7-Eleven closes in downtown Silver Spring (Photos)

Here's something that rarely happens, at least in Montgomery County: A 7-Eleven store closing. The 7-Eleven at 8202 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring has permanently closed. Signage has been removed from the facade, and from the signpost near the intersection. Windows are papered over, and all that remains inside are the built-in refrigerator cases at the rear of the store. I'm told the space is now on the market for lease.

No pancakes Flip'd yet at Downtown Silver Spring

An IHOP pancake breakfast would have been perfect before a day of Black Friday shopping at Downtown Silver Spring and Ellsworth Place. Alas, the new Flip'd by IHOP restaurant construction appears to still be in short-stack limbo at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road. On my most recent trip past, the interior of the previous tenant was still intact with its Asian decor. Still looking forward to this, as downtown Silver Spring needs an IHOP within walking distance.

On year's biggest travel day, Downtown Silver Spring holiday decor celebrates holiday journeys home

Americans are hitting the roads, airports and train stations on the biggest travel day of the year today. The holiday decorations at Downtown Silver Spring are very timely in that respect. For its tenth annual holiday display, the Peterson Cos. property has chosen the theme of "traveling home for the holidays."

The Gifting Tower display features a bounty of giant, wrapped gifts atop an iconic Volkswagen bus camper van. Its psychedelic 1960s exterior paint is capped off with a wreath. The bus even has operating lights on the front, along with smaller Christmas light bulbs strung across. Don't try to hit the road with that license plate, though!

Guests can photograph themselves in the front seats of the bus. Post your best shot on social media and tag @DTSilverSpring, and you could win a $100 holiday gift card from Downtown Silver Spring. Nice!

Xtra by XOA Lifestyle closes in Silver Spring

Xtra by XOA Lifestyle has closed at 914 Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring. The space was previously home to Ulta, which relocated at Downtown Silver Spring. XOA still has a Northern Virginia store, and says it plans to open additional stores before the end of fall.

Trump endorses Dan Cox in Maryland governor race

Republican candidate Delegate Dan Cox has received President Donald Trump's "Complete and Total Endorsement" in the 2022 race for governor of Maryland. Trump declared Cox "MAGA all the way," after speaking with him by phone while Cox was visiting the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on Monday. He called Cox a "tough lawyer and smart businessman."

The Trump endorsement was another opportunity for the 45th president to roast current Gov. Larry Hogan (R) almost as much as touting Cox's MAGA bona fides. Trump's statement blasted Hogan as a "RINO," or Republican-in-name-only, who "has been terrible for our Country." Hogan has been highly critical of Trump, and briefly entertained the idea of running against him in 2020.

Trump praised Cox as an advocate for low taxes, election security, veterans, school choice, and 2nd Amendment rights, and for opposing further pandemic lockdowns of schools and businesses. Last year, Cox sued Hogan over coronavirus restrictions in a case that was ultimately dismissed, but which raised Cox's statewide name recognition.

Cox expressed his "sincere gratitude" to Trump for the endorsement in a livestream on Facebook Monday evening. He is competing against Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly Schulz, Montgomery County attorney Robin Ficker, Nottingham resident Minh Thanh Luong, and Baltimore County attorney Joe Werner in the Republican primary.

Indecent exposure in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of indecent exposure in downtown Silver Spring last Wednesday night, November 17, 2021. The incident was reported in the 900 block of Bonifant Street at 10:16 PM, according to crime data. An individual allegedly also impeded the police investigation of the incident once officers arrived on-scene.

Silver Spring Hampton Inn closes

The lights are on, but nobody's home at the Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites hotel at 8728 Colesville Road. Well, they're on in the lobby, at least. Guest rooms upstairs are blacked out, and signage has been removed from the hotel.

What's going on here? A search of Maryland property records indicates the building was purchased by United Therapeutics in October for an incredible $48,700,000. The property was previously acquired by Civitas Capital Group in 2019.