The lack of a grocery store has not helped Town Square businesses.

Federal Realty shared with the City that they are very close to lease agreement with grocery store for Town Square. However, the agreement will depend on their obtaining a beer and wine license for the store.

At last night’s meeting, Assistant City Manager Jenny Kimball, informed the Mayor and Council that they will be asked to endorse the license request at their next meeting on January 10, 2011. Federal Realty will be providing additional information before that date.

As we know, A&P had signed a 20-year lease for the space but indicated they wanted to end the lease agreement in March 2010 after continuing to pay but failing to open a Superfresh in Town Square. Federal Realty has been seeking a replacement ever since. As a side note, A&P has been in red ink for quite some time and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this past Sunday.

Since A&P had failed to obtain a special exception from the Maryland State legislature when a bill to sell beer and wine at the store never even made it out of a House of Delegates subcommittee, Councilmember John Britton asked if this request would need to go to the legislature again. If so, he wanted to get it on the agenda with the District 17 State Delegation which visiting the Mayor and Council meeting later in the evening. Specifically, he wanted to know if this would be a second beer and wine license for the store which would require State action.

City Manager Scott Ullery responded that this would be the first grocery store of this company in Maryland and no legislation would be required.

Now, all we can do is speculate as to which new grocery store chain would like to move into Maryland and our Town Square. Will the lease agreement be successful? If it is, please Federal Realty, include a date by which the company must open the grocery store. Let’s not make the same mistake twice!

Fabricated ice rink from 2008 photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths

Don’t plan on skating in Rockville Town Center any time soon. After much delay Federal Realty Investment Trust has indicated an ice skating rink will not be installed this winter.

At last night’s Mayor and Council meeting, Assistant City Manager Jenny Kimball gave everyone the bad news. The engineering for the installation has turned out to be much more complex than anticipated. Tri-State Ice Management, the company which applied to build the rink, will continue to work on it for next year.

Installing an ice rink requires digging up the pavers to install pipes. Of course, there was always the big question of where to store the Zamboni too.

So if you want to ice skate on real ice around Rockville, you will have to do it indoors at the Rockville Ice Arena, or the County rinks at Cabin John or Wheaton. I’ve skated at all three and always enjoy it.

A main topic of discussion will be the District Courthouse parking plans especially the signs to be placed around the area after the Courthouse building is completed in November.

Trapper Martin, the new president of TCAT, has added:

We will be covering a presentation by the City on how they plan to handle anticipated increased traffic from the new District Courthouse, review the plans for the annex for the courthouse by the County and discuss potential participation with Friends of Rockville Seniors.

Everyone is welcome.

As I believe many readers know, I love Hickman’s in town center. They often have amusing little friends in their planters. Like Elmo in the winter!

The group will elect a new president (current president, Mark Pierzchala, is a member of the City Council so is stepping aside) and will also cover several items concerning Town Center.

Here’s the agenda:

1. Town Square update,
2. Town Square parking update, effort by merchants
3. District Courthouse mitigation
4. Judicial center annex
5. Master plan review
6. Phase II
7. Recent meeting between TCAT and Gaithersburg’s OTAC.

(Many apologies to Councilmember Pierzchala — I had intended to post this earlier so it would get in the nightly email in time for people to receive it. The holiday weekend and my general sloth caused me to overlook that. So I am hoping enough of our readers see it this afternoon!)

Ame Cosmetics (GRAND OPENING)
156 Gibbs Street (old Hollywood Tans location)
301-294-9090
www.amecosmetics.com

To celebrate EVERYTHING in the store will be 15% off until Christmas. We have Bath and Body gift packs, Spa Gift sets and much much more just in time for those special holiday gifts. Come out and join us as we celebrate this joyous occasion.

Bobby’s Crabcakes
101 Gibbs Street
www.bobbyscrabcakes.com

Monday through Friday lunch special – 2 courses for $10.00. AND: catering special – receive a $40.00 gift card when you or your employer places a catering order with Bobby’s Crabcakes – minimum order $200.

