Mind Games opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Mind Games has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Toronto-based toy store chain sells books, educational toys, and games alongside the conventional popular toys. It also has its own house-brand products. Familiar toy brands stocked include Lego, Funko, Mattel, and Maisto.

Give whoever set up the Funko display at the front of the store extra points for putting Inspector Gadget and Ultraman in that prominent location. Let the mind games begin on Level 1 of the mall, next to Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Claire's opening new location at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Claire's is coming back to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda in a new location. The ubiquitous mall piercing studio and gift shop has "improved our safety and sanitation procedures to give you a safe, clean, and happy piercing," the Illinois-based company says. Claire's will again go head-to-head with arch-rival Banter by Piercing Pagoda at the mall, giving potential customers - and in some cases, their nervous parents - a chance to comparison shop. When it opens, look for Claire's on Level 1 outside of Macy's.

Amazon Fresh Gaithersburg store posts opening date

Amazon has posted the opening date for its Amazon Fresh grocery store at 15790 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. The long-delayed but highly-anticipated store will open at 8:00 AM sharp on August 8, 2024, according to the banner that has just been posted on the storefront. A grand opening of this supermarket has been years in the making, and the process has taken almost as many twists and turns as the 2024 presidential race. 

I broke the story about Amazon's plans way back in September of 2020. More than two years passed before a potential opening date was even hinted at, as Amazon itself kept total secrecy about its plans, even as it completed the interior fit-out of the store. The only public confirmation of the store came when signage was installed on the storefront. Yet, with all shelving in place but empty of merchandise, the company then announced it would be postponing the opening until 2023.

Amazon never stated publicly why it was postponing the opening of the Gaithersburg store, and several others around the country. In February of 2023, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy still wouldn't offer details on that front, beyond citing the impact of the pandemic (which had long been declared "over" by that point, even by the most fervent lockdown proponents at all levels of government, as political winds shifted). But Jassy did promise that the retail giant would "go big" on its push into bricks-and-mortar grocery stores in 2023.

That never happened.

Just two months later, Amazon ordered its expensive lighted signage to be removed from the building at 270 Center. It had hung on the unopened store so long that it had already been vandalized. The store was now officially canceled. 

Amazon continued to hold its cards close to its vest, even as pundits declared the firm's venture into physical supermarkets a flop, and even began predicting that the existing Amazon Fresh stores might all close. Was it going to wave the white flag, and stick to online grocery delivery? The company was silent.

But the epic story of Amazon Fresh in Gaithersburg wasn't over yet!

During the first week of June this year, Amazon's employment site suddenly listed jobs for an Amazon Fresh store in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Was this an error? On June 5, I emailed all three leasing representatives for 270 Center to ask if Amazon had reversed its plans. All three declined to respond.

Three weeks later, Amazon confirmed it indeed had changed its mind yet again. The company posted a "coming soon" banner on the otherwise blank storefront. A few days later, the lighted logo signage - either repaired or replaced - was installed on the building. Last night, the opening date banner was in place, the logo sign was lit up, and the lights were on inside the store. 

You can't completely divest Amazon from its penchant for secrecy, though: paper now covers the windows to block the public's view of the long-completed interior, and the status of possible inventory being placed onto those long-empty shelves. No more "spy photos" like those I was able to post a few weeks ago.

The lights are on...and somebody is finally home at Amazon Fresh in Gaithersburg.

The Lady Vintner opening this fall in Rockville

The Lady Vintner will open this fall at 42 Maryland Avenue in Rockville Town Center. A craft beer and fine wine retailer, The Lady Vintner will also serve small plates. There will be outdoor patio seating available. The space was recently vacated by Pour Vino N' Hops. The Lady Vintner has a Montgomery County liquor license hearing scheduled for August 1, and is anticipating a September opening. Operating hours will be 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday, and 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM Thursday through Saturday.

Kapow Buddy opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kapow Buddy is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It's the latest in a long line of Chipotle-style fast-casual bowl restaurants. This time, the theme cuisine is Thai. 

