Update on Round1 Bowling & Arcade in Wheaton (Photos)

Construction walls continue to block the view of most of the work being done at the future Round1 Bowling & Arcade entertainment center at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall. You can see a little bit of what's being done on the outdoor-facing side of the space, which is on Level 1 next to the venerable JCPenney. But the main thing we can see right now are new signs giving mall patrons an idea of what to expect when it opens. And they are also hiring staff for all positions. 

Student arrested, charged in Blake High School shooting in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police have arrested a James Hubert Blake High School student in connection to the shooting that took place on Wednesday in the school's parking lot at 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Taric Wilson, 17, of Silver Spring has been charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, carrying a loaded handgun, and felony use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. Ironically, police also confirmed that Wilson was the individual wounded during the parking lot skirmish, when his own gun discharged amidst the struggle, hitting him in the knee and foot. Wilson was arrested in Washington, D.C., and is now awaiting extradition to Montgomery County.

In another irony, the adult "outside intruder" that Montgomery County Public Schools officials tried to blame the incident on, was not the person who was carrying the firearm onto the campus. However, Djibia Gombo, 19, of Silver Spring did allegedly pick up the gun after Wilson dropped it. Police also allege that Gombo briefly pointed the gun at a "Montgomery County Public Schools security officer" before placing on the pavement.

Gombo was arrested at the scene. He has been charged with 1st-degree assault. Police say they are continuing their investigation of the incident. No mugshots of Wilson or Gombo were released by police with their statement this afternoon.

Romero's Italian Restaurant "opening soon" in Wheaton

New signage posted at Romero's Italian Restaurant promises it is "opening soon." Located at 2666 University Boulevard West, the restaurant had hoped to open this past winter, but it looks like the end of construction is now within sight. They're also hiring staff, according to the Help Wanted sign in the front window. This was most recently home to another Italian eatery, Cristina Ristorante Italiano.

Shooting at Blake High School in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police are investigating a shooting that took place on the grounds of James Hubert Blake High School at 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring this morning. According to police, a County police Community Engagement Officer already at the campus was informed about a fight taking place in the school parking lot at 11:29 AM. School security officers and the CEO intervened in the brawl, and a handgun fell to the ground amid the struggle.

An initial summary of events press release from the police department does not state who dropped the gun. It does state that a 19-year-old male was taken into custody. The summary goes on to say that a short time after this altercation, a juvenile who was involved in the brawl arrived at a local hospital suffering from a gunshot wound. @TheDMVLive on Twitter obtained video that appears to show the moment when the gun was fired in the school parking lot.

BoBaPop Tea Bar coming soon to Aspen Hill

BoBaPop Tea Bar is expanding to Aspen Hill. The bubble tea chain has leased a space at the Aspen Hill Shopping Center at 13661 Connecticut Avenue. Construction is expected to begin in a few weeks. While there are many boba tea shops in Montgomery County, Aspen Hill is a veritable bubble tea desert, so BoBaPop should get a good reception in the community. The chain has existing Montgomery County locations in Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Germantown. Popular menu items include their tiger-striped Brown Sugar Black Milk Tea, Grapefruit Guava Tea, and a Chocolate Oreo Slush.

KaFean Koffee moving to Wheaton

It looks like KaFean Koffee is switching malls in Montgomery County. Their coffee kiosk recently closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. But look what's popping up here at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall. A kiosk with a KaFean Koffee sign! KaFean Koffee serves coffee from the Austrian coffee roaster Julius Meinl. Their kiosk also has a Rancilio Silvia espresso machine. When it opens, look for KaFean Koffee on Level 2 of the mall, near Kokee Tea.

Montgomery County orders closure of convenience store in Silver Spring

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services has ordered the closure of a convenience store in downtown Silver Spring. Hakim 1 Stop Shop at 8433 Georgia Avenue has been shut down by HHS inspectors under Montgomery County Code Chapter 15, Section 15-16(b), which reads as follows:

When it is imperative to preserve the immediate health and safety of the community, the [HHS] director may summarily revoke or suspend a license without the notice prescribed in subsection (a), and may direct that the facility be closed to the public until the hazard is corrected. 

The store only recently opened in March. Once code violations are corrected, and the corrections are approved by inspectors, Hakim 1 Stop Shop will be able to reopen. One positive update about the business is that a sign in the window now says it is open 24 hours a day, a rare thing in Montgomery County in recent years.

