Specialty furniture brand Lovesac is planning to open a new location in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown. The company’s name comes from the brand’s original Durafoam-filled bean bags called Sacs and will be located at 111 Crown Park Ave, next to LA Fitness in the space that was formerly home to Couture Bridal of Maryland (which is now located at 322 East Diamond Ave in Gaithersburg).
Stamford, Connecticut-based Lovesac was founded in 1998 and first came to the area when it opened its Montgomery mall location in 2017. The retailer specializes in a patented modular furniture system called “Sactionals.” Sactionals combine both multiple “seats” and “sides,” as well as custom-fit covers and accessories that allow patrons to configure different styles of seating. Sactionals can fit most spaces, no matter the size or layout, because patrons can add, subtract and arrange pieces in an infinite number of ways. There are more than 250 available fabric options and more than 150 available covers that are machine washable, according to the company’s website.
A key feature patrons can add to a Sactional is Dolby Digital surround sound with speakers embedded into the actual couch. The company says its system provides a closeness to sound not typically achieved with wall-mounted or wall-installed speakers. Lovesac’s other popular seller are “Sacs,” similar to beanbags and filled with Durafoam, a recycled foam remnant. There are six different sizes and hundreds of covers a patron can choose from, according to the website.
20 acres of Gaithersburg’s Crown Farm was sold to JBG Rosenfeld Retail and the Bozzuto Group for $28 million nearly 10 years ago, in July of 2012. According to documents from what was then Crown Farm Community, this purchase included approximately 11 percent of Crown Farm’s 180 acres, for the development of Downtown Crown, “a mixed-use project slated to include a Harris Teeter-anchored retail center and nearly 540 apartments.” JBG Rosenfeld Retail purchased the property to build 260,000 square feet of retail. The Bozzuto Group purchased the multifamily development rights to build 538 apartments above the retail.
Located in Gaithersburg, just west of Interstate-270 and the Intercounty Connector, Downtown Crown is considered the “retail heart” of Crown—a 182-acre master-planned community that was to consist of “more than 2,200 new homes and apartments, acres of parks, trails and a future transit stop for the Corridor City Transitway.” The community plan also incorporated a high school and a Corridor Cities Transit station for a light rail or bus line that would connect Gaithersburg with Clarksburg. Construction began later that summer for the plans that included the previously mentioned Harris Teeter, an LA Fitness, and a Starbucks. In October, the following restaurants were announced for Downtown Crown (not all ended up opening):
- Coastal Flats: A Carolina-inspired seafood restaurant that is part of the Great American Restaurant Group
- Asia Nine: A Thai and sushi bar with a popular location near the spy museum in Washington, DC
- Chicago-based Roti Mediterranean Grill
- French bakery La Madeleine
- Lime Fresh Mexican Grill: A fast-casual eastery popular in the South
- La Tagliatella: A Europe-based restaurant that’s part of the AmRest Holdings business group, the largest operator of independing restaurants in Central and Eastern Europe, serving high-quality Italian fare.
By February of 2013, Chop’t, Yogiberry, and Georgetown Square Wine and Beer were added to the list of new tenants. Venti-Tre, an “Italian Chipotle”, and Smashburger signed on as well. In July, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse signed on. In early 2014, ZAGG, hair and nail salon Body by Bio, &pizza, and Crown Cleaners were announced.
Not everything has gone as planned, and there have been plenty of openings and closings since Crown opened nearly a decade ago, but “Downtown Crown” has become a popular destination for Montgomery County residents…many of whom remember when the area was just a farm not so long ago.
A couple weeks back we let you know that Doki Toki, a dessert shop that will offer Japanese desserts, including ice cream, mochi donuts, milk tea, and a “lot of other desserts”, will be opening in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown neighborhood. Signage is now up at the dessert spot, which has been aiming for a May 15th opening according to a representative we spoke with a couple weeks ago.
Doki Toki Dessert Shop is taking over the location formerly occupied by Mango Mango at 202 Ellington Blvd next to Burger IM. Mango Mango was an Asian dessert spot that opened its first restaurant in New York’s Chinatown in 2013 and served traditional Hong Kong style sweet soup dessert, modern fusion sweets, and pastries. It was in the location from October 2019 until April 2021.
Per MCPD:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Gaithersburg, MD – A 21-year-old male was killed following an altercation outside of his residence on Reprise Drive in Rockville. On Monday, March 21, at approximately 9 p.m., Montgomery County Police 6th District officers responded to the 10100 block of Reprise Drive for the report of a shooting that just occurred.
Upon arrival, officers located the adult male victim, Deonte Foreman, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Officers administered aid until Montgomery County Fire Rescue arrived, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Officers identified the suspect, 26-year-old Demarco Rayford of Gaithersburg, who was arrested on scene. The Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section responded to the location, and during the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the victim and Rayford got into an argument, which escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in Rayford allegedly stabbing Foreman.
Rayford was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and has been charged with 2nd Degree Murder.
This investigation is active and ongoing. There is currently no mugshot available for Rayford.
Eyewear brand Warby Parker, which does most of its business online, is opening a brick and mortar location in the old Hair Cuttery location at 130 Crown Park Ave in the Downtown Crown neighborhood in Gaithersburg.
We are told the store will carry the brand’s full optical and sun eyewear offerings including its first brand of daily contact lenses.
The New York-based brand has opened multiple stores across the country in recent years after years of being an online-only brand.
As of now, we don’t have an opening date for the store.
Wind Damages Crown Farm Silo in Gaithersburg, Several Roads Closed
Earlier today strong winds caused damage to the Crown Farm silo.
