Self-storage facility burglarized in Takoma Park

Takoma Park City police responded to a report of a burglary at a self-storage facility Sunday night, November 2, 2025. The burglary was reported at a facility in the 1300 block of Holton Lane at 7:49 PM. Public Storage is located on that block of Holton. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the business.

Police investigating shots-fired incident in Glenmont

Montgomery County police are investigating a shots-fired incident that took place in the vicinity of the Glenmont Shopping Center on October 23, 2025. At 3:14 PM, police received a report of gunfire being discharged in that area. Police describe the suspect only as a Black male of unknown age. If you have any information that can assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Hot Spot opening in downtown Silver Spring

A new hot spot is on the way in downtown Silver Spring. It's called...Hot Spot, and it will be located at 8073 Georgia Avenue. Dimmples Kettles recently closed there, and before that, it was home to Lotus Cafe. The West African restaurant will have outdoor seating, and will also offer catering services. Hot Spot's operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 3:00 AM, seven days a week.

Momiji Sushi to open in downtown Silver Spring

Momiji Sushi is coming soon to downtown Silver Spring. It will be located in the former Cubano's space at 1201 Fidler Lane. The full service restaurant will serve sushi rolls alongside other Asian dishes from multiple countries. Operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM seven days a week.

Armed robbery at restaurant in Glenmont

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a restaurant in Glenmont yesterday afternoon, October 30, 2025. The robbery was reported in the 12300 block of Georgia Avenue at 4:07 PM Thursday. That is at the Glenmont Shopping Center. A firearm was the weapon employed in the robbery.

Outback Steakhouse closes in Silver Spring

Outback Steakhouse has closed at 8661 Colesville Road at Ellsworth Place mall in downtown Silver Spring, according to a sign posted at the premises. Signage for the restaurant has been stripped from the building. Tables are still in place in the outside dining area, but without chairs.

The closure is a major shock. This is a prime location across from The Fillmore concert venue. The interior fit-out of the space was lengthy and expensive. And all for naught. Outback remains open in Aspen Hill.

Solaire Social food hall closes in Silver Spring

The food hall fad continues its epic crashout in lower Montgomery County. The latest victim is in downtown Silver Spring. Solaire Social has shuttered in the ground floor of the Solaire 8200 Dixon apartment tower. The food hall was designed as a prominent architectural feature, adding to the awkwardness of the closure. 

I'm not sure if we can blame the Montgomery County Council, and the moribund economy and anti-business environment they've created, as with so many of the other business failures countywide. The Council certainly didn't help matters, but the food hall concept seems to be something County residents just don't want, a sort of overpriced cafeteria. As for Solaire Social, the electricity is still on inside and out, despite the closure. Like Motel 6, they'll leave the light on for you.

Teen jumped by 3 robbers in Wheaton residential neighborhood

A quiet residential neighborhood in Wheaton was the scene of a violent robbery in broad daylight on October 14, 2025. Montgomery County police say a teenage boy was assaulted by three male juveniles in the 12400 block of Dalewood Drive at 12:08 PM that afternoon. They successfully fled with property taken from the victim. 

Police describe the suspects only as 3 Black males, approximately 15 years of age. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Downtown Silver Spring lot for lease

A vacant lot at 8111 Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring is now on the market for lease. To orient yourself, the property is directly adjacent to the small shopping center with 7-Eleven and Manny & Olga's that is at the corner of Fenton and Sligo Avenue. This 0.18 acre lot is well-suited for commercial use. The lease rate is not disclosed in the online listing. Singh, LLC is the broker.

Photo courtesy Singh, LLC

Gas station for sale in Four Corners area of Silver Spring

A gas station is for sale in a very lucrative spot to operate such a business in Silver Spring. The Shell station property is located at 10144 Colesville Road in Four Corners. That's not only one of the heaviest traveled intersections in Montgomery County, but it's also near a Capital Beltway interchange. The asking price is not disclosed in the online sale listing. You will likely have to sign the confidentiality agreement to obtain some details about the potential negotiations and transaction.

