in its current spot earlier this month, but now it turns out it won't be leaving the mall after all. 

Chocolate Moonshine's existing location, as
seen closed during business hours on April 7

This isn't the first time Chocolate Moonshine has closed for a spell at the mall without explanation. But it's managed to survive longer than many other tenants; in fact, it is nearing a decade in business here, a major accomplishment in business-hostile Montgomery County. The gluten-free, organic chocolatier first opened at Montgomery Mall in October 2016.

Tattooed man steals women's apparel in Rockville

A tattooed man stole a "large quantity" of women's apparel from a store in Rockville, Rockville City police say. Around 6:17 PM on April 9, 2024, the adult male suspect allegedly fled a store in the 1600 block of Rockville Pike with a valuable haul of women's athletic apparel. Police describe the suspect as a White male with a thin build, 20 to 29 years of age, with a mustache and tattoos on his arms. If you have any information about this incident or the suspect, contact Rockville City police at 240-314-8900.

Mango opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Mango has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Barcelona-based fashion brand launched this latest Mediterranean-inspired store concept in 2021. But the company, which manufacturers apparel for men and women, was founded in 1984 by brothers Isak Andic and Nahman Andic. Look for Mango's 11th American store on Level 1 of the mall, across from Shoe Charms.

"Go, go Gadget coat!"

Teso Life Japanese Super Store "coming soon" to Rockville

Teso Life, the "Japanese Super Store," is "coming soon" to Rockville, according to signage posted at its future storefront at 1701 Rockville Pike. The chain features a variety of imported Japanese goods, including groceries, toys and collectibles, housewares, beauty and health products, and kitchenware. If this sounds familiar, it's likely because Teso Life's similarly-named competitor, Ebisu Life, already opened a store on Rockville Pike two years ago. 

The addition of Teso Life bolsters a new era for the Shops at Congressional Village, which is shifting to align itself with the booming Asian business sector in Rockville. As Rockville finds itself vying to be the ultimate destination for Asian cuisine in the Washington, D.C. area, the retail property has leased several spaces to new Asian restaurants. When it opens, look for Teso Life next to 7-Eleven.