Under Armour store is "bigger and better" at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Under Armour has moved back to its original spot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The sporting goods store gave up its larger, custom-designed storefront on Level 1 for a few months so it could be remodeled, and moved to a smaller space upstairs. Now it has reopened downstairs again, and the updated store is "bigger and better" than ever before, according to the Baltimore-based retailer.

Rockville shooting suspect sought by police

Montgomery County police detectives are asking for the public's help in locating the suspect in a shooting in Rockville last Friday night, October 7, 2022 around 9:20 PM. Minutes later, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 12900 block of Twinbrook Parkway. The first officer to arrive at the scene saw a black male, approximately 30 years of age, with short black hair. This individual was also wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, and a baseball cap.

The officer noticed the man was allegedly holding a black handgun with an extended magazine down at his side. As the officer exited his unmarked vehicle, the man began to raise his arm to point the gun at the officer. When the officer identified himself, and ordered the man to drop his weapon, the man complied but fled on foot.

Upon examination, detectives determined the gun was a black "Privately Made Firearm (PMF)" with a 30-round extended magazine. County and Rockville City police officers who scoured the area located multiple shell casings.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Montgomery County Police-1st District Investigative Section at (240) 773-6084. 

Socks to Be You opens store at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Socks to Be You has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The sock chain has popped up in malls all over America in the last few years, selling themed and character socks for all ages and nearly all interests. Theme categories currently available include Halloween Socks, Cannabis Socks ("sock" a pair away for Election Night, when Maryland voters are expected to overwhelmingly approve legalization of marijuana in the state), Politics Socks, Outdoor Socks and Mom and Dad Socks. 

All Socks to Be You socks are 80% cotton, "100% odor free," and made with environmentally-sensitive materials. Individual sock pairs include Cookie Monster, Make America Sane Again, Going Country or Going Home and OK Boomer. Look for Socks to Be You on Level 2 of the mall, right across from Auntie Anne's.

Psycho Bunny opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Psycho Bunny has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The New York-based men's apparel brand boasts that it invented the "perfect polo," and then went on to create an expansive line of t-shirts and shorts. Their products have been sold at Nordstrom, but now they have their own store at the mall. Like GAP's team-up with Kanye West, Psycho Bunny often collaborates with celebrities in the art and music fields, including James Goldcrown, Daddy Yankee, Mich Miller, Swims, and Buff Monster.

Fire at Montgomery County dump in Rockville

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service units responded to a fire at the Montgomery County Shady Grove Transfer Station at 16101 Frederick Road in Rockville at noon today. More than twelve units responded to the incident at the County's main refuse disposal site, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the fire was in a large trash compactor on the lower level of the facility. 

Heavy equipment, including front-end loaders, had to be brought in to fully extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported.

Rockville office building owner seeks height exemption for rooftop biotech equipment

Here is some good news from the King Farm area of Rockville. Instead of yet another request to convert office zoning to residential use, an office building landlord is seeking a waiver from the City of Rockville that could instead increase the number of high-wage jobs in King Farm. Banyan Street Capital has requested a height waiver for its existing office building at 805 King Farm Boulevard. It is seeking the waiver to allow additional rooftop equipment for a biotech tenant's needs, and a higher rooftop screen wall to block that equipment from view for aesthetic reasons.

In a letter to the Rockville Planning Commission, Banyan Street's attorney, Pat Harris, says that the waiver and new rooftop equipment are "vital to the Applicant’s intended research and development (“R&D”) uses within the building, and the expansion of life science uses in the greater King Farm community." She adds that the new 12' Envel-paneled rooftop screen wall will be designed to closely match the exterior skin of the office building.

Banyan Street Capital completed its acquisition of four office properties in the King Farm employment zone earlier this year. It is making upgrades and amenity enhancements at all of those properties, in what it has branded as The District at King Farm. In addition to the rooftop equipment, Banyan Street says it will be opening a new cafe in the 805 King Farm Boulevard building.

The Planning Commission will consider the waiver request at its October 26, 2022 meeting. It is likely to approve the request, as it voted to allow a similar exemption for sister building 800 King Farm Boulevard in November 2021. A potentially great opportunity for more King Farm residents to be able to walk to high-paying jobs, which was one of the original visions for the community.

Aggravated assault with gun at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall Tuesday night, October 4, 2022, after an aggravated assault with a firearm was reported there. The assault was reported at 8:36 PM. This is the 10th assault reported at the mall since May 18. The police department announced it had opened a "resource room" at the mall in August.