Author: MCS Staff

Restaurants

New Restaurant By The People Behind Zinnia and Republic To Open This Spring

By MCS Staff

Restaurateur Chris Brown (Zinnia, Soko & Takoma Bev Co) and Executive Chef Danny Wells (Republic, Zinnia and Takoma Bev Co.) team up to launch a new restaurant with a bold name, Motorkat. Motorkat will be located in the heart of Takoma Park in the space formerly home to Republic restaurant (6939 Laurel Ave). The Motorkat concept is inspired by Takoma Park’s activist roots and the menu will revolve around a high quality sourced raw bar and a seasonally-led wood-fired culinary experience. Its bar program will feature extraordinarily balanced cocktails with irreverent names and a unique local rotating draft beer program. The restaurant is aiming for a spring 2023 soft opening (photos below).

“The city is well known for its affinity to symbolize animal inspired heroes like city mascot Roscoe the Rooster, but Motorkat was first,” said Danny Wells, Co-owner, Executive Chef and Takoma Park native. “Motorkat is a legend, who cruised the streets of Takoma Park on a motorcycle, inspiring the community around her to live fast. We centered our concept around this symbolism and the progressive roots of Takoma Park.”

Go to New Restaurant By The People Behind Zinnia and Republic To Open This Spring Read more
Potomac

Capo Deli Moves Closer to Opening in Cabin John Village

By MCS Staff

Almost a year ago, we let you know that Capo Italian Deli will be opening a new location in Cabin John Village. It will be taking over the location that was previously home to Goldberg’s New York Bagels, which closed last year, at 7731 Tuckerman Lane. While an opening date isn’t yet available, the deli has a hearing with Montgomery County’s ABS for a Class BD, Beer, Wine & Liquor License, Beer & Wine On/Off Sale and Liquor On-Sale Only. The hearing will take place at 10am on Thursday, March 16z

The Italian delicatessen was previously available for carryout and delivery in Montgomery County out of sister restaurant Brickside Food & Drink (4866 Cordell Ave) in Bethesda. The deli’s first location opened at 715 Florida Ave in NW, DC.  Using a a prohibition style speakeasy gimmick, the deli their old school Italian deli as a “front” to it’s back bar. Capo gained attention in the area in the summer of 2020 for their popular “Fauci Pouchy” carryout cocktails. The deli has since opened a Western Market location and has a Tyson’s Corner location coming soon. The menu includes Italian classics like Chicken Parmigiano, Hot Italian Beef, Prosciutto & Provolone, and more.

Go to Capo Deli Moves Closer to Opening in Cabin John Village Read more
Restaurants

Naz’s Halal Sets Opening Date for White Oak Location; Offering Free Food For Two Hours on Opening Day

By MCS Staff

After a little bit of a wait for eager diners, Naz’s Halal has let us know that the restaurant at 11209 New Hampshire Ave in White Oak, the former location of White Oak Dry Cleaners, will hold its Grand Opening on Saturday, March 11th. The restaurant will also be offering free food from 12pm-2pm on the same day (QR code for free food below). Naz’s Halal offers rice platters, sandwiches, gyros, wings, salads, and more.

The first location outside of New York was also in MoCo, at the Burtonsville Town Center, next to Tropical Smoothie Cafe. That location opened in August 2020 and has become a local favorite with late night hours. The restaurant has since opened locations in Rockville and Germantown with an additional MoCo location planned for Takoma Park (7653 New Hampshire Ave).

Go to Naz’s Halal Sets Opening Date for White Oak Location; Offering Free Food For Two Hours on Opening Day Read more
Real Estate

145K SF Building on Rockville Pike to be Auctioned Later This Month

By MCS Staff

A property in Rockville, known as the Rockville Center, will be auctioned on March 23, 2023 10:30am EDT at the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, at the Court House Door, 50 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850. BizJournals refers to the building as representing the remnants of Rockville Mall.

It consists of a vacant office building compromised of approximately 145,491 square feet, located on approximately 2.5 acres at 255 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20850. It includes underground parking for approximately 447 vehicles.  According to the online listing by Alex Cooper, It was believed to have been built in 1987 and renovated in 1998.

Go to 145K SF Building on Rockville Pike to be Auctioned Later This Month Read more
Crime

Teenager Arrested for Food Truck Armed Robberies

By MCS Staff

Chief Antonio DeVaul from the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrest of a 16-year-old male juvenile from Hyattsville, Maryland, for armed robbery.  The defendant was involved with food truck armed robberies in Takoma Park and Montgomery County.  The defendant has been charged as an adult.

