Chocolate Moonshine relocating at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

There have been rumors among employees in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall recently that a chocolate shop would be filling the vacant 7-Eleven space. But signage just installed over the storefront indicates it's existing tenant Chocolate Moonshine that will be replacing the short-lived convenience store. Chocolate Moonshine abruptly closed in its current spot earlier this month, but now it turns out it won't be leaving the mall after all. 

Chocolate Moonshine's existing location, as
seen closed during business hours on April 7

This isn't the first time Chocolate Moonshine has closed for a spell at the mall without explanation. But it's managed to survive longer than many other tenants; in fact, it is nearing a decade in business here, a major accomplishment in business-hostile Montgomery County. The gluten-free, organic chocolatier first opened at Montgomery Mall in October 2016.

J.Crew preps for move at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

J.Crew is making a short move at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The popular fashion brand will move across the hall to a new space between Intimissimi and Arhaus on Level 1. It appears to be smaller than the existing location. That's still a better deal than J.Crew's employees got at their Westfield San Francisco Centre location, which has permanently closed in recent weeks. At Montgomery Mall, J.Crew will open in the new space this summer, according to the signage posted across it.

Donutchew bites promotion at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Donutchew has managed to survive for three months in a kiosk where multiple tenants have failed in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. As a result, it is getting promoted to a larger, legitimate food court space. "Coming soon" signage has been posted at the new corner location. The mochi donut chain has found similar success with its Rio Lakefront location in Gaithersburg.

Cutculture Barbershop moves to Ritchie Center in Rockville

Cutculture Barbershop is relocating in Rockville. It is moving from its previous location at 620 Hungerford Drive to the Ritchie Center. The shop's new address is 765-L Rockville Pike. Cutculture has built a loyal following over the last year, with high scores from clients on Yelp (4.5 stars out of 5) and Google (4.8 stars). 

Melashops to relocate next month at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Melashops just can't settle down. The store made a big move downcounty from Lakeforest Mall in April to this space across from Urban Outfitters on Level 1 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Now Melashops will make another move October 1, but one measured in yards rather than miles this time. It will fill the space vacated by Mulier across from Forever 21, also on Level 1. Melashops fills a unique niche in Montgomery County fashion retail, carrying apparel, jewelry, and accessories from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Afghanistan, and more.

Rockville Chuck E. Cheese moving to White Flint Plaza (Photos)

Chuck E. Cheese is relocating in White Flint. It will be moving from Loehmann's Plaza over to White Flint Plaza at 5238 Nicholson Lane. A new address and new logo won't be the only changes, however.

The pizza chain and birthday party headquarters is updating all of its locations to add an "interactive dance floor," where live concerts with Chuck and and other characters will take place every half hour. Other updates include Pass & Play bands instead of the iconic tokens, E-tickets replacing paper tickets, touchless payment options like Google Play and Apple Pay, self-service kiosks and mobile table ordering.

Signage has been installed at the new location. Chuck E. Cheese has also been added to the White Flint Plaza tenant sign out front. Here's a look at the construction inside the future location, and a last look at the current Chuck E. Cheese at Loehmann's Plaza:

Lush to relocate at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The game of tenant musical chairs continues at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Anya by Vivien just moved downstairs outside of Nordstrom. Now Lush is preparing to move into that vacant space. The cosmetics retailer is currently located outside Nordstrom on Level 2.

Anya by Vivien relocating at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The latest player in the game of musical chairs at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda is the Anya by Vivien boutique. In July 2023, it will be relocating from its Level 2 location down to Level 1, outside of Nordstrom. Anya by Vivien is a bridal and couture gown boutique. The small business was founded a decade ago. Designer Vivien Agbakoba creates formal gowns inspired by her Nigerian heritage, Western asymmetry, and European couture, and her designs have been worn by local celebrities on area and national television, such as The Real Housewives of Potomac.

Luggage Plus relocating at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Luggage Plus is the latest tenant of Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda to enter the game of musical chairs. It will be moving from its current location outside of Nordstrom on Level 1. The new space will be on Level 2, next to Ricky Alessandro. Signage has been installed outside the new location, but as you can see here, the process of moving has just begun. Luggage Plus is the traveler's destination for the travel items and accessories you need, and the luggage to carry them in.

Japong Bakery grand-reopening delayed in Rockville

Japong Bakery is relocating in the Ritchie Center to 765-A Rockville Pike. However, the grand reopening that has been scheduled for May 10, 2023 is being postponed. The bakery is now expected to reopen on June 1, due to "unforeseen circumstances." It will be worth the wait for a Japong Bakery cream puff!

Liljenquist & Beckstead to relocate inside Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Liljenquist & Beckstead will be relocating inside Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this summer. It's a move that will be measured in inches, as their new location will be right next to their current one on Level 2. Store manager Mohammad Khan says it will be a brand new showroom, not an expansion of the existing one. Renderings of the new showroom have just been posted on the future storefront. 

Liljenquist & Beckstead was founded in 1978 by Tom Liljenquist, President, and Sidney Beckstead, Vice President. It has four locations in the region, including their flagship store in Tysons. Liljenquist & Beckstead is an authorized retailer for Rolex sales and repairs, as well as several other luxury watch brands.

