Development at Rockville Town Square disappearing

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The slogan at Rockville's Town Square, the town's revitalized town center, is "It's hip to be square!"

But some businesses have cleared out of the mix of retail, restaurant and residential buildings.

One merchant, who didn't want to be recorded, rattled off a number that have left or are leaving.

"Bedheaders, Love Your Eyes, Mo's Southwestern Grill, Stonefish Grill," and more. On Gibbs Street, the tanning salon was shuttered. A handwritten sign urged would-be customers to call a corporate number to find other locations.

One shop worker looked out his front window and declared, "In two years, this will be nail salons and dollar stores."

Is the new town square development a dud?

Steve Silverman, Montgomery County's director of economic development, says it is far from a disappointment.

"The bottom line is all retail centers are having challenges," Silverman says. "What's going on in Rockville Town Center is comparable to what's going on throughout the region and throughout the country."

Three restaurants, including the Greystone Grill, have closed. Sliverman stood across the street from where a man on a ladder was taking down the restaurant's sign piece by piece.

"It's a challenging industry in general, particularly in this economy," Silverman says in regard to the restaurants. "But we're not seeing a high vacancy rate in the Rockville Town Center."

Replacements are on the way. A wing restaurant will replace the Greystone Grill.

Fenestra apartments - the apartment building on site - reports that it has a 92 percent occupancy rate, but a Web site dedicated to rating apartments includes comments - and complaints - about the number of students being directed there by area universities and the subsequent noise and parties that result. Shop owners say when the residential spaces didn't sell with professionals and families, the pitch went out to universities to fill the building.

Another complaint in the area is that there is no grocery store in the development. Super Fresh is paying rent on a space, but has yet to open its doors. The chain failed to obtain a license to sell liquor.

Silverman says some promotion for the town center is needed.

"We've got to continue our focus working with Federal Realty, working with the city of Rockville, to make sure people know about what great opportunities there are for dining and shopping in downtown Rockville," Silverman says.

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