Trump Metro commemorative inauguration farecard sells out in Montgomery County

Democrats may hold every elected office in Montgomery County, but a collectible Inauguration of Donald Trump Metro farecard sold like hotcakes at its subway stations last week. By Saturday, the Trump SmarTrip cards had sold out at every station selling them within Montgomery County. WMATA has now announced that the Trump card has sold out at all D.C.-area Metro stations, but the transit agency will make a limited new batch of them available at the Metro Center station on Monday, Inauguration Day - again, while supplies last.

It appears most buyers intend to hold onto their cards as keepsakes, as relatively few are being listed on eBay for resale. At the time of this writing, resale prices on the site are running from $17.50 to $470. Trump grew his voter support significantly in Montgomery County in 2024, over his results in 2020 and 2016.

The President-Elect, Melania Trump, and their son Barron Trump arrived in the D.C. area last night, deplaning in total darkness, apparently for security reasons, before enjoying a fireworks display at Trump's golf club in Northern Virginia. Donald Trump must surely also be enjoying word of his farecard selling out in far-left Montgomery County. Trump places great importance on TV ratings, poll numbers, sales, and other measures of success in each of his ventures.

In remarks at the golf club, Trump gave shout-outs to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, whose Amazon HQ2 is located in Northern Virginia. Tenor Christopher Macchio performed the aria "Nessun Dorma," which always generates a buzz on social media when Trump requests it, due to its use in the climactic scene of the political conspiracy film The Sum of All Fears.

Donald Trump inauguration commemorative farecards available at select Metro stations

Tech moguls aren't the only ones changing their tune on Donald Trump. Regional transit agency WMATA boldly refused to issue a commemorative farecard for Trump's first inauguration in January 2017. Riders who had purchased a Barack Obama farecard in previous years were surprised to learn no such collector's item would be available for Trump, but the dominance of the Democratic party in the region limited the fallout for WMATA. But, lo and behold, the agency has issued a commemorative SmarTrip farecard for Trump's second inauguration, and it is available at select Metro stations.

The Trump SmarTrip card is now available in Montgomery County at the Shady Grove, Forest Glen, and Glenmont Metro stations. Signage will indicate the machine from which the Trump card can be purchased. The cards are available "while supplies last," WMATA says.

Photo courtesy WMATA

Police called after assault at Rockville hotel

Rockville City police were called to a hotel early Sunday afternoon, November 17, 2024, after someone reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at a hotel in the 16000 block of Shady Grove Road at 1:10 PM Sunday. Red Roof Plus+ is located on that block of Shady Grove.

Woman assaulted, robbed in Shady Grove Professional Park

A woman was the victim of three robbers at Shady Grove Professional Park in the early morning hours of November 2, 2024, Montgomery County police report. The woman was in the commercial townhome development in the 9000 block of Shady Grove Court on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville when she was approached by three suspects. They allegedly assaulted her, and stole money and unspecified property from her. Police describe the suspects only as a Black male, and two Black females. If you can identify any of these suspects, or have any information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Rockville apartment building wins Jack Kemp Award for Excellence

Rockville's newest apartment building has won the 2024 Jack Kemp Award for Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Housing. The honor, which recognizes "exemplary developments that demonstrate creativity in expanding housing opportunities" for mixed-income residents, was presented to The Laureate at 8005 Gramercy Boulevard during ULI's Fall Meeting in Las Vegas. The Laureate was jointly developed by Bethesda-based EYA, Bozzuto, and the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County.

The Laureate was the first development to utilize Montgomery County's new Housing Production Fund as a source of financing. This is the third Jack Kemp Award won by EYA. The award is named for former Republican congressman and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp, and was established in 2008. As HUD secretary during the administration of President George H.W. Bush, Kemp sought to increase rent subsidies for low-income Americans, as well as to expand opportunities for home ownership among residents of public housing. He also believed in public-private partnerships in furthering these and other economic goals.

Jack Kemp

"EYA is committed to creating mixed-income housing through innovative public-private partnerships," EYA President and CEO McLean Quinn said in a statement. "The Laureate is an example of how builders can partner with public agencies to address the affordable housing shortage across the country and we are incredibly proud of the design, amenities, and lifestyle our partnership has infused into The Laureate. Innovation, commitment to quality affordable housing and good partnership won this award."