New book drop at Takoma Park Library

There's a new book drop at the Takoma Park Library at 101 Philadelphia Avenue. It is located to the left of the main entrance. Patrons are asked to only insert books for return into the slot. CDs and other fragile media and materials should be returned in person at the front desk. The book drop, of course, is open and accessible 24 hours a day. Library operating hours are now 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Friday through Sunday.

Allium Place apartments burglarized in Silver Spring, vehicles stolen from complex

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at the Allium Place apartments at 4024 Gannon Road in Silver Spring on April 13, 2026. The burglary was reported at 12:55 PM. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry. They also discovered that a set of keys were stolen from an office area, which were used to steal a vehicle belonging to the complex. Police describe the suspect only as a Hispanic male of unknown age.

Three days later, another vehicle was reported stolen from the parking lot on April 16. Police believe that vehicle was taken sometime between 5:00 and 7:00 AM that morning. They have no suspect description in that case. If you have any information about either of these incidents that could assist detectives in closing these cases, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Assailant chokes victim to unconsciousness inside Wheaton Plaza

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall yesterday afternoon, April 23, 2026. At 2:56 PM Thursday, a suspect placed a victim in a chokehold inside a store at the mall. The victim temporarily lost consciousness as a result. While the suspect then fled the store, he was ultimately detained outside the mall by police.

Armed robbery in Four Corners area of Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a grocery store in the Four Corners area of Silver Spring yesterday morning, April 22, 2026. An alleged shoplifter was confronted by employees at the Safeway store at 116 University Boulevard West at 11:51 AM Wednesday. The suspect then threatened the employees with an unspecified weapon, police say, and fled the store with merchandise. Officers were able to locate the suspect a short time later, and made an arrest. Police did not identify the suspect.

Car stolen from home in Aspen Hill

Auto thieves are prowling Bel Pre Road in Aspen Hill again. Montgomery County police responded to a report of a vehicle being stolen from the driveway of a home in the 4300 block of Bel Pre yesterday morning. Police believe the vehicle was taken sometime between 10:40 PM on April 20, and 6:20 AM on April 21. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Brazen auto theft in Silver Spring

Auto thieves engaged in a brazen theft in the Connecticut Avenue Estates neighborhood of Silver Spring early yesterday morning, April 20, 2026. The theft took place sometime between 3:30 and 4:30 AM Monday morning in the 3800 block of Brightview Court. Thieves smashed the window of a yellow Chevrolet Camaro and stole it. If you have any information about the identity of the thieves, or the location of the stolen car, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Assault at Wheaton Regional Park

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Wheaton Regional Park on Friday, April 17, 2026. The assault was reported at the park, which is located at 2000 Shorefield Road, at 7:30 PM. It should be noted that the park officially closes at 7:00 PM each night.

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.

Buna & Barley opening in downtown Silver Spring

Buna & Barley has leased the space at 901 Silver Spring Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. Very little is known about the business as of this writing. It has applied for a Class D Beer and Wine On/Off liquor license from Montgomery County, and is described in its trade name application with the state of Maryland as a "specialty retail shop." The liquor license hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2026, at 12:30 PM.

"Buna" is Amharic for "coffee." The business entity making the filing translates as "Day and Night, LLC." 901 Silver Spring Avenue was previously home to Wesenyelesh International Market, an Ethiopian market.

Society Seafood House opens in Silver Spring

Society Seafood House has opened at 8229 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. It is holding a soft opening weekend today and tomorrow, April 11-12, 2026. The restaurant will open at 5:00 PM each evening. "Chic evening attire" is recommended in the announcement. The new restaurant is a change in dining concept from the owners of previous tenant Society Restaurant & Lounge.

Dunkin' Donuts to remodel Silver Spring Metro Plaza store

The interior of the Dunkin' Donuts store at 8401 Colesville Road at Silver Spring Metro Plaza will have a new look later this year. A remodeling and renovation of the downtown donuts-and-coffee destination is expected to begin by summer. New finishes, new display cases, a new ceiling, and even a new door are among the upgrades planned. Plumbing and electrical improvements will also be made.

Copper thieves strike again in Kensington

Copper thieves continue to mine a rich vein of the valuable metal at a townhome construction site near the Holy Cross School along Strathmore Avenue. Workers called Montgomery County police yesterday morning to report the latest theft. Police say the copper thieves removed copper pipes from multiple townhomes under construction at the site on Dulcet Drive and Academy Park Drive. It is believed that the theft took place between 4:00 PM on April 7, 2026 and 8:30 AM on April 8.