Shady Grove Road, Chevy Chase Lake Amazon Fresh stores to offer Just Walk Out technology

The future Amazon Fresh grocery stores at Chevy Chase Lake and on Shady Grove Road on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg will feature the Just Walk Out payment technology, an Amazon spokesperson said. That system allows the shopper to scan an in-store QR code on their Amazon app, or insert a credit or debit card, to open the Just Walk Out gates upon entering the store. Everything put in and out of the shopping cart will automatically be tabulated as the shopper travels through the store. To check out, the customer simply scans their app, or inserts the same card, to exit the store.

Shady Grove Road at 270 Center

Shady Grove is the closest to opening, and work is far along at the Chevy Chase Lake store, but the Amazon spokesperson said there are no official opening dates set for either location. As you can see, the sign is now up at the Shady Grove store in the 270 Center. If you look at the interior photos, you'll notice many sensors and cameras hanging from the ceiling. You'll also notice the shelves are not stocked yet.

Three Amazon Fresh stores are in the process of opening across the river in Northern Virginia, and also offer the Just Walk Out shopping experience. The Manasssas store opened last week at 7807 Sudley Road. Lorton's Amazon Fresh will open June 23 at 9409 Lorton Market Street. A third store in Arlington will be opening soon at 1550 Crystal Drive. All Amazon Fresh stores offer a $15.50-an-hour starting wage, and donate surplus food to local food banks in each jurisdiction.

Rockville Wegmans construction update (Photos)

They're still constructing the underground parking garage at the future site of the Twinbrook Quarter Wegmans grocery store in Rockville, at the corner of Rockville Pike and Halpine Road. The 80,000 square foot supermarket will be the retail anchor for Phase 1 of the B.F. Saul development. Phase 1 will also include 450 luxury apartment units, a rooftop sundeck, a full-size resort pool, 24 hour concierge desk, 25000 square feet of additional retail and restaurant space, a game room, a chef's kitchen, and a "state-of-the-art" fitness center. 

Rockville Metro station paving will temporarily relocate these bus stops

Construction and paving at the Rockville Metro station from May 31 to June 6, 2022 will require the temporary relocation of many bus stops at the transit hub. Wayfinding signage will be posted at the station to assist riders in finding their bus stop. The following routes will be affected:

RIDE ON

• Route 44. Destination: Twinbrook. Temporary bus stop: T1.
• Route 45. Destination: Rockville Regional Transit Center and Twinbrook. Temporary bus stop: D (eastside).
• Route 46. Destination: Montgomery College and Medical Center Way. Temporary bus stop: T1.
• Route 47. Destination: Bethesda. Temporary bus stop: T1.
• Route 48. Destination: Wheaton. Temporary bus stop: B (eastside).
• Route 49. Destination: Glenmont. Temporary bus stop: B (eastside).
• Route 52: Destination: Montgomery General Hospital. Temporary bus stop: D (eastside).
• Route 54. Destination: Lakeforest Transit Center. Temporary bus stop: T2.
• Route 55. Destination: Germantown. Temporary bus stop: C (eastside).
• Route 56. Destination: Lakeforest Transit Center. Temporary bus stop: T2.
• Route 59. Montgomery Village. Temporary bus stop: C (eastside).
• Route 63. Destination: Shady Grove. Temporary bus stop: T1.
• Route 81. Destination: White Flint. Temporary bus stop: T1.
• Route 101. Destination: Medical Center. Temporary bus stop: T3.
• Route 101. Destination: Lakeforest. Temporary bus stop: G.
• Route 301. Destination: Tobytown. Temporary bus stop: D (eastside).
• Flex Rockville. On Demand Service. Temporary bus stop: T1.   

METROBUS

• Routes Q1, Q2, Q5, Q6. Destination: Shady Grove. Temporary bus stop: G.
• Routes Q1, Q2, Q4. Destination: Silver Spring. Temporary bus stop: A (eastside).
• Routes Q5, Q6. Destination: Wheaton. Temporary bus stop: A (eastside).
• Route T2. Destination: Friendship Heights. Temporary bus stop: A (eastside).
• Ride On bus remains free to ride until July 2, 2022 when fares will be $1

Rockville LensCrafters store opening soon

The sign is up at the future LensCrafters location at 901 Rose Avenue at the Pike & Rose development in Rockville. Last night, it was already lit. The eyewear retailer had planned an April 4 opening for this store, but that date came and went. LensCrafters will soon square off against competitor Warby Parker, which is also opening a store at Pike & Rose this year. 

Rockville bank-to-Dunkin' Donuts conversion advancing (Photos)

A vacant drive-thru bank branch at 16268 Frederick Road in Rockville is rapidly becoming a new Dunkin' Donuts store. As you can see in these photos, the drive-thru's canopy and parts of the bank building itself are now sporting Dunkin' colors. The current Dunkin' Donuts shop at 16220 Frederick will relocate into this building when the conversion is complete. Almost "time to make the donuts" at this new store, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg.

Horizon Therapeutics-leased life sciences building under construction in Rockville (Photos)

A new 10-story, 200,000 square foot life sciences facility called Alexandria Center is now under construction at 9810 Darnestown Road in Rockville. Delivery of the building is expected in 2023. Horizon Therapeutics, an Irish biotech firm, has signed a full-building lease for the property. It plans to use the new space as its primary U.S. East Coast research & development and technical operations hub. Interior fit-out for Horizon will begin once the building is ready for occupancy next year. 

“I am thrilled that Horizon Therapeutics has decided to call Montgomery County home for their East Coast research and development hub,” Montgomery County Executive, Marc Elrich said in a statement released by Horizon. “The mission and work of Horizon make them a natural fit for Montgomery County, and we stand ready to make them feel welcome in Rockville. Horizon’s move to the county is another point to show that Montgomery County is the home for life sciences in the region, and we are excited to continue our work to bring more companies of Horizon’s caliber to the region.”

Signage installed at South Block in Rockville

The sign is up at the future location of South Block at 11803 Grand Park Avenue, at Pike & Rose. A local, DC-area chain, South Block specializes in smoothies, acai bowls, fresh-pressed juices, and avocado or banana toast. This will be their first Maryland location when it opens.

Rockville Amazon Fresh construction update (Photos)

The Amazon Fresh grocery store continues to move closer to opening at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. Shelving, refrigerator cases and displays are being put into place inside. Out in the parking lot, you can see a cart return structure has been erected. Ever-secretive Amazon still hasn't publicly acknowledged this store exists; it was 19 months ago that I broke the news of the tech giant's plans to convert this office supply store into an Amazon Fresh.

Rockville Wegmans construction update (Video+Photos)

Here is the latest update from the construction site of the future Rockville Wegmans store and Phase 1 of the Twinbrook Quarter development at the corner of Rockville Pike and Halpine Road. Remember these photos when you are driving among the concrete pillars in the underground parking garage below the store in a few years, because that's where the action is at the moment here. 

It's interesting to see in the video below the methods used to reduce dust and debris from spilling out beyond the construction site, when the dump trucks haul away soil and rocks. First the truck drives onto rollers to dislodge debris from the tires, and then a tarp is placed over the bed. The completed Wegmans will be 80,000 square feet in size, with apartments and office space above it.