The development of Rockville Town Square came following the demolition of the Rockville Mall in 1995, when local residents initiated discussions that laid the groundwork for revitalizing the downtown area. Though it has had its difficulties with restaurant and retail tenants in recent years, things seem to be trending in the right direction. Below, we’ll list some of the tenants originally planned for Rockville Town Square.
In 2000, the city collaborated with consultants and stakeholders in an 18-month process that included forming committees, conducting surveys, and hosting public meetings. This effort culminated in the Rockville Town Center Master Plan, which aimed to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly center for activities throughout the day and evening.
The plan was officially adopted by the Rockville City Council in October 2001. The city then sought financial commitments from Montgomery County, the state, and the federal government to support the redevelopment. A “friendly condemnation” agreement with the existing retail center owner paved the way for a competition to select a private development partner.
In January 2003, RD Rockville was chosen to lead the project. After months of negotiations, a General Development Agreement was signed in September 2003, establishing a roadmap for construction to begin in early 2004. With significant county funding pledged, Rockville Town Square has become a realized vision of a thriving community hub, rooted in collaboration and trust among its partners. Starbucks was the first to open in 2007, followed by more than 40 other businesses. Some of the planned tenants can be seen below, courtesy of an old map by the City of Rockville:
Hollywood Tans
Superfresh
Five Guys
RTS Cleaners
Cloud 9 Clothing
Jouvence Aveda Day Spa
Gifford’s Ice Cream
Acqua Nails
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Town Square Jewelers
First Watch
Stonefish Grill
Chevy Chase Bank
Cosi
VisArts Too
La Flor De La Canela
Hair Cuttery
La Tasca
Library
Thai Pavilion
Lebanese Taverna
Bedheaders Home
Oro Pomodoro
Greystone Grill
Ten Thousand Villages
Wireless Outlet
Jerry’s Subs & Pizza
Waygoose
Primo Italiano
Love Your Eyes
Robeks
Bobby’s Crabcakes
Doc Green’s
Fractured Prune
Starbucks
CVS
Taste of Saigon
Gold’s Gym
Austin Grill
Red Orchard
Toy Kingdom
Pomegranite & Co
The Papery
Sushi Damo
Cottage Monet
Gordon Biersch
HSBD
