News Corp acquiring Rockville-based OPIS

News Corp is acquiring the Rockville-based Oil Price Information Service, the company announced yesterday. OPIS, a subscription-based energy pricing and analytics service, was founded in 1977. News Corp, which is paying $1.150 billion for the service, plans to fold it into its Dow Jones Professional Information Business unit.

“OPIS will be the cornerstone for a rising commodities, energy and renewables digital business that we are convinced will have a positive impact on Dow Jones and News Corp,” News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson said in a statement Monday. “We certainly believe OPIS and Dow Jones will be more than the sum of their valuable parts." OPIS is located at 2099 Gaither Road, in the King Farm area of Rockville.

Rockville Amazon Fresh grocery store update (Photos)

Conversion of the Office Depot store into an Amazon Fresh supermarket continues at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road. The experience of the now-completed Chevy Chase location shows that it is a time-intensive process. 

For starters, plumbing hookups and employee spaces are much more complicated in a grocery store than in an office supply store. But due to the extensive proprietary tech utilized for monitoring and automatic checkout functions, installing all of the wiring for this alone took a major chunk of time at the Chevy Chase store. So this will be a longer job than converting a Shoppers to a Lidl, for example.

Gelato Galaxy coming to Montgomery Mall

Gelato Galaxy is coming to Bethesda. The space-themed frozen treat kiosk will be in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall. In addition to gelato, they will also have soft serve custard and Italian ice. There is also a purple alien mascot ready to bring the flavors of the galaxy to the mall food court. Harry Reid has been fully briefed on this UFO sighting by Luis Elizondo.

Frank Pepe's Pizzeria back on at Montgomery Mall

Is Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana still coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda? That's been one of the most frequently-asked questions since the pandemic threw the Connecticut-based pizza chain a curve ball in 2020. While construction has yet to begin inside the pizza parlor's future space on Level 1 at the mall, what I can tell you is that Frank Pepe has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on the application is scheduled for September 2, 2021.

Gutted interior of the future
Frank Pepe's Pizzeria space

Rockville construction update: Ansel Apartments (Photos)

Here's the latest look at the progress on the Ansel Apartments across from Regal Row in Rockville Town Center. Developed by Duball, LLC, the building will be managed by Bozzuto. Delivery is scheduled for this fall. I've heard that the leasing office may open as soon as next week.

Qdoba opening new Rockville location

Qdoba Mexican Eats is opening a second Rockville location. The chain has leased a corner space at the new Rock Grove shopping center at MD 355 and Shady Grove Road. A liquor license hearing for the restaurant has been scheduled for August 5, 2021. Qdoba has an existing location around where the much-missed Putt Putt Golf & Games used to be, at 128 Rollins Avenue.

Bethesda Bagels, European Wax Center under construction at Fallsgrove Village Center in Rockville

Interior fit-outs are underway at the future Bethesda Bagels and European Wax Center at the Fallsgrove Village Center in Rockville. These photos were taken about a week ago, and you can see they are both in the early stages of construction at this point. European Wax Center is slightly ahead, with interior walls already taking shape last week.