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.