The Laureate is the latest addition to the Westside at Shady Grove development. 25% of its 268 units are designated as moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs) for residents earning 50% of the area median income (AMI), and an additional 5% are designated as workforce units for residents earning 65% AMI. The developers designed these units to be indistinguishable from the market rate units, incorporating the same high-quality features and finishes as the more-expensive apartments, and designated all 3-bedroom units to be income-restricted. Former Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton had pressed developers to provide affordable 3-bedroom units for families during her time in office.

Photos 1, 2 & 4 courtesy Bozzuto

Best Buy Gaithersburg store closing

Best Buy is closing at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center, on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville. The home electronics and entertainment chain has set a closing date of October 26, 2024. Their space has been marketed for lease for several months, but the store's lease does not end until February 1, 2025. 

Best Buy announced on a corporate earnings call that it planned to close 10 to 15 stores in 2025. Gaithersburg Best Buy customers are being redirected after October 26 to the big box chain's stores located at 1200 Rockville Pike in Rockville, and at 20914 Frederick Road in Germantown. The latter store is open, but is currently undergoing renovations.

Buffalo Wild Wings GO coming soon to Rockville

Buffalo Wild Wings GO is coming soon to Rockville. It will be located at 16256 Frederick Road at the Rock Grove shopping center, at the southwest corner of MD 355 and Shady Grove Road. Buffalo Wild Wings' "GO" concept took off during the pandemic, when the chicken wings chain sought to capitalize on an explosion in demand for takeout orders, as well as a chance to muscle in on carryout-focused competitors like Wingstop. Rockville and Gaithersburg both have traditional, full-scale Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, which are more like sports bars, competing with sit-down competitors like Hooters.

You'll find a slimmed-down menu at Buffalo Wild Wings GO, comprised of some of BWW's customer favorites. An "innovative cooking process" is able to churn out the same crispy wings you find at a regular BWW at a speedier pace, the company says. The interior set-up is designed to get customers in and out of the smaller-scale GO store as quickly as possible, especially when ordering ahead. GO also has some exclusive flavors not found at the full-size BWW.

One of the exclusive flavors at GO locations

Watching Wingstop's tremendous success surely has BWW concentrating even more on growing the number of GO locations around the country. CNBC reported just last week that the preference of sports television viewers for wings while watching the game has allowed Wingstop to avoid the recent sales downturn experienced by McDonald's and Starbucks. Sports fans don't favor the latter two for their game day smorgasboards, the network found, and Wingstop has kept its prices relatively low while McDonald's customers have been ravaged by the Hamburglar's inflation-jacked price hikes.

It's interesting that Rock Grove also has a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins store, as those brands are also in BWW parent company Inspire Brands' portfolio. That might have played a role in the development scoring another popular brand. Buffalo Wild Wings GO will be next to Qdoba Mexican Eats at the property. Construction on the Rock Grove location is expected to begin early this fall, so we might expect a winter opening. Just in time for the Super Bowl!

Photo 1 & 3 courtesy Inspire Brands

Is Best Buy planning an exit on Shady Grove Road?

Is Best Buy's future at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center in doubt? It sure looks like it from an online listing for the 270 Center. The big box store's "big box" is available for lease, according to the KLNB listing. Whoever the lucky next tenant is will be able to move into the 46,155-square-foot space on February 1, 2025. 

Best Buy announced on a corporate earnings call that it planned to close 10 to 15 stores in 2025. This one on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg now appears to be one of them. Rockville has a venerable Best Buy store located at 1200 Rockville Pike. Living in the 90s!

Amazon Fresh Gaithersburg store posts opening date

Amazon has posted the opening date for its Amazon Fresh grocery store at 15790 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. The long-delayed but highly-anticipated store will open at 8:00 AM sharp on August 8, 2024, according to the banner that has just been posted on the storefront. A grand opening of this supermarket has been years in the making, and the process has taken almost as many twists and turns as the 2024 presidential race. 