The Cottage Monet
36 Maryland Avenue
(301-279 2422)

We are a specialty retail store that carries a full line of distinctive gifts and home accessories. We have one of the largest selections of Vera Bradley in the area as well as Vietri ceramics from Italy. If you are looking for the perfect gift, come to The Cottage Monet! Currently we are offering 15% off all our fresh Magnolia Wreaths. (You can see the images of the wreaths here.) [UPDATE: Correct link here.]

Creative Jewelry Studio at VisArts
155 Gibbs Street, Second Floor
12:00 – 6:00, Mon. – Fri.
Contact info: JLGins@aol.com, mimi4july@yahoo.com

Mention this ad and receive 10% off. Shop our collection of one-of-a-kind jewelry handmade by three local artists.

Oro Pomodoro
Pizzeria Napoletana
33a Maryland Avenue
301-251-1111

10% off (monday through thursday, dinner time and dine in only, cannot combine with other in store promotion, must name Rockville Central to get discount). AND: New Year’s Eve Special — 4 course menu for $45 per person (call for details).

If you know of other specials, please send them our way and we will include them in later posts!

Although the item was not on the Agenda, Councilmember John Britton made a motion containing history, explanations, and commentary, which needed to be clarified a few times. To the best of my knowledge, the motion included the following. If it’s not exactly right, please let me know.

1. Increase in monthly parking spaces available to 400 while charging a competitive $65 per month. The City will partner with the merchants to market this campaign and attract additional monthly parkers using Metro.
2. Street meters will charge from Monday to Saturday from 7 AM to 10 PM at a rate of $1 per hour.
3. Garages will charge $1 per hour from 7 AM to 6 PM. From 6 PM until 10 PM, the charge will be a $1 flat fee per visit.
4. No charge for parking in the garages on Saturday.

Mr. Britton explained his reasoning for the motion and here my interpretation. Even in the highest usage days, 400 monthly parking spaces could be accommodated. Charging at meters will encourage a good turnover of spaces so that the same vehicles are not parking for free all day. Data indicates Rockville is overcharging in the evenings compared to Silver Spring and Gaithersburg.

The motion was seconded by Councilmember Phyllis Marcuccio, who was the first to clarify the wording. She detailed her recent efforts to have the parking fees reconsidered by the City Council. Her second allowed the motion to be discussed.

Councilmember Anne Robbins said she wanted to bring a sense of reality to the parking fee discussion. She spoke about the United States being in the greatest recession since the 1930’s so we can’t say we will have business as usual. She declared we need to do something because the worst thing would be for Town Center to fail.

Councilmember Piotr Gajewski found the proposal attractive and said he would start referring to it as the “Trapper Martin Motion”. For readers who don’t know, Trapper Martin, a business leader in Town Center who is running for Council, has been working on a proposal from the merchants which was posted on Rockville Central. Councilmember Gajewski recounted the history of the vote on November 8, 2008 when all five council members decided to expand the paid garage parking hours. He tried to table the motion so that it could be put on the agenda within the next couple of weeks and allow time to study the proposal. He did not like governing “on the fly” and said a free-wheeling discussion is not good governance. He wanted the opportunity to deliberate and speak with his neighbors. He felt he was being forced to vote using his “best guess”. The biggest question in his mind was how much the changes will cost the City. He said he would support the motion if the budget cuts necessary to fund it were identified.

Staff were providing new analysis during the meeting because the motion was slightly different than Trapper Martin’s original proposal which was reviewed for the Mayor and Council earlier in the day. The staff estimates for revenue were based on usage at 75% of the current levels. Burt Hall, Director of Recreation and Parks, reported a new calculation which estimated the reduction in revenue to be about $180,000. City Manager Scott Ullery said the City could draw on the reserves which were healthy in order to cover the lower projections for one year. Mayor Susan Hoffmann questioned which reserves, and Mr. Ullery responded “the parking fund”.

Mayor Hoffmann spoke about meeting with the merchants last week and stated she was 100% committed to the success of Town Center. She said we need to do everything possible to keep it healthy and she saw this motion as the best approach.

Councilmember Marcuccio called the question and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. However, no beginning date was included.

