Bethesda

Last November, we let you know that New York‘s Chip Citywill be opening its first Maryland location at the Shoppes of Bethesda, replacing Fancy Cakes By Leslie at 4939 Elm St. Fancy Cakes by Leslie closed in October 2022. A commercial permit was issued at the beginning of the summer for a $210,000 buildout at the location and now the opening date has been announced– Friday, November 3rd.

Five years ago, cookies were a side hustle for Theodore Gailas and Peter Phillips. Since then, they’ve opened over a dozen Chip City cookie shops in and around New York with plans to expand outside of the area. Chip City is expected to rapidly expand, with over 20 stores expected to open in 2023. According to Forbes, The rollout plan will be supported by the founder of fast casual restaurant Shake Shack, Danny Meyer, who recently invested $10 million in the cookies.


Events

The Fall Makers Market & Pumpkin Fest is taking place at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg on Saturday, October 21st from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. The Fall Makers Market is curated by Locally Crafted on Grand Corner Avenue and will feature m handmade products from 80+ local artisans, cocktails by California Pizza Kitchen, fall activities for all ages.

There will also be a Fall DIY Workshop that is free with $50+ purchase. The workshop will allow participants to decorate their own set of fall-themed burlap napkin rings. “Make a purchase of $50+ from rio shops or restaurants on Saturday, October 21stand show your same day receipt(s) at the RIO tent near Dick’s Sporting Goods.” While supplies last. Receipts exclude Target, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods.


Montgomery Planning

The Montgomery County Planning Department, announced the winners of the biennial Design Excellence Awards competition at Celebrate Design 2023 held October 19 at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters. An independent jury of accomplished design and development professionals honored two developments with Design Excellence Awards and three developments with Merit Awards that exemplify Montgomery County’s best architecture and building design. The Celebrate Design event was co-hosted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Potomac Valley Chapter, which presented its Design and Leadership Awards.

“The M-NCPPC was honored to once again host the Design Excellence Awards which showcase the artistry and innovation shaping Montgomery County’s outstanding places and spaces millions of residents and visitors enjoy,” said Montgomery Planning Board Chair Artie Harris.  “This was an evening to recognize and celebrate the great achievements in urban design and architecture that help promote more residential and community-serving developments that support our wonderful downtown, suburban, and rural neighborhoods.”


MoCo Government

The tenants association, a group of nearly 150 residents, organized the press conference to highlight long-standing maintenance and safety issues and code violations at the White Oak property. Enclave tenant Emmanuel Walker led the gathering, opening with a call and response: “When I say ‘less,’ you say ‘pests!’”

“Don’t charge me rent and then not provide livable conditions,” Walker told the crowd, after reading aloud the Enclave website’s description of the “luxury” apartments. “I don’t need luxury — I just need security and decent conditions.”


Event

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,


Beyond MoCo

Per the Maryland Lottery: “Congratulations to the lucky player that purchased a $510,000 jackpot-winning Multi-Match ticket for last night’s drawing! The winning ticket in the Oct. 19 drawing was sold by Old Orchard Liquors in Hagerstown. Check your tickets for the winning numbers: 2, 18, 21, 24, 25 and 40. The winner can choose between the annuity, paid in 25 equal installments, or an estimated $260,000 cash option (before taxes).

Lottery officials encourage the winner to sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe location. The player has 182 days after the date of the drawing to claim the prize.  The lucky Western Maryland retailer can celebrate, too. Old Orchard Liquors located at 17619 Virginia Avenue in Washington County will receive a $1,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.


Beyond MoCo

Per the Washington County Sheriff’s Department: “The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a homicide investigation. On October 19, 2023, at approximately 8:00 PM, Deputies responded to the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road, Hagerstown, MD, for a reported shooting. The victim, an adult male, was located in the driveway of a residence. The victim was suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. He was transported to Meritus Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The victim was identified as Washington County, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, of Hagerstown.

Update: The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the below-listed individual in connection to the Olde Waterford Road homicide investigation. Anyone with information on the location of Pedro Argote, 49, is asked to notify law enforcement immediately. Argote is 5’7”, 130 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. He may be operating a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, displaying Maryland registration plates 4EH0408. Anyone with information in reference to Argote’s location is asked to not approach him but to immediately notify law enforcement. This continues to be an active investigation, certain details of the case will not be released to the public by law enforcement. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will hold a press conference at 11:00 a.m. The press conference will be at 100 West Washington Street Hagerstown, MD, 21740, at the Washington County Government Administration Building.”


