Rockville Swim Center loosening pandemic restrictions

Pandemic restrictions continue to loosen in Rockville and across the country. Among these are several changes in protocols at the Rockville Swim Center, located at 355 Martins Lane. 

Effective now, no face coverings are required in outdoor areas at the center, except for when checking in for an outdoor reservation. Masks are still required indoors, including in the gym, except while in the water.

Beginning this Saturday, May 29, 2021, reservations will no longer be needed for the outdoor Fitness and Recreation Pools, indoor North Pool, or Fitness Room. Users may return to sharing a lap lane with others in these areas, without limitations on the number of swimmers per lane. 

Use of the center will also no longer be restricted to City of Rockville residents and facility members, also effective May 29. The whirlpool and sauna remain closed for the time being.

Regal Cinemas Rockville reopens (Video+Photos)

The projectors and popcorn makers are running again at Regal Cinemas Rockville Center at 199 E. Montgomery Avenue in Rockville. A fresh set of movie posters is on display promoting the latest, and future, films. 

The cineplex has been closed for the last year due to the pandemic, but is reopening with a set of protocols it calls CinemaSafe. Regal is also promoting Regal Unlimited, a program that allows to see unlimited movies for a monthly fee, at a sizable display in the lobby. Members also save 10% on concessions.

Signage being removed at closed Rockville Arby's

The Arby's at 11710 Rockville Pike permanently closed earlier this week. Yesterday, a worker began detaching signage from the building facade. He had gotten as far a the "A," which was dangling over the ladder, at the moment this photo was taken.

Demolition begins to clear way for Rockville Wegmans

 

Demolition to make way for the future Rockville Wegmans grocery store is now officially underway. Fencing has been up for several weeks, while the contractor awaited approval of the demolition permits. Wegmans will be the retail anchor of a large B.F. Saul development to be called Twinbrook Quarter, here at the corner of Rockville Pike and Halpine Road, across from Congressional Plaza.

Rockville apartment building at future Lidl grocery site to be named after Josiah Henson

New details have come to light about the Lidl grocery store and residential apartment project proposed for the old CarMax property at 15931 Frederick Road in Rockville. The apartment building will be called The Henson at Shady Grove. It is being named for Josiah Henson, whose story inspired the famous novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. 

Lidl has brought in Rockville-based Foundation Housing as a partner to handle development of the apartments. The eight-story Henson will house 200 units, with all units being termed affordable housing. 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units are anticipated to be provided in the building. City leaders have advocated for developers to include such larger units in new multifamily housing. An above-ground, two-level parking deck will also be part of the building.

The Lidl store will include an outdoor, cafe seating area. That seating will be shaded by a canopy. Extensive landscaping is proposed for the grocery store and The Henson.

Strong-arm carjacking at Rockville restaurant

City of Rockville police responded to a report of a strong-arm carjacking outside a restaurant Tuesday night. The carjacking was reported at a restaurant in the 1400 block of Rockville Pike around 10:00 that evening, according to crime data.

Arby's closes on Rockville Pike (Photos)

Here's a shocker: Arby's has closed at 11710 Rockville Pike in the White Flint area. While restaurants were devastated by indoor dining bans over the last year, fast food restaurants with drive-thrus like this Arby's often enjoyed booming business during the same period. 

Fast food restaurants usually serve the largest percentage of customers via the drive-thru to begin with. But as of Tuesday night, this Arby's has been cleared out; even the menu boards are gone at the drive-thru and inside.