Romero's Italian Restaurant opening in Wheaton

Romero's Italian Restaurant is opening soon at 2666 University Boulevard W. in Wheaton. That was previously home to Cristina Ristorante Italiano. Last evening, signage was already in place on the storefront. Romero's has a liquor license hearing scheduled for December 18, 2025, and on its application states it plans to open shortly after Christmas - but stay tuned for confirmation of that, which may change. Operating hours for Romero's will be 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM, seven days a week.

Royal Farms Montgomery Hills construction update (Photos)

Construction progress on the future Royal Farms convenience store and mega gas station in Montgomery Hills keeps creep, creep, creeping along. There's finally some Tyvek on a solid part of the otherwise-still-skeletal framework of the store building. The most obvious addition is the Royal Farms logo on the gas pump canopy. Royal Farms is being constructed at 9475 Georgia Avenue, near the Capital Beltway interchange.

Popeyes posts holiday hours in downtown Silver Spring

Popeyes at 8401 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring has posted its holiday hours schedule. The restaurant will be open from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM on Christmas Eve. It will be closed all day on Christmas Day. The day after Christmas, it will be open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Regular business hours will be observed on New Year's Eve. Hours on New Year's Day will be 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The lobby will close two hours before closing time on each of these days.

First Purple Line station signage installed in Silver Spring

The first Purple Line light rail station signage I have seen in Montgomery County is now installed at the Silver Spring Library station in downtown Silver Spring. Crews have been installing gray brick pavers between the embedded tracks at the station. The light rail line is now expected to begin service in early 2028.

Ellsworth Place has Christmas decor cornered in downtown Silver Spring

The shocking lack of Christmas trees and decor at Downtown Silver Spring, and around downtown Silver Spring in general, has stunned many shoppers and residents. One tiny oasis has been located in the downtown area, inside Ellsworth Place mall. Tucked away in a semi-shadowy corner of the mall are a nicely-decorated Christmas tree, a life-size Santa Claus figure, and five wrapped gifts. Did the Montgomery County Council quietly pass a ban on holiday decorations in downtown Silver Spring? If so, kudos to Ellsworth Place for defying it.

Starbucks adds Cinnamon-Shaken Waffles to menu

Check out what's new at Starbucks for the holiday season. Cinnamon-Shaken Waffles are starting to pop up on menus at Starbucks locations across Montgomery County in recent days. Three bite-size Belgian waffles are shaken in a Cinnamon Dolce Shake Shake Topping, and served warm and golden brown. The waffles are available all day long, not just for breakfast.

Dor-Ne Corset Shop closing in Silver Spring after 93 years in business

Dor-Ne Corset Shop is closing at 8126 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. The undergarments boutique has operated continuously since 1932, surviving the Great Depression, many recessions, and the recent pandemic. Dor-Ne was located in Washington, D.C. during the 20th Century, and moved out here to Silver Spring in 2001. 

The owners say they have decided to retire, and that the business is available for sale. Meanwhile, a closing sale is underway. Their new operating hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday.

Downtown Silver Spring skipping Christmas this year (Photos)

Where are you, Christmas? Downtown Silver Spring has experimented with some non-traditional spins on holiday decorations in recent years. But it appears Ebenezer Scrooge was hired as the decor consultant for 2025. As of this evening, the Peterson Cos. retail property at 916 Ellsworth Drive is devoid of Christmas trees and decor, as well as any overt holiday-themed lighting. It's up to individual tenants to supply the Christmas cheer this year.

Silver Spring teen arrested for bringing loaded gun to school

 

Montgomery County police arrested a student at Northwood High School in Bethesda yesterday morning, after he was found to allegedly be in possession of a firearm at the school. Isaiah Gaunt, 17, of Silver Spring has been charged as an adult with possession of a firearm without a serial number, handgun on person, possession of a firearm by a minor, and loaded handgun on person. Police say he was carrying a loaded 3D printed privately manufactured firearm (PMF) in his waistband. 

Gaunt was arrested without incident, police say. The alleged firearm came to light during an altercation between Gaunt and another student earlier Friday morning. Police officers were then dispatched to the school, located at 11211 Old Georgetown Road, at 8:23 AM.

