Two Story Chimney Ciderworks to close in Gaithersburg

Two Story Chimney Ciderworks at 7115 Damascus Road in Gaithersburg will permanently close before Christmas, the distillery announced on social media. "We have been so blessed to be a part of this community and so many people’s lives," the post said. "The friendships and bonds will always be cherished. It is time we trade the early morning markets and late night tasting rooms in for time with our family. Our last day will be December 21. Stop in before the end of the year and share some stories and memories."

Lands' End closing in Rockville

Lands' End is closing at 1667 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville, according to signage posted at the store. A closing sale is underway. The store has been open for about six years, and will be the loss of another big brand name on the Pike.

However, the Montgomery County Council probably isn't the culprit this time. A familiar villain is behind the Lands' End curtain: Fast Eddie Lampert. Yep, the same Fast Eddie Lampert who sucked all the money out of Sears and Kmart before running those American institutions into the ground. He bought another solid American brand in Lands' End, and now he wants to cash out once again. Lampert, the majority shareholder in the apparel company, has exhorted the corporate board to find a cash buyer as soon as possible.

Buffalo Wild Wings closing at The Square at Rockville

Buffalo Wild Wings will close next month at The Square at Rockville, formerly known as Rockville Town Square, according to employees at the restaurant. The sports bar-style chicken wing spot has been removed from the development's leasing map, and its space is now listed as "available." No reason for the closure has been announced yet, but I noticed that the dining room was closed one night last week, and patrons were being seated at the bar only. That could reflect a staffing issue - or employees may be dropping off after learning they won't have a job much longer. The dining room was open as usual the next night I checked.

BWW also seems to be focused on its new GO restaurant concept, with a streamlined menu and emphasis on takeout and delivery orders, that reduces overhead on inventory and staff size. One of those is now open "up the Pike" at the Rock Grove shopping center. The closure of Buffalo Wild Wings was first reported by The MoCo Show.

Bobby Furniture closing in Gaithersburg

 

2025 has been a bad year for some furniture stores in Montgomery County. One of the biggest regional names, Marlo Furniture, closed its Rockville showroom. Now Bobby Furniture has announced it will be closing its store at 317 Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg. A closing sale is underway at all three of its Montgomery County locations, including the two that aren't closing, in Montgomery Village and Germantown. However, the company is not specifying the percentage you'll be saving over the regular price, so you may want to call ahead if you have a specific piece of furniture in mind, to inquire about the price and avoid making a long trip that ends in disappointment.

Marlo Furniture confirms it is closing in Rockville

I reported back in July that Marlo Furniture's showroom space at 725 Rockville Pike was being marketed for lease. Images in the marketing materials at that time showed Marlo's logos removed from the building. Now the furniture retailer has made it official: The Rockville store is closing. In fact, after 70 years in business, Marlo is closing all of its stores.

The chain hasn't continually been run by the same people over those 7 decades, however. Marlo was acquired by Regency Furniture in 2012. Regency continued to operate some of the stronger Marlo locations under the Marlo name through this year. A liquidation sale - which Marlo is referring to as its "final Labor Day sale ever - is now underway.

Claire's closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

It's a sad day in the piercing industry. Claire's is closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A closing sale is underway at the piercing and jewelry boutique. We can't blame the Montgomery County Council or their moribund County economy for this departure. Claire's has filed for bankruptcy, could wind up closing over 1000 locations nationwide. The company hopes to save itself via a sale of 800 other stores to a potential buyer, but if one can't be found, this could be the end of the line. Are they celebrating over at Piercing Pagoda?

Lavande Patisserie to close in Rockville

Montgomery County's moribund economy has claimed yet another victim. Lavande Patisserie at 275-B N. Washington Street in Rockville announced on Facebook that it will be closing. In the post, the bakery said it will close at the end of this month. Those holding gift cards for the business are being encouraged to use them before that time, or to receive a refund for the remaining balance on the card(s). Lavande opened here in 2015.

Harris Teeter closing in Rockville

Harris Teeter is closing its store at 11845 Old Georgetown Road in Rockville. The store will close "on or before July 20, 2025," according to a sign that also promotes a closing sale with prices up to 50% off. This store has been rumored to be one of the lowest-performing in the Harris Teeter chain. It also has fallen victim to Montgomery County's puzzling decision to place a homeless shelter nearby, frequent thefts of merchandise and shopping carts, the general moribundity of the stagnant Montgomery County economy, the County's highest-in-the-region tax and fee burden, and the failed 2010 White Flint sector plan. The recent arrival of a Wegmans just up Rockville Pike was likely the final nail in the HT coffin.

Final 3 days for Forever 21 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

If you want to go on one last shopping spree at Forever 21 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, you'd better hurry. There are only three days left to shop. As you can see from the photos here, inventory is being snapped up at 60-80% off. Shelves near the front door that held store fixtures for sale are bare. Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy, and all of its stores nationwide are expected to close by May 1, 2025.

Merlo Point, De Clichy closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The super-short run for Merlo Point at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda is approaching an end, according to signage at the store, which opened shortly before Christmas. A closing sale is now underway at the local retailer, which carries European-inspired furniture, art, and home decor. Look for Merlo Point on Level 1 of the mall, between Calzedonia and Kickz.

Also exiting soon is De Clichy. The menswear boutique has been around significantly longer than Merlo Point, having opened here in 2022. It, too, is holding a closing sale. Find De Clichy and savings on Level 2, next to LensCrafters.

