Montgomery Mall replacing push-button electric doors with touchless system

Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has begun replacing its electric entry door systems for the disabled with a new, touchless system. There is no longer a need to push a physical button. However, there is a motion sensor that takes the button's place. 

Touchless doors are not only easier to operate, but also a nod to germ-spreading concerns in the pandemic age. It seems to me that every major national chain business should have electric doors at this point, as CVS Pharmacy and most chain grocery stores do, but they are obviously more expensive to maintain than a manual door.

Squishable opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Squishable is opening a seasonal store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for the holidays. The squishable stuffed toy brand was founded a decade before Squishmallows arrived on the scene. They have specialty lines including squishables that resemble food, disguised "undercover" squishables, and mystery squishables. 

Shelves were being stocked last evening. When they open, pick up a Plague Doctor squishable for the Dr. Fauci fan in your life. Look for Squishable on Level 1, next to Bath & Body Works.

"The World's Finest Cutlery" arrives at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The world's finest cutlery has arrived in Bethesda, according to a sign inside Montgomery Mall. Cutco has opened a kiosk at the mall for the holidays. Their cutlery is made in the USA, and has a "Forever Guarantee." If your Ginsu blade has dulled, visit Cutco on Level 2.

Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken opening today in Rockville

Well, I said it looked ready to open, and now it is. Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken will open today at 718-B Rockville Pike, right next to Roy Rogers across from Marlo Furniture. The chain wouldn't answer queries, but then posted the announcement on its social media accounts yesterday. Now you can find out if this beats the other chicken sandwiches on the Pike.

Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken Rockville Pike update (Photos)

Here is a look at the latest progress inside the future Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken at 718-B Rockville Pike. They still look very close to opening. Hangry Joe's is tight-lipped about an opening date, however, and is so far not responding to messages on that topic. A sign in the window indicates they are still hiring staff for this location.

Rockville 7-Eleven robbed during Sunday's plane crash blackout

A 7-Eleven store in Rockville was robbed Sunday evening, while much of Montgomery County was in the dark due to a mass power outage caused by a plane crashing into a Pepco tower in Gaithersburg. At 8:39 PM, an "older male" suspect smashed a window at the 7-Eleven at 13000 Atlantic Avenue in the Twinbrook area. He grabbed a drawer out of a cash register, and fled on foot as Rockville City police cruisers pulled up outside the store. The suspect was last seen in the residential neighborhood adjacent to the store.

King Buick GMC closes in Rockville (Photos)

It's the end of an era at King Buick GMC at 16200 Frederick Road in Rockville. The dealership has closed permanently, although some vehicle inventory remains on the property. King Motor Company was born in 1928, but it was in the 1950s that King family scion Conrad V. Aschenbach opened his first dealership in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. His son, Bill Aschenbach, said the family was forced to sell the dealership because it could not find another location in the area. The dealership's property will become an EYA townhome development, and be annexed into the City of Rockville.

Bill Aschenbach says that he will join a new dealership group founded by his son, Conrad. That group expects to have nine dealerships by December 31 of this year. The existing King franchise is being acquired by Criswell Automotive at its Gaithersburg Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership. But many of the King employees from this location will be moving to the Ideal Hyundai Buick GMC dealership in Frederick, Maryland, Aschenbach said.  

This is the second venerable car dealership to be lost along this stretch of MD 355 in the last decade. Reed Brothers Dodge at 15955 Frederick Road was the first Dodge dealer in Montgomery County. Today, the Bainbridge Shady Grove apartments stand on its former site.