Crime

Per MCPD: “Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District Investigative Section are investigating a residential burglary and an attempted residential burglary that occurred on Sunday, September 3, 2023. Detectives have released surveillance video of the male suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

At approximately 6:09 a.m., 6th District officers responded to the 8100 block of Irwell Court in Gaithersburg for the report of a residential burglary that just occurred.  The investigation has revealed that, at approximately 5:54 a.m., the suspect forced entry into the rear sliding door of the home, stole property and left the scene. The victim was in the residence during the time of the burglary.  At approximately 2:13 p.m., 6th District officers responded to a home in the 17400 block of Tauton Drive in Gaithersburg for the report of an attempted residential burglary.  Investigators determined that at approximately 5:47 a.m., the suspect approached the front door of the home, then jumped over the fence, attempted to force entry into the rear sliding door and left the scene.


Gaithersburg

In January we let you know that Poke Bros will be opening its first Maryland location in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood. The restaurant, which opened its first location in 2016 and has since expanded to over 75 restaurants across the country, will be taking over the space that was previously home to Next Day Blinds at 107 Market St W until 2020. Permanent signage went up earlier this summer, and now interior work is nearing completion (photo below). An opening date is not yet available, but it appears that it will be open this fall.

More bout Poke Bros: After the founders were introduced to the Hawaiian staple on a trip to California. The appeal of this fast and casual—while healthy—concept immediately inspired the founders to begin thinking how they could bring this unique dish to the midwest. From its inception, we were confident the foodies of Columbus would love the poké concept, but wanted to provide an inexpensive and accessible product in the larger market. After some intense research and trial and error, the Poké Bros founders developed their own brand of poké bowl flavor they are proud to share and call their own. Modeling similar assembly line casual dining concepts, we developed a unique way to build your “sushi in a bowl” and have fun doing so! As the poké movement has caught on, Poké Bros has rapidly expanded into multiple states across the Midwest and East Coast, offering the same fresh and authentic cuisine to a wider range of customers. We will continue to stick to our roots, as Poké Bros continues to grow, and offer only the best fresh ingredients that fill you up but don’t slow you down.


Maryland

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a coalition of 49 Attorneys General announcing a $10 million settlement with payment processor ACI Worldwide over a 2021 testing error that led to the attempted unauthorized withdrawal of $2.3 billion from the accounts of mortgage-holders. The settlement includes injunctive relief designed to prevent a similar incident in the future.

ACI Payments, a subsidiary of ACI Worldwide Corp., is a payment processor for a variety of third-party clients, including mortgage servicers. Nationstar Mortgage, known publicly as “Mr. Cooper,” offered ACI’s Speedpay product to its customers so they could schedule and electronically pay their monthly mortgage payments through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. On April 23, 2021, ACI was testing the Speedpay platform when it erroneously attempted to withdraw mortgage payments from hundreds of thousands of “Mr. Cooper” customers on a day that was not authorized or expected. In many cases, consumers were subjected to the attempted withdrawal of multiple mortgage payments from their personal bank accounts. The Attorneys General allege the April 2021 incident was due to significant defects in ACI’s privacy and data security procedures and technical infrastructure related to the Speedpay platform.


Maryland

Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando announced today that he is dropping out of the U.S. Senate race. Jawando announced in May that he was launching a campaign for the U.S. Senate after Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland’s senior senator and Chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, announced that he would not seek re-election at the end of his term. Jawando’s full statement can be seen below (including a video):

“We are all living through such uncertain times. War is raging in the Middle East and Ukraine. Everyday Americans are not sure whether they can afford to keep a roof over their head or food on the table. Our Congress is meeting crisis with chaos and is paralyzed by far-right extremists. MAGA Republicans keep trying to elevate hard right election deniers to Speaker all while marching lockstep behind Donald Trump, a man who is running for president on a platform of revenge in a party that welcomes that with open arms. Now more than ever we need strong Democratic voices in the Senate. That’s why I got into this race.


MCPD

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police, Silver Spring Investigative Section are looking for 41-year-old Freddy Hernandez Flores. Hernandez Flores was last seen on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at approximately 1:53 p.m. in the on the 8700 block of Geren Rd in Silver Spring. He is 5’07”, 170 lbs, with short brown hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a red shirt with long, gray sleeves and gray pants.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Freddy Hernandez Flores is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).