Armed robbery at Walgreens in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed robbery at Walgreens at 1075 Seven Locks Road on Wednesday night, August 7, 2024. The robbery was reported at 9:17 PM Wednesday. @MoCoPGNews on Twitter posted that the suspect was wielding a knife, and grabbed money out of a cash register. If you have any information about this incident, call police at 240-314-8900.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Oh, no, not again! Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on Thursday afternoon, August 8, 2024. The assault was reported at 3:16 PM. Like some of the assaults at the mall in 2024, Thursday's was related to a shoplifting attempt. This was the ninth assault police have responded to at the mall this year.

There were 12 assaults reported at the popular retail center in 2022. That number dropped to 5 last year, after the Montgomery County Police Department opened a "resource room" at the mall, in response to the 2022 numbers. But the violence has rebounded this year, with the mall now on pace to more than triple last year's assault total. 

Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet sets opening date in Rockville

Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet at 1471 Rockville Pike will welcome its first customers this weekend. The restaurant will open tomorrow, Saturday, August 10, 2024. Promising "the largest and most elegant Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine restaurant," Umi is opening several new locations in the U.S. this year. This building was formerly home to Miller's Ale House.

Rockville Pike Arby's conversion to McDonald's moving forward

The conversion of the vacant Arby's restaurant at 11710 Rockville Pike into a McDonald's has stalled out since the lease of the building by the Golden Arches came to light this past February. Construction work is now expected to begin by early fall. The nearby McDonald's at 11564 Rockville Pike will move to this location when the work is completed, with the major benefit of now offering drive-thru service, which is great news for McDonald's fans in the White Flint area. I've learned that the planned addition to the Arby's building will expand its size by about 170-square-feet.

Arby's closed here in May of 2021. Shake Shack was said to have interest in leasing the building a month later, but ultimately decided to settle for locations at Cabin John Village Center and Westfield Montgomery Mall, and pulled out by September of 2021. Despite its prime location and drive-thru configuration, the Polinger Company-owned building then sat vacant until McDonald's came aboard this year. Saul Centers owns the existing McDonald's property at 11564 Rockville Pike.

Claire's opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Claire's has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The piercing studio also offers jewelry, piercing and hair accessories, beauty products, and toys. It hosts birthday parties, too. Operating hours are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. Look for Claire's on Level 1 of the mall, outside of Macy's.

Finish Line closes, JD Sports sets opening date at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Finish Line has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. But its parent company, JD Sports, is quickly moving to fill the vacuum with a JD Sports store. JD Sports acquired the Finish Line chain in 2018. Last fall, JD Sports announced its intention to close up to 400 underperforming Finish Line stores by 2026. However, at least some of those are now being converted to JD Sports stores.

In the case of Montgomery Mall, JD Sports will not only replace Finish Line, but will relocate to a different spot in the mall. JD Sports currently expects to open the Montgomery Mall store this Saturday, August 10, 2024. When it opens, look for JD Sports on Level 1 of the mall, near The Cheesecake Factory.

Sweathouz opening in Rockville

Sweathouz is coming soon to Rockville. The contrast therapy spa will be located at 11564 Old Georgetown Road at Pike & Rose. During an appointment, Sweathouz - a.k.a. SWTHZ - moves clients from its infrared sauna into a cold plunge. A private contrast therapy suite also offers an en-suite Vitamin C shower. Sweathouz says its treatments help clients manage pain and inflammation, boost immunity, and burn calories.