During January and February 2023, investigators from Takoma Park and Montgomery County Police Departments have been investigating several commercial armed robberies of food trucks.  During the course of the investigation, detectives developed the defendant as the suspect responsible for the armed robberies. During the first week of March 2023, Takoma Park Police detectives and Montgomery County Police detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging the defendant with the armed robberies of:

Go to Teenager Arrested for Food Truck Armed Robberies Read more
Education

Board of Education Receives Presentation From MCPS Staff Highlighting 2021-2022 School Year and Factors Driving Change in the School District

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Board of Education received a presentation from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff and held a discussion on the district’s interactive online 2021-2022 Annual Report to the Community. The Annual Report to the Community includes highlights from the 2021-2022 school year and the factors driving change in the district. The report provides the community with information about the district—student performance data, operational performance data, and the steps the district has taken to fulfill the vision and mission of MCPS.

The report is designed to be an easily accessible digital compendium of information and key system, student, and staff data points for the 2021–2022 school year. It aggregates the information to view the 2021–2022 school year comprehensively. Key sections of the Annual Report are:

Go to Board of Education Receives Presentation From MCPS Staff Highlighting 2021-2022 School Year and Factors Driving Change in the School District Read more
Crime

Guilty Plea in Rape of Teenager in Rockville

By MCS Staff

Defendant, Caden Riley, 19, of Rockville, has pleaded guilty to the charge of second-degree rape for an attack on a 16-year-old girl who was a stranger to him. Riley entered his guilty plea on Friday, March 3, 2023, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the judge John Maloney. He faces up to ten years in prison when he is sentenced on July 28th, 2023.

This stems from an incident on April 16th, 2022. The defendant was 18 years old at the time and assaulted the victim after encountering her on a pedestrian bridge along Glenmore Terrace in Rockville. Featured photo, courtesy of Google Maps, shows Glenmore Terrace.

Go to Guilty Plea in Rape of Teenager in Rockville Read more
Events

BMX Racer/Olympic Coach Tony Hoffman to Lead Community Talk on Opioid Prevention Wednesday Night at Gaithersburg High School

By MCS Staff

The City’s Community Services Division, in partnership with the Montgomery County Goes Purple Initiative, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and Montgomery County Public Schools, is hosting a parent & community talk focused on opioid prevention on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 6 p.m. at Gaithersburg High School, 101 Education Boulevard. The community talk will be led by Tony Hoffman, former professional BMX racer, U.S. Olympic coach, and person in long-term recovery. Hoffman has dedicated his life to bringing awareness around the country, describing how dangerous prescription pill and heroin abuse is and advocating for a shift in thinking towards current addiction-recovery processes. He will speak on teen mental health and substance use connections and resilience.

The event will also include the Community Opioid Prevention Education (COPE) Trailerand youth enrichment and support information through Identity, Inc. and the City. Interpretation support will be available in Spanish. Register for the free event here. In conjunction with the parent & community event, Hoffman will lead assemblies for middle and high school students throughout the week of March 6. A special session will also take place at The Landing, an adolescent recovery program located in Gaithersburg.

Go to BMX Racer/Olympic Coach Tony Hoffman to Lead Community Talk on Opioid Prevention Wednesday Night at Gaithersburg High School Read more
Gaithersburg

City of Gaithersburg Launches Strategic Plan Public Dashboard

By MCS Staff

Through a collaborative process involving elected officials, employees, and stakeholders throughout the community, the Strategic Plan was designed to reflect the City’s collective long-term goals and the actions needed in order to achieve them. Each Outcome Area consists of one or more actionable strategies that reflect numerous activities, programs and projects that are carried out across all City departments. View the current Plan here.

 

Go to City of Gaithersburg Launches Strategic Plan Public Dashboard Read more
Gaithersburg

Christmas Lights Cause Exterior Fire on Monday Night

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a house fire on Foxlair Rd, off of Huntmaster Rd, in the Gaithersburg/Laytonsville area at approximately 9:45 on Monday night after a passerby reported the house on fire.

According to MCFRA Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the situation involved the exterior of the home being on fire due to decorative Christmas lights. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire “mostly out”, and completed extinguishing what was left. There were no injuries, but there was approximately $25k incurred in damage.

Go to Christmas Lights Cause Exterior Fire on Monday Night Read more
View More Stories