Dinosaurs spotted in parking lot at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

It's not every day you see a velociraptor racing across the parking lot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Why are these extinct creatures suddenly massing on the Westlake Terrace side of the property? For next week's Dino Safari attraction, which will be at the mall for a full month, from July 4 to August 4, 2024. Some woolly mammoths are thrown in for good measure, even though the current temperatures are not to their liking. Signage for the event has been posted, as well as a couple of plugs for Dino Safari production company Lumino City's holiday lights event expected to return to Montgomery County this winter. Tickets for Dino Safari are available online.

Signage installed at future Amazon Fresh on Shady Grove Road (Photos)

The sign is (back) up at Amazon Fresh, opening soon at 15790 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. It's exactly the same logo sign that was vandalized, and ultimately removed, when Amazon paused - and then "canceled" - the opening of this store last year. The reversal of that decision became apparent earlier this month. There's still nothing on the bare shelves inside the store, but more signage has been added inside over the last few days, including a large banana image and other promotional images in the produce department.

We should soon see the grocery cart return out front in the parking lot. It was erected, and then dismantled, during Amazon's period of indecision in 2023. One wonders if anyone in Amazon's grocery division was fired as a result of the faux cancellation of this location. Nothing has changed over the last year, and Amazon only lost money over this period that the store didn't operate. If anything, the market is worse, as Americans have reduced their grocery purchases due to runaway inflation of prices, and price-gouging by greedy corporations.

Kusshi signage installed at Rockville Town Square

The sign is up at Kusshi, opening soon at 36-G Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. This is the latest location for the local sushi chain in Montgomery County, joining existing spots in Bethesda, Pike & Rose, and downtown Silver Spring. There are also locations in Arlington, Tysons, and Glover Park. Here, Kusshi will more than fill the void left by the exit of Sushi Damo. Stay tuned for an opening date!

MOD Pizza closes on Rockville Pike

MOD Pizza has closed at 12027 Rockville Pike at the Montrose Crossing shopping center. The pizzeria opened here in August of 2019. This is probably not a total shock, as the chain closed 26 of its locations in Q1 of 2024. At the time of those closures, MOD described those stores as "underperformers," so we can't rule out the anti-business policies or moribund economy of Montgomery County as contributing factors. 

The "fast-fired" pizza chains as a whole seem to have struggled in MoCo. Blaze Pizza didn't even last two years at Montgomery Mall, closing in 2016, but its multiple outposts right next door in Gorgeous Prince George's County are still serving pies in under 180 seconds today. Yet &pizza seems to continue to thrive at its many Montgomery County locations, including one about a block away from this MOD at Pike & Rose, so they must be doing something right that some of the other chains weren't.

Walnut Hill Shopping Center makeover nearly complete (Photos)

The cosmetic upgrades at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg are entering the home stretch. New facades and logo signage for storefronts are the most obvious updates. Resurfacing and restriping of the center's parking lot is underway. The updated appearance was a requirement by Aldi to agree to become the property's new anchor retail tenant. Still to come are new monument and wayfaring signage, and the eventual construction of a Sheetz convenience store and mega gas station.

Montgomery County Council stonewalls Black cemetery advocates

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition recently contacted all members of the Montgomery County Council, asking each elected official to denounce the desecration of Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda, and the desecration of African-American cemeteries in general. None of them agreed to do so, and only one even replied to the inquiries. "Thank you for your email regarding Moses African Cemetery," Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe's chief of staff wrote in an email response to BACC. "This is a very complex issue which has a long history. It is not within the purview of the Council to advocate while there is both past and ongoing litigation."

"BACC rejects the logic of any and all councilmembers who remain silent," the organization said in a statement Wednesday. "First, we do not understand what the issue is regarding commenting on issues involving litigation. Through Amicus Briefs and other means, public and private entities weigh in all the time on lawsuits. Secondly, the Moses African Cemetery covers several parcels including ones not involved in litigation, allowing any Councilmember concerned about intervening in a court case to comment about the fate of portions of the cemetery not involved in litigation. In particular, the developer, 1784 Holdings, is erecting a light storage facility next to McDonalds on River Road despite the absence of a full archaeological and forensic survey investigating whether additional bones and funerary objects remain. 1784 Holdings had previously removed several possible funerary objects and is storing them in a warehouse in Gainesville, Virginia. A proper investigation of these objects has not been conducted, The Council could call of a third party, impartial investigation now."

"BACC believes the Council must reverse course and take a strong stand against desecration. No other local official at any level has spoken out. The council has an opportunity to lead if it can shake off its bureaucratic mindset."

Dumpling for Life opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Dumpling for Life has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The menu includes five kinds of dumplings, with fillings such as pork, beef, shrimp, chicken, and vegetables. Pork-filled pan fried buns and three noodle dishes are also available. Round out your meal with a bean jelly or water chestnut jelly dessert. Look for Dumpling for Life next to McDonald's in the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2 of the mall.