The city closed Gibbs Street in Rockville Town Square in June 2020 to accommodate outdoor dining. On Thursday, September 9th, the City of Rockville will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss the future use of Town Center streets.

Per the City of Rockville:

City staff will hold a virtual public meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9 to discuss continuing full or partial road closures in Rockville Town Center to accommodate outdoor dining.

The meeting will discuss permanently closing Gibbs Street, and whether to continue the partial closure of, or to fully close, East Montgomery Avenue for continued outdoor dining. The discussion will also consider bicycle and pedestrian traffic within the areas.

The Mayor and Council are scheduled to discuss the issue on Monday, Oct. 4.

In June 2020, the city closed Gibbs Street, between East Middle Lane and Beall Avenue, and East Montgomery Avenue, between Maryland Avenue and Helen Heneghan Way, to allow for expanded outdoor dining areas. The city also created a permit to allow local eateries to temporarily create or expand outdoor dining spaces on private property and within the city’s rights of way and designated curbside pickup and 15-minute free parking spaces throughout Town Center.

In May, the city worked with Federal Realty to launch the Streetery on Gibbs in Rockville Town Square, featuring enhanced outdoor seating and a more welcoming environment for people to gather as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased and new restaurants opened.

The streetery concept eliminates or limits vehicular traffic and parking on public streets and rights of way to repurpose the urban, outdoor common space for expanded dining, seating and public use.

Staff also worked with Duball to modify the streetery on East Montgomery Avenue to allow for eastbound traffic, a pickup/drop-off lane along the south curb, and an outdoor dining tent for World of Beer along the north curb.

Citing the success of outdoor dining and the desire of businesses for it to continue, in July, the Mayor and Council authorized continuing the street closures and pickup lanes through Oct. 31.

Potential options to be considered during the Sept. 9 meeting include whether to continue the street closures year-round with the potential for heated tents, to close streets only in warm weather months or only on weekends, and whether to temporarily continue 15-minute free curbside pickup parking spaces in Town Center.

Find information for how to join the meeting online with the Sept. 9 calendar listing at www.rockvillemd.gov/calendar.aspx.

Last summer, the Wheaton Streetery was created so that people can enjoy restaurants in downtown Wheaton while while remaining outside during the pandemic that closed indoor dining.

Sections of Price Ave. and Elkins St. were closed to vehicular traffic as restaurants set up seating on sidewalks and into the closed roadways.

The Streetery was a hit and both restaurants and residents are clamoring for it to become permanent.

A petition was created by “Wheaton Restaurants” three days ago on change.org and, as of 11:45am today, received over 370 signatures.

The petition can be seen/signed in this link and reads the following:

“

Everyone in Wheaton, MD loves the Streetery!  It has been a lifesaver for the restaurants, and the County has approved keeping it going through the summer.  Making it permanent will ensure there is outdoor seating for those who are not comfortable dining indoors.  This is a good thing for the public and the restaurants and a great thing for the restaurant employees!

Keeping the Streetery going year-end would be a good thing for the government as well.  The sales tax generated by the Streetery is way more than the metered parking.

There have been plans on file with the County planning department for more than 10 years that would turn this cool little corner of Wheaton into a pedestrian zone.  Making the Streetery permanent is a step in that direction.

Please sign our petition today.  Thank you!”

Rockville Town Square Announces “The Streetery on Gibbs”

The Streetery is the new open-air urban common space at Rockville Town Square made possible through a partnership with Federal Realty Investment Trust, Montgomery County, and the City of Rockville.

The pedestrian-friendly environment, created by Gaithersburg-based Syzygy Events International, comprises 15,000 square feet with curated seating areas and pods for more than 70 people for outdoor dining and work.

“The City of Rockville is thrilled to partner with Federal in creating The Streetery on Gibbs, a unique outdoor destination for Rockville’s Town Square and surrounding neighborhoods,” said Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton. “Providing people with extended outdoor dining and gathering spaces, as well as supporting our Rockville businesses, and welcoming new ones during this challenging time remains a focus of the Mayor and Council. This includes our continued partnership with Federal and Rockville Town Square.”

Rockville Town Square patrons can enjoy The Streetery while dining at popular restaurants including Finnegan’s, La Canela, First Watch and the soon-to-be opened Plaza Oaxaca.