AAA office closes at Wheaton Plaza North Building

The American Automobile Association has closed its longtime office at 2730 University Boulevard West, Suite 102, in the Wheaton Plaza North Building (now known as the Westfield Wheaton North building). In an age before GPS, Google Maps, and Expedia, AAA provided essential travel services, including customized TripTik maps for your road trip. These were quite a step up from the gas station fold-out maps and oversized state atlas books that were quite unwieldy to use, especially while driving. It's the end of another holdover from the golden age of Wheaton, and I see AAA's suite is now available for lease.

Wheaton Plaza North Building is another of those golden age holdovers. Completed in 1964, the 11-story building was going to be the tallest office building in Montgomery County when developers Isadore Gudelsky and Theodore Lerner broke ground on the project. Its modified Georgian-inspired architecture cut a sharp appearance, along with the iconic Howard Johnson hotel across University, on the midcentury Wheaton skyline. Architect Arthur L. Anderson, along with Lathrop Douglass and John Bennett, designed the building and the Wheaton Plaza mall it shares the property with.

The building still hosts the medical and government tenants it has specialized in attracting over the last 62 years, and, of course, the mall is still going strong. Alas, Howard Johnson has joined other Wheaton icons like the Anchor Inn and Barry's Magic Shop in the demolition scrap pile. So pour out a HoJo Cola for the obliterated hotel, and, well, you can still get a AAA TripTik...on your phone.

Assault at grocery store in Glenmont

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a grocery store in Glenmont on April 15, 2026. The assault was reported at a supermarket in the 2200 block of Randolph Road at 9:35 AM Wednesday. Lidl is located on that block of Randolph. Yet again, another example of violent crimes increasingly being committed during daylight hours in Montgomery County. 

Former RadioShack, GameStop building available for lease in Wheaton

It may be a paint store now, but the modest structure at 11147 Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton holds nostalgia for more than one generation in Montgomery County. A few years ago, it was a busy GameStop store. But if we turn the Wayback Machine just a bit further, longtime residents will recognize the building as Wheaton's RadioShack store. Is your Battery Club card still in your wallet? Are you reading this on your Tandy Color Computer? Well, you can lease the old RadioShack yourself now. Just check out the online listing.

Silver Spring Library Purple Line station construction update (Photos)

Every day it seems like something new pops up at the future Silver Spring Library Purple Line station at 900 Wayne Avenue. More signage is in place. One new sign advises that tickets must be purchased prior to boarding the light rail train that will run between Bethesda and New Carrollton beginning in late December 2027. Elevated loudspeakers have been installed for station announcements and audio warnings. 

Why install all of this so far in advance of the start date? First, trains will take many test runs prior to the launch date. And second, early activation of all of these signs and sounds will give drivers and pedestrians in the area a chance to become familiar with the cues they'll need to be alert for when trains actually start running. I imagine safety technicians will also be monitoring these interactions during the test phase to see if any additional signage is needed in certain spots, or if a sign can be better positioned.

Armed robbery in Takoma Park

Takoma Park City police responded to a report of an armed robbery last night, April 14, 2026. The robbery was reported in the 7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue at 7:05 PM Tuesday. It took place in a commercial parking lot. An unspecified weapon, other than a firearm, was employed in the robbery.

Assault at Ellsworth Place mall in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Ellsworth Place mall at 8661 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring on Friday, April 10, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 7:53 PM Friday. The suspect was ultimately also accused of disorderly conduct, resisting an officer, and possession of a concealed weapon.

Elizabeth House demolition update in Silver Spring

Demolition continues at the Elizabeth House apartments at 1400 Fenwick Lane in downtown Silver Spring. The existing structure will be replaced by a Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County housing project. It will ultimately deliver 887 total housing units. The demolition permit was issued last September, but here we are today. I continue to marvel at the 21st-century trend of slow, manual demolition in Montgomery County. It's a point of pride, apparently, that we don't rapidly demolish structures with wrecking balls or explosive charges.