Regal Cinemas sets reopening date for Regal Rockville Center movie theater

Montgomery County movie theaters have remained almost entirely dark since the County lifted the ban on movies, primarily due to the County banning the sale of food and drink at cineplexes to ensure patrons do not remove their masks indoors. AMC has been the only chain willing to reopen its two Montgomery County locations so far, somehow affording to do so while forgoing the concessions sales where theaters make most of their profits. Now, Regal Cinemas is either going to accept that scary revenue picture, or the chain is gambling that the ban might be lifted a month from now.

Regal Cinemas Germantown is now scheduled to reopen on May 14, 2021, the company has announced. A week later on May 21, Regal Cinemas Rockville Center in Rockville Town Center and Silver Spring Majestic & IMAX in downtown Silver Spring will reopen.

The announcement notes, however, that these dates could change depending on "unique circumstances" at each location. We will find out soon enough if a ban on food and drink concessions is a "unique circumstance," or if the chain has simply agreed to accept a low-or-no profit operating mode.

Cuban flavors coming to the border of Rockville this Friday

Colada Shop has set an opening date for its newest D.C.-area location, at Cabin John Village at 7993 Tuckerman Lane in Potomac. The Cuban cafe will open this Friday, April 23, 2021. Colada Shop offers Cuban coffee (is there any other kind?), croquetas and empanadas, and a couple of new menu items that will be exclusive to this location.

Photo courtesy Colada Shop

Athleta, Custom Ink open in Rockville

Athleta and Custom Ink have both opened at Congressional Plaza on Rockville Pike. While the former retailer was more public in its advancement toward opening day than the latter, ironically, both the activewear and custom printing shops ended up opening around the same time.

Plaza Oaxaca aiming for May opening at Rockville Town Square

Plaza Oaxaca, the Mexican restaurant opening at 141 Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square, is now aiming for a May debut. Their operating hours will be 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday-Thursday, 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM on Sundays. As the name indicates, the restaurant will be focused on serving authentic Oaxacan cuisine, and with mezcal being the specialty at the full bar. 

Demand for movies appears strong at one of only two Montgomery County movie theaters to reopen

Continuing my coverage of movie theaters struggling to reopen in Montgomery County, I stopped by the AMC Wheaton 9 cineplex at Wheaton Plaza, one of only two theaters currently open in the county (the other being AMC's theater at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg). Are people ready to return to theaters? Apparently so. 

The 7:45 PM showing of the blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong tonight was already sold out last evening. Regal Cinemas, Landmark, iPic, Cinepolis and other chain theaters remain dark across the county, due to the County ban on sales of food and drink at movie theaters.

City of Rockville reopening several facilities this month

Glenview Mansion grounds in Rockville

The City of Rockville continues the process this month of reopening facilities that have been closed due to the pandemic. Glenview Mansion and Social Hall is now available to rent for gatherings indoors of 25 or fewer people (or 50 people or fewer outdoors). 

While the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre is still not hosting performances with audiences, it can now be used for rehearsals or recording sessions. 

Croydon Creek Nature Center will reopen, by appointment in advance only, to city residents from 11:00 AM -4:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning Saturday, April 24, for no-contact, viewing-only of animals. Interactive games and the use of exhibits are prohibited under COVID-19 restrictions. Advance reservations will become available at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 20.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville

Gong Cha opening new Rockville location today

Gong Cha already has a flagship store at 1800 Rockville Pike. Now the Taiwanese tea shop is expanding south to Pike & Rose. They will open their new location at The Block today at 967 Rose Avenue. Doors will open at 12:00 PM today, April 15, 2021. 

The first 50 people in line will receive a free Gong Cha keychain. Don' forget to try their specialty, Milk Foam tea, in several varieties.