Dawson's Market having second thoughts on closing

In a last-minute twist to a story that has shaken confidence in the future of Rockville Town Square, retail anchor Dawson's Market is having second thoughts about its closure announcement earlier this month. The market was on the way out at the end of the month until just days ago, when the owner announced a last-ditch effort to save the business.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to seek donations from the community to keep the market in business. In four days, the page has raised $16,571 of its $100,000 goal. However, at this rate, they will not reach that goal by October 27, the previously-announced closure date for the store. Perhaps the rate of donations will pick up as word spreads around town.

Owner Bart Yablonsky says he will not draw from the funds if he cannot reach a new lease agreement with landlord Federal Realty. Donors can get rewards such as a "I Saved Dawson's" t-shirt.

Japong Bakery to open today in Rockville

Rockville's newest bakery will open today in the Ritchie Center. Japong Bakery will open at 9:00 AM this morning at 785 Rockville Pike, and close at 8:30 PM tonight. Customers will enjoy free samples at the bakery today. There will also be a grand opening special: Buy two of their freshly-baked Pineapple Buns, and get one free.

Drybar to open in Rockville

Drybar will round out the retail spaces in the ground floor of the Canopy by Hilton hotel at Pike & Rose. The popular blowout salon will open at 11861 Grand Park Avenue next spring. Their 1705 SF space will be next to Sunday Morning Bakehouse and UNIQLO.

This will be only the fifth Drybar in the D.C. area. Drybar pioneered the trend of having adult beverages at salons, which required an update to Montgomery County and Maryland's archaic liquor laws, which became known as "the Drybar bill" when it passed in Annapolis.

Photos courtesy Drybar

Kusshi to hold soft opening next week in Rockville

Be one of the first to experience Kusshi at Pike & Rose when they hold their soft opening next week. The Japanese restaurant will open to the public this Monday, October 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM. Soft opening hours will continue through 10:00 PM on October 25.

Kusshi is named after the "ultimate" Japanese oyster, and that namesake delicacy will be available on the menu. Sushi is also on the menu, along with other Japanese specialties, sake and cocktails. Food will be 40% off during the soft opening.

The restaurant is located at 11826 Trade Street - park in the Trade Street garage, and you can walk right out onto the plaza in front of Kusshi from the elevator.

Hoeber questions Trone spending in congressional race

Republican Amie Hoeber is questioning the spending of her Democratic opponent, David Trone, in the 6th Congressional District race. Hoeber accuses Trone of trying to buy the U.S. Congressional seat, with his expenditures believed to be nearing sixteen million dollars.

Hoeber also noted that Trone has donated $2500 to the GOP candidate for governor in Pennsylvania.  "He has stated this election will be 'Decided by Western Pennsylvania,'" Hoeber said Tuesday, "but I still think it will be decided by Western Maryland."

Trone has recently returned to the campaign trail and the airwaves following successful treatment for cancer.

Rockville Mayor & Council vote to return public right-of-way to private landowner

Rockville's Mayor & Council voted unanimously last night to abandon a right-of-way easement at 2131 Veirs Mill Road. Running parallel to the busy route, the easement could have been a future service road, but is now returned to the landowner for private development.

The easement was granted to the city in 1976 for use as a public street or service road. Abandonment of the property comes just as Montgomery County is threatening to demolish dozens of homes and businesses along Veirs Mill to create a wider right-of-way for a $10 billion Bus Rapid Transit boondoggle, and additional bike and pedestrian facilities. That made the idea of handing back a significant piece of property already in public possession an intriguing one at this time.

City staff told the Mayor and Council that no public comment on the abandonment proposal was received.

Rockville Town Square ice rink under construction (Photos)

Temperatures below 50 degrees over the weekend may have visitors to Rockville Town Square in the mindset for winter. The square's ice rink is under construction now, coincidentally. Where's a Zamboni when you need one?