UPDATED: Arrive Wheaton residents return home after flood remediation

UPDATE - 2:50 PM, December 8, 2025: Residents have been allowed to return to their units. The story below has been updated to include Arrive Wheaton's response regarding provision of hotel rooms for all residents, or for reimbursement for rooms paid for with valid receipt.

Over 1000 residents of the Arrive Wheaton apartments at 11215 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton remain homeless this evening, after their building was condemned by Montgomery County. A major flood in the building's sub-basement forced the shut-off of power and water to the apartments above. Most shockingly, according to residents, they are being forced to sleep on cots in an emergency shelter, rather than being put up in hotels by the building owner.

Michelle Rodriguez, a spokesperson for Arrive Wheaton, said that the building management had offered to reimburse residents for hotel rooms if they could show receipts. However, she said they learned that some residents had instead gone to emergency shelters, and they procured hotel rooms for those individuals. It was not immediately clear if the residents who indicated they went to shelters were not aware of the reimbursement offer, or did not have the funds to make the initial payment to a hotel.

Aspen Hill Club sold, longtime owner confirms

The Aspen Hill Club has been sold to a local real estate firm, the owner confirmed in a letter to members. A popular fitness center at 14501 Homecrest Road in Silver Spring, the roadside landmark has been family owned since 1977. Owner Eddie Lenkin said he decided it was time to step aside. 

The club will continue to operate, and the new owners will retain the current management team, Lenkin said. He did not identify the buyer, but noted that the sale will be finalized this month. Some members have expressed concern that the firm might seek to redevelop the prime property the club sits upon.

Crane assisting parking garage construction in Silver Spring (Photos)

Construction is slowly advancing on a new parking garage at 8615 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. A tower crane has been erected to assist with the heavy lifting. When Montgomery County's moribund economy scuppered a planned office building on this site, United Therapeutics stepped in to save the day, making a deal with the County. Under the agreement, the biotech firm is constructing a public parking garage on this site, and the County, in turn, will hand over the Cameron Street Garage property at 8700 Cameron Street to UT for future expansion. UT is also providing a fiber hub to the County, a parcel of land for future affordable housing, and a new County Department of Transportation parking operations facility at 9150 Brookville Road in Forest Glen. 

Takoma Park Community Center & Library parking lot resurfacing

The rear parking lot at the Takoma Park Community Center and Library at 7500 Maple Avenue is being resurfaced this week. This work is expected to take approximately 3-5 days, weather permitting. During construction, vehicle access to the rear lot will remain available, with traffic entering and exiting through the Philadelphia Avenue entrance. Vehicle access to Grant Avenue will be periodically disrupted. Pedestrian access from Philadelphia Avenue may also be temporarily affected; a detour will be in place during these times.

The contractor has been advised of student pick-up and drop-off times. Parking will be disrupted and unavailable at times, and vehicle passage through the rear parking lot will be disrupted periodically.

Assault at school in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police were called to a school in Silver Spring this past Saturday after someone was assaulted there. The assault was reported at a school in the 1500 block of St. Camillus Drive at 12:00 PM. It took place in the school parking lot. St. Francis International School is located on that block.

Tacos Don Perez adding breakfast hours in Glenmont, Kensington starting December 2

Starting tomorrow morning, Tuesday, December 2, 2025, you will have a new breakfast destination in Glenmont and Kensington. Tacos Don Perez is adding breakfast hours at 12321 Georgia Avenue in Glenmont, and 3784 Howard Avenue in Kensington. Breakfast hours will be 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM Tuesday through Friday, and 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Breakfast menu items will include Chilaquiles, Breakfast Burritos, and atole hot chocolate (a thicker, Mexican hot chocolate).

Purple Line Silver Spring station construction update (Photos)

We've been looking most recently at the Purple Line progress close to the Silver Spring Library. Let's head back over to the Silver Spring Metro station to check on the progress there. Here we can see the current state of the future platform, the trestle leading into the station coming from Lyttonsville, and the bridge over the Metro subway tracks. The Purple Line is expected to begin operating in early 2028.