The event will be held at Westfield Wheaton Mall, outside of the Carter’s store on the second floor. Individuals who receive their booster at the event will be entered into a drawing to receive one of five $50 gift cards that can be used throughout Westfield Wheaton’s variety of retailers.

“Health officials continue to recommend the updated COVID-19 booster as a way of protecting people from the risk of serious illness from COVID-19,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I am grateful and appreciative of our partnership with Westfield Wheaton to provide space, incentives and access to get our vaccines directly in front of potential recipients.”


WRS Inc., a real estate investment firm based out of South Carolina, that purchased Lakeforest Mall and all four anchor sites, held an informational meeting on Thursday evening to share some early plans for what will take the place of the mall. WRS purchased the core, ponds, and forest conservation of the mall back in 2019 and added the four anchor sites earlier this year, spending a total of $75 million to acquire Lakeforest Mall. This evening they announced that they have worked with the City of Gaithersburg since March and plan to submit their zoning application and sketch plan in the next couple weeks.

The target date for demolition of the mall and the start of new construction is currently 2024, with a more specific date to come after the approval of sketch plans. The sketch plan requires at least 35% “green space” and WRS stated that initial sketches are currently at a little more than 35%. Green space is defined as trees, grass, walking/biking areas, etc. The current retention pond will be “cleaned up” and a boardwalk is in the plans for a dining experience on the water  that was described as being similar to what is available at nearby Rio Lakefront. WRS has also heard from several different movie theaters that are geared towards adults with food offerings and a bar, mentioning one that has a very robust civic program that would allow community groups to use one theater per week for their own functions. No specific names were given and it was noted that a discussion “doesn’t mean it’ll happen.”


The owners of Nori Japan, one of the last remaining restaurants at Lakeforest Mall, have announced that they are currently looking for a new location.  A sign at the restaurant asks customers to follow the owner on Facebook and that they will “notify every customer when we find a new store”. The restaurant is still currently open.


Both Moderna and Pfizer bivalent boosters will be available at the BOO!sterama.  Anyone 12 and older who had their last vaccine dose at least two months ago should get the updated booster shot. The event will be held at Westfield Wheaton Mall, outside of the Carter’s store on the second floor.  Individuals who receive their booster at the event will be entered in a drawing to receive one of five $50 gift cards that can be used throughout Westfield Wheaton’s wide variety of retailers.

“Over the past month, Montgomery County became the largest jurisdiction to become 90% fully vaccinated,”  said County Executive Marc Elrich. “However, being ‘fully vaccinated’ doesn’t protect us enough and we must convince every eligible individual to get the new bivalent booster.  These booster shots are free and can protect you from the risk of serious illness from COVID-19.  I am grateful and appreciative of our partnership with Westfield Wheaton to provide space, incentives and access to get our vaccines directly in front of potential recipients.”


The Jolly Show Carnival is returning to the Westfield Wheaton Mall parking lot (11160 Veirs Mill Rd.) from October 5-16. There will be over 30 attractions, including carnival rides, games, and food wagons. According to their website, “We are a new generation of carnival operators who strive to be more progressive and professional. We realize that we must produce a premium product for our customer’s hard earned money. We won’t forget our proud traditions, but we are committed to overcoming the stigmas which have hindered our industry for far too long.” Tickets can be purchased here. 

The idea of a business that made people happy though, never left his thoughts. While visiting a firemen’s carnival with his children in 1939, Frank saw what he thought might be the new business for him. He counted the people in line at the “Roll-O-Plane” and watched as the thrilled riders exited the ride, and got right back in line to ride again. He visited the carnival again each of the next three nights and paid even closer attention to the operation of amusement rides. He was now sure that this is where he would invest his savings.


Want to become the next Hulk Hogan, John Cena, or The Rock? Renaissance Rumble, a pro wrestling training organization, is now open on the bottom level of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg. The group offers basic training, “intro to wrestling” workshops, and fantasy camps. The folks behind Renaissance Rumble tell us that they are a “radically inclusive” company that believes pro wrestling at its core is theater and that wrestling should be a safe space for everyone. Their ultimate goal is to build a thriving wrestling community in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia.

