Pelicana Chicken opens in Rockville

The King of Chicken has ascended the throne in Rockville. Pelicana Chicken is now open at 4 N. Washington Street at the Courthouse Center shopping center. The Korean chicken restaurant has already racked up 17 reviews on Google, with a perfect 5-star score. Many reviewers declared this is the best Korean chicken spot in town. Diners also praised the other authentic Korean dishes on the menu, as well as the atmosphere with K-pop music, a photo booth, and ample television screens.

Subway "coming soon" to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Subway is "coming soon" to Westfield Montgomery Mall, signage just installed at its future space in the Dining Terrace food court promises. I broke the news that sandwich artists will soon be preparing America's favorite sub sandwiches at the mall back in September 2024. Subway replaces longtime tenant J. Chow in the food court. Construction on the conversion of J. Chow to Subway is now getting started behind the wall, and the signage promises a spring 2025 opening.

Specs New York closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Specs New York has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Signage has been removed from above the storefront. The sunglasses retailer first opened at the mall in 2014. It temporarily closed at least a couple of times in the first four years of its tenancy at the mall, so another return can't entirely be ruled out. Specs appears to be the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy, as this is the only of the chain's locations nationwide to be closing.

Kelly's Cajun Grill temporarily closed at Montgomery Mall due to gas problem

Kelly's Cajun Grill had to temporarily close yesterday at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Located in the Dining Terrace food court, the restaurant cited a "gas supply interruption" as the reason for the closure. A specific day or time for reopening was not given, but it promised to "reopen as soon as possible," so it could reopen as early as today. It's always best to call ahead in this situation, if this is the only reason you are going to the mall. The gas issue did not seem to impact the other tenants around it in the food court last evening.

Man charged in Rockville double homicide

Montgomery County police have arrested a man in connection with a double homicide that took place in the early morning hours of Friday, January 17, 2025 in Rockville. The shocking incident first came to the attention of law enforcement when a County police officer was driving along Shady Grove Road at 3:16 AM, and noticed a vehicle stopped in the intersection with Research Boulevard. Inside the white BMW, the officer found Marcell Jordan Hebron, 26, of Rockville. The officer determined that Hebron was deceased. Bullet holes were visible in the windshield of the BMW.

About four hours later, at 7:40 AM, Rockville City police received a call from a nearby parking lot at 2 Research Court. The caller advised there was a dead body in the parking lot. Rockville officers arrived at the scene to find Leilani Marroquin, 27, of Rockville. Marroquin was also deceased. Officers noted she had suffered gunshot wounds, and recovered shell casings in the immediate vicinity.

Montgomery County police detectives investigating both deaths determined they were homicides. They identified Kaloyan Dimov Stoev, 25, of no fixed address, as the suspect in both homicides. By noon on Friday, detectives had located Stoev at an unspecified location in Rockville, and placed him under arrest. Stoev was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and additional handgun related charges. He is being held without bond. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to pay funeral expenses for the victims and their families.

Trump Metro commemorative inauguration farecard sells out in Montgomery County

Democrats may hold every elected office in Montgomery County, but a collectible Inauguration of Donald Trump Metro farecard sold like hotcakes at its subway stations last week. By Saturday, the Trump SmarTrip cards had sold out at every station selling them within Montgomery County. WMATA has now announced that the Trump card has sold out at all D.C.-area Metro stations, but the transit agency will make a limited new batch of them available at the Metro Center station on Monday, Inauguration Day - again, while supplies last.

It appears most buyers intend to hold onto their cards as keepsakes, as relatively few are being listed on eBay for resale. At the time of this writing, resale prices on the site are running from $17.50 to $470. Trump grew his voter support significantly in Montgomery County in 2024, over his results in 2020 and 2016.

The President-Elect, Melania Trump, and their son Barron Trump arrived in the D.C. area last night, deplaning in total darkness, apparently for security reasons, before enjoying a fireworks display at Trump's golf club in Northern Virginia. Donald Trump must surely also be enjoying word of his farecard selling out in far-left Montgomery County. Trump places great importance on TV ratings, poll numbers, sales, and other measures of success in each of his ventures.

In remarks at the golf club, Trump gave shout-outs to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, whose Amazon HQ2 is located in Northern Virginia. Tenor Christopher Macchio performed the aria "Nessun Dorma," which always generates a buzz on social media when Trump requests it, due to its use in the climactic scene of the political conspiracy film The Sum of All Fears.

Rockville's newest neighborhood under construction (Photos)

Rockville's newest neighborhood, the Farmstead District, is now well under construction on the former site of King Buick GMC at 16200 Frederick Road and adjoining lots. A sales center is open, and offering tours of completed model homes. Two developers have partnered at the Farmstead District: EYA, which is constructing luxury townhomes with available elevators, and Pulte, which is offering 2-level condominiums and 4-level townhomes. "The Barn," a community center inspired by the barn at the historic adjacent farmstead, is also visible and taking shape now at the site. Among its amenities for residents to enjoy will be a fitness center, seasonal pool, fire pit, and multiple seating areas.

"The Barn" community center