Silver Spring man arrested for alleged attempted rape, assault

 

Montgomery County police have arrested a man they claim physically assaulted and attempted to rape a woman waiting at a bus stop in Rockville. The victim was walking toward a bus stop on the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital campus in the 9800 block of Medical Center Drive yesterday at 5:26 AM, police say, when the suspect assaulted her. When police arrived, they located the suspect aboard a bus attempting to leave the area. Jerrell Lee Fullwood, 25, of Silver Spring was taken into custody. He has been charged with attempted first-degree rape and first-degree assault. 

Fullwood is being held pending a bond hearing. Detectives who reviewed surveillance video claim Fullwood was seen following the woman prior to the attack.

Strong-arm robbery at bus stop in White Oak

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery at a bus stop in the White Oak area of Silver Spring this past Tuesday night, October 21, 2025. The robbery was reported at a bus stop in the 11300 block of Lockwood Drive at 10:05 PM Tuesday. The victim was also assaulted in the incident.

Honeygrow opening at Shoppes of Burnt Mills in Silver Spring

Honeygrow is coming soon to the Shoppes of Burnt Mills in Silver Spring. It will be located in the former California Tortilla space. Honeygrow is a Philadelphia-based fast casual chain serving stir-fry, salads, "honeybars," and cold-pressed juices. Construction is expected to begin by late fall.

A last look at Jerry's Subs & Pizza in Burtonsville (Photos)

Here stands the former Jerry's Subs & Pizza at 15547 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. After operating for more than 3 decades of the local chain's golden age, the restaurant converted into Jeffrey's Subs & Pizza before permanently closing. A message to customers in the window notes that "business conditions have deteriorated and operational costs have increased excessively" in Montgomery County, leading to the closure.

There's good news for fans of Jerry's, however. The moribund Montgomery County economy and anti-business County Council may have sunk Jerry's here, but locations remain open in economically-vibrant Aberdeen, Accokeek, Dunkirk, and Solomon's Island. Franchises also remain available.

Perhaps one day, the Big Bubba, Double Trouble, and Jerry's Famous Wedge Fries will return to MoCo. Until then, "say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you."

Insomnia Cookies "coming soon" to Silver Spring

Insomnia Cookies is "coming soon" to downtown Silver Spring, according to signage posted at their future storefront. It is located at 8455 Fenton Street, in the ground floor of the Central apartments. When I first heard of Insomnia Cookies, I thought maybe they were caffeinated cookies, like the caffeine-spiked donuts Hostess tested a few years ago. Instead, the selling point is that they are open late at night to deliver warm cookies. 

Strong-arm robbery in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in downtown Silver Spring this past Saturday night, October 18, 2025. The robbery was reported in the 900 block of Ellsworth Drive at 9:50 PM Saturday. The victim was also assaulted. 

Fantasticks closes in Silver Spring

Fantasticks has permanently closed at 915 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring. The space has been cleared out, and signage has been taken down. Fantasticks retains two other locations in the region, Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg, and One Loudoun in Ashburn. The custom gelato bar's Silver Spring location opened here last summer.

Man jumped by 10 robbers in downtown Silver Spring

A man was assaulted and robbed by a gang of ten suspects in downtown Silver Spring on October 11, 2025, Montgomery County police report. The man was in the 900 block of Ellsworth Drive at 11:07 PM that night when he was surrounded by ten male suspects, who allegedly proceeded to assault him, and rob him of unspecified property. Police describe the suspects only as ten Black males of unknown age. If you have any information about this incident to share with detectives, call (301) 279-8000.