Japong Bakery moving in Rockville

Japong Bakery is relocating at the Ritchie Center in Rockville. The Asian bakery known for its specialty cream puffs will be staying at the shopping center, moving from 785-I Rockville Pike to 765-A Rockville Pike. However, the bakery will be temporarily closed from April 17, 2023 to May 9, 2023 while it makes the transition. The grand reopening of the bakery is scheduled for May 10.

Melashops moving to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Melashops is moving from Gaithersburg to Bethesda. The fashion market has closed its Lakeforest Mall store, as the mall itself is closing March 31, 2023 and is in its final days. On April 1, Melashops will open at its new home, Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Melashops carries apparel, jewelry, and accessories from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Afghanistan, and more. Look for Melashops on Level 1 across from Urban Outfitters.

Lush temporarily closed at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Lush is temporarily closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The cruelty-free cosmetics boutique is in the process of relocating inside the mall, according to a sign posted on the door. It seems like another round of post-holiday-season musical chairs is underway at the mall. Swarovski is among the tenants swapping spaces.

Choice Hotels to move headquarters out of City of Rockville to Pike & Rose

Less than a decade after moving its corporate headquarters from Silver Spring to Rockville Town Center, Choice Hotels International is leaving the city. The hospitality firm, which has been located in Montgomery County since 1968, will move outside the city limits to unincorporated Rockville at the Pike & Rose development. 

Choice will move its operations into a new, 16-story office tower at 915 Meeting Street at the Federal Realty-owned development. It will take the place of an existing surface parking lot. The firm will occupy more than 105,000 square feet in the building, a downsizing of 25,000 SF from its current Rockville headquarters. 

The move is shocking, as there was no public indication that Choice was seeking to relocate so soon after building out a state-of-the-art headquarters at 1 Choice Hotels Circle in 2013. Less than ten years ago, the City of Rockville, Montgomery County and Maryland awarded the company $4.3 million in loans and grants, among other concessions, to keep Choice from joining the many companies that have fled the county and state over the last two decades.

Fortunately, the County has at least managed to retain the firm again. Unlike other corporate leaders who have passed on Montgomery County, Choice chair Stewart Bainum is politically-aligned with local and state Democratic leaders to the extent that he is willing to forgo tax savings to stay in the county. Bainum has recently sought to invest his own money to rescue the Baltimore Sun, a favorite newspaper of Democratic politicians statewide that is in danger of falling prey to a private investment firm. He himself has served in the Maryland General Assembly, and is very active in the community.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R)

"It is tremendous news that Choice Hotels is opening a new headquarters in North Bethesda, reaffirming its commitment to our state and retaining hundreds of jobs here for years to come," Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) said in a statement Monday. "The company has been an outstanding corporate citizen in the community, and we look forward to their continued success here in Maryland and around the world."

Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz

"Choice Hotels has been an important member of Maryland's tourism industry for more than 50 years and we were very pleased to work with them on the decision for a new headquarters," Maryland Commerce Secretary and Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly M. Schulz added. "This new location will give a world-class company like Choice Hotels a number of attractive advantages that are so critical to companies today, including proximity to public transportation and a variety of retail, dining and wellness options."

The move further underlines that moribund Montgomery County's economic development victories have been few and  hollow over the last quarter century. No major corporation has relocated its headquarters to Montgomery County in over 25 years. Many of the few that were here have left. County politicians have been reduced to celebrating the relocation of HQs that are already here, such as Marriott moving from North Bethesda to downtown Bethesda, and now Choice from Rockville to "Rockville," a.k.a. North Bethesda. Rather than advancing the ball, this is largely a case of rearranging the furniture on the deck of the Titanic.

Nevertheless, this is a huge win for Federal Realty. Not only does Pike & Rose now gain the cachet of a major corporate headquarters at the expense of rival Foulger Pratt, but all those incoming employees represent new lunch and happy hour customers for the many restaurants at the development. "We are thrilled to welcome Choice Hotels to the growing list of world-class organizations that call Pike & Rose home," Federal Realty CEO Donald Wood said yesterday. "Choice's focus on employee well-being make 915 Meeting Street and the Pike & Rose neighborhood the perfect fit. Its associates will have unparalleled access to state-of-the-art architecture that incorporates the latest wellness features and a thoughtfully curated merchandising mix all within an authentic, vibrant neighborhood with excellent regional access."

Photo courtesy Choice Hotels International

Barnes & Noble sets opening date for Congressional Plaza store in Rockville

Books arriving on shelves

at relocating store

Last week the Nook e-readers arrived at the new Barnes & Noble at Congressional Plaza on Rockville Pike. This weekend, books began being put on the shelves. The Starbucks BN Cafe is ready, and now I have the opening date for the store: Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Barnes & Noble is relocating here from Montrose Crossing down the Pike.

CORE closes at Montgomery Mall, Victoria's Secret moving

CORE is no more

Upscale urban apparel retailer CORE continues its on-again, off-again relationship with Westfield Montgomery Mall. After a two-year run from 2015-2017, the store closed, only to return last March on Level 1 in the Nordstrom wing. But Sunday, CORE had closed again after exactly one year. There had been signs over the last week that they were shutting down, but now it's official.

Victoria's Secret is on the move

Victoria's Secret and former CEO Les Wexner indeed have their share of secrets. We might be on to their destination in their move at Montgomery Mall, however. There are "signs" that a sign is being installed over a Level 1 space recently vacated by a furniture store.

If only the Les Wexner-Jeffrey Epstein
story was this easy to figure out