Japong Bakery, which opened at 785 Rockville Pike in the Ritchie Center nearly five years ago in October 2018, closed temporarily on April 17th with a plan to reopen  approximately three weeks later at its new location at 765 A Rockville Pike within the same shopping center. The reopening has been delayed until June 1st “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

The original message read, “Dear Japong Customers, We will be moving to our new and improved location, to better serve you in the future! Please excuse our closing from 4/17/2023 to 5/09/2023, as we transition our operations to the new storefront. We thank you for your continuous support and understanding, and we look forward to seeing you again soon for our grand reopening! Let’s Japong! 765 A Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20785.” The following update has since been provided via social media:


Back in January we let you know that Golfdom “The Golfer’s Store” leased the space that was formerly home to Pier 1 Imports at 12137 Rockville Pike in the Pike Center– the shopping center that’s home to TGI Friday’s. As of Friday, May 5th, the store officially opened its doors. Golfdom is open on Monday through Friday from 10am until 7pm, Saturday from 9am until 6pm, and Sunday from 10am until 6pm.

Golfdom has been around for over 40 years, moving into its Tyson’s location, at 8302 Watson St in McLean, VA, in 1997. In 2022, Golfdom agreed to be acquired by Worldwide Golf Shops, a Bethesda-based parent company of several well-known golf retailers throughout the country. Per Golfdom: GOLFDOM is THE Golfer’s Store, complete with everything our customers need for on AND off the course. We carry a full line of product offerings, from best value starter and junior sets to the finest golf-inspired products, highest-end equipment and sportswear. We offer unique, one-of-a-kind products as well as those from the game’s most popular brands, and we are always expanding our offerings to include new and exciting golf-inspired items.


Yogi Castle has closed its Rockville location in Federal Plaza (12274 Rockville Pike Suite E) permanently, announcing the closure via social media earlier this week. “YogiCastle of Rockville is officially Closed for Business. Farewell everyone. Feel free to DM or comment if you have any questions” the frozen yogurt wrote on its Facebook page.

it will be replaced by local shop, Mimi’s Handmade ice cream, which opened its first location almost two years ago in Arlington. Mimi’s is named for one of owner Rollin Amore’s two daughters. Amore credits his extensive travels over the last 30 years for the unique flavors like roasted banana nut, olive OYL, butterfly pea, maple cashew, and more, offered at the ice cream shop. The shop offers a wide variety of other flavors, including more traditional options. More on Mimi’s Handmade here. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Mimi’s Handmade ice cream is coming to Rockville’s Federal Plaza this summer, taking over the location that was recently home to Yogi Castle (12274 Rockville Pike Suite E). Yogi Castle closed permanently last week and Mimi’s Handmade has just taken possession of the space. After renovations take place in the coming months, the hope is to open by the end of this summer. Mimi’s is named for one of owner Rollin Amore’s two daughters. He credits his extensive travels over the last 30 years for the unique flavors like roasted banana nut, olive OYL, butterfly pea, maple cashew, and more, offered at the ice cream shop. The shop offers a wide variety of other flavors, including more traditional options. The first Mimi’s Handmade location opened in Arlington in the summer of 2021.

Per Mimi’s Handmade: “With both Italian and German grandmothers, I inherited the secret family recipes from many generations including the most delicious desserts. I can still taste Nona Concetta’s hand cranked gelato and Oma Annamarie’s Bavarian creamy custards and sweets. Over the last 30 years, I have worked extensively in Asia allowing me to explore the wonderful tastes and flavors of the rich cuisines of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, and Korea. Coming home from my trips, Alexandra, Mimi and I would try all new recipes from my trips, exploring sweet Thai basil, azuki beans, black sesame, ube, jackfruit, lychee and so many other flavors.


The Bethesda resident, who works part time as a car service driver, placed a $1 straight bet on the numbers 30400 for his big win. He bought his lucky ticket at 7-Eleven #29763 located at 11530 Rockville Pike in Rockville. For its role in the $50,000 windfall, the Montgomery County business will earn a $500 bonus from the Lottery. The winner, who is originally from Iran, said he hopes to use his prize to bring his father to America for a visit.”


