Council to Review Town Center and Metro Development Plans
At its Monday, December 9, 2024 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on the Town Center Master Plan. On the Consent Agenda (items approved without discussion) are FY2024 Financial Report, contracts for diesel fuel, CDBG funding request, among others. The Mayor and Council will also receive reports on the remodeling of the Rockville Metro Station as part of a worksession on Town Center.
This meeting is an important opportunity for you to stay informed and engaged with the decisions that shape our community.
Key Agenda Items:
Town Center Master Plan public hearing (page 401+). The Rockville Mayor and Council will hold a second public hearing on the updated Town Center Master Plan during their meeting on December 9, 2024. This updated plan, an amendment to the Rockville 2040 Comprehensive Plan, replaces the current Planning Area 1 chapter. It builds on community feedback, research, and the city’s long-term goals to shape a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable Town Center for the future.
Key Themes and Goals of the Plan:
- Housing: Focus on adding 2,000 new residential units by 2040, including affordable and attainable housing.
- Economic Development: Encouraging retail diversity and activating vacant spaces to make the Town Center a hub of activity.
- Transportation: Improving mobility with pedestrian-friendly designs, enhanced bus services, and new wayfinding signage.
- Sustainability and Equity: Promoting green building practices and ensuring that changes support all residents equitably.
- Parks and Recreation: Expanding green spaces and recreational programming for all ages.
Rockville Featured in February’s Washingtonian
Washingtonian, the regional magazine about the DMV, featured Rockville in Neighborhood Guide of the February 2024 issue. These are the places they highlighted but there’s so much more to discover! Add your suggestions in the comments.
Food and Drink
- Hulu Skewer House (1488 Rockville Pike, across the street from Staples). Authentic Chinese BBQ.
- MezeHub (11508 Schuykill Road, technically south of Rockville off Parklawn Drive). Balkan and Mediterranean food.
- Èkó House (150 Gibbs Street, Rockville Town Center). Modern Pan-African (primarily Nigerian) restaurant and bar.
- Clear Skies Meadery (15201 Display Court, off East Gude Drive near Fisher Lumber). More than a dozen locally-brewed meads on tap.
- Kumbia Restaurant (100-B Gibbs Street, Rockville Town Center). Peruvian, Bolivian, and other South American entrees.
Bakeries
- Z&Z Manoushe Bakery (1111 Nelson Street, near Carmen’s Italian Ice in Woodley Gardens). Middle Eastern flatbreads.
- Mastiha Artisan Greek Bakery (2387 Lewis Avenue, near Twinbrook Metro). Featured in a previous post.
- Lil’ Cakes & Creamery (844 Rockville Pike, between Edmonston and First/Wooton). Artisan cupcakes, macarons, and dog treats!
Shopping and Recreation
- Dinkers Pickleball Court (40-C Southlawn Court). Eight indoor courts, ball machine, and a pro shop.
- BubbleGum Spa (1680 E. Gude Drive). Dedicated to extraordinary parties for children’s birthdays.
- MWBC Shop Local (36-D Maryland Avenue, Rockville Town Center). Incubator program for women-owned retail businesses.
- Nature by Trejok (130-B Gibbs Street, Rockville Town Center). Distinctive women’s clothing and household accessories.
- Ebisu Japanese Life Store (836 Rockville Pike, between Edmonston and First/Wooton, across the street from Ourisman Auto). Japanese snacks, anime, toys, cookware, beauty supplies, and lots more.
Artisan Greek Bakery Opens in Twinbrook
Mastiha Greek Bakery has recently opened its doors in Rockville, Maryland, offering authentic Greek baked goods to the local community—and Maryland. Since 2011, they have been operating in Kensington and delivering wholesale to Dawson’s, MOMs, Yes!, Roots, and other grocers throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Now open to the public on a limited basis in Twinbrook, the bakery specializes in traditional Greek pastries, such as kourambiedes (almond shortbread), koulourakia (butter twists), and baklava (including some modern versions such as walnut rosemary and hazelnut chocolate). And their pita bread is handcrafted–no pocket, baked on an open flame over a grill! They also offer savory items like spanakopita (phyllo pies) and dips (hummus, tzatziki). Soon they will be offering coffee, tea, and other beverages to accompany the delicious treats.
On Friday, May 5 from 6:00-8:00 pm, they will be hosting a ribbon cutting with the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, a blessing by Father Demetrios Antokas, live Greek music, and popup stores selling wine, food, and leather shoes. Everyone is welcome and be sure to say kalimera to owner Katerina.
Mastiha is near the Twinbrook Metro and a bit off the beaten path, although close to the Twinbrook neighborhood, at 2387 Lewis Avenue (the mini-industrial area adjacent to the railroad tracks). To reach it from Twinbrook Parkway, you’ll need to take Ardennes Avenue to Halpine Road (see map below). They are open on Thursday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with limited items will be available for walk-in purchase while they last.
Only One “Very Best Restaurant” in Rockville?
Washingtonian magazine just released their annual “100 Very Best Restaurants” and it includes only one in Rockville: A&J Restaurant at 1319 Rockville Pike. Just outside of Rockville, they include Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana in Darnestown. I don’t want to diminish these honors, but geez, they’ve been listed many times before—is anyone at the magazine venturing out further? To provide some inspiration, here are some of my suggestions:
O’Donnell’s Market, 1073 Seven Locks Road, “Potomac” (officially in Rockville off Seven Locks Road, across from the Potomac Springs neighborhood). Among the best seafood in town and a very straight-forward preparation, and you can also buy fish and oysters, along with prepared side dishes and baked goods to take home.
Mosaic, 186 Halpine Road, Rockville (south end of the Rockville Pike, near Twinbrook Metro). The owner is from Lyon, France and it promotes itself as an “authentic French restaurant,” but more accurately it’s French-inspired. So they serve classics such as salad niçoise, duck confit, and beef bourguignon (alas with noodles, not potatoes) as well as a crab cheddar quesadilla, cajun shrimp omelette, and parmesan chicken picatta. Light, airy Belgian waffles dominate the menu and show up by themselves, in sandwiches, and the “bread” for entrees. I love ’em!
Java Nation, 11120 Rockville Pike, “North Bethesda” (across from the White Flint Mall, just south of Rockville). It’s an exemplar for independent coffee shops but it also serves terrific meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus wine, beer, and signature cocktails. The “very best” food doesn’t have to be expensive.
Il Pizzico, 15209 Frederick Rd, Rockville (north end of the city at East Gude Drive). Friends love this restaurant and claim it serves the best Italian food in the region. I rarely visit because it’s across town and takes me more than 30 minutes to get there. It’s in a dull office building and parking is limited but inside you’ll find meals that are a step up from the usual fare, such as tagliatelle al ragu’ di vitello or filetto di maiale al balsamico).
Any other suggestions that you’d consider among the very best?
Max for Rockville 