Author: MCS Staff

Gaithersburg

Bath & Body Works in Lakeforest Postpones Closing Date

By MCS Staff

The Bath & Body Works location inside of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg was scheduled to close this Saturday, January 7, but that has been pushed back according to associates at the store. The new closing date is currently not available, but staff wanted customers to know that there are not any closing sales at the store at the moment. A new Bath & Body Works location will be opening in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown later this month. The new store will be located at 130 Crown Park Ave, in the location that was formerly home to Hair Cuttery, in between ZAGG and Warby Parker. Employees from this location will be transferred to the Germantown store at 20934 Frederick Rd.

Bath & Body Works offers its own brand of fragrances for the body and home. The brand is a consumer favorite for top-selling body products, including lotion, cream, wash, hand soap and hand sanitizer. The retailer is also known for its fragrance diffusers, fine fragrance mist and candles. Bath & Body Works will join Sweetgreen as an upcoming tenant in Downtown Crown.

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Crime

Germantown Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for the Illegal Possession and Distribution of Firearms and Drugs

By MCS Staff

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Dwight Luis Clarke, age 32, of Germantown, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and four counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Clarke admitted that he sold crack cocaine and seven firearms, including five privately manufactured firearms, known as “ghost guns” to an undercover law enforcement officer.

According to his plea agreement, during late 2021 and early 2022, Clarke was identified as a suspected trafficker of narcotics and firearms.  In February 2022, an ATF Special Agent, acting in an undercover capacity (the UC) contacted Clarke, who agreed to sell the UC crack cocaine and firearms.  During three meetings that month, Clarke sold the UC:  two privately made firearms (PMFs) that Clarke referred to as “ghost guns,” specifically, Polymer80 Inc. 9mm semi-automatic pistols, bearing no apparent serial numbers; a.22-caliber semi-automatic AR-style pistol; a 33 round 9mm extended magazine, which contained one 9mm cartridge; a .22-caliber extended AR-style magazine loaded with three .22-caliber cartridges, a .22LR caliber mini mag ammunition box containing 95 cartridges; a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and 44.48 grams of crack cocaine.

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North Bethesda

Rally in Support of Old Georgetown Road Safety Improvements (Added Bike Lanes) to Take Place Sunday, January 8

By MCS Staff

The Action Committee for Transit is hosting a rally in support of the Maryland State Highway Administration’s decision to improve safety on nearly two miles of MD 187 (Old Georgetown Road) in North Bethesda. The safety improvements on MD 187, between south of I-495 (Capital Beltway) and Nicholson Lane, converted one travel lane in each direction in order to add buffered bicycle lanes and the installation of flex posts to outline the new bicycle lanes.

“Please join us on Sunday, January 8, to show support for the State Highway Administration’s decision to enact a road diet when replacing a portion of Old Georgetown Road. Biking? Meet at 10:30 am at Medical Center Metro Or 11:00 am at Old Georgetown Rd & West Cedar Ln. Then ride the Old Georgetown bike lanes to Nicholson Ln and back! Walking or rolling? Meet at 11:15 am at Old Georgetown Rd & Tuckerman Ln, then walk or roll past future Woodward HS to Edson Ln (0.8 miles) or Nicholson Ln (1.6 miles) and back (Parking at Timberlawn Local Park, 10800 Gloxinia Dr) Short rally for safety at West Cedar Ln, after the ride!”

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MCFRS

Early Saturday Morning Fire Causes ~$25K in Damage, Displaces Two

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a fire on the 100 block of E Melbourne Ave off of Sudbury Rd in Silver Spring at approximately 2:30am on Saturday, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The fire was on the second floor and attic of the single family home and started as an electrical fire in the attic. Two occupants and a dog that lived in the home were able to get out without injury while the fire was extinguished. Damage totaled approximately $25K ($10K structural, $15K contents). The two adults and dog will be displaced.

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Germantown

KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot Moves Closer Toward Opening in Germantown

By MCS Staff

Last summer we let you know that KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot will be opening a second MoCo location, taking over the space that was previously occupied by Honey Pig at 19727 Frederick Rd #1337 in the Fox Chapel shopping center. Honey Pig closed permanently in November of 2021 after five years at the location. The restaurant, which is not owned by the same franchisee as the Rockville location, is moving closer towards opening as it has a hearing for a Class B, Beer, Wine & Liquor License at 11:30am on January 19th. An expected opening date is not yet available.

According to KPot, the restaurant was started by four friends from different backgrounds who decided to share their mixed cuisine over the same table. KPot combines traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors. Hot pot, also known as “soup-food” or “steamboat,” is a communal pot of simmering broth that is stuffed with raw ingredients like meat and vegetables to cook in the pot.

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Silver Spring

18 Apartments With Varying Degrees of Damage Following Friday Afternoon Fire; No Injuries

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a fire on the fifth floor of the Central Apartments (8400 Fenton Street) in Silver Spring a little before 4pm on Friday afternoon. According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the sprinkler system was activated and the building was evacuated. By 4:09pm the fire had been extinguished and two people were being evaluated for non-life threatening injuries. Fire department activity blocked some lanes on Fenton St and Bonifant St until the early evening.

