Another Rockville-area Wendy's restaurant to be remodeled

The new restaurant design being rolled out across the Wendy's hamburger chain will be coming to another Rockville-area location for 2023. Wendy's at 5001 Nicholson Lane will undergo a remodeling in the coming months. Design changes included in the update are meant to increase accommodations for more drive-thru, delivery and mobile orders; reduce energy costs; and streamline front and back-of-house operations. The Derwood Wendy's is currently undergoing a major renovation.

Wendy's closes for major renovations in Derwood (Photos)

Wendy's at 15807 Frederick Road in Derwood has temporarily closed for major renovations. This isn't just a cosmetic makeover. The entire interior of the fast food restaurant has been gutted and will be rebuilt. 

An increased focus on takeout and drive-thru orders, and on mobile ordering, is at the heart of what the hamburger chain calls its Global Next Gen restaurant design. The new interior layout will also streamline operations, company CCO Kurt Kane said in August. It will also feature a new generation of technology throughout the ordering and cooking processes, including a new grill, and the ability to handle more mobile orders. Annual energy costs will be reduced by 6%.

An iconic figure is missing from the skyline in Rockville (Photos)

The Roman centurions who guard The Forum condominiums at 11801 Rockville Pike have been down at least one man recently. A signifcant renovation to the building's facade and pool has been taking place at the property this year. It has necessitated the temporary removal of one of the large centurion reliefs that adorn the sides of the condominium tower. These reliefs have made the building a landmark on the Pike over the years.

Masonry blocks are being patched and waterproofed, and material called "flashing" is being installed beneath windows to keep water out. Skylights on the roof have been replaced with smoke hatches, which will open in the event of a fire. Plaster and caulking have been replaced at the pool.

Burger King Shady Grove Road menu board activated as Whopper fans await reopening

Don't go to bed before the King, or you might miss out on the latest in the slow drip of developments in the case of the truly-epic remodeling of the Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road at the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. After another few months of little visible activity, we have a new sign of progress. The new drive-thru menu board has been activated. Like the new ones at McDonald's, this has video screens.

Alas, the restaurant has not reopened yet. But it looks like we're getting close to an opening date. The other new "sign" at the site is one seeking job applicants for the pizza restaurant that will be located inside the building. This was the best Burger King in Montgomery County when it closed for renovations a couple of years ago(!!), and Whopper fans are extremely impatient for its return.

Retro Burger King logos installed at Rockville location

The main sign at the temporarily-closed Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road features a more-recent burger king logo. But the renovated restaurant will also display retro BK logos. Several have now been installed, as well as the structure that will hold the drive-thru menu. 

Striping and arrows have been applied to the drive-thru lane. Burger King announced last January that it planned to switch back to the logo the chain used during its most successful era.

Rockville Burger King update (Photos)

There's still no reopening date for the Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. A few minor signs of progress since my last report: They've painted the formerly red southwestern corner wall. A final layer of material was applied to the fake tower atop the front of the building. And resurfacing and striping of the parking lot has been completed.

Those weird 1000-lunch-bags window coverings are still up. It looks like canopies over the drive-thru windows may yet have to be installed. This is the best-rated Burger King of those that remain in Montgomery County. I hope they reopen soon, because I've missed about 15 limited-time Burger King menu items during the renovation, between the pandemic and the closure.

Burger King Shady Grove Road construction drags on (Photos)

There won't be any Ghost Pepper Nuggets at the Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. I can't recall a fast food restaurant renovation that has taken this long; chains construct entire new restaurants in a fraction of this time. They've added stone to the facade, and put down a new driveway and parking lot since July. 

This BK is the best in Montgomery County; it's not only the highest-rated, but the food seems to always be made fresh when ordered, in my experience. So it's been disappointing to not have it available, as many limited-time menu items have come and gone nationally. Perhaps the construction workers have too often ignored the King's royal dictum: "Don't go to bed before the King."

Second Derwood McDonald's to get renovated interior

Renovations are ahead for the McDonald's at 16701 Crabbs Branch Way in The Grove shopping center. Unlike the complete overhaul seen at the other McDonald's in Derwood recently, this project will update the interior of the restaurant. 

This location already got a remodel to a newer McDonald's exterior design in the last decade. Other Rockville-area McDonald's have gotten varying degrees of updates in recent years, including the flagship Rockville Pike and White Flint locations.

More renovations planned for Rockville Target store

After a significant remodeling in 2019, more interior changes are now planned for the Target store at 5700 Bou Avenue in Rockville. In addition to further changes to enhance grocery pickup services, the project will include new lighting fixtures, flooring, and changes to wall finishes and ceilings. Work is expected to begin this summer.