Madison Reed Color Bar coming to Rockville

Color is the new blowout. Madison Reed Color Bar, a coloring-only salon concept, recently opened its first DC-area location at Bethesda Row. Rockville residents won't be missing out much longer, though. The chain has just signed a lease at Congressional Plaza.

Madison Reed Color Bar will be located between Noodles & Company and the future Barnes & Noble bookstore. A spring opening is expected. The chain's concept is "stunning color, free of harsh chemicals."

More headlines

from Suburban News Network:

Chevy Chase strip of vacant storefronts once touted as "Montgomery County's Rodeo Drive" suffers biggest blow yet as anchor tenant Friendship Heights Giant has closed, as moribund MoCo economy continues to tank

Wheaton Plaza to celebrate Chinese New Year in grand style

Pier 1 stores in Rockville, Gaithersburg to close

Montgomery County's moribund economy is hitting the home furnishings sector. Pier 1 Imports is closing in Rockville and Gaithersburg; both stores have disappeared from the Pier 1 website Store Locator. No official announcement or closing date for either store has been issued by Pier 1's corporate office.

It's interesting that Pier 1 stores in areas with booming economies like Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Waldorf, Bowie, Pasadena, Laurel and Columbia - to name just a few - are remaining open in our region. Pier 1 has been a fixture in Rockville as long as I can remember. 

The pending closures would have come as a shock if it were not for the widespread consensus that Montgomery County's economy has stagnated, according to every relevant benchmark of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics over the last decade. Montgomery County has suffered a net loss of retail jobs since the turn of the century, according to the Maryland Retailers Association.

Derwood armed robbery video released by police

Montgomery County police detectives have released surveillance video from a brazen, daytime armed robbery of a beer and wine store in Derwood. A man with a covered face brandishing a handgun entered Midway Beer and Wine at 16057 Frederick Road around 2:29 PM on January 2, 2020. He allegedly threatened two employees, and demanded cash.

The alleged getaway car

Receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled the store and sped off in a metallic brown Nissan Altima, model year 2016 or later. Detectives say they believe there was a getaway driver waiting in the Altima on Frederick Road.

Anyone with information regarding the suspects or this armed robbery is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5100. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest in this case.

Derwood McDonald's reopening in six days

The McDonald's at 15801 Frederick Road in Derwood looks just about ready to open after its remodeling. That's because it is! The restaurant will reopen in six days. Celebrate with a Big Mac!

Mayor & Council approve grant to keep Aronson, LLC in Rockville Town Center

Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton and City Council members voted unanimously last night to approve a $50,000 grant to accounting firm Aronson, LLC. The investment is designed to keep Aronson from moving their headquarters elsewhere, and to keep their employees in Town Center to support the restaurants in that area.

Mayor & Council to consider $50K grant to retain Rockville accounting firm

Rockville's Mayor and Council will consider approving a $50,000 financial grant to an accounting firm, in order to keep their headquarters in Rockville Town Center. Aronson, LLC is currently headquartered at 111 Rockville Pike. The firm currently employs 206 people with an average salary of $87502.

If the firm can stay put, it is promising to add around 40 new full-time positions over the next five years. Aronson is also in the process of obtaining grants from the state of Maryland and Montgomery County.

City staff argue that retaining Aronson is important due to the expected relocation of several County government departments to a new County office building in Wheaton this summer. To that end, one of the conditions of the City grant will be that Aronson agree not to add an in-house cafeteria for at least five years, so that employees will continue to patronize Town Center-area restaurants at lunchtime.

The Mayor & Council already set aside $50,000 in incentives for Aronson in its FY-2020 budget. Tonight, at their 7:00 PM meeting at City Hall, they will consider giving final approval to city staff to execute the incentive agreement.

Atlanta's Gypsy Kitchen to expand to D.C.

Gypsy Kitchen, a Mediterranean restaurant and bar chain based in Atlanta, is expanding to Washington, D.C. They will open this spring in the former Masa 14 space at 1825 14th Street N.W. Gypsy Kitchen's pan-Mediterranean cuisine will draw on Greek, Moroccan, Indian,
Middle Eastern and other regional flavors.

Summer Pitim Stew

Southern Proper Hospitality is the restaurant group behind the chain. Its COO Alex Curley is not a stranger to 14th Street, having played a role there before in the opening of Barcelona Wine Bar.

Small plates assortment

Service at Gypsy Kitchen's launch will include dinner, weekend brunch and happy hour. Its 6400 SF dining area and 1100 SF rooftop deck will hold 217 guests.

Photos by Erik Meadows Photography