The cause of the fire was unattended cooking and three occupants of the apartment, including a small child, were able to get out safely. There were no injuries after evaluation of residents, but 18 apartments are dealing with varying degrees of smoke and water damage, with 26 people being displaced.

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State’s Attorney

From the State’s Attorney Office: January is National Stalking Awareness Month

By MCS Staff

Per the The State’s Attorney’s Office Special Victims Division: The office is highlighting the fact that with stalking crimes, intervention can prevent violence. An estimated 13.5 million people are stalked annually in the United States according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced stalking. https://www.stalkingawareness.org/ is a great resource, and the Montgomery County Family Justice Center can help if you are being stalked by a current or former intimate partner. Educate yourself on stalking related laws in Maryland:

“Stalking” defined

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Olney

Kung Fu Tea Has Opened in Olney

By MCS Staff

In November 2021 we let you know that Kung Fu Tea signed on to take over the location that’s as recently home to Yogi Berry, next to Starbucks in the same shopping center as Cava Mezze, CVS, and Cafe Rio at 3128 Olney Sandy Spring Road. After a few delays, the bubble tea spot is now open.

The Olney Kung Fu Tea location will also eventually offer TKK Fried Chicken and Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt. Neither are available at the location at this time. TKK Fried Chicken is a Taiwanese chain that specializes in fried chicken. They’ve been around since 1974 and have locations across Taiwan, China, and the United States. The menu consists of fried chicken, chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwiches, and more. Tutti is a frozen yogurt chain that has had several locations in Montgomery County.

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Business

85,000 Square Foot Infill High Bay, Last-Mile Industrial Building in Gaithersburg Has Sold

By MCS Staff

Edge Capital Markets recently brokered the sale of 7601 Lindbergh Drive, an approximately 85,000 square foot high-bay, infill industrial asset in Gaithersburg’s Montgomery Airpark. 7601 Lindbergh has been occupied by Builders Design, LLC for more than 30years. Constructed in 1988, the building sits on 4.15 acres of I-L zoning, is equipped with 30-foot ceiling heights and four dock-high loading doors. 7601 Lindbergh is located in the Montgomery Airpark, and just 5 miles from Interstates 270, and the ICC (MD-200) which provide immediate access to a dense population of over one million residents in Montgomery County and the affluent northwest suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Per Edge: “The new owner acquired a rare, high-bay industrial property in Montgomery County with loading docks, ample truck courts and parking ratio.” stated Joe Friedman of Edge. “Single-occupant, high-bay buildings rarely go up for sale in Montgomery County because of the extreme new supply constraints, low vacancy rate and consistent demand for space to serve the densely populated areas of Montgomery County and the surrounding Washington, DC suburbs.”

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Bethesda

Two MoCo Giant Pharmacy Locations Now Offering On-Site Flu and Strep Throat Testing with Results in 10 Minutes

By MCS Staff

Giant Food, the regional grocery chain, recently announced that 14 Giant Pharmacy locations throughout Maryland and Virginia, including two Montgomery County locations, are now offering on-site testing for flu A and B strains and strep throat for individuals three years of age and older. Testing is administered by Giant’s certified in-store pharmacists or certified technicians and results will be received within 10 minutes. If further consultation is needed, Giant Pharmacy offers an optional telehealth visit with a healthcare provider through Physician 360 ($29.95 fee applies payable to Physician 360 with discount code “GIANT”) to receive a consultation and any needed prescriptions, without ever leaving the pharmacy.

Per Giant: “Giant Food is committed to helping our customers by being a one-stop solution for not just their food needs, but also as part of their whole wellness package. By offering these new testing services, we are enabling customers to get their results instantly, speak to a doctor, and receive their medicine without ever leaving a Giant Pharmacy,” said Paul Zvaleny, Director of Pharmacy Operations at Giant Food. “Our Giant Pharmacy team is committed to keeping our communities in good health and we continue to keep our flu and cold products stocked for customers during this time of year when seasonal illness is often at a high.”

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Business

Three New Tenants Sign On at 12301 Old Columbia Pike

By MCS Staff

Edge has brokered three new leases at 12301 Old Columbia Pike in the area between White Oak, Fairland, and Calverton (all considered Silver Spring) in Montgomery County.  Dance Silver Spring, LLC, an upscale dance studio for children and adults that operates more than 300 studios worldwide, was represented by Jonathan Hamburger of CBRE. Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union that represents more than 60,000 workers in all craft and skill areas in the printing and publishing industries, and Habesha Spring Driving School, a professional driving school that offers a variety of driving classes for students of all ages were self-represented and are among the new tenants in the building.

Per Edge: Located at the intersection of MD Route 29 and Tech Road, 12301 Old Columbia Pike features nearly 34,000 square feet of commercial office. Renovated in 2021, the asset is less than two miles from MD Route 200 (Intercounty Connector), three miles from Interstate 95, and four miles from the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495). A number of hotels, restaurants, big-box retailers and fitness centers, as well as other amenities, are located within close proximity. The property is also directly across the White Oak Town Center Development, which will house more than 100,00 square feet of new retail amenities.

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