Rockville construction update: Main Street (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress on the Main Street apartments, a mixed-income residential building being constructed at 50 Monroe Place. This used to be the site of the IBM building. When completed, 25% of the units here will be set aside for the disabled, and 75% will be affordable.

FM Karaoke building fenced off in Rockville (Photos)

The old FM Karaoke building at 2131 Veirs Mill Road has been fenced off, but the reason is unclear. No plans have been filed with the City of Rockville (or, at least, no plans that have been made public on the City website) for this address. But some demolition work has taken place already.

The property owner had suggested a building addition or redevelopment of the site were in the cards for the future last year. At that time, the Mayor and Council relinquished to the property owner a public right-of-way that ran in front of it to facilitate such an expansion, at the request of the owner.

Land's End to open Rockville store in late fall 2019

Land's End is coming to Rockville late this fall. The famous family apparel retailer will open a 8500 SF store at Congressional Plaza. While the new store will offer the advantages of a bricks-and-mortar location, it will also feature touchscreen kiosks to interface with the company's online operations.

“We’re excited to continue to expand our brick-and-mortar footprint, and integrate our digital retailer experience into our new store concepts,” Land's End Senior Vice-President of Retail Claudia Mazo said in a statement. “Congressional Plaza is convenient location for our customers in Maryland, and we’re excited to support them in the communities in which they live.” Land's End has begun hiring staff for the Rockville store.

Former Capital One bank fenced off at Montrose Crossing

The vacated Capital One bank branch at Montrose Crossing on Rockville Pike has been blocked off with construction fencing. Hopefully it is being replaced by a new restaurant, and not another bank.

Yvonne Fx opens at Montgomery Mall, Dream Aero under construction (Photos)

Women's fashion boutique Yvonne Fx has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is located on Level 2 by LensCrafters.

In other mall news, the Dream Aero Flight Simulator ride remains under construction above the Dining Terrace. A wall panel has been punched out near the ceiling above Gusto and Chipotle, and wiring can be seen along the edge of the opening. Dream Aero plans to begin providing the experience of flying a Boeing 737 this fall.

Bangkok Garden Thai Street Food opening at Wintergreen Plaza

Bethesda's Bangkok Garden is expanding to Rockville with a new, fast-casual restaurant concept. Bangkok Garden Thai Street Food will be located at Wintergreen Plaza at 891-D Rockville Pike, in between Wingstop and the liquor store.

Pup Scouts Daycare & Boarding opening in Rockville

Pup Scouts Daycare & Boarding is a locally-owned daycamp and boarding facility for dogs in the Rockville and Bethesda areas. They have just located in the Pike Center shopping center, behind 5-11 Tactical at 12220-B Rockville Pike. Daycamp offers daycare services for dogs, while boarding is an option if you are leaving town for a vacation, for example. Pup Scouts may especially come in handy for folks living in the apartment buildings along the Rockville Pike corridor.

Title Boxing Club to open at White Flint Plaza

A new boxing gym is coming to the Pike District of Montgomery County. Title Boxing Club, which has an existing Rockville facility at 10028 Darnestown Road, will soon open a new location at 5268-R Nicholson Lane. This will be in the White Flint Plaza shopping center.

Syd's Cakes + Bakes grand opening at Montgomery Mall

Syd's Cakes + Bakes has arrived at the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. In addition to baked goods on the sweeter end of the spectrum, they have sandwiches and bubble tea. They're also giving away a free month of bubble tea as part of their grand opening celebration, if you enter the raffle at the bakery with your first purchase. There will be four lucky winners.

Sign installed at Friendship BBQ in Rockville

The permanent sign for Friendship BBQ was installed yesterday at Rockville Town Square. They look like they're about ready to open from what I could see inside when the door was open.

Smashburger Rockville location to reopen

Smashburger's Rockville location promised they would reopen after closing their doors earlier this year. Now the improbable is becoming reality - Smashburger is actually going to reopen this store at 1800-A Rockville Pike in The Galvan development. The restaurant was in the process of hiring potential employees when I stopped by yesterday. So if you've been missing Smashburger since their restaurants around the county closed, you're in luck once they reopen "soon."

Rockville construction update: Duball Town Center Phase II (Photos)

Excavation has begun at the site of Duball, LLC's Rockville Town Center Phase II project. Located off E. Middle Lane on the last remaining surface parking lot in front of the Regal Cinemas Rockville, the property will be home to a 400-unit apartment building, with 150 of those to be set aside for senior housing operated by development partner Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission. The building will also include 20000 SF of ground floor retail/restaurant space. Based on the results of Duball's Phase I project across Helen Heneghan Way, expect high-quality architecture when this delivers in 2021.