When questioned, Mr. Ullery thought the parking garage could be reprogrammed by this Saturday, but he did not know how long it would take to reprogram the changes for the weekday rates.

So, you most likely will be able to park in the Rockville Town Center garages for free this Saturday. Soon you will also be able to pay a flat $1 fee in the garages after 6 PM on weekdays to go to dinner or do your shopping. If you want the convenience of a parking meter, you’ll have to pay $1 hour from 7 AM until 10 PM.

UPDATE: It looks like the entire system will be reprogrammed for this weekend. The City of Rockville Press Release on the new paid parking hours states:

Beginning Friday, Oct. 16, parking in the garages Monday through Friday will cost $1 per hour between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and $1 per entry between 6 and 10 p.m. Parking in the garages will be free weekdays after 10 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and City holidays.

MONDAYS

Cheap Date Nights
June 1 to August 10
Retailers are putting together special “date” packages like meals for two, his and her massages or makeovers, and great gifts. Participating retailers: Austin Grill (First Monday benefits a charity), Bobby’s Crabcakes, Cosi, Gifford’s Ice Cream and Candy Co, Gordon Biersch, Jouvence Aveda, La Tasca, Lebanese Taverna, Oro Pomodoro, Pomegranate & Co., Robeks Fruit Smoothies and Healthy Eats, Sushi Damo, and Taste of Saigon.

TUESDAYS

Kids Night will be back!
June 2 – August 11
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Last year was so crowded! Kids Eat Free (with purchase of adult entrée)all night long in some restaurants during the summer months: Austin Grill, Fractured Prune, Gordon Biersch, Lebanese Taverna, La Tasca, Taste of Saigon, and Robeks Fruit Smoothies and Healthy Eats.

*Free Face Painting with any event day purchase at Rockville Town Square (must present receipt from Rockville Town Square store or restaurant dated the day of the event to receive free face painting).

*Live Entertainment on Stage
Shows at 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM
June 2 – Milkshake Duo
June 9 – Speed & Thro
June 16 – Spinny Johnson
June 23 – Gizmo Guys
June 30 – NOW THIS!
July 7 – Bert the Nerd
July 14 – DinoRock
July 21 – Airborne
July 28 – Rocknoceros
August 4 – Reptiles Alive
August 11 – Zak Morgan

WEDNESDAYS

Out to Lunch with Farmers’ Market and Live Music
June 3 – October 28
11 AM to 2 PM
East Montgomery Avenue in front of the Regal Cinemas Rockville 13.
June 3 – The Guzzlers
June 10 – Backroads Band
June 17 – Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition
June 24 – Night & Day Swing
July 1 – The Robert Redd Trio Jazz
July 8 – Janine Wilson’s Roots Rock
July 15 – The Lovejoy Group – Latin Jazz and Afro Rhythms
July 22 – Rock and Roll Revue – Oldies
July 29 – Rick Whitehead Jazz Trio
August 5 – Squeeze Bayou
August 12 – Patty Reese – Love her rock!
August 19 – Rita Clarke and the Naturals Bayou Rhythms
August 26 – Sandra Dean Band’s Classic Rock
September 2 – Project Natale’s Classic and Latin Jazz
September 9 – Crimestoppers’ rock
September 16 – Visions of JAZZ
September 23 – Rags Rock
September 30 – Dani Cortaza Combo’s Latin Brazilian Jazz

Free Movies on the Square
June 3 – August 12
8:45 PM (dusk)
Enjoy the movies while dining at one of the Square cafes or pick up a boxed dinner from one of the restarants. Schedule can change without notice.
June 3 – Marley and Me
June 10 – Casablanca
June 17 – Hairspray
June 24 – Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa
July 1 – Twilight
July 8 – The Dark Knight
July 15 – Kung-Fu Panda
July 22 – Mamma Mia
July 29 – He’s Just Not That Into You
August 5 – Quantum of Solace
August 12 – Monsters Vs Aliens

THURSDAYS

Sky at Five up on The Rooftop
5 – 10 PM
The hippest weekly party for those 21 and over with funky furnishings, food & drink, and hot djs. $5 cover includes one drink. Now that’s a deal for the view alone!

