While Lakeforest mall and its anchor stores have been purchased by WRS Inc., a real estate investment firm based out of South Carolina, redevelopment of the site has yet to begin and close to 40 stores/kiosks are still open for business inside. Since our last update in April:
Upper Level:
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jayleen Natalie Chavez or Samar Hammad is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301)279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240)773-5000. Callers may remain anonymous.
La Catrina Bar & Lounge is coming to 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, taking over the location that was formerly home to George’s Chophouse, 4935 Bar & Kitchen, The Loft at 4935, Tragara’s, and others.
La Catrina boasts “the true Mexican experience” and “tacos, tequila, and party”, as the space consists of two levels that can be used for dining, dancing, and more, which allows for a different experience from the other recently opened restaurants in Bethesda that offer Mexican cuisine (Chaia, Mexicue, Tacombi). La Catrina tells us that they are hoping for a late September opening.
Summer fun starts at Good Counsel! Our Summer Camps are packed with exciting activities, sports, creativity, adventure, and unforgettable memories for campers of all ages. From the field to the classroom and everywhere in between, there’s something for everyone at Good Counsel’s Summer Camps!
Spend your summer learning, laughing, and making new friends with the Good Counsel community. Spots are filling fast so be sure to register today!
Register at: www.olgchs.org/camps
Planning Board meetings resume on September 8, and Makeover Montgomery 5 conference takes place September 22 through 24
The Montgomery County Planning Board and the Montgomery County Planning Department have announced their September 2022 calendar of events and meetings. All persons attending Planning Board meetings in person at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters (2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902) must be vaccinated, must sign up in advance, and may be required to show proof of vaccination. Those who participate are expected to observe general rules of decorum and address only the issues relevant to the decision before the Planning Board.
Historic Indigenous Recognition Event to Take Place in Montgomery County, Maryland
The Taino American Indigenous National Organization (T.A.I.N.O.) proudly announces its upcoming signature public event,
The 2022 Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival will take place on September 24th from 11am until 4pm at Rockville Town Square. The event is being held by Taiwan Sister Cities, an organization “dedicated to promoting, educating, and fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation among the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan.”
Participating in the festival will be Tiger Sugar Rockville, which recently reopened after a car crashed through their storefront. Bun’d Up, which has a Pike & Rose location nearby. Mr. Wish, which opened last year in Rockville. Bao Bei, which started operating out of a kitchen in Rockville recently. Doki Toki, which recently opened in Downtown Crown, and a lot more.
From the Office of the Maryland Comptroller: Comptroller Peter Franchot urges eligible Marylanders to act fast and apply for the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit Programfor Tax Year 2022. Applications must be submitted by September 15. “Going to college may seem out of reach for many Marylanders given the huge expense, but tax credits like these help make it possible. I urge everyone to apply now before time runs out,” Comptroller Franchot said. “Any way to bring down the cost of higher education is a big benefit.”
The program, which is administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission(MHEC), provides an income tax credit for Maryland residents making eligible undergraduate and/or graduate education payments on loans from an accredited college or university. To be eligible, you must claim Maryland residency for the 2022 tax year, file 2022 Maryland state income taxes, have incurred at least $20,000 in undergraduate and/or graduate student loan debt and have at least $5,000 in outstanding student loan debt upon applying for the tax credit.
Following various reports of assault at Westfield Montgomery (Montgomery Mall) by local bloggers and users of the neighborhood social networking app NextDoor, Montgomery County Police Spokeswoman Shiera Goff tells us via email that “unfortunately, a lot of misinformation has been spread over the last few days.”
A recent post on NextDoor claimed that there have “been 10 assaults at Montgomery Mall by teens against women in the past three months.” In the email to us regarding the recent reports, Goff also stated “There has not been a spate of attacks on women at Westfield Montgomery.”
Rockville’s Pop-Up Poutine has been named one of the best places for poutine in America by TastingTable. Poutine is a popular Canadian dish consisting of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. As Canadians living in the US, the owners of the Pop-Up Poutine found it impossible to find good poutine, so they came up with their own cheese curd recipe and use a sauce/gravy base that’s imported from Montreal to create the most authentic poutine in the area.
You can order Pop-Up Poutine at their Rockville location (12712 Rock Creek Mill Rd 16 AA), or from one of their food trucks you’re likely to spot at local breweries, events, and festivals across the county. In addition to poutine, they’re also known for their imported Montreal smoked meat, a beef brisket that’s described as a cross between corned beef and pastrami (full menu at the bottom of article).
Over 300 hundred guns were turned in at today’s gun buyback event in Rockville. The event was hosted by the Rockville City Police Department, in partnership with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County Public Schools. Individuals who turned in firearms received a $100 Visa gift card for functioning handguns, rifles and shotguns, and $200 in Visa gift cards for functioning assault-style weapons and privately-made firearms, i.e., ghost guns.
According to the RCPD, “in what we can only describe as an overwhelming success, over 300 guns have been collected during today’s Gun Buyback. We thank everyone for their patience as we navigated through the long lines & traffic jams.“
The brand new Starbucks in the Montgomery Village Shopping Center opened for business on Thursday, August 25. The Starbucks is located at the former site of the Montgomery Village Denny’s at 19290 Montgomery Village Ave.
Earlier this month we reported that Hangry Joe’s will be coming to the space directly next to the new Starbucks later this year. The spicy fried chicken chain has recently opened locations in Wheaton (2533 Ennals Ave) and at 10050 Darnestown Road in the Travilah Square shopping center. Hangry Joe’s joins a growing list of restaurants that are all expected to open in the redeveloped MV shopping center by the end of this year that includes Antojitos Salvadoreños Isabel, Boo Boo Pho, Dickey’s BBQ, and Kobe Japan. The Joint chiropractic care center and Safe Splash Swim School have also signed leases and will coming to the center.
Greek Aroma Grill is coming to the Montgomery Mall food terrace. Greek Aroma currently has a location at 177 D Thomas Johnson Dr. in Frederick, MD. Menu items include gyros, kababs, salads, and souvlaki. No opening date has been announced and the restaurant is currently hiring.
Also coming soon to the mall’s food terrace is Malia’s Kitchen, which will be holding its grand opening on Thursday, September 1. Malia’s is taking over the space that was previously occupied by Lazzaro’s Authentic Italian Deli and Big Al’s Sub Shop. Malia’s Kitchen serves soul food and seafood, which they describe as the best “homemade” down home cooking in the DMV. Items on their menu includes crab cakes, fried chicken, fried fish, and BBQ.