The following message was sent to residents of Crown:
“Dear Crown Residents,
Please be advised that the roof of the silo has been damaged by the wind and as a precaution the City of Gaithersburg has the following closures in place:
Steinbeck Ave will be closed from Hemingway Drive to Decoverly Drive.
Both sidewalks will be closed on Steinbeck Ave from Hemingway Drive to Decoverly Drive.
Alley entrance/exit in between Hemingway Drive and Decoverly Drive will be closed on Steinbeck Ave.
The City of Gaithersburg will be working on the repair/removal of the hazardous condition in the next few days.”
Photos of the damage below courtesy @tonycavasilios on Instagram
Peterson Family, of Peterson Companies, Donates $500K to Various Organizations in the DMV
Many know Peterson Companies as the owners of Downtown Silver Spring and Rio Lakefront. They also own the Milestone Center in Germantown, which is home to Home Depot, TJ Maxx, and more, in addition to popular nearby properties like National Harbor among others.
In Montgomery County, the company has donated specifically to Manna Food Center- a company that strives to eliminate through food distribution, education, and advocacy.
Press release below:
As a growing number of families in the Washington, D.C. region struggle with homelessness and food insecurity, one local family is stepping up to help. The Peterson Family Foundation is donating $500,000 to organizations throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland that have mobilized to help those in need. Up to $300,000 will be given this year with the balance being given the following year. The Peterson Family Foundation was created through the generosity of Milton and Carolyn Peterson. Milton Peterson is also the founder of Peterson Companies, one of the oldest real estate companies in the D.C. area. The company develops and manages a large number of retail, commercial, residential and mixed-use properties.
Since the inception of the Peterson Family Foundation in 1997, the foundation has directly contributed and helped to raise millions of dollars for a diverse list of organizations with missions that the Peterson family supports.
“Giving back to the communities where we live and do business is part of our family’s DNA,” said Lauren Peterson, president of the Peterson Family Foundation. “We are extremely proud to support so many worthwhile organizations at this critical time of need.”
Organizations receiving this latest round of support include, in Virginia: Northern Virginia Family Service (Fairfax County); Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William and Haymarket Food Pantry (Prince William County); Loudoun Hunger Relief and the Ampersand Pantry Project (Loudoun County). In Maryland: Manna Food Center (Montgomery County); Stand Up & Deliver and United Way (Prince George’s County.)
In addition to the financial support, Peterson Companies and its properties throughout the region, (including Fairfax Corner, Downtown Silver Spring, Rio and National Harbor,) will leverage its social media channels to create awareness for these organizations and encourage others to join in giving on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 1.)
The Peterson family is actively involved with the family foundation and the entire family is engaged with non-profits in the D.C. region as well as nationally and internationally. Many family members sit on multiple boards. In addition to organizations listed above, current and past affiliations in the D.C. region include George Mason University, INOVA Health System, Gleaning for the World, Northern Virginia Family Services, Teach for America, Venture Philanthropy Partners and Youth for Tomorrow. Through Gleaning for the World, the Peterson Family Foundation worked with local farmers and food distributors to create the Million Meals Program in Prince George’s County, Md. The program provided one million meals a year, for three years, to local churches and food banks to help families with the least access to consistent and fresh food.
For the Peterson family, philanthropy is more than financial support. Each family member sits on multiple non-profit boards and all the organizations they support share the family’s core values for helping others.
Ted’s Bulletin Adds Outdoor Dining Pods
As the weather gets colder, restaurants are coming up with creative ways to keep their guests socially distanced while also feeling safe and comfortable.
Ted’s Bulletin in Downtown Crown (as well as their other DMV locations, as seen in our featured photo) added outdoor dining pods to their restaurant this past Thursday.
They are sanitized between each group of diners with foggers and will have heaters in the days to come. Ted’s also plans on adding lights and plants inside them for ambiance.
Things have been relatively quiet on the retail side of the Downtown Crown neighborhood in Gaithersburg recently, but we do have two updates for you.
Le’Mer Salon & Spa at 125 Ellington Blvd recently closed permanently and has been cleared out. There is currently no word on what might take its place.
Ideal Image, a non-surgical aesthetic treatment center, is moving in next to ZAGG.
They’ll have a team of skin, face &body specialists, and medical professionals work together to help you develop a personalized, non-invasive treatment plan. This will include laser hair removal, Botox & fillers, skin lifting and more.
All services will be administered by a nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant while under the supervision of medical directors.
Cinnaholic will open its first MoCo location on Friday, June 19th!
It has been over two years since we announced Cinnaholic’s impending arrival to Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg.
The bakery, known for its 100% vegan custom cinnamon rolls, has been making progress tin recent months and is almost ready to go.
Husband and wife team, Florian and Shannon Radke, opened their first bakery in Berkeley, California in 2010. Four years later, the couple appeared on Shark Tank, where they initially accepted a $200,000 investment for 20% of their company (the deal later fell through due to differences in how investor Robert Herjavec and the Radke’s saw the company moving forward).
Cinnaholic will be located at 230 Crown Park Ave., the former home of Yogiberry, next to Chopt.
The farmhouse on Steinbeck Ave. in Crown is now for sale.
The England-Crown farmhouse was built sometime in the late 1870s or early 1880s. The structure is an excellent example of a stylish Victorian house found in Montgomery County during the late 19th century (per GaithersburgHistory.com).
The approximately 3,800 square foot farmhouse and the log house are located on a 16,241 square foot lot.
The farmhouse is being sold privately, so a price is not listed for the historic property.
