Subway nears return on Rockville Pike (Photos)

The newly-renovated Subway at 1402 Rockville Pike in Rockville looks very close to opening. Digital menu screens have been installed behind the counter, and are already operational. In fact, the shipping boxes for the screens by the Pennsylvania-based digital sign firm Scala are still visible in front of the counter. The company also manufactures touchscreen ordering systems, but none of those are visible yet inside the restaurant. This Subway store closed last December, and even the signage was stripped off of the building, with no message left for customers. Then this spring, a renovation project began and a Subway logo appeared on one of the interior walls.

Subway to return on Rockville Pike (Photos)

Subway will make a comeback at 1402 Rockville Pike in Rockville. The sandwich shop vacated the premises there last December, and left no message whatsoever about the closure for customers. Subway's website stated this location was "closed," and all signage was removed from the building. However, the interior is now being renovated, and new Subway graphics are visible on the wall inside, as well as a Subway-branded "Open" sign in the window. They really owe us a $5 Footlong for this!

Muse Alley renovations advance at Pike & Rose in Rockville

Extensive renovations on Muse Alley at Pike & Rose continue to advance at the Federal Realty development along Rockville Pike. The public space's primary function, aside from providing pedestrian access to several buildings and the Trade Street garage, is outdoor dining. It was essentially demolished, and now you can see the new overhead structure and lighting fixtures. Kusshi, Owen's Tavern and Garden, and Caruso's Grocery all remain open for business during the construction work.

McDonald's reopens at Cabin John Mall (Photos)

A dapper Ronald McDonald is greeting customers at the remodeled McDonald's at 11301 Seven Locks Road inside Cabin John Mall in Potomac. The renovated restaurant has reopened for business with a new look, and a new interior configuration. Everything is geared toward the new normal of takeout and delivery orders being the main driver of business after the pandemic. But the updated interior design is also a welcome reward for loyal customers who fought to keep this location open when it was in danger of closing a few years ago.

McDonald's gutted in surprise renovation at Cabin John Mall (Photos)

The venerable McDonald's at 11301 Seven Locks Road inside the Cabin John Mall in Potomac has been gutted inside. According to signage posted at the restaurant, it is temporarily closed for renovations. No reopening date has been posted, but one of the signs says that the remodeling will take a few weeks to complete. A second, more optimistic sign says "a few days," but that's a bit too optimistic from what you can see here. But overall, the renovation sends a very positive message to customers that the ownership wants to provide a brand new dining room experience for them.

This McDonald's almost closed a couple of years ago, but agreed to stay at the mall after outcry from its many loyal customers. It looks like they are now updating the store for the long haul, with a sneak peek at the new interior visible in the photo above. Customers are being directed to the Montgomery Mall McDonald's while the renovations take place. Yes, Cabin John Village has Shake Shack - but Shake Shack doesn't have the Big Mac! Or America's favorite fries.

Walnut Hill Shopping Center remodeling going full steam, including Gaithersburg-themed mural

The massive makeover of the venerable Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg is going full tilt. We can now see the distinctive storefront facade of the future Aldi grocery store emerging outside the former Weis Markets. All tenants are getting remodeled fronts and new signage. 

What stands out the most at the moment is a new piece of public art. Unlike some of the abstract murals that have popped up around Montgomery County in recent years, this one is 100% Gaithersburg-themed. The Baltimore & Ohio - now CSX - railroad tracks lead off into infinity, if not Chicago. On the right side is the Bowman Bros. Mill, known today as the Granary Row shopping center. There's the clock that stood diagonally across from Diamond Drugs.

Dunkin' Donuts reopens at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville

Dunkin' Donuts has reopened at 865 Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza. The store just completed a major remodeling of its interior. A new Rockville-specific branding sign has been installed on the far right wall inside. The store is open from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM seven days a week. Time to make the donuts!

Dunkin' Donuts temporarily closed at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville (Photos)

The Dunkin' Donuts store at 865 Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza is temporarily closed. An extensive renovation project is now underway inside the space. A reopening date has not been announced yet. Customers are being directed to the Dunkin' Donuts locations nearby at 11530 Rockville Pike, and 2006 Veirs Mill Road. However, I'm going to add the store at 15180 Frederick Road at College Plaza to that list, which seems like it might be closer to Wintergreen Plaza than White Flint.