Signage installed at Fogo de Chão in Rockville

The signs are up at the future Fogo de Chão Brazilian steakhouse at Pike & Rose. Work continues on the interior of the space at 11600 Old Georgetown Road, which was previously the Nike Factory Store and City Sports.

While the churrascaria fad hit the District and other major cities a number of years back, Fogo de Chão's arrival here caps off Pike & Rose's status as having arguably the best set of dining options at a single development in the county. Del Frisco's Grille, City Perch, Kusshi, Owen's Ordinary, Nada, JINYA Ramen Bar, Baked Bear, Summer House, Stella Barra, and a future Asian dining hall are just some of the top-rated options on-site.

AutoZone opens on Rockville Pike

AutoZone has opened its first Rockville store at 824 Rockville Pike. This is good news for automobile owners, and a sharp blow to the Montgomery County political cartel which banned Walmart from opening any more stores in MoCo. Two planned Walmarts on Rockville Pike and in Aspen Hill were deep-sixed by the County Council earlier this decade, forcing their constituents to continue overpaying for groceries.

Unlike the County Council's successful efforts to keep grocery prices high and moving higher (Walmart customers save an average of over $12 per week on groceries compared to customers of Giant, Safeway, etc.), the arrival of AutoZone will push a downward force on auto accessory prices in the city.  Not everyone is making six-figure, taxpayer-funded salaries like our elected officials, who shop at Whole Foods and hipster upscale markets.

MoCo Planning Board to discuss 6-month pilot allowing ebikes/scooters on trails

The Montgomery County Planning Board will discuss a proposed six-month pilot program that would allow e-bikes and electric scooters to operate on some County trails at their meeting this Thursday, May 9, 2019. Montgomery County is still working out an agreement with four dockless e-bike companies for the pilot. If approved by the board, the pilot could begin as early as this month.

Only bikes powered by rechargeable battery will be allowed on the trails during the pilot. The trails selected are the Matthew Henson Trail (Aspen Hill/Silver Spring), Sligo Creek Trail (only the Montgomery County section), Long Branch Trail, Rock Creek Trail, and the paved sections of the Northwest Branch Trail within Montgomery County. Signs will be posted at the selected trails, and public announcements will be made by County government agencies, at least two weeks prior to the start of the program, County officials say.

Paved surface trails where e-bikes
and e-scooters could be used during
the six-month pilot program

Planning staff says that the trails selected are more often used for longer distance trips through stream valleys. The Parks Department wants to evaluate the results and user feedback before allowing the electric bikes on busier trails like the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda. They'll be examining conflicts with other trail users, rules violations, safety, logistics, and personal vs. commercial use.

Gas scooters and electric hoverboards and skateboards will remain illegal on all County trails during the pilot. Bikes cannot have throttle assist mechanisms.

The groundwork for the pilot was laid by a related park directive approved two years ago by the board. Staff are recommending approval of the pilot program.

Loyal Companion pet store opening Saturday in Rockville

Loyal Companion is replacing Bark! at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. The new store will host a grand opening celebration tomorrow, Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and on Sunday, May 5, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Loyal Companion aims to be a one-stop shop for pet owners, offering everything from pet food and toys to grooming and training classes.

Sears sign being removed at closed Montgomery Mall store (Photos)

Sears has been closed for several months at Westfield Montgomery Mall. But workers have now begun removing the iconic sign from the department store's facade.

Smashburger Rockville closed - for good?

Smashburger at 1800-A Rockville Pike has been closed for a number of weeks. But a sign in the window insists the closure is temporary, while giving no rational explanation for the situation.

Everything inside the restaurant is still there, from furniture to still-lit menu boards. There's even a contrary banner declaring the restaurant is open, strangely enough. Given the tight profit margins in the restaurant field - and the high cost of doing business in Montgomery County, it is rare that a restaurant can afford to close for any extended period and make a comeback.

Smashburger had entered the County with high hopes several years ago. But in moribund MoCo, each of their locations has wound up closing over time. Sometimes it seems the only business owners making a profit besides the Council's developer sugar daddies are the folks who print those now-ubiquitous "Going out of business!" signs, which are plastered in windows countywide these days.

More Montgomery County headlines:

Rockville Town Square's Gaithersburg arch rival boards-up for summer

How did our "Green" County Council miss polluter in their own backyard?

Suburban News Network - MoCo's leading local news source

Sprint store closes at Montgomery Mall, more signs of Eyebobs

Another retail closure in
Montgomery County

Not even the traitorous Verizon Guy could save Sprint from the moribund Montgomery County economy. The Sprint store at Westfield Montgomery Mall has permanently closed. Montgomery County has suffered a net loss of retail jobs since 2000, according to the Maryland Retailers Association.

In other mall news, future tenant Eyebobs has installed some Coming Soon signage at their space. Eyebobs aims to be the Warby Parker of the suburban mall.