Assault in Rockville parking garage

Rockville City police responded to a report of an assault in a parking garage in the Rockville Town Center on Thursday, September 14, 2023. The assault was reported in a garage in the 400 block of Hungerford Drive at 5:45 PM.

Apricot Lane Boutique opening soon at Cabin John Village in Potomac

The empty storefronts on the new retail street at Cabin John Village in Potomac are steadily starting to fill up. Apricot Lane Boutique is the latest to sign a lease, continuing a recent women's apparel boutique trend here, following the additions of Ron David Studio and Jurisdiction. It's a national brand, but each franchisee hand picks their own fashions, so we won't know what to expect style-wise until it opens. When it does, look for it across from ReWild.

Spirit Halloween to haunt former CVS in Rockville

After inhabiting the former Pier 1 store at Pike Center for several spooky seasons, Spirit Halloween will possess a different vacant storefront for 2023 in Rockville. The costume and prop chain has chosen the Twinbrook area this year. Spirit Halloween will be in the former CVS Pharmacy at 2210 Veirs Mill Road in the Twinbrook Center. This is the second Spirit Halloween location announced so far this year; the other will be at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joins President Biden in announcing adult education funding

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) joined President Joe Biden (D) at an event at Prince George's Community College in Largo Thursday, where Moore announced he is directing $17.4 million in funding toward adult education. More than half of the money will come from the federal government, and the remaining $7.9 million will be redirected from the Maryland Department of Labor budget. The recipients of the funds will be all 16 Maryland community colleges, two local K-12 school systems (Somerset and Worcester counties), three community-based organizations, one public library system and the state correctional education system. One of the three community-based organizations is Classroom to Community in Montgomery County.

“Together, we will grow an economy that works for everyone, from the bottom up and the middle out,” Gov. Moore said. “President Biden has been very clear about his vision to empower and educate workers to grow the middle class. It’s a vision I stand by because it’s good for Maryland, good for our people, and good for our economy. Together, we are going to work in partnership to follow the president’s lead, build out our workforce, grow the economy, and win this decade.” 

Moore recently expressed his concern about the state's moribund economy, and the resulting lack of revenue that will limit his ability to fund initiatives he has proposed. That concern was heightened by the announcement this week that Maryland's Transportation Trust Fund is running out of money.

Biden and Moore were also joined by Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer (D) and Maryland's U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D) and Chris Van Hollen (D). The president was introduced by Prince George's County Community College student Sadé Davis.

Kung Fu Tea closes in Rockville

Kung Fu Tea has closed its Rockville Town Center location at 275 N. Washington Street. Rockville Kung Fu Tea customers are being directed to the chain's Rio Lakefront and Pike & Rose locations. The closure is particularly surprising given that the store was just renovated earlier this summer. "Kung Fu Tea Rockville has closed its doors," the company said in a statement. "We sincerely thank you for your support and patronage over the years."

Signage installed at Flagship Express car wash in Rockville

Signage has been installed at the future Flagship Express car wash at 785 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The existing car wash there has been closed while Flagship Carwash constructs its new business concept. Their new Express locations offer exterior automatic washes on flat-belt conveyors, 3 unlimited levels of membership packages, and free vacuums, towels and compressed air. The old self-service bays at this Rockville location have been demolished to make way for the Express facilities.

American Eagle temporarily relocates at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

American Eagle has temporarily relocated at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The apparel retailer is now open in a temporary space on Level 2 outside of Macy's Home. Their permanent location is undergoing renovations, and will be closed during that time. 

Coincidentally, American Eagle has just sued Westfield to get out of its lease at San Francisco Centre Mall in California. The chain blames Westfield for letting safety conditions at that mall to "deteriorate into disarray" in its legal filing. "American Eagle, which has a shop in the mall, said that Westfield breached its lease agreement and its neglect of common areas in the mall led American Eagle employees to 'suffer and respond to gun violence, physical assaults, burglaries, and robberies,'" CNN reports. Of course, that's not exactly accurate, as San Francisco is experiencing these problems on a larger scale beyond just that mall over the last few years.

American Eagle is also trying to get out of its lease at Spinoso's Northlake Mall in North Carolina, according to WSOC-TV. It has countersued that mall operator as one of five tenants who have announced their intention to leave the property. "Spinoso allowed the shopping center - Northlake Mall - to deteriorate into an atmosphere reminiscent of a warzone, replete with violent criminals, multiple shootings, terrorized tenants and customers, and diminished business. The lawsuit claims the Apple store moved out of the mall after three shootings," WSOC reports.