Shady Grove Road, Chevy Chase Lake Amazon Fresh stores to offer Just Walk Out technology

The future Amazon Fresh grocery stores at Chevy Chase Lake and on Shady Grove Road on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg will feature the Just Walk Out payment technology, an Amazon spokesperson said. That system allows the shopper to scan an in-store QR code on their Amazon app, or insert a credit or debit card, to open the Just Walk Out gates upon entering the store. Everything put in and out of the shopping cart will automatically be tabulated as the shopper travels through the store. To check out, the customer simply scans their app, or inserts the same card, to exit the store.

Shady Grove Road at 270 Center

Shady Grove is the closest to opening, and work is far along at the Chevy Chase Lake store, but the Amazon spokesperson said there are no official opening dates set for either location. As you can see, the sign is now up at the Shady Grove store in the 270 Center. If you look at the interior photos, you'll notice many sensors and cameras hanging from the ceiling. You'll also notice the shelves are not stocked yet.

Three Amazon Fresh stores are in the process of opening across the river in Northern Virginia, and also offer the Just Walk Out shopping experience. The Manasssas store opened last week at 7807 Sudley Road. Lorton's Amazon Fresh will open June 23 at 9409 Lorton Market Street. A third store in Arlington will be opening soon at 1550 Crystal Drive. All Amazon Fresh stores offer a $15.50-an-hour starting wage, and donate surplus food to local food banks in each jurisdiction.

Rivian delivery truck stops traffic in Rockville...literally

The understated Rivian electric truck facility at 1300 Rockville Pike doesn't attract much attention, and the Rivian vehicles are rarely on the lot for long before they are delivered to their owners. But at noon on June 7, 2022, another rare Rivian sighting ended up making quite a scene. 

The 18-wheeler delivering one truck to the facility broke down while entering the driveway, blocking the northbound lanes of Rockville Pike for a short time. Is that an El Cap Granite Rivian? We've only seen Launch Green on-site so far.

Photo via Rockville City police

Car stolen from home in Rockville

Montgomery County police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a home in Rockville yesterday morning. The vehicle was reported stolen from the driveway of a home in the 10200 block of Daphney House Way at 3:46 AM Friday. That is in the Lakewood Estates area of Rockville, between Shady Grove Road and the Lakewood Country Club.

Armed robbery at Rockville bus stop

Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a bus stop early Wednesday evening. The robbery was reported at a bus stop in the 100 block of Monroe Street at 6:15 PM, according to crime data.

Rockville police charge man allegedly seen waving gun in residential neighborhood

Kunal Bagga

Rockville police have identified and charged an alleged gun-wielding man who led them to issue a shelter-in-place order to residents of the Rose Hill Falls and Great Falls Road area Tuesday night. The man is a resident of that area. Kunal Bagga, 37, of the 100 block of Autumn Wind Way, was arrested and charged with three counts of first- and second-degree assault. Police say Bagga was cooperative, and was taken into custody without incident.

The incident began when a resident of Rose Petal Way called police at 9:30 PM that evening, and reported that a man carrying a handgun was in her backyard. Rockville and Montgomery County officers converged on the area. Rockville police then issued a shelter-in-place order for the neighborhood "out of an abundance of caution," the department said.

Fourth assault in 3 weeks reported at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The fourth 2nd-degree assault since May 18 was reported at Westfield Montgomery Mall on Tuesday afternoon, June 7, 2022. Montgomery County police were called to the mall at 4:30 PM on Tuesday to investigate. A suspect was also accused of shoplifting in the incident. The previous assaults were reported on May 18, two days later on May 20 and last Thursday, June 2.

Car stolen in Twinbrook area of Rockville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in Rockville yesterday morning. The vehicle was reported stolen in the 13100 block of Twinbrook Parkway. That is in the area of the Halpine View apartments. It is believed the vehicle was stolen sometime between 7:00 PM Tuesday night and 5:50 AM Wednesday morning.