Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The first chill of fall is in the air. That means two things: it's time to buy warm clothes, and the holiday shopping season is rapidly approaching. One herald of both is the annual arrival of Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Just seeing the store back at the mall gives a warm feeling to those who can't wait for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Nordstrom Rack sets opening date in Rockville

The new Nordstrom Rack store in Rockville now has an opening date. It will open on October 29, 2026 at 1683 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza, according to signage in the window. What is the difference between Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall and Nordstrom Rack? Nordstrom Rack sells some overstock, clearance, and past-season items from the "real" Nordstrom. So this means that you actually are going to be able to find a significant number of Nordstrom-quality products by top labels at great savings at Nordstrom Rack. 

However, Nordstrom Rack also carries items specifically designed and manufactured for Nordstrom Rack. These are essentially going to be pieces that look like what you expect to see in the higher-end Nordstrom department store, but that might be made with a lower-cost material. You can quickly identify apparel made for Nordstrom Rack by checking the tag, which will say... Nordstrom Rack, not surprisingly.

You won't have the department store Nordstrom services like personal shoppers and alterations at Nordstrom Rack. And there won't be a cafe or somebody tinkling away on a grand piano. But bargain hunters won't mind, as they search for and score deals on items that might have been out of their price range at the department store a season ago. Holiday shoppers: Start your engines!

The Korean Dessert Fruit Ice Cream opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The Korean Dessert Fruit Ice Cream is opening at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is a freestanding kiosk located on Level 2 near Snipes in the Macy's Home wing. It will be serving fruit-shaped ice cream with a thin shell coating on the outside. Considered a viral dessert on TikTok some time ago, it is now arriving at the mall.

Bogotá Coffee House opening Thursday in Rockville

Bogotá Coffee House will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 115 N. Washington Street in Rockville. The new coffee shop will not only serve Colombian coffee, but its decor will ensure you feel like you've been transported to that nation's capital. Operating hours will be 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, seven days a week. Here's a sneak peek inside:

Soccer jersey kiosk opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

If you have soccer fans on your holiday shopping list, there's a new destination for you at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A kiosk selling international soccer jerseys has opened. Uniform tops for Jude Bellingham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cole Palmer, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé are among those available. Look for the kiosk on Level 1 near Carter's and the future PacSun, in the Old Navy wing of the mall.

MangoLina opening September 14 in Rockville

MangoLina has set an opening date for its new Rockville location. The dessert truck will begin serving customers this coming Monday, September 14, 2026. It is located at the Shell gas station at 2240 Veirs Mill Road. Opening time Monday will be 1:00 PM.

Always Ice Cream "coming soon" to Rockville

Always Ice Cream is coming soon to Rockville Pike, according to signage posted in its future storefront. It will be located at 11802 Rockville Pike at Pike & Rose. The Maryland-based chain manufactures over 250 handcrafted flavors in the state, but has attracted the attention of national media. Always Ice Cream is expected to open this fall. Most of its scoop shops are located in the Annapolis area, but the brand is now expanding into Montgomery and Charles counties.

Just Salad opening in Rockville

Just Salad is "coming soon" to Rockville, according to signage posted in the windows of its future storefront. It will be located at 12242 Rockville Pike, right next to the recently-opened Wonder food hall. The fast-casual salad restaurant is the latest dining addition at the revitalized Towne Plaza development. Reusable bowls and a large number of plant-based alternatives to meat (the real thing is also still available at Just Salad, though) are part of what the chain calls "Earth-friendly" dining. Another location is "just down the Pike" in the Residences at Mazza in Friendship Heights NW.

Kareem's Lebanese Kitchen opens in Gaithersburg

Kareem's Lebanese Kitchen opened with a ribbon-cutting yesterday at 212 Boardwalk Place at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. The dining room was packed this evening. Specialties include fresh breads, handmade mezze, Lamb Mouzat, Farrouj, and Kareem's signature hummus, which is prepared from scratch in a three-day process. 

