Ex-Amazon Fresh store in Silver Spring to be converted to multiple storefronts

The former Amazon Fresh building at 12263 Prosperity Terrace at White Oak Town Center is getting a new lease on life. Multiple leases, in fact. According to a source with knowledge of the plans, the grocery store structure will be subdivided to allow for more than one retail or restaurant tenant to occupy it. Construction on the project is expected to commence this winter.

Israeli defense firm chooses Virginia for U.S. headquarters

Israeli defense firm Smart Shooter has selected the location for its new U.S. headquarters, and - surprise! - it's Northern Virginia, not Montgomery County. The company, known for its rifle-mounted and hand-held fire control systems, chose Dulles Office Park in Herndon for its U.S. operations center. As you might surmise from the property name, the site is 5 minutes from Dulles International Airport, an essential amenity for international businesspeople. Montgomery County infamously lacks direct access to Dulles, by virtue of County elected officials cancelling the long-planned new Potomac River crossing from I-370 in Gaithersburg to Route 28 in the Dulles area. "I coulda been a contender!" Womp, womp.

Photo courtesy Fairfax County Economic Development Authority/Nikolai Roster

Cold Stone Creamery, Wetzel's Pretzels to open in Burtonsville

Two brands that have recently rekindled their interest in Montgomery County now have their sights on Burtonsville. Cold Stone Creamery and Wetzel's Pretzels have both signed leases at the revitalized Burtonsville Crossing shopping center. Both have already installed signage above their shared storefront by TJ Maxx. Wetzel's recently returned to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, but won't have to face its arch rival Auntie Anne's at Burtonsville Crossing. No such luck for Cold Stone Creamery, with nemesis Baskin Robbins a Joe Namath football throw away.

Count Gore de Vol to host Evil Dead screening Saturday in Silver Spring

Count Gore de Vol will rise from his casket once again to resume his horror hosting duties at the AFI Silver Theatre at 8633 Colesville Road in Silver Spring this Saturday, October 24, 2026. The beloved television personality will preside over a screening of the depraved 1981 classic The Evil Dead at 7:00 PM at the historic movie house. Saturday's event is part of the theater's Halloween on Screen celebration. Tickets are $15, a small price to pay to be able to say you've seen the legendary Dick Dyszel live...er, dead, and in-person.

AutoZone opens in White Oak

AutoZone has opened at 11259 New Hampshire Avenue at the White Oak Shopping Center in Silver Spring. It is located in the former Sears Auto Center building. This is the fourth AutoZone location in eastern Montgomery County. In addition to a large selection of auto parts and accessories, the store also offers services like free battery testing and charging, Fix Finder check engine light diagnostics, and the Loan-A-Tool program.

Palisades Lounge to return to downtown Silver Spring

Palisades Lounge is poised to make a triumphant return to downtown Silver Spring. It will be reopening in its old space at 8211 Georgia Avenue. That was most recently home to Elysium Lounge, which has closed. Palisades Lounge originally opened here in May of 2019.

Silver Spring Potbelly reopens after car crashes into storefront

The Potbelly Sandwich Shop restaurant at 12273 Tech Road, at Westech Corner in the White Oak area of Silver Spring, has reopened after a long temporary closure. A driver crashed into the storefront of the restaurant on February 22 of this year. The shop remained boarded up for months since, leading many to wonder if it would ever open again. It has finally reopened, and has a large OPEN NOW flag fluttering in the breeze out front.