Renaissance Rumble works closely with Flying V, a local theater group that promotes wrestling cards at the Black Box in Downtown Silver Spring. Flying V’s next show, BOWTIES & BLACKEYES, takes place on Saturday, October 8. You can find more information about that event here.


Did you know that Kevin Plank, founder of Under Armour, grew up in Kensington? He is the youngest of five brothers born to William and Jayne Plank. His father was a prominent real estate developer who passed away in 1993. A local project of his was the Al Marah subdivision off River Road, just off of exit 39 on the Beltway.  His mother was the mayor of Kensington for 8 years, from 1974-1982. She went on to direct the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the United States Department of State under President Ronald Reagan, and was a real estate broker until the early 2000s. Read more about Kevin’s story here.

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Under Armour has reopened its newly renovated location in Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda) and is offering a 20% discount promotion throughout the weekend. The store now features a youth clothing section, 3D foot scanner, digital boards, and upgraded fitting rooms.

Kevin Plank, founder of Under Armour, grew up in Kensington. He is the youngest of five brothers born to William and Jayne Plank. His father was a prominent real estate developer who passed away in 1993. A local project of his was the Al Marah subdivision off River Road, just off of exit 39 on the Beltway.  His mother was the mayor of Kensington for 8 years, from 1974-1982. She went on to direct the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the United States Department of State under President Ronald Reagan, and was a real estate broker until the early 2000s. Read more about Kevin’s story here.


New York based men’s fashion store Psycho Bunny, which specializes in “4,000 stitch bunny-embroidered polos”, is scheduled to open this Friday, September 30, at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd). The clothing line currently has collaborations with Daddy Yankee, Justise Winslow, and Jay Versace.  Psycho Bunny will be located on the bottom level of the mall.

From their website: “We could have done what everybody else was doing. But we didn’t. Instead we set out to make the perfect polo and the most luxurious tee you’d ever wear. And that’s exactly what we’ve done. Our Pima cotton is woven from longer, smoother fibres. This has a number of benefits, most important of which is that it gives the fabric an incredibly soft on-body feel. The longer fibres are more durable, too—less prone to warping and tearing, while retaining their colored dye considerably longer than traditional cotton.”


Spencer’s in known for selling novelty items like lava lamps, shot glasses, t-shirts, and 18+ items like lingerie and sex toys. According to their website, Spencer’s is “the mall destination for entertainment, excitement, and fun” and has been in business of over 65 years.

From their website: “Starting out as a mail order company in 1947, Spencer’s opened its first retail store in 1963 at New Jersey’s Cherry Hill Mall. From the outset, Spencer’s quickly became an oasis within the mall environment offering our guests an entertaining experience both through its merchandising and product mix and grew to a national chain by the mid-’70s. In 2003, under new management, Spencer’s lifted the bar higher and set out to reinvent itself. Remaining true to its roots, this reinvention set Spencer’s on the path to greatness in a subtle shift from Spencer Gifts to Spencer’s in newly re-designed funky, industrial spaces with an award-winning downtown club look.


Cabin John Village, formerly known as the Cabin John shopping center and mall, is  named for the adjacent creek and regional park. It has been a pillar of the Potomac community since 1967 and was acquired by EDENS in 2016. Per EDENS: “EDENS has transformed the traditional shopping center experience into a welcoming communal environment that naturally fosters meaningful social interaction. Complementary retail options include a curated mix of home goods, dining, health and wellness and more outdoor greenspace welcomes the opportunity for community events.” Below you’ll see a list of some of the places coming soon to the shopping center:

Augie’s: Augie’s Mussel House and Beer Garden is coming to 7747 Tuckerman Ln (Cabin John Village), the former site of Lahinch Tavern. Augie’s currently has a location at 1106 King Street in Alexandria, VA. In addition to mussels, menu items include a 10-Day Cured & Smoked Brisket Sandwich, Chicken Pot Pie Empanada, Chicken & Waffles,  and Soft Shell Crab.  Opening information has not been announced.


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