Fashion Q opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Fashion Q has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Los Angeles-based company traces its roots back to the 1980s. It chose its "Q" logo because a one-letter sign was cheaper than using the whole brand name. The cost savings extend to its merchandise, which is purchased wholesale here and abroad. "We refuse to give our customers B.S. markups," Q declares. Look for Fashion Q on Level 1 of the mall, right outside of Macy's.

Bark Social closes in Rockville

Have we passed peak "pet parent" in Montgomery County? The demise of Bark Social at 935 Prose Street at Pike & Rose in Rockville may require us to ponder this question for the first time. Bark Social has filed for bankruptcy after an expected round of new financing fell through, the company announced as it - in its own words - "abruptly" closed all of its locations Thursday. 

A cross between a dog park and a bar, with a border-crossing-checkpoint design aesthetic, Bark Social appeared as if it could do no wrong when it opened in 2021. Pandemic-weary Americans were eager to embrace any new outdoor venues, and dog owners in the many apartment buildings around Bark Social had limited exercise options for their pets to take advantage of. The steady decline of alcoholic beverage sales was also briefly reversed, as lockdowns, pandemic restrictions, and a botched rollout of vaccines led some to turn to adult beverages to pass the empty hours.

Investors apparently have since turned (Karelian) Bearish on the concept. Have cats overtaken the dogs? Has inflation made expensive dog ownership too much of a luxury expense at this point? This is the time for all "plant parents" to seize the zeitgeist!

Sports merchandise kiosk opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Hello, sports fans! A new kiosk has opened just for you at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It carries a variety of merchandise and decor for professional and college teams. But the selection is not limited to local teams. In fact, rivals outnumber the Washington Commanders in some of the NFL displays. Kind of like in the stands at Northwest Stadium! 

Look for the kiosk on Level 1 in the Old Navy/The Cheesecake Factory wing of the mall, near Häagen-Dazs - - and be sure to wear your Bob Knight "game face."

Man assaults woman in Rockville Town Center

Rockville City police were called after a man assaulted a woman in the Rockville Town Center area on November 18, 2024. The victim was walking along a sidewalk past 101 Monroe Street at 4:00 PM that afternoon. A man unknown to the victim approached, and suddenly bumped her off the sidewalk and spat on her. He also made threatening statements toward her, police said.

Police have not released a description of the suspect. If you have any information about the suspect or this incident, call police at 240-314-8900.

Assault at Rockville gas station

There was pain at the pumps at a Rockville Town Center-area gas station early Wednesday evening, November 20, 2024 - and not just related to the high gas prices. Rockville City police were called to a gas station in the 200 block of N. Washington Street, after someone reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at 7:25 PM Wednesday.

Westfield brings in new leadership at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the owner of Westfield Montgomery Mall, has replaced several key leaders at the property just before the busiest shopping time of the year. Jason Dyer has been hired as the mall's Senior General Manager, Catherine Brady has been named the new Marketing Director, and Montgomery County Public Schools veteran Joe Damaia will be the new Facilities Director for the sprawling property. Dyer and Brady have successful track records at other Westfield malls, and Damaia was at MCPS for over 14 years of his more than three decades in mechanical and facilities operations.

Dyer's career has found him working with major brands like Victorinox, Sears, PAPYRUS, and GAP, in national and international markets, before joining URW in 2017, taking on management roles at Westfield malls on both coasts. He is bringing this experience to Montgomery Mall with the key goal of "delivering memorable customer experiences that foster loyalty and repeat engagement," URW said in a statement.

“I’m excited to collaborate with Catherine and Joe as we work to elevate Montgomery’s premier retail, dining and entertainment destination,” Dyer said in a statement. “With our varied expertise and established success in the industry, we’re well-positioned to continue shaping Westfield Montgomery into a vibrant hub for dining, retail, and cultural life in Montgomery County.”

Rockville road rage ends in arrest

A road rage incident in Rockville led to an arrest and multiple charges on November 13, 2024, Rockville City police report. The incident took place in the 1300 block of Edmonston Drive at 11:00 AM. A Rockville City police officer ultimately took a 62-year-old Rockville man into custody. The suspect has been charged with felony robbery, 2nd-degree assault, malicious destruction of property, theft, and disorderly conduct.

According to Maryland court records, the suspect posted $5000 bond, and has been released pending trial. A preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for December 13 at 9:30 AM in Maryland District Court in Rockville.