PacSun closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

One of the longest-tenured tenants at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will soon close its doors forever. PacSun is now winding down operations. Everything in the store is on sale, and many shelves are already bare as a result.

The California-inspired casualwear store is also offering a Buy One, Get One Free promotion. We probably can't blame this particular closure on Montgomery County's moribund economy, or on the County Council. PacSun has been struggling as a chain for most of this century. Despite filing for, and successfully emerging from, bankruptcy nearly a decade ago, PacSun is repositioning itself in the market with a new women's activewear store concept.

Sushi Damo closes in Rockville

The hits just keep on coming at Rockville Town Square. Sushi Damo has permanently closed at 36-G Maryland Avenue. The well-reviewed restaurant was in business for 16 years, a relative eternity in Montgomery County's business-unfriendly climate, where restaurants often operate on razor-thin profit margins. Now it's the latest victim of this struggling Town Center property, and the moribund Montgomery County economy. Sushi Damo left the following farewell message inside the front door of the shuttered restaurant:

Target limits self-checkout to 10 items or less

Target is the latest retailer to address the shoplifting epidemic by making life more difficult for its law-abiding customers. The big box chain is now introducing a new limit of 10 items for self-checkout. Giant supermarkets recently limited their self-checkout machines to 20 items or less. Amusingly, Target is telling media outlets that it has implemented the new policy to speed up lines at the self-checkout machines, rather than to stem the loss of merchandise. At least Giant was honest, in stating that "a significant increase in crime" was the reason for its new limit on items at self-checkout.

Rockville burglar tries to kick their way into home

Rockville City police are investigating an attempted burglary in the College Gardens neighborhood of the city, which was reported to have occurred on Monday, October 16, 2023. The break-in attempt was reported in the 1600 block of Yale Place at 5:47 PM Monday. According to police, the suspect tried to kick the door to a residence in, but was unsuccessful, and fled the scene. If you have any information about this incident or suspect, call Rockville City police at 240-314-8900.

Gaithersburg Mayor & Council pave way for new Sheetz, Aldi stores at Walnut Hill with annexation vote

A new Sheetz convenience store and gas station, and a new Aldi supermarket, will soon be constructed at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg, after the city's mayor and council voted unanimously to annex the retail property into the city limits last night. Several councilmembers expressed their optimism and excitement about revitalizing the shopping center, which has suffered a drop in customer traffic since anchor tenant Weis Markets closed in 2020. Walnut Hill's owners have said the revenue from a Sheetz store is needed to finance the property improvements Aldi requires, and the more business-friendly zoning of the City of Gaithersburg was needed to allow the Sheetz.

Concerns about the proximity of the proposed Sheetz to the just-opened Sheetz at MD 355 and Montgomery Village Avenue were lessened, after the business model of the convenience store chain was clarified to city officials. Those who travel the highways in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and - more recently - Maryland are familiar with passing multiple Sheetz, Wawa, Royal Farms, Dash-In, etc. stores along the way.

The mayor and council voted unanimously at the end of last night's meeting to approve both agenda items related to the annexation of the shopping center, which now becomes part of the city. They approved the formal annexation petition, as well as a separate resolution that authorizes the City Manager to negotiate an annexation agreement with the owners of Walnut Hill, and of a vacant lot at 8939 Westland Drive.

Ice rink construction begins at Rockville Town Square (Photos)

One of the annual harbingers of the holiday season is the commencement of construction on the seasonal ice rink at Rockville Town Square. That work is now underway in the town square. To give you an idea of when opening day might be for skating this year, last year the rink opened on November 4. Lessons are offered, and reservations will be available.

Gaithersburg Mayor & Council could annex Walnut Hill Shopping Center into City tonight

The Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue hopes to soon count an Aldi grocery store, and a Sheetz convenience store and gas station, among its tenants. To achieve this, it must first be annexed into the City of Gaithersburg, which has the zoning allowances required for Sheetz that Montgomery County does not. Walnut Hill's owners have argued that the income from the prospective Sheetz store is necessary to fund the property improvements needed to meet the needs of Aldi. The long-awaited annexation decision is on Mayor and Council meeting agenda for tonight, Monday, October 16, 2023 at 7:30 PM at City Hall.

This past summer, the City's Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Mayor and Council approve the annexation. City staff has asked the Mayor and Council to vote tonight on the annexation petition, and a separate resolution that will authorize the City Manager to negotiate an annexation agreement with the owners of Walnut Hill, and of a vacant lot at 8939 Westland Drive. Both measures are expected to pass.