Upgraded Tesla Model 3 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Westfield Montgomery Mall is located in one of areas of the country with the greatest adoption of electric vehicles. It also has a Tesla store. Therefore, it's not surprising that the company has been showcasing the new upgraded Model 3 at the mall. The Model 3 now comes in the new color choices of Ultra Red and Stealth Grey. Changes to the interior include wrap-around ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, acoustic glass, "studio quality sound from every seat," and a rear touchscreen display.

Fugitive captured after he's caught urinating in public in Rockville

If you are currently wanted by the police, the smartest mode of operation is to avoid engaging in further illegal activity that might attract the attention of law enforcement. That strategy eluded an individual who allegedly was caught urinating in public in the 2000 block of Veirs Mill Road in Rockville on June 29, 2024. A Rockville City police officer ran the 32-year-old suspect's name through the system, and learned that the man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, for failure to appear in court. He was taken into custody on both matters, police report.

Kusshi opens in Rockville

Kusshi has opened at 36-G Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. The popular local sushi chain has now grown to seven locations with this opening in Rockville. Initial operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 12:45 AM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 1:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Kusshi replaces Sushi Damo in this space, which has been vacant since October 2023.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Monday night, July 1, 2024. The assault was reported at the mall at 8:40 PM Monday. 

This is the eighth assault reported at the popular retail center this year, as violent crime at the mall continues to outpace the totals of last year. The property had managed to go assault-free since April 14 - until Monday. 

By contrast, only five assaults were reported at the mall in all of 2023. Montgomery Mall is currently on pace to triple last year's total.

Several of this year's assaults have taken place as shoplifters attempted to flee the mall with stolen merchandise, including one on March 5 that came to light last month when Montgomery County police released a photo of the suspect whom they alleged assaulted a Macy's employee.

Dawson's Market closes in Rockville (Photos)

Dawson's Market has closed at 225 N. Washington Street at Rockville Town Square. The permanent closure ends a long but tumultuous run for the grocery store at the struggling Town Center development. It also leaves an anchor retail space vacant at property that already has no shortage of empty storefronts. A bigger-name chain grocer could spur more shoppers to patronize Rockville Town Square, but property owner Morguard faces the same challenge as the original developer here, in that the poorly-designed-and-placed grocery space was turned down by many such supermarkets almost twenty years ago.

The space is well-sized for brands like Aldi, Lidl or Trader Joe's. If one of those can be attracted here, the famous brand will have to overcome the shortfalls of being hidden away from the busy state highway MD 355 at the very back of the development, and the almost universally-despised parking scheme at Rockville Town Square. The latter was improved in recent years by finally allowing free parking for 2 hours. But the dungeon-like garages, paid parking and validation memories of the past persist in the minds of many, and there is a Giant and a Food Lion with free, hassle-free surface parking only a short distance from Rockville Town Square. 

Police seek suspects in Park Potomac assault

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and located multiple suspects in the June 22, 2024 aggravated assault at the Park Potomac development. Police say that as many as four suspects ganged up on the two adult victims around 4:10 PM that afternoon, in the 12500 block of Park Potomac Avenue. The suspects displayed unspecified weapons, and assaulted both victims.

Police describe the suspects as three or four Black females in their late teens. If you have any information about the suspects or this incident, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Torchy's Tacos construction picks up steam in Rockville

Torchy's Tacos is now under construction at 1776 E. Jefferson Street at Federal Plaza in Rockville. Construction crews are working into the night on the interior fit-out of the Mexican restaurant, which is replacing another famous chain, Chuy's, at the shopping center. Chuy's sadly departed in 2020. Torchy's is expected to open this fall.