I broke the story about Amazon's plans way back in September of 2020. More than two years passed before a potential opening date was even hinted at, as Amazon itself kept total secrecy about its plans, even as it completed the interior fit-out of the store. The only public confirmation of the store came when signage was installed on the storefront. Yet, with all shelving in place but empty of merchandise, the company then announced it would be postponing the opening until 2023.

Amazon never stated publicly why it was postponing the opening of the Gaithersburg store, and several others around the country. In February of 2023, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy still wouldn't offer details on that front, beyond citing the impact of the pandemic (which had long been declared "over" by that point, even by the most fervent lockdown proponents at all levels of government, as political winds shifted). But Jassy did promise that the retail giant would "go big" on its push into bricks-and-mortar grocery stores in 2023.

That never happened.

Just two months later, Amazon ordered its expensive lighted signage to be removed from the building at 270 Center. It had hung on the unopened store so long that it had already been vandalized. The store was now officially canceled. 

Amazon continued to hold its cards close to its vest, even as pundits declared the firm's venture into physical supermarkets a flop, and even began predicting that the existing Amazon Fresh stores might all close. Was it going to wave the white flag, and stick to online grocery delivery? The company was silent.

But the epic story of Amazon Fresh in Gaithersburg wasn't over yet!

During the first week of June this year, Amazon's employment site suddenly listed jobs for an Amazon Fresh store in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Was this an error? On June 5, I emailed all three leasing representatives for 270 Center to ask if Amazon had reversed its plans. All three declined to respond.

Three weeks later, Amazon confirmed it indeed had changed its mind yet again. The company posted a "coming soon" banner on the otherwise blank storefront. A few days later, the lighted logo signage - either repaired or replaced - was installed on the building. Last night, the opening date banner was in place, the logo sign was lit up, and the lights were on inside the store. 

You can't completely divest Amazon from its penchant for secrecy, though: paper now covers the windows to block the public's view of the long-completed interior, and the status of possible inventory being placed onto those long-empty shelves. No more "spy photos" like those I was able to post a few weeks ago.

The lights are on...and somebody is finally home at Amazon Fresh in Gaithersburg.

Assault at Shady Grove Metro station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Shady Grove Metro station early Sunday morning, July 7, 2024. The assault was reported at the station at 3:52 AM Sunday. No trains operate at that hour on Sunday. Police were called to the parking lot of the station, which is located in the 15900 block of Somerville Drive in Derwood, to meet the victim of the assault.

Signage installed at future Amazon Fresh on Shady Grove Road (Photos)

The sign is (back) up at Amazon Fresh, opening soon at 15790 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. It's exactly the same logo sign that was vandalized, and ultimately removed, when Amazon paused - and then "canceled" - the opening of this store last year. The reversal of that decision became apparent earlier this month. There's still nothing on the bare shelves inside the store, but more signage has been added inside over the last few days, including a large banana image and other promotional images in the produce department.

We should soon see the grocery cart return out front in the parking lot. It was erected, and then dismantled, during Amazon's period of indecision in 2023. One wonders if anyone in Amazon's grocery division was fired as a result of the faux cancellation of this location. Nothing has changed over the last year, and Amazon only lost money over this period that the store didn't operate. If anything, the market is worse, as Americans have reduced their grocery purchases due to runaway inflation of prices, and price-gouging by greedy corporations.

Amazon Fresh Shady Grove Road store opening soon in reversal of plans by retail giant (Photos)

Amazon will open its Amazon Fresh grocery store at 15790 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg after all, according to signage posted at the property. This saga began when I broke the story about Amazon leasing the space way back on September 1, 2020. The retail giant completed the interior fit-out of the store by the late summer of 2022, and spent months installing its Just Walk Out system electronics. It then postponed the grand opening to 2023, only to abruptly remove all signage from the building in April of 2023. Many other Amazon Fresh stores - some of them fully-constructed like the Shady Grove location - were also "paused" or canceled around the same time.

But after 14 months of abandonment of the project, Amazon suddenly posted help wanted ads for the Shady Grove Road store at the start of this month. Was this a glitch in Amazon's job site? On June 5, I emailed all three leasing representatives for 270 Center to ask if Amazon had reversed its decision. All three declined to reply to my inquiries. 