Per the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Karla Smith has sentenced defendant Sergey Danshin, 35, of Rockville, to life in prison plus an additional 20 years. The sentencing hearing was held earlier this week on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023. Danshin was convicted by a jury on January 13th, 2023, of first-degree murder and related handgun charges for the death of 39-year-old Javier Gonzalez-Mena.

On June 22nd, 2022, Danshin and co-defendant, Micah Clemons, 33, of Virginia, knocked on the door of a room at the Red Roof Inn along the 16000 block of Shady Grove Road in Rockville, where victim, Gonzalez-Mena, had been staying. After an initial confrontation, Danshin left the area of the room, only to return several minutes later to ambush Gonzalez-Mena.  Danshin then fatally shot Gonzalez-Mena. Gonzalez-Mena’s girlfriend was holding his hand as he was shot and fell to the ground. Danshin ordered her to come to a waiting get-away car where he removed a facial covering that he was wearing and revealed his identity. The two were known to each other. As soon as Gonzalez-Mena’s girlfriend had the opportunity, she called 911. Danshin and Clemons were arrested along with the driver of the getaway car, Willman Quintanilla, 44, of Boyds.


A Wootton High School senior, Vivek Majumdar, is one of three people credited for helping save a life at a lacrosse game at the school Monday night. According to David Kaplan of Fox 5, “A teacher at Wootton High School, an emergency room doctor and the 18-year-old student government president who just so happens to be a trained EMT” are being credited for working together to save a man who suffered a medical emergency that caused his heart to stop beating at the school on Monday night.

Per the report, someone came from the bathroom screaming for help when Majumdar and a parent who happened to be an emergency room doctor jumped into action and started performing chest compressions. A Wootton teacher retrieved a defibrillator and the trio was able to eventually get a pulse on the person suffering the medical emergency. The person was transported to Shady Grove hospital where we are told his condition is improving.


The Rockville City Police Department (RCPD) tweeted Friday morning that there were additional sightings of a bear last night in King Farm and College Parkway in Rockville. Earlier this week we reported that there had been several sightings of a large black bear in West Rockville, specifically the areas of Woodley Gardens and Great Falls Road. RCPD is working with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to locate and relocate the bear and reminds residents to “Stay alert, calm, do not approach or attempt to capture the bear! Please call RCPD at 240-314-8900 ASAP if you see him.” Tips courtesy of the National Park Service below:

5/5/23 – 9:30 am -Black Bear Update – Sightings of the bear last night in King Farm & College Pkwy. RCPD is working with MD DNR to locate & relocate the bear. Stay alert, calm, do not approach or attempt to capture the bear! Please call RCPD at 240-314-8900 ASAP if you see him. pic.twitter.com/Et3HYQq2CY


The initial investigation has revealed that the victim was exiting the I-270 ramp onto Shady Grove Road when he came across a silver Mitsubishi vehicle partially blocking the exit ramp. A suspect, who the victim believed to be a police officer, flagged him over, onto the side of the road. The victim then got out of his vehicle and began to walk towards the suspect, at which point the suspect demanded that he return to his vehicle. The suspect then approached the victim’s vehicle and demanded money. At that time, the suspect entered the victim’s vehicle and demanded that the victim drive to a Bank of America in the 15000 block of Shady Grove Road to withdraw money from the ATM. As the victim drove to the bank, the silver Mitsubishi began to follow, driven by a second suspect.   The victim advised that he observed a handgun in the suit jacket of the suspect on multiple occasions.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Cold Case Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Cynthia Lynette Dailey, a missing 61-year-old from Rockville.

Dailey was last seen on Monday, April 17, 2023, in the 13000 block of Twinbrook Parkway. She is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. She has black and gray hair and brown eyes. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


Per Montgomery County: The 11th Annual VisArts Rockville Arts Festival will be held Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, in Rockville Town Square. The free outdoor festival will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day and will feature original works from 130 artists and artisans. The festival will include Raku demonstrations by VisArts’ instructors, artwork by VisArts’ VisAbility Art Lab artists and artisanal fare.

The event will offer the opportunity to meet new artists and artists who are returning to the festival. They will display their creations of original pieces in a variety of media, including ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture and wood.


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