Lego Store opening at Montgomery Mall

New York may be getting Legoland this year, but Montgomery Mall is getting a Lego Store. Mall owner Westfield says a lease has been signed for a Lego Store at the property, and it will open this fall. According to Westfield, the store will offer products for Lego fans of all ages, and will be located on Level 1 of the mall.

Photo courtesy Westfield

Federal Realty expands leadership team

Mike Ennes

Rockville-based development firm Federal Realty Investment Trust - owner of multiple properties in Montgomery County, including Bethesda Row, Plaza del Mercado and Rockville Town Square - announced yesterday that it is expanding its leadership team. Vice-President, Residential Mike Ennes has been promoted to Senior VP, Mixed-Use Initiatives and Corporate Communications. Senior Director of Development Jay Brinson was also promoted, to VP of Development.

Jay Brinson

Ennes came to Federal Realty in 2015 from Tysons-based Hilton Worldwide. Federal's Pike & Rose property features a Canopy by Hilton hotel. "Mike was sourced from the hospitality industry to better integrate Federal's various residential offerings into its burgeoning mixed-use portfolio," Federal Realty's president and chief executive officer Don Wood said in a statement Wednesday.

Wood cited Brinson as "critical to the delivery of 909 Rose, our first trophy office building at Pike and Rose." Federal Realty is relocating its Rockville headquarters into that building.

Photos via Federal Realty/LinkedIn

Bella Sena boutique opens at Rockville Town Square

Bella Sena boutique has opened at Rockville Town Square. Owned by Bethesda resident Bella Sayag, Bella Sena carries casual and activewear apparel, hats, handbags and jewelry among its inventory. Bella Sena is located at 156 Gibbs Street, which was most recently home to Sunday Kitchen & Bath.

Fighter jets over DC, Montgomery County, N. Virginia after State of the Union rattle residents

Significant fighter jet activity over the Washington, D.C. area around 11:00 PM Tuesday night had many residents seeking answers, answers that are not forthcoming as of this writing. President Trump's State of the Union address had ended earlier, and the commander-in-chief was presumably already back at the White House by the time the jet flyovers began. It was not surprising to hear jets deployed, but they have not been heard to this extent following other recent State of the Union speeches.

The noise was somewhat reminiscent of the weeks following 9/11. It continued for about 15 minutes, paused for a few minutes, and then resumed for about 5 more minutes - at least over Montgomery County. Based on social media chatter, the jets were heard in the District and Northern Virginia, as well. Following the jet flyovers, commercial airliners were heard resuming landings at Reagan National Airport, in greater numbers than one usually hears along the Potomac after 11:00 PM.

A Google News search finds no news articles on the jet noise. In a tweet, Oriana Pawlyk, an air war reporter for Military.com, suggested the fighters may have been F-16s from Andrews Air Force Base.

Ourisman Mazda building new showroom on Rockville Pike

Another Rockville auto dealership is getting a new look. Ourisman VW/Mazda at 801 Rockville Pike is building a new Mazda showroom. They remain open for business during the construction.

Pinnacle Pictures, Luxury Beauty & Nails open at Montgomery Mall; EJJI Ramen, UASIS close

EJJI Ramen closure official,

Luxury Beauty & Nails and

Pinnacle Pictures open

Two spas played musical chairs over the weekend at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. When the music stopped, one no longer has a spot. And a third spa opened. UASIS Day Spa has closed permanently. However, I'm told that the stylists at UASIS have moved to UA Salon and Day Spa, Ricky Alessandro Salon, and Avalon Lifestyle Nail Salon & Spa, all of which are located in Montgomery Mall.

Infinite Beauty closed on Level 2. But Infinite Beauty has another location by Nordstrom, Boutique Spa by Infinite Beauty.

Infinite Beauty's alternative
location - Boutique Spa by Nordstrom

Can't find your old stylist or technician at the new locations? Find someone new at the brand-new Luxury Beauty and Nails, in between Jamba Juice and Candy World.

Luxury Beauty and Nails
just opened

Finally, there's more bad news on the closing front at the mall. The closure of EJJI Ramen became official this weekend, when Westfield erected a wall around their former space in the Dining Terrace.

Can we end with some good business news, often in short supply thanks to our anti-business Montgomery County Council? Pinnacle Pictures has opened at the mall. Annoy our corrupt County Council by supporting local business and dropping a few bills on photo products here.

Da Yu Hot Pot opening Rockville location

Da Yu Hot Pot, a Chinese restaurant chain with over 300 location in China is now expanding to our side of the Pacific Ocean. Rockville, New York and Boston are the first cities to experience the Chongqing cuisine of this company founded at the turn of the century.

New York's Da Yu opened first last September, and has earned a 4-star average rating on Yelp from Manhattan diners. Construction is underway now at 1701 Rockville Pike. Da Yu will be in the vacant REI space, a few doors down from the EVEN Hotel. Have we now officially topped Annandale as the top Asian dining destination in the DC region? The case can be made.