Royal Farms Montgomery Hills construction update (Photos)

Construction of the new Royal Farms convenience store and mega gas station at 9475 Georgia Avenue in Montgomery Hills is proceeding at a slower pace than the chain's first Montgomery County location in Gaithersburg. Little seems to have been done on the store building since my last update. Much of the lot remains unpaved. Two large pylons have been erected, possibly to support a sign, although it's hard to think of another sign of that height being permitted in recent years under the County's oppressive sign regulations.

Buffalo Wild Wings GO opens in Kensington

The dining scene in Kensington just got spicier. Buffalo Wild Wings GO is now open at 10619-B Connecticut Avenue at the new Crossroads of Kensington shopping center. Just what the doctor ordered for football season. They have a buy-one-get-one-of-equal-value-free offer for boneless wings on Thursdays, for a limited time, valid only when your order is placed through the BWW website or app.

You'll find a slimmed-down menu at Buffalo Wild Wings GO, comprised of some of BWW's customer favorites. An "innovative cooking process" is able to churn out the same crispy wings you find at a regular BWW at a speedier pace, the company says. The interior set-up is designed to get customers in and out of the smaller-scale GO store as quickly as possible, especially when ordering ahead. GO also has some exclusive flavors not found at the full-size BWW.

Police arrest suspects in armed robbery of Pizza Hut in Glenmont

Montgomery County police have arrested two men in connection with a recent string of pizzeria robberies in Glenmont and downtown Bethesda. Terrance Barfield, 22, and Jaylen Cunningham, 18, both of Washington, D.C., were arrested in a traffic stop in Chevy Chase shortly after they allegedly robbed Manny and Olga's at 8118 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda on October 8, 2025. Detectives say they have determined Barfield and Cunningham were also the robbers of Domino's Pizza at 4817 St. Elmo Avenue on September 23, of Pizza Hut at 12335 Georgia Avenue in Glenmont on September 28, and of Papa John's at 7200 47th Street in Bethesda on October 1.

Barfield and Cunningham were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where they were charged with armed robbery, motor vehicle theft, and related offenses. Both are being held without bond. Their mug shots have not been released to the public.

Euro Style temporarily closes in Silver Spring

Euro Style is temporarily closed at 8429 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. The fashion boutique will reopen for normal business hours this coming Saturday, October 18, 2025. No reason was given for the closure. The boutique carries upscale European fashions for men and women.

Thousands line up for Pollo Pinulito opening in Wheaton

The line went out the door and down the street for the grand opening of Pollo Pinulito in Wheaton yesterday. Customers turned out en masse for the debut of the Guatemalan fried chicken restaurant at 2322 University Boulevard West. This is the chain's first Maryland location, and their first in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

Pollo Pinulito USA imports authentic Guatemalan seasoning and spices for their top secret chicken recipe. Regular and spicy variations are available, as are nuggets and fries. The fries are thicker-cut like those at Roy Rogers.

Greencastle Elementary School burglarized in Silver Spring

Greencastle Elementary School was burglarized in the Fairland area of Silver Spring on September 27, 2025, Montgomery County police report. In the early morning hours of that day, police allege, a suspect entered the school at 13611 Robey Road, and stole unspecified property. Officers responding to the scene found no evidence of forced entry, suggesting the burglar had a key, or that the school building had been left unsecured overnight.

Police describe the suspect only as a Black male of unknown age. If you have any information about this incident, and/or can identify the suspect, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Silver Spring construction update: The Guardian apartments (Photos)

"Immediate move-in [is] available" at The Guardian apartments at 8605 Cameron Street in downtown Silver Spring, according to the property website. Work appears to be complete, from the exterior, at least. There is a retail space still to be fit-out by a tenant on the ground level. 

Here's a look at the lobby, which captures the art deco theme of the building to a greater extent than the facade. If you've been following the Guardian story, the building has been converted from an office property to residential, with the addition of several floors on top. This is one of the first successful conversions in Montgomery County in the new trend of repurposing vacant office buildings, although it has been done in downtown Silver Spring before.

Ground floor retail space