Your imagination will suggest to you that a grain base will be loaded with vegetables, proteins, and Thai cuisine toppings, and - incredibly - your hunch is correct. In fact, Westfield says in its promotion of the restaurant that "Kapow Buddy is eager to introduce their famous Thai food in the 'Bowl Style' to offer customers a variety of choices including grains, proteins, toppings, and more." When it opens, look for Kapow Buddy on Level 1 in the Old Navy wing.

Sheepskin Gifts and Alpaca Too returns to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

It's Christmas in July at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Sheepskin Gifts and Alpaca Too has been a seasonal tenant at the mall in recent years, popping up during the holiday shopping season from mid-fall to mid-winter. But the apparel store is making an early return to the mall. Few people are thinking about warm clothing as thermometers reach 100 degrees and higher today, but alpaca wool is known for its ability to wick moisture away from the skin during the summer season. Look for Sheepskin Gifts and Alpaca Too on Level 1, at the center of the mall.

Läderach opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Läderach has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The premium Swiss chocolatier is the largest such company in Switzerland. Its more than 150 retail locations worldwide include seven at Westfield malls, predominately at their California properties. Look for Läderach on Level 2 of the mall, next to De Clichy Menswear.

Pollo Campero opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Workers had been seen going in and out of the new Pollo Campero in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda over the last two weeks. Now the Latin American chicken chain's latest location has opened for business. As you can see in the photo below, it is already a popular addition to the mall's lineup of eateries. Westfield is going all-in on Pollo Campero in Montgomery Mall, to which it has also leased a space at its Wheaton Plaza mall food court, as well.

Kajiken holding soft opening in Rockville

The doors have opened at Kajiken at 1701 Rockville Pike A7, at the Shops at Congressional Village. A soft opening is being held through Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Soft opening hours are 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM for lunch, and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM for dinner. Each day, you'll have a chance to win a tote bag by playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with restaurant staff. 10 bags will be given away each day, while supplies last.

Kajiken was founded in Japan in 2010. The chain specializes in the abura soba style of ramen. This soupless ramen derives its flavors from a distinctive blend of sauces imported directly from Japan, and cooking oil. Their homemade noodles are thicker and chewier than those served in most ramen establishments. Without a heavy broth in the bowl, Kajiken's dishes tend to be lower in fat and calories than typical ramen. Kajiken is one of several new Asian restaurants opening at the Shops at Congressional Village this year.

Little Miner Taco sets opening date in Rockville

Little Miner Taco has set an opening date for its new Rockville location. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is now scheduled to be held at the restaurant at 39 Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Little Miner Taco was previously located inside The Block, the food hall at Pike & Rose that recently closed. The signature dish that has gained them fame in the Washington, D.C. region is their birria taco.

Win free ice cream for a year at Häagen-Dazs grand opening in Rockville July 13

The new Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop at 1615 Rockville Pike at Congressional Plaza will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. If you are one of the first 500 guests through the door, you will receive a free mini cup or cone of ice cream. There will also be scratch-off cards that will give you the chance to win free ice cream for a year. The arrival of Häagen-Dazs is wonderful news after the loss of Baskin Robbins at Congressional Plaza five years ago.

Yummy Bowl "coming soon" to Rockville

Yummy Bowl is "coming soon" to 2010 Veirs Mill Road in the Twinbrook area of Rockville, according to signage posted in the storefront windows. The growing restaurant chain specializes in sushi, ramen and Mongolian stir-fry dishes. Your "culinary journey through Asia" will also include Korean-style fried chicken, the brand promises. 

Yummy Bowl currently has - or will soon open - locations in Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. Their Rockville restaurant will be their first in Maryland.

Kusshi opens in Rockville

Kusshi has opened at 36-G Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. The popular local sushi chain has now grown to seven locations with this opening in Rockville. Initial operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 12:45 AM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 1:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Kusshi replaces Sushi Damo in this space, which has been vacant since October 2023.

