Montgomery County, Maryland miss target again as Virginia wins Kongsberg missile facility

Montgomery County and Maryland hit the snooze button again, and Virginia picked up another economic development victory while their rivals across the Potomac slept. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced this week that it has chosen Virginia as the location for a new cruise missile production facility. The 150,000-square-foot complex will be constructed in James City County, and will manufacture Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missiles and Joint Strike Missiles. Both are anticipated to remain in high demand, and the Norwegian firm believes it is likely to win another contract from the U.S. Department of Defense soon.

A press release from the office of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Virginia beat out two unidentified states in the competition for the Kongsberg facility. Youngkin made his winning case to Kongsberg during his trade mission to Europe this past April. While Youngkin was sealing the deal in Europe, the Montgomery County Council was passing legislation regulating hours for hookah lounges.

The factory will create more than 180 high-wage jobs. And this is actually the second Kongsberg production facility Maryland has lost out on; Pennsylvania won the first one in 2008, and the firm announced it will be expanding its Johnstown operation to handle the increased demand. It seems Kongsberg factories are dropping out of the sky everywhere around us, but landing everywhere but here. Such high-wage job creation is desperately needed not only in Montgomery County, but across Maryland from Cumberland and Hagerstown to Baltimore and Salisbury.

"Kongsberg's decision to establish its first U.S. defense assembly facility in Virginia reaffirms our status as America's top state for business," Youngkin said in a statement Tuesday. In contrast, a January report from the Maryland Comptroller's Office "found that Maryland is behind neighboring states and the nation in gross domestic product, personal income, real wages and population growth," the Associated Press reported. 

Photo courtesy Kongsberg

Donutchew moves to bigger spot at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Donutchew has relocated at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The mochi donut chain had such a great success with its mall kiosk, that it has upgraded to a larger stall at the outer end of the Dining Terrace food court. Its kiosk space has been walled off. Look for Donutchew on Level 2 of the mall, next to Cellaxs, and across from Chocolate Moonshine.

AMC Theatres adds vibrating seat PRIME at AMC experience at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

AMC Theatres has completed the conversion to reclining seats in all auditoriums at the AMC Montgomery 16 cineplex at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. But it has also topped off the retrofit of the old ArcLight Cinemas by offering its new PRIME at AMC moviegoing experience for some films. PRIME auditoriums feature newer projection technology that provides brighter colors and richer contrasts, surround sound, and "reverberating recliners." 

An AMC employee said that one auditorium is currently outfitted with the new PRIME system. A subwoofer in the recliner creates a vibrating or "reverberating" effect that, combined with the surround sound, provides a more immersive experience. Along with the superior screen images, the overall aim is to offer something as close to IMAX as possible in theaters that were not originally built to IMAX dimensions for screen size or sound configuration. 

The PRIME auditorium at AMC Montgomery 16 is currently hosting screenings of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice this afternoon, and of Transformers One this evening. That gives you an idea of the genres of film likely to get the PRIME treatment going forward, and that best capitalize on the technology. This was a nice bonus surprise to cap off the conversion from ArcLight to AMC at Montgomery Mall, along with the recliners and MacGuffins Bar.

Torchy's Tacos sets opening date in Rockville

Torchy's Tacos is right on target for its expected fall opening at 12266-A Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza in Rockville. The eagerly-awaited Mexican restaurant will open on October 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM. Guests will have the opportunity to win free queso for a year. Soft opening hours will be held by reservation only on September 29 and 30 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Police investigate embezzlement at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of embezzlement at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Saturday afternoon, September 14, 2024. The embezzlement was reported at the mall at 1:00 PM Saturday. Which mall tenant or office the funds were allegedly embezzled from has not yet been identified.

Best Buy Gaithersburg store closing

Best Buy is closing at 15750 Shady Grove Road at the 270 Center, on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville. The home electronics and entertainment chain has set a closing date of October 26, 2024. Their space has been marketed for lease for several months, but the store's lease does not end until February 1, 2025. 

Best Buy announced on a corporate earnings call that it planned to close 10 to 15 stores in 2025. Gaithersburg Best Buy customers are being redirected after October 26 to the big box chain's stores located at 1200 Rockville Pike in Rockville, and at 20914 Frederick Road in Germantown. The latter store is open, but is currently undergoing renovations.

Tequila Modern Mexican opens in Rockville

Tequila Modern Mexican is now open at 11 N. Washington Street in Rockville. The small but rapidly-expanding chain was founded in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is opening new locations here, and in North Carolina and Kansas. The new Rockville restaurant has scored 3 stars out of 5 with Google reviewers so far, but Yelpers have yet to weigh in, as Yelp does not appear to even have a listing for it yet.