Originally built in 1952, the Glenmont Shopping Center, known for its iconic “Arcade” sign, holds fond memories for county residents who grew up between the 1950s and 1990s. However, over the past two decades, many have called for the area’s redevelopment. Enter The Montgonion, a satirical news website known for its fictional and humorous takes on Montgomery County’s current events, social issues, and politics. The site decided to “step in” with a tongue-in-cheek update on the future of the shopping center.
In September 2023, the website published a satirical article announcing that plans for the “Glenmont Galleria,” an eight-story mall, cleared the County Council and would soon be built on Georgia Avenue between its intersections with Layhill Road and Randolph Road. The story has since taken a life of its own.
The Montgonion wrote that “Glenmont Galleria will boast a distinctive collection of high-end retail shops that includes over 30 exclusive-to-market designers like Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Tiffany & Co. The mall anchors include Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Nordstrom.” In the last year, we’ve received about a dozen messages asking us about the plans as a whole or specific questions about the businesses that would be involved with the make-believe mall.
Last week, a “coming soon” banner for the Glenmont Galleria (shown in our featured photo) was placed in front of the shopping center. An article was even published in The Patch announcing the sign was up for the upcoming mall that would “include anchors Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Nordstrom” and noted that “The Galleria will also have a bowling alley and indoor ski center.”
An update earlier this week by The Montgonion shared the news of the sign being vandalized, with an offer for a reward. Though the sign was actually partially destroyed, the fictional Wheaton Sheriff’s Office isn’t really offering a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the vandal– in case the line between reality and fiction has been blurred for you.
We caught up with the publisher of The Montgonion, who shared a little insight as to why the initial article was ever written. “I grew up in Montgomery County. I bowled at Tuffy Leemans. It was a wonderful shopping center that everybody went to. It has been a blight on the county in the last two decades and it has gotten so much worse in the last five years.” he said. “There are so many beautiful new things in MoCo with plans for so many more, but none of it is coming to Glenmont. I just want to create a conversation around Glenmont, so that something could happen.”
The article, which the publisher tells us has been read by more than 20,000 people in the last year, has received quite the response with several people not realizing that it’s satire. Some are saying “Thank goodness something is finally happening” while others are unhappy with the high end stores that are being advertised “Wait a minute, this is gentrification. Why is Bloomingdale’s opening in Glenmont?”
The actual redevelopment of the Glenmont Shopping Center has faced several challenges. The shopping center is owner by several entities and is part of a broader area that requires careful planning and zoning changes. Long-term redevelopment often involves rezoning for mixed-use projects, which can be a slow and bureaucratic process involving county approvals and community input. Redevelopment proposals often have to balance the interests of existing residents, businesses, and stakeholders. Local communities sometimes push back against certain development plans, particularly if they fear displacement or loss of the area’s character.
As the satirical saga of the “Glenmont Galleria” continues to gain attention, it highlights the real frustrations and hopes surrounding the long-stalled redevelopment of the Glenmont Shopping Center. While the fictional mall will never materialize, the public response underscores a desire for change by many in the area. The Montgonion’s playful take on the issue has sparked conversations, but the future of Glenmont remains uncertain.