Concert in the Square
June 4 – September 17
6 – 8 PM
Hosted by the City of Rockville
June 4 – The Nighthawks
June 11 – Bob Sima – wonderful folk artist
June 18 – The Tim Ford Group’s jazz
June 25 – Daryl Davis – Rockville’s own blues
June 2 – Dixie Power Trip
July 9 – Ruthie and the Wranglers’s roots rock
July 16 – Bill Kirchen – was great at Hometown Holidays
July 23 – Maryland Summer Jazz All Stars Quintet
July 30 – Seamus Kennedy is Irish folk in case you couldn’t tell.
August 6 – Martinez and Guthrie are folk
August 13 – The U.S. Navy Band Brass Qunitet
August 20 – Rick Whitehead Trio’s jazz
August 27 – The West End – Rockville Central’s own Brad Rourke rocks!
September 3 – Lyuti Chushki is Bulgarian and Macedonia Folk
September 10 – Cathy Ponton King’s bluesy rock
September 17 – Palenke Music Company has Latin Rhythms

FRIDAYS

First Fridays Deck Party
5 – 8 PM
Great view, live music, food and drink. Admission is free for those 21 and over with identification. Food and drinks available for purchase from the sponsors, usually a couple of bucks each.
June 5 – Seamus Kennedy’s crazy Irish music sponsored by La Tasca
August 7 – Billy Coulter sponsored by Gordon Biersch
September 4 – Taylor Carson sponsored by La Tasca

SATURDAYS

Farmer’s Market
May 16 – October 21
9 AM – 1 PM
Corner of Monroe Street and Route 28

When the Mayor and Council approved expanded hours for paid parking to begin in the Fall, they also decided to provide some free parking for Rockville residents.

In today’s Press Release from the City, Mayor Hoffmann explains,

It’s very important for the community to have an opportunity to come to Town Square and these free parking coupons will help make that possible. In these challenging economic times we want people to Buy Rockville by shopping and dining locally but even if you aren’t buying something, come hang out in Rockville Town Square.

Here’s where you need to go for your coupon code:

– City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Residents are advised to call ahead to verify evening hours, at 240-314-5000.

– Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, 12920 Twinbrook Parkway, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

–Thomas Farm Community Center, 700 Fallsgrove Drive, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The coupon codes are good only for the three City-owned parking garages in Rockville Town Center at 215 North Washington Street, 30 Maryland Avenue, and 330 Hungerford Drive (Route 355) between East Middle Lane and Beall Avenue.

Most of the time I walk over to Town Square!

This Summit will talk not only about Town Square, but also the broader area around it (essentially from the MD-28/Rockville Pike/Veirs Mill intersection up to the Washington/Rockville Pike intersection).

Here’s how the Town Centr Action Team puts it:

The Town Center Action Team is planning a very special event on April 21; a Town Center Summit, from 7 to 9 PM in the VisArts second floor exhibit hall.

Join us for a discussion of the successes, challenges, and prospects of Rockville Town Square and nearby Town Center development, and how we can facilitate and encourage improvements in the short and long term. The meeting will include representatives from all of the interests that will influence the future of our Town Center – residents, merchants, property owners, and managers who live and work in Town Square, and also interested Rockville citizens. Presenters include City Staff, Federal Realty Investment Trust, Ross Danac, CIM Group, JBG, VisArts, Rockville Economic Development Incorporated, Peerless Rockville, and others.

The first part of the summit will be on the just completed Town Square including how to make the best of the current economic environment. The second part of the meeting will look forward to Town Center north of Beall Avenue (across the street from Town Square), to understand what it would take to develop it and how it can best complement and enhance Town Square.

The Town Center Action Team hopes to see you there!

What’s the Town Center Action Team? It grew out of 1995′s Imagine Rockville, a visioning process conducted by the City. The group is made up of citizens and business owners, and focuses on creating a Town Center that reflects the diversity of our city.

Students and faculty from the University of Maryland School of Architecture will create hypothetical uses for this fine example of modern, streamlined 1960’s architecture. The ideas from this creative process could be incorporated into the future development of Town Center Phase II.

