The development formerly known as Rockville Town Square announced a rebrand to The Square earlier this year. In the last year and a half, the development has seen additional changes that have led to an overall feeling of optimism as new tenants enter. Below, we’ll let you know of some of the newer establishments (since 2024) and what’s coming soon.
Wesley Yao, the co-owner of Kusshi Sushi, opened his newest location in the The Square last year. Kusshi took over the space that was home to popular sushi restaurant Sushi Damo at 36G Maryland Ave for over 15 years. “There has been plenty of foot traffic in Rockville Town Square. I didn’t advertise the soft opening and people who walked by just popped in” Yao said.
Little Miner Taco, located at at 39 Maryland Ave Ste A, also opened last year. Little Miner’s menu consists of Mexican street food, but they’re perhaps best known for their Birria De Res Queso tacos, which consist of braised beef and plenty of cheese, along with a consome for dipping.
Dirty Dough opened at 36B Maryland Ave this past winter. The cookie and dessert shop is located in the space that was the longtime home of Berry Cup, which closed in the summer of 2022. Dirty Dough cookies are engineered from the inside out, with every cookie featuring some combination of layers, mix-ins, or filling within the dough. “Experience the joy of making our customers happy when baking some of the best STUFFED cookies in the country as well as blending up some amazing Dirty Drinks and Milkshakes.”
Earlier this year, Viva Creative introduced a series of large-scale murals that add a dynamic visual layer to the rebranding effort. Created by talented local artists, these installations have turned The Square into a permanent, open-air gallery. As Morguard, the space’s managing entity, notes, “This reintroduction of The Square signals a long-term investment in public art, placemaking, and community engagement at the heart of the city.”
Trader Joe’s opened this June at 225 N. Washington St., in the space that was the longtime home of Dawson’s Market. The opening also saw parking lot improvements right outside of the grocery store. Known for its unique and affordable products, friendly service, and emphasis on organic and specialty items, this is now the fourth Trader Joe’s location in Montgomery County. It joins existing stores in Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, and another Rockville store on Darnestown Road (internally referred to as the North Potomac location).
Dolan Uyghur Cuisine opened its first Maryland restaurant at the Square last month. The restaurant, which specializes in authentic Uyghur dishes from Central Asia, is located at 20-A Maryland Ave in the space formerly occupied by Kung Fu Kitchen and Peter Chang Rockville. It is known for its unique culinary tradition, offering a wide array of dishes. Patrons can enjoy specialties such as hand-pulled noodles, flavorful chicken stew, handmade dumplings, and various kebabs including lamb, rib, and whole lamb tandoor. The menu also features dry-fried chicken and stir-fried lamb, alongside extensive vegan and halal options.
Fork & Kitchen is set to open at 150 Gibbs St. in Rockville Town Square, taking over the 6,500-square-foot space previously occupied by Ekó House and, before that, Bar Louie. Described as a new American restaurant with a Southern flare, Fork & Kitchen is expected to open in July, with menu highlights including fluffy pancakes and biscuits with honey butter. An opening date is not yet available.
Along with the rebranding and new tenants, parking policies have been updated, reducing the complimentary parking time from two hours to 90 minutes. A representative from Morguard explained the change, stating, “We recently adjusted our complimentary 2 hour parking to 90 minutes in response to increased foot traffic after the rebrand and new additions to The Square. The change is intended to improve parking turnover for guests. In addition to offering 90 minutes free, the hourly parking will continue to be low-cost.” Additional information here.
The strong stores and restaurants, along with the new tenants, have helped turn things around for The Square. However, the commercial district still faces the challenge of a few prominent vacancies. The large space once occupied by Gordon Biersch remains empty, as does the property that was once home to Austin Grill and the planned HalfSmoke restaurant. These two large, highly visible locations represent a significant opportunity for the area’s revitalization efforts and are a key focus for local businesses and developers looking to shape the future of The Square.
