The Lady Vintner "coming soon" in Rockville

The Lady Vintner is "coming soon" to Rockville Town Center, according to a banner posted at its future storefront at 42 Maryland Avenue, in the ground floor of the BLVD 44 apartment building. A woman-owned beer-and-wine shop and bar, The Lady Vinter will offer a diverse selection of high-quality wine and beer, an in-house sommelier, and a specially-curated food menu including paninis, flatbreads, charcuterie, fine cheeses, and more.

"We are thrilled to announce the launch of our innovative wine and beer shop, The Lady Vintner," owner Ciara Cedeno said in a statement. "We invite patrons to savor, discover, and unwind in our inclusive space. Join us as we uncork a new chapter in Rockville’s culinary scene."

The 1300-square-foot wine bar will fill the space vacated by Pour Vino N' Hops. A permanent sign has been installed over the storefront, and is already lit up.

The Upton apartments sold in Rockville Town Center

The Upton apartments in Rockville Town Center have changed hands. Developer Duball, LLC sold the property to Comstock Holding Companies last month. Comstock plans to make upgrades to the building, and to rebrand it as BLVD Forty Four. The Upton is located at 44 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

Photo courtesy Comstock

Yamachan Ramen to open in Rockville...and Pearl Lady Harajuku Bubble Tea Shop!

Another ramen eatery is coming to Rockville, this time to the heart of Rockville's Town Center. Yamachan Ramen has leased a prime corner spot next to Supercuts at The Upton/Cambria Hotel and Suites development, at the intersection of E. Middle Lane and Maryland Avenue. The restaurant will use the ramen noodle products of the Yamachan Ramen brand.

Pearl Lady Bubble Tea Shop logo
stenciled on the restaurant's window

Even more interesting, is that stencils on the doors and windows of the restaurant are touting Tokyo's famous Pearl Lady Harajuku Bubble Tea Shop as part of the new establishment. What a great addition to the Town Center, and definitely something to set it apart from the many competing bubble tea options in town. Pearl Lady is regularly named one of the top 5 bubble tea shops in Japan, and as far as I can tell, this would be the first Pearl Lady shop outside of Japan. A must try!

Pour Vino n Hops coming to Rockville Town Center

Pour Vino n Hops will be the newest ground floor retail tenant at The Upton apartments at 44 Maryland Avenue in Rockville Town Center. This will be the second beer-and-wine based business at the Duball, LLC-developed property. World of Beer is around the corner facing "Regal Row." Pour Vino n Hops will be serving craft beer and wine, in addition to selling it.

Nighttime sewer replacement near Rockville Town Center

A contractor will be replacing sewer lines along E. Middle Lane and Park Road in Rockville starting in September. The work will be performed at night, between the hours of 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM. It will require lane closures, and for that reason, the City of Rockville requested the project be completed at night.

This will require a noise waiver from Montgomery County. Heads up if you live in the Upton apartments, Rockville Town Square, Americana Center (to a lesser extent), or any of the single-family homes off of Park Road.

Signs pop up all over Rockville Town Center (Photos)

Signs have been installed at three soon-to-open businesses in Rockville Town Center: Old Line Bank and Panera Bread in the Cambria Hotel and Suites/Upton apartment building, and a new additional sign above Mellow Mushroom in Rockville Town Square.

Music was blaring from speakers outside Mellow Mushroom yesterday afternoon, but the window coverings remain on.

World of Beer to open in mid-April in Rockville

World of Beer, the new tavern coming to the Upton apartment building in Rockville town center, is targeting a mid-April opening, Marc Dubick, Principal and President of Duball, LLC, said last night. The business is promising the miracle of offering 500 beers, and operating 50 taps, under the arcane Montgomery County liquor monopoly rules. Can't wait to see them pull this off.

Another opening on the horizon is Panera Bread, which Dubick says could be ready to go in about 45 days. Like World of Beer, it is currently under construction on the Cambria Hotel & Suites side of the building.

Supercuts coming to The Upton; Panera Bread starting construction; World of Beer update (Photos)

Supercuts is coming to the Duball project in Rockville Town Center on E. Middle Lane. A banner has been installed on the building's facade outside of the Cambria Suites hotel.

Meanwhile, building permits have been issued for the future Panera Bread in the same building.

Panera Bread

In other Upton news, construction is still slow-going at World of Beer:

World of Beer posts Coming Soon signage in Rockville Town Center (Photos)

It's not news anymore that World of Beer is coming to The Upton luxury apartments in Rockville Town Center. But the restaurant has put up its first official Coming Soon signage on its future space across from the Regal Cinemas.

The sign is still promising 500 beers, and it will be very interesting to see if that is possible under Montgomery County's outdated liquor laws.

Old Line Bank makes big move into Rockville (Photos)

The Upton luxury apartment building has a second retail tenant to add to World of Beer - Old Line Bank is coming to its ground floor. But Old Line has bigger plans for Rockville. The bank is opening a second branch down the road at 1801 Rockville Pike. Old Line has received a permit from the City of Rockville for interior renovations at that latter space.

Future Old Line Bank space
at 1801 Rockville Pike

Bowie-based Old Line has up until now served Prince George's and Charles Counties in Maryland. In entering Montgomery County, it joins Carroll Community Bank as a new entry in an increasingly-competitive banking market.

World of Beer coming to Rockville (Photos)

"550+ beers from around the world" - under the Montgomery County liquor regime? I've gotta see this. But that's what World of Beer is promising.

A liquor license application sign announcing the restaurant's future arrival was posted on an unfinished storefront in the Upton apartments, across the street from the Regal Rockville theater.

It's not yet known how World of Beer will keep its promise with MoCo's famed liquor challenges, which leave many bar owners with empty taps when their special orders can't be filled. But the beer list from World of Beer's Arlington location tempts one to imagine having an 1809 Berliner Weissbeer or Eggenberg or Heavy Seas Fielder's Choice on the patio this fall.

Dining options at the Arlington location include their signature German Pretzel with choice of mustards, sriracha lime shrimp tacos, and Belgian Waffle S'mores.

Should Gordon Biersch be concerned about this new competitor on the next block?

Public art at The Upton in Rockville (Photos)

Here is a public art piece outside The Upton apartments in Rockville Town Center.

The Upton leasing center opens today in Rockville (Photos)

The leasing center for the new Upton luxury apartments in Rockville Town Center will open in an hour, at 9:00 AM this morning. Future tenants can choose among studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. Amenities in the 16-story building include a rooftop deck, a 9th-floor rooftop pool and fitness center, and a 15th-floor club room with outdoor terrace.

First residents are scheduled to move in by late May.

Their office is located at 44 Maryland Avenue. Alas, the online appointment scheduler is currently claiming appointments are already booked up for today through the weekend.

Rockville construction update: The Upton apartments/Cambria Suites hotel

The Upton luxury apartments are scheduled to open May 1, and the Cambria Suites hotel is nearly ready to open, as well. A second tower will eventually be built on the remaining half of the municipal parking lot in front of the Regal Rockville theater.