VisArts posts signage at former Cloud 9 space in Rockville Town Square (Photos)

VisArts has made its use of the former Cloud 9 boutique space at Rockville Town Square a bit more formal. While it has been making use of the space for several weeks, there is now VisArts signage on the storefront.

Win a guitar at The School of Music open house in Rockville this Sunday

The School of Music on Rockville Pike will be holding an open house this Sunday, August 16, 2015, from 1:00-5:00 PM. Every hour, there will be hands-on classes, where you can bring your own instrument, or use one of theirs.

You can also enter their raffle, to win a guitar of your choice from their collection. The winner will be announced the following day.

The School of Music

1331 Rockville Pike

301-340-1150

Entenmann's Bakery Outlet closes in Rockville (Photos)

One of Rockville's most unusual retail stores was the Entenmann's Bakery Outlet at 1327-A Rockville Pike. Alas, the maker of hard-to-resist Chocolate Frosted Donuts and Chocolate Chip cookies has closed this location.

The store has packed up and moved to Jessup, and the space is for lease.

Move by Ourisman Rockmont Chevrolet could be huge real estate story (Photos)

Future home of Ourisman Chevrolet
at Wintergreen Plaza

Ourisman Rockmont Chevrolet is indeed moving down Rockville Pike to Wintergreen Plaza. An employee of the dealership confirmed the plans, and said the move will likely occur after Labor Day 2016 - which sounds like a long time in the future, given that this isn't an apartment tower that's being built.

The new dealership, currently under construction, will also offer Chevrolet service. Based on the renderings of the future dealership, it will feature the latest Chevrolet facade design, which you may have seen elsewhere in the region. What it won't have, is the huge storage lot the existing Rockmont site has, meaning a lot of that Chevrolet inventory will have to be moved somewhere else.

The larger question, however, is the development potential of the current Ourisman Chevrolet site at MD 355 and Gude Drive. It is one of the largest auto dealerships on this side of the county, making the site a sure target for redevelopment.

Tea Dó Contemporary Tea House coming to Rockville (Photos)

Tea Dó, a "contemporary tea house", is taking over the Yocake space at 838-C Rockville Pike. Like its predecessor, Tea Dó will serve boba tea, a.k.a. bubble tea.

But they will also have many Japanese menu items, including edamame, gyoza (Japanese dumplings), seaweed and kani salads, onigiri, a wide variety of teas and mixed drinks, desserts, and Lacas brand coffee.

Floyd's 99 Barbershop coming to Rockville

Floyd's 99 Barbershop is the latest business to sign on at the JBG Companies' Galvan development near Twinbrook Metro in Rockville. The retail portion of the project has been on a tear leasing up recently, with Pie 360, Taipei Tokyo and Dunkin' Donuts coming aboard in the last couple of weeks.

Offering a modern twist on the small-town barbershops of simpler times, Floyd's 99 is a national chain that also has a location in JBG's Downtown Crown development in Gaithersburg.

Other retailers who have leased space at Galvan include Smashburger, Capriotti's, and anchors Safeway and Ethan Allen. The 356 apartment residential portion of the project is expected to open late this year.

“We welcome these new arrivals to Galvan as well as to the greater Rockville Community as a whole,” said Anthony Greenberg, a principal at The JBG Companies, in a statement. “We believe these merchants and the apartments above them will be successful and attractive, and offer excellent options to nearby workers and others in this busy corridor.”

Rendering courtesy JBG

Helen Heneghan Way is "choice" in Rockville street name change

View down the future
Helen Heneghan Way

Former Rockville City Clerk Helen Heneghan's big contributions to the city will be memorialized in a big way. In a 4-1 vote by the Planning Commission last night, commissioners chose to rename Renaissance Street to Helen Heneghan Way, barring final objection by Montgomery County officials.

No current street in the county is named Helen or Heneghan, according to city staff who researched the many names submitted. The name change was initiated by Choice Hotels, which is headquartered across E. Middle Lane from Renaissance Street, and who have a new Cambria Suites hotel along it.

Commissioners whittled down the dozens of choices to 5 finalists, through straw votes. The 5 candidates were Randy Caruso Lane, Helen Heneghan Way, variations on Cairo or Cinema, and Crutchfield.

Randy Caruso Lane had a lot of emotional support from many in the community, garnering the most votes from the public. Caruso is fondly remembered by many residents, including two who spoke at last night's meeting. "Randy touched a lot of lives in the city," one said. Caruso "was a special needs person," he continued, "and this was during a time when people were not very kind to special needs persons." Yet he affected a generation of residents with his positive interactions at community and sports events, supporters testified. Caruso was known to many as the "Mayor of Rockcrest."

Commissioner David Hill said he thought the heartfelt support of residents who submitted Caruso's name, and who don't ordinarily engage in government meetings, deserved extra consideration from the commission.

Heneghan had numerous supporters who had worked with her during her time as City Clerk, or were familiar with her many contributions to the community.

Former mayor Steven Van Grack testified in support of Heneghan last night, saying naming the street after her would be "a certain way of letting people know about" her contributions to the city. Heneghan passed away on July 13.

Van Grack recalled a time when he remarked that "Bill Hanna may have been the finest mayor in the history of Rockville." Rockville racked up 2 of its 4 All-American City awards during Hanna's time in office. Van Grack said Hanna responded, "there wasn’t much done during that tenure without Helen Heneghan." Heneghan's contributions to the city weren't merely in the civic and government realm, Van Grack added. "She raised 5 boys in Rockvllle, who have all excelled in many ways," he noted.

Several commissioners also voiced support for Heneghan. "She did yeoman duty for the city of Rockville," Commissioner Anne Goodman said. Commissioner John Tyner credited Heneghan for the flag in Veterans Park, and in particular, raising the funds for it. "She, frankly, kept St. Mary’s [Church] running," Tyner recalled, adding jokingly that she also "kept Steve Van Grack out of trouble." Commissioner Jack Leiderman said his former neighbor was greatly missed since her passing.

"I'm speechless," Chair Don Hadley said. "It's really a very tough decision." In a second set of straw votes, both Heneghan and Caruso received unanimous support from commissioners.

Ultimately, the commission voted 4-1, with Hill dissenting, for Helen Heneghan Way. Commissioners were eager to ensure Caruso would not be forgotten, suggesting the potential for renaming Hillcrest Park after him. There would also be additional street names in Town Center Phase II to be decided, as well.

Heneghan's name surfaced late in the search process. After resident Patricia Woodward asked the Mayor and Council Monday night to consider Heneghan for the street name, she was encouraged to approach the Planning Commission by Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton. Woodward testified at last night's meeting.

Is Choice Hotels satisfied? Choice representatives declared City Center Way and Peerless Way their favorites prior to the commission's deliberations.

The name now will be run by the County to find out if they have any objections to it.