Hot Pot City construction update

There has been significant progress inside the future Hot Pot City, located on "Regal Row" at 199 E. Montgomery Avenue in Rockville. Lighting fixtures resembling Chinese lanterns are in place, as is the bar and a wall with the restaurant's logo and statuary. This was formerly Tara Asia's spot.

Montgomery County headlines:

Neuhaus Chocolates, world-renowned chocolatier, to open Bethesda store

Affordable apartments in downtown Silver Spring

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Java Nation opening Rockville location

Kensington's Java Nation is opening a new location in White Flint. It will be next to Hank Dietle's Tavern, in a space vacated by Helen's restaurant. A sign out front refers to the new location as a "social house and roastery."

Java Nation has operated in Kensington since 2012. Their menu includes hearty breakfast entrees, sandwiches and wraps, pupusas, beef tacos and chicken mushroom empanadas. Of course, a full menu of hot and cold coffee drinks, teas and cocoa is available, as are beer and wine during happy hour. The menu for the new Rockville location is still under wraps as of this morning.

Bambu Che, Coffees, Teas & More and Nature Kitchen coming to Rockville

Two new tenants are coming soon to Towne Plaza on Rockville Pike. Bambu Che, Coffees, Teas & More will be opening next to Navy Federal. This is yet another addition to the Asian dining options in Rockville. In fact, Bambu has a location in Rockville's rival for top Asian dining destination in the region, Annandale.

What is che? It is a term describing Vietnamese beverages, dessert drinks and puddings made with either fresh coconut water or coconut milk. Unusual drinks include the Smashed Avocado with boba and jellies, and Longan Sunrise with longan, basil seed and juice. Don't forget the Red Bean Combo beverage with red beans, taro, pandan jelly and coconut milk. This is definitely a new set of flavors for Rockville.

Also coming aboard at Towne Plaza is Nature Kitchen at 12238 Rockville Pike. There's no public information about Nature Kitchen, although I've been told it is a Korean restaurant. Given the Asian restaurant boom in Rockville, I would not be surprised if that is correct. Stay tuned for more details.

Rockville construction update: AutoZone (Photos)

The exterior of the future AutoZone store at 824 Rockville Pike looks ready to go. There's much more to be done inside the store, however. This was formerly the Patio.com store across from Wintergreen Plaza. AutoZone is currently hiring for all positions.

I couldn't be more pleased as the market continues to invest in the successful "old" Rockville Pike economic model, rather than the urbanization developers sought in a nearly-decade-long battle over the Rockville Pike Plan. Thanks to some of the sharp members of the Rockville Planning Commission, developers didn't get everything they wanted, but the option to urbanize at a more modest scale is still available to them. Yet B.F. Saul is the only development firm that is even daring to go urban on the Pike so far. Perhaps reality is setting in, that having 9 competing urban town centers along the Pike just isn't viable or sustainable, as I predicted years ago.

Perhaps it's because investors recognize that Rockville Pike - not the new urban "town centers" around the state - is the commercial revenue engine of the entire state of Maryland. Those "massive seas of surface parking" remain jammed full of cars seven days a week at aging strip centers like Congressional Plaza, Ritchie Center, Edmonston Crossing and Federal Plaza, to name just a very few. Asian food hall Pike Kitchen is drawing crowds, no residential-on-top necessary. The gigantic former Rockville Ford dealership site, a prime "smart growth" transit-oriented development property, ended up firmly in the 1970s with Roy Rogers and auto repair shops.

It's intriguing that successful Pike & Rose, unlike Federal Realty's struggling Rockville Town Square, presents an old-Pike face to drivers passing by. What do they see? Old-Pike retailers like big box REI with surface parking, and even an auto dealership. Having arguably the best line-up of restaurants on one property in the county hasn't hurt Pike & Rose, and the Pike has always been a dining destination.

Now, here comes AutoZone. It's not Barcelona, but Barcelona wishes they had "old" Rockville Pike.

AT&T to modify and add cell towers in White Flint

AT&T is planning to modify its existing cell towers on the water tank at 11400 Woodglen Drive in the White Flint area of Rockville. They will replace six antennas with new ones, the tips of which will be a maximum height of 113' above ground level. AT&T also plans to add new remote radio head units to the water tank. The tank and towers are in view of several residential buildings, particularly North Bethesda Market, which is diagonally across the street.

Rockville Pike southbound ramp to E. Jefferson Street to close

Update: April 4, 2019: The City of Rockville has issued a correction stating that the actual closure is of the southbound ramp from MD 355 to Veirs Mill Road. The detour is to take 355 to First Street, and then make a right onto eastbound Veirs Mill.

Starting tomorrow, April 2, 2019, the southbound ramp from Rockville Pike (MD 355) to E. Jefferson Street (MD 28) will close for several weeks. The Maryland State Highway Administration will be resurfacing the ramp and upgrading safety features during the closure. Drivers are advised by the SHA to use a detour of Veirs Mill Road to First Street to Rockville Pike to get around the closure.

During the project, there will also be intermittent closures of the northbound right lane of MD 355 near Church Street, and mid-day and overnight temporary closures of single lanes of MD 355 between MD 28 and Mannakee Street for resurfacing and concrete work. Those closures will continue through the fall, while the ramp to MD 28 should reopen in mid-spring.

Montgomery County headlines:

Fascino closes at Montgomery Mall

Free Starbucks coffee 24 hours a day? Living the dream in Silver Spring

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Russell Hamill named acting police chief of Montgomery County

A familiar face to Rockville residents has just been named acting chief of police for Montgomery County. Assistant Chief Russell E. Hamill, III officially assumed that role at 12:00 AM this morning, according to a statement from the Montgomery County Police Department. Hamill has been a member of the force since 1986.

Hamill began his police career in Rockville, first as a Sheriff's deputy, and then as a County officer in the 1st District. He was assigned to Montgomery County's first community policing unit, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Rockville. In August 2007, Hamill was named Commander of the 2nd District, which includes Bethesda, Chevy Chase, most of Potomac, Kensington and a small part of Silver Spring. During that time he was often found at community and civic association meetings to brief residents on public safety issues.

Hamill is expected to remain acting Chief until a nationwide search for a new police chief is completed. He is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County.

Photo courtesy MCPD