Per WSSC at 6:41pn on Wednesday, November 16th: Water main on Clopper Rd in Germantown was repaired this afternoon. Water has been restored to all impacted customers. Crews will now begin road repairs & paving overnight. One lane remains open alternating traffic direction.

The 24” water main repairs continue at Clopper Rd, between Mateny and Game Preserve, according to a social media posting by WSSC Water. “The large pipe has been dug up and will be cut out and replaced at site of break as soon as water flow within the pipe can be completely stopped. This is often a challenge… getting valves to hold closed.”


Over the summer we let you know Gold’s Gym will be opening a new location at 12922 Middlebrook Road in Germantown, in the location of the DSW store that closed on April 10th in the Germantown Commons shopping center next to Bed Bath & Beyond.

In September  we spoke with a representative from Gold’s Gym current Germantown location in the Fox Chapel shopping center, and we’re told that the existing location will close when the new one opens “sometime next year.” According to advertisements on social media, the new Gold’s Gym location is now expected to open in “Spring 2023” (photo below).


WSSC UPDATE: WATER STATION OPEN – 11/15 – 7pm – 10pm at Clopper Mill Elementary School 18501 Cinnamon Dr., Germantown

Clopper Road (MD-117) is currently closed from Mateny Road to Waring Station Road due to a sinkhole, according to the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route and expect significant delays. We will post an update when more information is available.


Fans of summer sausage and cheese ball spreads rejoice, Hickory Farms has opened a location at 13052 Middlebrook Road in Germantown, the former site of Mattress Firm.  The holiday pop-up shop is expected to be open through the first week of January. Items for sale include sausages, cheese, crackers, mustard, and candy, as well as pre-made gift baskets. Store hours are Mon – Fri: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Sat: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and Sun: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Photos of the store’s interior below.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who robbed a Dollar Tree on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect. At approximately 8:31 p.m., 5th District officers responded to the 18000 Mateny Rd. for the report of a strong-arm robbery that just occurred.

The investigation by detectives determined that 18000the suspect entered the store, retrieved merchandise to purchase and went to the counter. While the victim was helping another customer, the suspect pushed the victim out of the way. The two struggled and the suspect stole an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register.


CAVA will be holding a community event on Thursday, November 17 from 10:45am-2pm at the new CAVA Digital Kitchen in Germantown. The restaurant will be giving free bowls and pitas to people who download the CAVA app and register at www.eventbrite.com/e/germantown-community-day-tickets-465741464257.  CAVA Digital Kitchen, which officially opens for business on Friday, November 18, differs from a traditional CAVA location in that there is no in-store ordering, all orders must be placed through the CAVA app. The restaurant does feature an indoor and outdoor dining area. Additional information courtesy of CAVA:

“A CAVA Digital Kitchen is headed to 19865 Century Blvd, Germantown, MD – and we’re celebrating with free Chef-Curated Bowls and Pitas before we officially open our doors. Not familiar with our Digital Kitchens? They’re exclusively for app & online orders, which means quick pickups and no waiting in line. Stop by for a free Chef-Curated Bowl or Pita (no build-your-owns until opening day). Just remember to download the CAVA app to order ahead and start earning app-exclusive rewards once we are open. To sign up, pick a 15-minute time slot and make sure to hold onto your digital ticket. Please try your best to arrive on time so we can keep the line (and the hummus) flowing. LUNCH: 10:45am–2pm”


Last month, a representative from Lotte Plaza Market in Germantown Plaza (13069 Wisteria Drive) confirmed that the grocery store will be closing permanently by the end of the year. The store has announced a “store closing clearance sale” that will take place until the store closes on November 27th. Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Silver Spring will remain open.

Lotte Plaza Market is a grocery store that specializes in Asian groceries. Per its website, Lotte started with a single store on Veirs Mill Road in1989 and now has a dozen locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida. “Our goal is to open 50 Lotte Plaza Market locations by 2030.” A sign advertising the sale is currently in the window at Lotte (as seen below, courtesy of Instagram user @f0restbean


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested and charged 24-year-old Kevin Figueroa-Funez, of Germantown, with the Capital One Bank robbery that occurred on November 8, 2022, in the 10200 block of River Rd. in Potomac.  At approximately, 1:51 p.m., 2nd District officers responded to the location for the report of a bank robbery that just occurred.

The investigation by detectives has determined that Figueroa-Funez entered the bank armed with a nail gun, approached an employee behind the counter and passed a note announcing the robbery and demanding money. The employee complied and handed over an undisclosed amount of money to Figueroa-Funez, who then left the scene.


CAVA Digital Kitchen at 19865 Century Blvd in Germantown is scheduled to have its grand opening on Friday, November 18. CAVA Digital Kitchen differs from a traditional CAVA location in that there is no in-store ordering, all orders must be placed through the CAVA app. The restaurant does feature an indoor and outdoor dining area.

“CAVA Digital Kitchen has arrived… Just order ahead on our app or our site for easy pickup or delivery! Convenient *and* delicious. Build your bowl: order.cava.com” CAVA, the fast-casual restaurant that started in MoCo, acquired Zoe’s and its 200+ restaurants in 2018 for approximately $300 million


You can add Walmart to the list of retailers that are running promotions this holiday season by offering price discounts on Thanksgiving food staples.  Now through December 26, Walmart is offering “this year’s Thanksgiving meal at last year’s price.” According to a press release, “after all these years, we know what our customers put into their baskets for Thanksgiving. All the basics are there, like turkey, ham, potatoes and stuffing, but the convenience items are there too, like ready-to-heat mac and cheese or freshly made pumpkin pie, and we ensured that the price for the same basket of items does not cost more than it did last year. We’re proud to offer customers this year’s Thanksgiving meal at last year’s price so families don’t need to worry about how they’ll set their holiday table. We are currently rolling out the pricing, and customers can take advantage of the savings for all their holiday meals through December 26, 2022. You can shop the baskets here.” Walmart’s lone MoCo location is at 20910 Frederick Rd in Germantown.

Earlier today we reported that ALDI is running a “Thanksgiving Price Rewind”  where the grocery chain will be matching 2019 prices on holiday food items marked with a red sticker.  Aldi has MoCo locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Kensington, Montgomery Village, Rockville, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park.


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