"I'm proud to bring Kareem's to Maryland and share the food, traditions and hospitality that have been part of my family for generations," Chef Rachid Eido said in a statement. "Lebanese hospitality is about more than serving a meal. It is about opening your table, sharing generously and making people feel like they belong. That is what we want every guest to experience when they come to Kareem's."

Hong Kong Tea House opening in Rockville

Hong Kong Tea House is coming soon to Rockville. It will be located at 605 Hungerford Drive (MD 355). At Hong Kong Tea House, patrons will "indulge in Hong Kong's sweetest secrets," the local chain promises. Specialties include handcrafted milk teas, fruit teas, Vietnamese coffees, smoothies, desserts, and a wide selection of authentic Chinese street foods from a variety of regions. Hong Kong Tea House is currently hiring cooks, baristas, and assistant managers. 

Sheetz opens at Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg

Sheetz is now open at 793 S. Frederick Avenue (MD 355) at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. This is the second Montgomery County location for the convenience store and mega gas station chain. The store model used in the County is smaller than the ones I've been in on the road elsewhere. Sheetz expedited development of this second Gaithersburg location after the first, at 751 Progress Way, quickly proved to be a financial success. This one is convenient to the Rockville and Derwood areas.

Pop Mart opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Pop Mart has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The blind bag and stuffed-labubu toymaker previously tested a vending machine at the mall to gauge interest. That experiment was clearly a success, as the Chinese brand is now returning with a permanent storefront. Look for Pop Mart on Level 1 of the mall, next to Bath & Body Works.

Bogotá Coffee House opening in Rockville

Bogotá Coffee House is coming to Rockville Town Center. It will be located at 115 N. Washington Street. Permanent signage has already been installed above the storefront. When you think of coffee, Colombia automatically comes to mind, so this could be a promising alternative to Starbucks in the Town Center area.

Ay! Mama Taqueria opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Ay! Mama Taqueria has officially opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. You can check out the menu in the photos below. If you are shaken up by $20 burritos, you'll be relieved that Ay! Mama's burritos are $13-14. Look for Ay! Mama in the Dining Terrace food court, next to Chick-Fil-A.

Ay! Mama Taqueria opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Ay! Mama Taqueria is heading west. It will be located inside Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The taqueria has leased a space in the Dining Terrace food court, right by Chick-fil-A. Ay! Mama started as a tenant inside the ill-fated Solaire Social food hall, which abruptly closed last fall, evicting all tenants. A true family business, Ay! Mama is best known for their rich birria recipe, as well as their fresh corn chips and breakfast menu.

Fashion Q returning to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Red alert! Fashion Q is making a triumphant return to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Los Angeles-based fashion wholesaler closed almost exactly one year ago at the mall, after less than a year in business, a victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy. Now they're giving it another go, this time in the former Forever 21 space on Level 1, across from Build-A-Bear. 

Fashion Q traces its roots back to the 1980s. It chose its "Q" logo because a one-letter sign was cheaper than using the whole brand name. The cost savings extend to its merchandise, which is purchased wholesale here and abroad.

iSmash rage room "coming soon" to Rockville

iSmash rage room is "coming soon" to Rockville, according to signage posted in the windows of its future storefront at 36-C Maryland Avenue, at The Square at Rockville. Designed to let patrons blow off steam in a controlled, safe environment, iSmash also accommodates date nights, group events, and team-building exercises. "We’re building something Rockville hasn’t seen before…and trust us, it’ll be worth the wait," iSmash Rockville posted on their Facebook page earlier this month. Stay tuned for an opening date.

Gorjana opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Gorjana has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A midsummer opening is perfect timing for this Laguna Beach-inspired jewelry boutique, even if you're more likely to be sporting pieces from your Gorjana haul at O.C., rather than in The O.C. New additions for this summer include scallop earrings, the Scallop Padlock Bay Necklace, and the 18K gold plated Crab Single Stud earring, all at surprisingly reasonable prices. Look for Gorjana on Level 1 of the mall, next to Sunglass Hut in the Nordstrom wing.