Co-sponsored by Peerless Rockville, the Design Charette will be held in the first floor meeting room at the Rockville Library:

Friday, February 6, 10 AM – 5 PM with a special presentation by Terry Lachin on the history of the building and local Rockville history during the 1960’s at 2 PM.

Saturday, February 7, 10 AM – 5 PM with a special community forum to gather opinions from 11:30 AM – 2 PM.

Sunday, February 8, 12 Noon – 5 PM with student presentations of their finished work from 3 PM – 5 PM.

Although approval was given to demolish the Pink Bank and build 290 residential units, the redevelopment has not occurred. The hope is that this process will produce alternatives to tearing down the building. Older buildings can be adapted for new uses instead of taking them to a landfill. Our City’s sustainability goals support preserving buildings and reusing existing architecture.

The three-day Charette, a creative process to envision innovative uses, could result in alternatives such as a museum or other special destination. The Old Post Office in downtown DC, a tourist attraction, houses restaurants and offices. Our own Rockville Post Office on North Washington Street will soon be the police station.

Saving buildings makes a place special. As Ms. Lachin said on the show, the Pink Bank has an established identity that fits very nicely into the surrounding streetscape. Buildings don’t have to match. Being architecturally distinctive and unique, the Pink Bank has an important place in Rockville history. Buildings from different eras define a real city.

Everyone’s invited to participate. Drop in whenever you can. Call Peerless Rockville with questions: 301-762-0096.

This is a big meeting for the group: it will be holding elections for Chair and Secretary. There will also be an update on Town Square issues (including the pavers, the grocery, and condo sales). Also discussion of “Phase Two” of Town Center — the parts north of Beall Ave. (That includes the Pink Bank.)

For questions and such, get in touch with Bridget Newton.

THE WAIT IS OVER

For the past nine months, two banners advertising the coming of a Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream shop and a California Tortilla restaurant have first tantalized and eventually frustrated residents waiting for their arrival.

Now, after what seems like an interminable wait for many residents, the two eateries are gearing up to open next door to the Regal Cinemas in downtown Rockville. . . .

On Monday night, Eric Jensen, a 10-year resident of Rockville, stood at the podium in City Hall and told the City Council about his “personal disappointment with the lack of progress being made with the Rockville Town Center.”

“Yes, it’s true we have 13 movie theaters, but 13 movie theaters alone do not create the thriving downtown we have envisioned for Rockville,” said Jensen, who suggested that . . . city planners pay close attention to the progress being made at another shopping center — the Washingtonian Center off Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road in Gaithersburg.

“The Washingtonian Center is accomplishing what many people had envisioned for our Town Center — attractive, well-maintained, beautifully landscaped sidewalks in an area that looks and feels like the way Rockville’s downtown should look and feel,” Jensen said.

Eric’s got his wish! I know he would agree: Our town center is thriving, and Town Square is well on its way to being a local landmark for so many things.

Read the whole article here.

It’s a great reminder of so many things: how far our downtown has come; how persistence can pay off; and how much patience is often required.

I love this town.

The Waygoose is not simply a gift shop but rather a gallery bursting with crafts from North American artisans. It’s filled with unusual and wonderful creations and inventions. True artists take their handcrafts to a new level. This unusual graphite pen looks like a branch and it will write for 7-10 years!

I must admit that at both the old and the new locations in Rockville, I have had friends working as shopkeepers. Because everyone is friendly and knowledgeable, you will feel as if you do too.

It’s the perfect place to find something special for someone special. My family and friends have received many gifts from The Waygoose. Truthfully I don’t enjoy shopping. When I have to buy a gift, I want to know that I will find something at the one place I go with the limited amount of time I have.

The Waygoose has pottery, jewelry, baby items, crystals, salad hands, clocks, cards, cutting boards, bird houses, ornaments, wall art, and many things I never dreamed existed. You can even “Give ‘em the Boot” (It’s a bird house made out of a real old boot!). Since I love these crafts, my time is spent figuring out who should receive them as gifts, but really I want them for myself. It’s not every day that you will hear a shop referred to as a gallery!