Dumpling for Life opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Dumpling for Life has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The menu includes five kinds of dumplings, with fillings such as pork, beef, shrimp, chicken, and vegetables. Pork-filled pan fried buns and three noodle dishes are also available. Round out your meal with a bean jelly or water chestnut jelly dessert. Look for Dumpling for Life next to McDonald's in the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2 of the mall.

Amazon Fresh Shady Grove Road store opening soon in reversal of plans by retail giant (Photos)

Amazon will open its Amazon Fresh grocery store at 15790 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg after all, according to signage posted at the property. This saga began when I broke the story about Amazon leasing the space way back on September 1, 2020. The retail giant completed the interior fit-out of the store by the late summer of 2022, and spent months installing its Just Walk Out system electronics. It then postponed the grand opening to 2023, only to abruptly remove all signage from the building in April of 2023. Many other Amazon Fresh stores - some of them fully-constructed like the Shady Grove location - were also "paused" or canceled around the same time.

But after 14 months of abandonment of the project, Amazon suddenly posted help wanted ads for the Shady Grove Road store at the start of this month. Was this a glitch in Amazon's job site? On June 5, I emailed all three leasing representatives for 270 Center to ask if Amazon had reversed its decision. All three declined to reply to my inquiries. 

The secret can no longer be contained, however. On Sunday, a large banner was posted on the blank storefront with the familiar Amazon logo. Inside the store, more Amazon signage is visible. Parking space reservation signs for curbside pickup and Amazon Flex drivers are massed in the store's vestibule. And self-checkout machines are not only in place, but are activated with lit screens. 

Amazon's decision to go forward with the store is a triple win for the community. It will greatly increase foot traffic to 270 Center and its other tenants, a benefit the property owner has had to wait for nearly four years to realize. Second, Amazon Fresh delivery will now be extended to parts of the area where it has been unavailable. Finally, along with the new Aldi at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center, south Gaithersburg, Derwood, and upper Rockville residents will now have two grocery stores whose business models are centered around competitive pricing. Aldi is expected to open in July; Amazon has not announced the opening date for the Amazon Fresh as of this writing.

Dirty Dough opening in Rockville

Cookies are most definitely the new cupcakes and fried ice cream rolls. And here comes the latest entry in the latest trend, Dirty Dough. The rapidly-expanding chain has leased a space at 36-B Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. How does Dirty Dough differentiate itself from the Crumbl Cookies, Levain Bakeries, and Chip Cities of the world? With stuffed fillings that render their creations not as mere cookies, but "super-stuffed cookie bombs." 

Like the competition, Dirty Dough is constantly producing limited-edition flavors, on a weekly basis in this case. If you need more sugar to go with your cookies, they also serve Dirty Shakes, in which you can have any cookie of your choice mixed in, and Dirty Scoops of ice cream. "Coming soon" signage has been posted in Dirty Dough's future Rockville storefront. The chain has an existing Maryland location in Halethorpe, with new ones coming soon in Baltimore and Laurel.

Aldi opening in July at Walnut Hill in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Construction has accelerated in the final phase at the Aldi grocery store opening soon at 737 S. Frederick Avenue at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. The store, which is the center's new anchor tenant, is now expected to open on July 24, 2024, according to Google. Signage is up on the storefront, and checkout counters and shelving are in place inside. Operating hours have been posted on the door. This Aldi is likely to draw many customers from communities like King Farm and Upper Rock in Rockville, as well as from Derwood, as it will be more convenient than the 1501 Rockville Pike location.

No Regrets Pizza opens in White Flint

No Regrets Pizza Co. has opened at 5454 Nicholson Lane, Suite 180, in the ground floor of the Harwood Flats apartments in White Flint. In addition to handcrafted artisan pizzas in New York and Roman styles, the pizzeria turns into a dinner and cocktail bar destination. Early patrons appear to have no regrets, as No Regrets currently has a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Google Reviews, and a 4.5 average on Yelp. Operating hours are 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week.