Ansel apartments, retail spaces now leasing in Rockville

Leasing has begun for the residential apartment units and retail spaces at the Ansel in Rockville Town Center. The Duball, LLC-developed property is nearing completion at 33 Monroe Street. Prospective apartment renters can begin the process on the official Ansel website. Next Realty is marketing the retail spaces in the ground floor of the building, all of which are currently available.

Real estate firm touts Rockville bank building as prime spot for restaurant tenant

Virginia-based real estate firm KNLB is marketing a former bank building in Rockville as a potential location for a restaurant. Currently for lease, the 3200 square foot bank structure is in the Traville Village Center, at 9700-9761 Traville Gateway Drive. Renderings prepared by KNLB give a sense of what a bank-to-restaurant conversion might look like.

Ritchie Center pad site available for lease on Rockville Pike

Here's an interesting development at the Ritchie Center. The retro-design brick building at 795 Rockville Pike could be torn down to make way for a new retail use, based on a new for-lease listing. Rather than touting the building for lease, it is offering the pad site land itself, a 6970 SF parcel.

This would be a great location for a new fast food restaurant with drive-thru - excellent visibility and vehicular access. We need a Hardee's, Steak 'N Shake, or Jack in the Box quite badly.

Map courtesy NAI Michael

77 Upper Rock retains Transwestern to handle leasing, property management

DSC Partners has retained real estate giant Transwestern to handle leasing and property management of their 77 Upper Rock office building. The 232282 SF building, constructed in 2005, is currently vacant but available for immediate occupancy. New owner DSC, led by former First Potomac execs Doug Donatelli and Nick Smith, plans to revitalize the building by adding contemporary fitness facilities, conference rooms, tenant common areas, green space and other tenant amenities.

In addition to the upgrades, DSC is also wagering that the transformation underway in the Upper Rock area will make the LEED Silver certified office building more appealing to prospective tenants. Coming soon within a block of 77 Upper Rock will be MOM's Organic Market, and Cava Grill, among other retail and dining options. It's a commendable move in a time when many other developers are converting existing or planned office space in Rockville to residential, forcing more Rockville residents to drive into D.C. and Northern Virginia to employment.

Flats at Shady Grove apartments now leasing in Rockville (Photos)

The new Flats at Shady Grove apartments at 1380 Piccard Drive have begun leasing. Converted from a former hotel, the apartments are located right off of I-270 near the Shady Grove exit. More than 200 units are being offered at rents developer Kettler says undercut market prices in the surrounding area.

Amenities include two courtyards, a large outdoor pool, a clubhouse with free WiFi, 24-hour emergency maintenance, pet salon, billiard and movie rooms, and complimentary coffee or tea.

Signs are inviting drivers to visit the building's leasing office, as the finishing touches are put on the renovated building.

Rockville funeral home to get new life - as retail (Photos)

The Danzansky-Goldberg Memorial Chapel has been a fixture at 1170 Rockville Pike, but closed in December. It hasn't moved far at all, merging with another local name, Sagel Bloomfield, in a new facility directly across the street in the Talbott Center.

Interestingly, the new facility doesn't have a chapel at all, relying on either services at local synagogues or graveside services.

Musicians like me will remember the left side of this retail center as Veneman Music, or "Veneman's." That store eventually moved to Twinbrook Parkway, and eventually was replaced by Guitar Center. Now it is occupied by Bassett Furniture, and the facade is totally different.

Now the funeral home side of the building is getting a full renovation, and will be marketed for lease as several retail units by KLNB Retail. Work appears to be getting started, and here are some renderings of what the new storefronts - on three levels - will look like.

Renderings courtesy KLNB Retail
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Kam Sam Supermarket space for lease after closing in Rockville (Photos)

Kam Sam, a popular Chinese supermarket at 300 N. Washington Street, has been closed for some time. The owners retired just as Rockville is becoming recognized as being home to the region's new Chinatown, including 4 new Asian-owned businesses on N. Washington and a second Asian supermarket nearby on Rockville Pike.

Now the 9500 SF former store is cleared out, and available for lease.

The epic story of Zhang restaurant ends on Rockville Pike (Photos)

It was December 30, 2013, when I first reported Zhang Asian Cuisine was taking over the former Chicken Out space at 1560 Rockville Pike. Signage was installed by June 2014. But then...nothing.

"What's going on with Zhang?" readers have asked. The restaurant's prominent location on the Pike, and roadside sign, drew a lot of curiosity. But for the last year, the space has been dark and occupied every time I went past.

Now, the signs are suddenly gone, and the space is for lease again by Saul Centers. It's always possible the owner(s) will open the restaurant elsewhere, but it appears the Zhang story at 1560 has ended for now.

Cloud 9 closes in Rockville Town Square (Photos)

Cloud 9, a clothing boutique at 130-B Gibbs Street, has closed at Rockville Town Square. The space is now for lease, but is currently being utilized by neighbor VisArts as classroom space. That is the reason you may notice there are artworks prominently displayed in the storefront windows.

Cloud 9, with apparel considered by many to be in the style of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, still has stores in Towson and Baltimore.