Forever 21 closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

It started off as an "everything must go" sale, but now the signs have gone up announcing "store closing" at Forever 21 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. What began as a handful of scattered reports about locations like this one has evolved into announcements of hundreds of layoffs and hundreds of store closures nationwide. According to the Los Angeles Times, even the company's corporate headquarters is going to close. As predicted, savings will escalate as the closing sale continues.

Buy Buy Baby's last day in Rockville is Tuesday

Buy Buy Baby is saying Bye Bye to Rockville this week at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza. And this time, it's likely for good. Tuesday, February 25, 2025 will be the last day at this location, and your last chance to take advantage of the closing sale. 

Buy Buy Baby tried closing for good in the summer of 2023, when the oddly-named and unknown New Jersey company Dream on Me acquired the struggling chain, and planned to make it an online-only retail operation. It abruptly changed course that fall, and reopened some of the bricks-and-mortar locations, including this one. 

Closing time tomorrow night will truly be the end of an era, as the very first Buy Buy Baby store in America opened here in Rockville in 1996. You may almost be able to see Tower Records through your tears as you exit the store for the last time. He's reaching for "Crash," but - oh, last minute save! - he's wisely picking up "Pinkerton" instead. Into the yellow bag it goes! Buy Buy!

Wegmans Effect: Rockville Safeway store closing before nearby Wegmans even opens (Photos)

The Rockville Wegmans hasn't even opened yet, and the competition is already starting to move out of town. Safeway at 1800 Rockville Pike is closing, and a closing sale is underway, according to a sign posted at the supermarket. That Safeway is only a couple of blocks south of the future Wegmans store, which is opening later this year at the new Twinbrook Quarter development. Don't expect massive savings, as the closing sale is currently touting only 30%-off "selected merchandise," meaning most of the store's inventory is likely to be transferred to other local Safeways or other Albertsons-owned stores.

This Safeway was so new that there is probably very little nostalgia about the store, compared to the Veirs Mill Road Twinbrook Safeway it replaced last decade. Not only is Wegmans roaring into town, but Montgomery County's crime wave that is entering its fifth year was often in evidence at this Safeway. A number of assaults were reported at the store each of the last few years, in addition to the rampant shoplifting that has plagued nearly all retail businesses in the county this decade. 

When this store closes, there will be two Safeway stores left in Rockville, at the Rock Creek Village Center and at the King Farm Village Center. If you get your prescriptions filled at this store, your file will be transferred to the Rock Creek Village Center Safeway pharmacy at 5510 Norbeck Road.

Aéropostale closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Aéropostale is closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A closing sale is underway, and as of last evening, everything in the store is 70% off, "while supplies last." Aéropostale is the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy. "Everything must go!" and "Closing sale" signs are ubiquitous these days in store windows across the county.

Aéropostale filed for bankruptcy way back in 2016, and closed over 100 stores as part of its reorganization at that time. However, I do not see any news reports online of Aéropostale stores closing elsewhere in the country in recent times. Thus, this appears to be a Montgomery County-specific problem. In Montgomery County, profit margins continue to shrink as taxes, fees, and high energy costs expand. The heavy anchor of a Montgomery County Council that knows nothing about business has dragged another enterprise down to Davy Jones' locker.

Party City closing in Rockville

Party City is closing at 1500 Rockville Pike in Rockville. A closing sale is now underway at the store. Savings range from 10-50% off. Party City is closing all stores nationwide after four decades of operation. An auction will be held for the leases of almost 700 Party City stores next month, the company announced last Friday.

Big Lots closing in Montgomery Village

Big Lots will be closing its last store in Montgomery County. A closing sale is underway at the store at 19142 Montgomery Village Avenue at the Montgomery Village Center. Big Lots is closing all stores after filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. The company has not announced an official closing date for the Montgomery Village store, as it says each store's closure will depend on how quickly it eliminates its inventory.

Trendy Man Italia closing, Peter Mason opens at Montgomery Mall

Two menswear tenants at Westfield Montgomery Mall are headed in opposite directions. Trendy Man Italia is on the way out, and is holding a closing sale. Those signs seen across moribund Montgomery County so often in recent years - "Store Closing," "Everything Must Go!" - are on display at the entrance to the shop. But if you need to suit up for the holidays, don't panic: Peter Mason by Montgomery Custom Tailors is now open on Level 1 in the Old Navy wing of the mall, across from The Cheesecake Factory. 

Buy Buy Baby closing in Rockville

How many times will we have to say bye-bye to Buy Buy Baby? At least once more, according to signage posted at the Buy Buy Baby store at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The company posted a message to customers stating that it is closing its physical stores in a "strategic reset" to focus on internet sales. It's a tough time to be in the baby business, as Americans just aren't having as many babies as they used to.

Walgreens space on Veirs Mill Road available for lease, as chain closes 1200 stores

Walgreens appears to be on the way out at 12222 Veirs Mill Road at the Randolph Crossing shopping center. Its 12000-square-foot end space is being marketed as available for lease by the property owner. This was formerly a Rite Aid store, but was converted to Walgreens when that chain acquired its struggling competitor. Now Walgreens is struggling, and announced earlier this month that it would be closing 1,200 of its stores across America. 

Montgomery Mall toy store's final days mean discounts of 70-90% off

These appear to be the final days of Alex Baby & Toys at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Discounts at the short-lived toy store are now 70-90% off on everything in the store. Everything that's left, I should add, as shelves are growing bare - and when they do, the shelves themselves disappear from the sales floor, as you can see in the pictures below. Not surprisingly, there were plenty of Black Adam toys left. Look for Alex Baby & Toys on Level 1 of the mall in the Old Navy wing.