Man pulls knife when told coffee isn't free in Rockville

There's no such thing as a free lunch, or even a free cup of coffee, in Rockville. A man seeking just that barged into a business in the 800 block of Rockville Pike around 5:00 AM on April 1, 2026, Montgomery County police report. When he was told he would have to pay for the coffee, the man pulled out a knife and threatened the employee. Police located the caffeinated suspect outside the business, which police did not identify, and placed him under arrest.

Montgomery County's first Hobby Lobby construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the construction progress on the first Hobby Lobby store in Montgomery County at 15750 Shady Grove Road in the 270 Center, on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville. The interior fit-out is still blocked from view, but we can see the exterior alterations being made to the former Best Buy facade. A look at the Hobby Lobby website shows the large inventory of Easter products, as an example of the chain's seasonal merchandise. Stay tuned for an opening date.

Matan Cos. breaks ground on new strip mall in Gaithersburg

Matan Companies broke ground on the latest addition to its commercial development on the former Leidos site at the corner of MD 355 and Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg today. Construction will now commence on a 10175-square-foot strip mall at 715 Progress Way. It will join two fully-leased 198,000-square-foot Class A buildings, also developed by Matan Companies, whose tenants include AstraZeneca, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and Daikin Comfort Technologies Distribution, Inc., and two pad sites occupied by Chick-fil-A and Sheetz. The latter two have drawn tremendous traffic to the property, and corporate officials at Sheetz have publicly expressed their satisfaction with the success of their first Montgomery County location here.

Three pad sites remain available, along with the inline spaces available in the future strip mall. "We’re excited to continue expanding this dynamic destination in Gaithersburg," said James Matan, Director of Leasing for the Matan Companies, said in a statement this morning. "With strong existing traffic generated by Chick-fil-A and Sheetz, along with excellent accessibility, this site offers an ideal opportunity for retailers."

Update on Molly Tea in Rockville (Photos)

Signage is being installed on the future storefront of Molly Tea, opening soon at 860 Festival Street at Twinbrook Quarter in Rockville. See a sneak peek at the interior below, as well. Molly Tea specializes in jasmine tea. 

"Inspired by the Four White Flowers of the East, we select the best mountain tea leaves and scent them with fresh flowers, with focus on Jasmine aromas and Chinese tea," the company's US franchise website states. "Molly Tea aspires to explore all things Jasmine, allowing everyone to see the beauty of Chinese tea culture in their daily lives." Their specialties are Fresh Milk Tea, Snowy Whipped tea beverages topped with jasmine-infused whipped cream, and Fresh Oat Milk Tea.

Late night door knockers assault resident in Rockville

Three suspects knocked on the door of a residence in the 600 block of Blandford Street in Rockville at 2:00 AM on March 26, 2026. When the resident answered the door, the suspects demanded to see an individual, Rockville City police say. After the resident informed them that person did not live there, the suspects physically assaulted the resident. Police have not released any suspect descriptions as of this writing.

Panera Bread space marketed for lease in Rockville Town Center

Panera Bread's space at 219 E. Middle Lane in Rockville Town Center is being marketed as available for lease. Prospective tenants and their representatives are warned "Do not disturb" the existing restaurant. Panera Bread remains open for business at this time, but its loss would certainly be a blow to the lunch scene in the Town Center area. A former bank space in the ground floor of the same building, vacant for some time now, also remains available for lease. Panera has two other locations in Rockville, at the Fallsgrove Village Center, and at Federal Plaza on Rockville Pike.

R.F. Fager Supply opens in Rockville

R.F. Fager Supply has opened a new location in Rockville. It is next to Taipei Cafe at 800 Hungerford Drive (MD 355). In addition to its consumer-facing designer plumbing fixture showroom, R.F. Fager also carries a massive inventory of plumbing supplies for the professional tradesperson. The company started in Central Pennsylvania, but has expanded into Maryland in recent years.