A number of new stores, from large discount chains to small boutiques, opened their doors in Rockville in 2022:
- Congressional Plaza lost Loft but welcomed two major discount stores: J. Crew Factory and Dick’s Warehouse Sale.
- Across the street, Montrose Crossing lured two even larger discount stores: Burlington (in the former Barnes & Noble space) and HomeSense (replacing A.C. Moore).
- Federal Plaza is now home to three boutiques: dd’s Closet, selling clothes and jewelry from India; Bonday, offering clothing, accessories and gift baskets from all over the world; and Ibhana, relocating from its longtime home at Potomac Woods Plaza.
- The Persiano furniture business has expanded its presence on the Pike, taking over the space that was previously occupied by Danker Furniture.
- Also new is Ebisu, a Japanese variety store that’s doubled in size since it opened last spring.
- And not far from Rockville Pike, the White Flint Plaza welcomed two new tenants: discount supermarket Aldi and Maryland’s first PGA Tour Superstore.
- The new Twinbrook Quarter development finally started taking shape on Rockville Pike, but anchor Wegmans told us it won’t arrive until 2025.
Elsewhere in Rockville, Federal Realty sold the struggling Rockville Town Square to a Canadian firm that already owned its apartment buildings. A couple of new eateries joined the Square this year: Spanish restaurant El Mercat Bar de Tapas, pan-African restaurant Èkó House, and Latin American restaurant Kumbia. But the new owners tell us they will be looking for more non-restaurant tenants.
Another property that changed hands this year was The Shops at Congressional Village. The Rockville Pike center was sold to an investment group that plans to fill it with international stores and restaurants.
