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.

Gourmet Bazaar to open in new Rockville location

Gourmet Bazaar is preparing to move into a new space in Rockville. The Persian deli and grocery store, which features products from the Middle East and Europe, will be located at 736-A Rockville Pike, near Rockville Printing and Graphics. Gourmet Bazaar's existing store is still open at 1321-A Rockville Pike at Woodmont Station.

Amazon Fresh Rockville construction update (Photos)

We're getting our first look inside the future Amazon Fresh grocery store at 15790 Shady Grove Road in the 270 Center, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. Some of the window coverings and barricades have been removed, allowing a closer view. This will be the second Amazon Fresh store to open in Montgomery County; the first is in Friendship Heights.

Ebisu Life Store opens in Rockville (Photos)

Ebisu Life Store has opened at 836 Rockville Pike. This is the third location in the United States for this Japanese grocery chain, following New York City and Aurora, Colorado. Large anime figures watch over the store, which also carries kitchen, home, health and beauty products from Japan. A very welcome addition to retail on the Pike!

Aria Halal Supermarket opening in Rockville

Aria Halal Supermarket will open later this year at 811 Hungerford Drive at Saah Plaza in Rockville. It will be in the former Ranger Surplus store space at the shopping center. This is a block north of the Flagship carwash. As you can see in the photo below, construction has begun on the interior of the store.

White Flint Aldi store opens today (Photos)

Montgomery County's newest Aldi grocery store opens today, February 24, 2022 at 5110 Nicholson Lane in the White Flint Plaza shopping center. It replaces Shoppers Food Warehouse there, and is not far from the existing Rockville Aldi store at Congressional Plaza. Yesterday, workers were making final preparations for today's grand opening: 

Signage installed at Ebisu Life Store in Rockville (Photos)

Permanent signage has been installed at the future Ebisu Life Store at 836 Rockville Pike. The Japanese grocery store is currently hiring staff. Last night, both signs were lit. Interior fit-out of the store is still a work-in-progress, however, as there is no shelving, merchandise, or checkout counter yet. When it does open, it promises to be one of the most interesting retail additions to the Pike yet.

Assault at Rockville grocery store on Christmas

Now that's not the Christmas spirit! Rockville police were called to a grocery store Christmas Day after an individual reported being the victim of an aggravated assault. The incident was reported at a supermarket in the 600 block of Hungerford Drive at 2:06 PM, according to crime data. There is a Giant store on that block.

Rockville Amazon Fresh construction update (Photos)

If you're just looking from the outside, nothing much appears to have been done at the future Amazon Fresh at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road in recent weeks. The most visible change is fresh asphalt and line striping on the parking lot in front of the store. But inside, installation of complex wiring, cameras and sensor equipment is being performed, a process that is quite time-consuming for an Amazon grocery store with automatic checkout functions. It can't even be ruled out that they might employ Just Walk Out technology at this store, as they mean for that checkout system to replace the Dash Cart across all Amazon Fresh locations eventually. In addition to the Friendship Heights store, another Montgomery County Amazon Fresh has been confirmed for the Chevy Chase Lake development.

Japanese supermarket Ebisu Life Store opening in Rockville

Ebisu Life Store, a Japanese supermarket chain, will open a new location in Rockville at 836 Rockville Pike. This space was formerly home to Shah & Patel Grocery, and is next door to Mattress Frame. Ebisu Life Store has existing locations in New York City and Aurora, Colorado. In addition to imported groceries and snacks, the store will also carry health and beauty products and other goods from Japan.

Amazon Fresh Rockville store update (Photos)

Here's a look at the latest progress on the future Amazon Fresh grocery store in the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road. I'm still the only media outlet that has been able to authoritatively confirm this will be an Amazon Fresh store, way back in September 2020. Amazon has publicly remained silent on this location so far, and rebuffed all media requests. The exterior is nearing completion, but the Chevy Chase store proved that installation of all the wiring for the electronics in the store is a lengthier process than for your typical supermarket.

Rockville Amazon Fresh grocery store construction update (Photos)

The future Amazon Fresh grocery store at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road is now beginning to display some of the brand's trademark architectural details. For example, the vertical green lines on the edge of the canopy on the storefront have been applied. The roofline with large central panel is also visible. We're also getting a better look at those proprietary front windows across the front facade.

Rockville Amazon Fresh store update (Photos)

Amazon Fresh store under construction
at the Collection at Chevy Chase

Here's a look at the progress on two Amazon Fresh grocery stores in Montgomery County. The store at the Collection at Chevy Chase in Friendship Heights is nearing the finish line. In contrast, the sound of the starting gun is still echoing at the second Amazon Fresh store at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road, on the Rockville/Gaithersburg border. 

Chevy Chase

Both locations are massive makeovers of buildings that already hosted retail stores; a Giant in Chevy Chase, and an Office Depot at 270 Center. A lot of work recently at the Chevy Chase location has been the complex wiring that will govern the high-tech shopping and checkout experience. At 270 Center, work so far has been gutting the Office Depot, and boarding up all of the entryways and most window openings.

Shady Grove Road 270 Center