The secret can no longer be contained, however. On Sunday, a large banner was posted on the blank storefront with the familiar Amazon logo. Inside the store, more Amazon signage is visible. Parking space reservation signs for curbside pickup and Amazon Flex drivers are massed in the store's vestibule. And self-checkout machines are not only in place, but are activated with lit screens. 

Amazon's decision to go forward with the store is a triple win for the community. It will greatly increase foot traffic to 270 Center and its other tenants, a benefit the property owner has had to wait for nearly four years to realize. Second, Amazon Fresh delivery will now be extended to parts of the area where it has been unavailable. Finally, along with the new Aldi at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center, south Gaithersburg, Derwood, and upper Rockville residents will now have two grocery stores whose business models are centered around competitive pricing. Aldi is expected to open in July; Amazon has not announced the opening date for the Amazon Fresh as of this writing.

Red Lobster closes in Rockville as chain files for bankruptcy (Photos)

Red Lobster has closed at 15700 Shady Grove Road. The seafood restaurant chain announced late Sunday night that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. "This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster," CEO Jonathan Tibus said in a statement. "It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth. The support we've received from our lenders and vendors will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently while remaining focused on our employees and guests." As part of its bankruptcy filings, Red Lobster will close some locations, sell some - or potentially all - of its assets, and sell its business to a new entity "formed and controlled by its existing term lenders."

This is especially sad news for residents of the Upper Rock neighborhood. The closure removes one of the main dining options within walking distance of the apartments there. Can we get an Olive Garden or Texas Roadhouse into this empty building? Montgomery County may be the only jurisdiction of its size in America to have neither. The machinations of the Montgomery County Council against those brands, Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and modernity in general are truly bizarre! Believe it or not, your constituents want unlimited bread sticks, and to be able to buy beer and wine at Giant and CVS!

Arson in Upper Rock area of Rockville

Rockville City police are investigating a case of arson in the Upper Rock area off of Shady Grove Road. Some time between 11:30 AM on January 28, 2024 and 11:30 AM on January 29, a suspect removed a window barrier at a vacant building in the unit block of Choke Cherry Road. The suspect then set fire to a pile of trash inside the building. No estimate or description of the resulting damage was provided by police.

Several office buildings in the office park on that block were sold to Boston Properties in recent years. A Boston Properties representative told a Montgomery County government advisory board in 2022 that three of the buildings were vacant on the 31-acre site between Choke Cherry and Gaither Road. Police did not identify which specific building the arson took place at. If you have any information on this fire or the suspect, you are asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Allcare primary and immediate care clinic opening in Rockville

Allcare, a primary and immediate care clinic, is opening a new Rockville location. It will be at 16260 Frederick Road, in the new Rock Grove shopping center. Allcare will be in the space next to Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken. Services will include urgent care, annual physicals, telehealth, weight management and STD testing.

The Phantom of the Shady Grove Metro station

Montgomery County Halloween Countdown

Tomorrow is Halloween, and what is Halloween without a ghost? There's one who haunts the area around the Shady Grove Metro station in Derwood, and has since his untimely death there in 1864. Walter "Wat" Bowie was among many Marylanders who were Confederate sympathizers during the Civil War. Like some, such as Bethesda plantation owner Nathan Loughborough, Bowie couldn't resist getting in on the fighting action himself despite living in a state that hadn't seceded from the Union. And yes, Wat Bowie was a member of that Bowie family, whose home turf is now a fast-growing city in Prince George's County.

Bowie's final adventure began on an ambitious note: a botched plan to kidnap the governor of Maryland. Retreating back to Virginia from Annapolis via Montgomery County, Bowie made the mistake of trying to loot a store in Sandy Spring. Tired after previous pillaging by earlier Confederate raiders, the store owner rounded up a posse, and pursued Bowie and his men as they traveled toward Poolesville. 

The vigilantes caught up with Bowie in Derwood, near the site of today's Metro station. His party escaped, but Wat himself wasn't as lucky. Bowie was shot off his horse with a shotgun blast. Historian Earl Eisenhart pinpoints the exact location as being next to the Metro tracks off Somerville Road, by the McDonald's. Bowie's ghost is said to haunt that area to this day.

Sources:

AmericanCivilWar.com

MontgomeryGhosts

FindAGrave