Raku AYCE Sushi & Japanese Buffet "coming soon" to Rockville

There's been a change in plans for the next chapter of the former Miller's Ale House building at 1471 Rockville Pike. Out is Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet, which had announced its intention to open in the former sports bar space this past spring. In is Raku AYCE Sushi & Japanese Buffet, a small Northeastern U.S. chain with existing restaurants in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Levittown, New York. From humble beginnings just last year, "Raku AYCE Sushi has gained the reputation as the most popular Japanese restaurant in New York," the company declares on its website. Raku, which may run into some confusion here with the local Raku sushi chain down the road, says its restaurants balance exotic ingredients delivered fresh each day with affordable prices.

Donutchew opens at Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Donutchew has opened in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The mochi donut chain's product is denser - and as the name suggests, chewier - than a traditional donut. They are made with glutinous rice flour, as opposed to the enriched wheat flour of a Krispy Kreme donut. Donutchew is in a kiosk that has seen heavy turnover in the last couple of years, but the company has had early success with its Rio Lakefront location in Gaithersburg.

Ốc & Crab Seafood Restaurant closes in Rockville

Ốc & Crab Seafood Restaurant has closed at 765-F Rockville Pike at the Ritchie Center. The Vietnamese restaurant only opened this past April. Another seafood establishment, Live Crawfish & Seafood, moved out of the same space a year ago. It had survived since 2017, and through the worst of the pandemic lockdown. Ốc are snails, the culinary stars of many popular dishes in Vietnam.

Wawa Gaithersburg signage, gas pumps installed ahead of December opening (Photos)

There are real "signs" of progress at the construction site of Montgomery County's first Wawa at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. The most visible to drivers passing on MD 355 is the roadside sign with the Wawa logo, and digital displays for gas prices. But the main logo sign is also now on the storefront of the convenience store, as well. Wawa-branded gas pumps have been installed, and safety bollards in line with the pumps. Above them is the Wawa logo signage for the gas station canopy. 

When will the Gaithersburg Wawa open? The chain's current target opening date is December 2023. There's still a not-insigniicant amount of paving and landscaping work to be done on the site. Let's see if they can get it done before the ball drops on New Year's Eve.

Police called after assault at Target in Rockville

Montgomery County police were called to the Target store at 5700 Bou Avenue in Rockville Monday evening, November 26, 2023, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The assault was reported at 7:44 PM Monday. At least one individual was also accused of shoplifting and fraud in the same incident at the store.

Rockville Giant store to add electric vehicle chargers

The Giant at 9719 Traville Gateway Drive will soon add two electric vehicle charging stations outside the store, which is located at the Traville Village Center in Rockville. Giant began a partnership with Volta Charging to provide EV charging stations at its stores in 2020. The alliance was expected to eventually deliver more than 200 charging stations at the Ahold-owned supermarket chain's locations.  

“Providing our shoppers and communities free electric charging services is part of Giant’s larger sustainability efforts,” Giant Food President Ira Kress said in a statement. “We are excited to offer our customers who opt for electric cars the satisfaction of quick and free charging while they shop. It’s a value for our shoppers that also benefits the environment.”

Strong-arm robbery in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in the Twinbrook area Saturday afternoon, November 25, 2023. The assault was reported in the 2100 block of Veirs Mill Road at 3:28 PM Saturday. That is in the commercial area around the Twinbrook Center.