Local Taiwanese groups hold flag-raising ceremony in Rockville

Local Taiwanese groups held their annual flag-raising ceremony on New Year's Day at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. The event recognizes the many active Republic of China organizations in the Washington, D.C. region, and celebrates the ongoing solidarity between Taiwan and the United States. Taiwan's ambassador to the U.S., Alexander Yui, was among several dignitaries in attendance. The ambassador "emphasized that Taiwan-U.S. relations remain strong and unwavering," the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States said in a statement. Among the groups that assembled for the ceremony were the Alumni Association of the Huangpu Military Academy’s Greater Washington Chapter, the ROC Veterans Association in Washington, D.C., and the Taiwanese Benevolent Association of America’s Greater Washington Chapter (Maryland).

Photos courtesy Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S.

Nathan Landow, developer and philanthropist, dies at 93

 

The Montgomery County business and civic communities lost a giant earlier this week, when real estate developer and philanthropist Nathan Landow passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 93. He leaves behind an outsize imprint on the Bethesda skyline. His contributions to the town include his namesake Landow Building office property, and several apartment and condominium towers. Landow went above and beyond design and regulatory requirements, bestowing buildings such as The Seasons, Crescent Plaza, and Fairmont Plaza with resort hotel-style balconies and design features. If you've been inside The Promenade at Pooks Hill, you know it's like being on a luxury ocean liner on land.

Other landmark properties developed by Landow outside of Montgomery County include The Colonnade and The Carlton Towers in Washington, D.C., and Prospect House in Arlington. He was responsible for 17 large-scale residential buildings in total over his career, beyond his commercial and office developments.

Landow's contributions extended outside of improving the architecture of the region. He was a prolific fundraiser and contributor to the Democratic Party at all levels, and even served as Chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party at one point. He was not only a key benefactor of the Mayo Clinic and Charles E. Smith Life Communities, but also made architectural additions to both of their campuses.

Services will be held on Sunday, January 4, at 12:30 p.m. at Washington Hebrew Congregation (3935 Macomb Street NW). Shiva will be observed at the home of Harolyn and Michael Cardozo on Sunday, January 4 at 7 p.m. and on Monday, January 5 at 7 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Landow House, c/o Charles E. Smith Life Communities, 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852, or online at www.smithlifecommunities.org/giving.

Update on Bartaco in Rockville (Photos)

There's still no opening date for Bartaco at 950 Rose Avenue at Pike & Rose. But construction progress continues inside and outside of the former NADA space at the development along Rockville Pike. Permanent signage has been installed over the storefront. The location is also hiring staff, as you can see on the banner below. 

Urban Outfitters debuting new store concept at Montgomery Mall this month

 

Urban Outfitters has closed its existing store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The apparel brand is preparing to open its new concept store, targeted at Gen Z shoppers, later this month in a different space at the mall. UO has so far rolled out the new store design in Houston, Texas, and Glendale, California. Maryland is third on the list, and the first on the East Coast. 

Old store

When UO examined retail trends, it found that Gen Z is driving a mall resurgence across the country. 72% of Gen Z shoppers surveyed stated that they do the majority of their apparel shopping at malls, and that this is their preferred shopping method. In designing a new store concept, UO also revamped its approaches to its men's and women's product mix.

New concept storefront 

The new store concept features more floor space dedicated to the best-selling UO brands, including BDG denim, OFU (Out from Under) and Standard Cloth. New modular and responsive fixtures and displays  will allow the store to more quickly and easily respond to trends and seasons. The new store's fitting rooms will feature a brighter, more spacious design. And warmer, more richly-textured decor will create a more immersive shopping experience.

New concept women's department 

“Our goal is to be the go-to brand and destination for the categories and brands that define our customer’s style, and a source of inspiration through our creativity,” Urban Outfitters President Shea Jensen said in a statement. “This new format gives us the freedom to shape our stores around our customers, their lifestyle, and the moments that matter most to them.”

New concept men's department 

UO plans to open an additional six locations of the new concept store this year. At Montgomery Mall, the new store will be found on Level 1, between Calzedonia and Kickz.

2025 assault total officially tops 2024 tally at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

 

A 2nd-degree assault reported at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda yesterday bumped the year's tally of assaults at the property past last year's total. Montgomery County police were summoned to the mall Tuesday afternoon at 2:33 PM, after someone was physically assaulted during a shoplifting incident. Yesterday's assault was the twelfth reported at the mall in 2025, officially surpassing 2024's total of eleven. Police have been more visibly patrolling the mall in recent months, working closely with mall security officers. But the permissive attitude of County elected officials regarding crime - including retail theft - has made it challenging, with a relentless parade of shoplifters ransacking stores countywide.

Samsung Biologics acquires GSK manufacturing facility in Rockville

Some rare good news out of Annapolis about the rare bright spot in the moribund Montgomery County economy: biotech. Samsung Biologics has just acquired the GlaxoSmithKline manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced yesterday. GSK had announced earlier this year that it would be moving its vaccine research and development operations from that Rockville facility to Massachusetts. Samsung's acquisition will keep more than 500 existing jobs at the site, and add an unspecified number of additional jobs as Samsung adds potential production lines for other local biotech firms in the future.

Moore was hands-on in recruiting the South Korean firm. He personally met with Samsung Biologics executives earlier this year during an international trade and investment mission to Japan and South Korea to promote economic growth and workforce development. 

“We are thrilled that Samsung Biologics has selected Maryland for their first U.S. manufacturing facility, a testament to our state’s leadership in life sciences, our highly-skilled workforce and the commitment of our private and public sector to advance patient health around the globe,” Moore said in a statement Monday. “During our Asia trade mission, we were excited to share with Samsung Biologics executives the many reasons why Maryland is an ideal foothold from which the company can execute its long-term strategy to expand in the U.S. market.”

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who has targeted life sciences in his efforts to attract high-wage jobs to the County, joined Moore in celebrating the win yesterday. “The acquisition of GSK’s Rockville manufacturing campus by Samsung Biologics represents a significant achievement for Montgomery County,” Elrich said in the statement released by Moore's office. “This $280 million investment brings the world's largest contract drug manufacturer to Montgomery County, ensuring U.S.-based manufacturing continues, safeguarding over 500 current jobs, and setting the stage for further growth as Samsung boosts production capacity. It serves as a robust endorsement of the ecosystem we have cultivated, which is founded on talent, diversity, and enduring partnerships. We proudly welcome Samsung Biologics to Montgomery County, Maryland, and anticipate their contribution in enhancing our economy, workforce, and status as a global life sciences hub.”

School of Rock opening new Rockville location

School of Rock, which offers music lessons and live performance opportunities for adults and children, is opening a new Rockville location early next year. It will be located at 1081 Rockville Pike at the Talbott Center, on Level 2. They are currently enrolling an inaugural class of students. But if you think you see Jack Black near the facility, it's more likely going to be an actual homeless guy.