Montgomery Community Media

The Sears at the Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg is closing in December. It’s among nearly 100 other Sears stores that will be closing by December. This news, first reported by USA Today, comes weeks after the company that owns Sears and Kmart confirmed that 26 other locations will close by October. Larry Costello, the PR […]

The new owner of the Lakeforest mall property asked Gaithersburg officials not to impose an 18-month moratorium on development at the mall for fear it will “stifle our ability to finance” its plans. WRS Inc. of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, wrote the city that it wants housing, a theater, restaurants and a grocery on the […]

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman commented on the news that the “core of Lakeforest [Mall] was sold” has been sold to WRS Inc., a South Carolina retail shopping center developer. During an interview with MyMCMedia on Wednesday, Ashman said that Gaithersburg city officials were left in the dark about the recent sale to WRS Inc. Ashman […]

The City of Gaithersburg will hold a public hearing Monday to discuss the plans to build a new Wawa across from Gaithersburg High School — off of South Frederick Avenue and MD Route 355. The hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the council chamber of Gaithersburg City Hall. At tonight's @GburgMD Mayor & […]

Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg has been sold to WRS Inc., a South Carolina retail shopping center developer, a Gaithersburg official said Tuesday morning. Assistant City Manager Tom Lonergan said WRS informed the city of the transfer of ownership. The troubled mall has faced high vacancy rates, low rents and disinvestments. In June 2018, it became […]

The JC Penney department store at the Lakeforest mall has closed, laying off 113 employees, according to a Maryland website that tracks layoffs. The store is closing, according to a “Dislocation Alert Template,” supplied by the Maryland Department of Labor. The website says the store closed July 5, but the notice went out July 15. […]

Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard is celebrating the start of spring by offering free Italian Ice on Wednesday. The celebration is from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. The following Rita’s are in Montgomery County, and they’ll be participating in this event: Olney: 3233 Spartan Road Derwood: 7211 Muncaster Mill Road Silver Spring: 13621 Georgia Avenue Lakeforest Mall: 701 […]

Gaithersburg Mayor, Jud Ashman, gives MCM an update on the status of Lakeforest Mall. Officials say the JC Penney and Starbucks located there will be closing. Ashman says the decline at Lakeforest Mall is due to the evolution of malls and the increase in online shopping. Please watch the video for more details.

Today is Friday, Feb. 8. Here are five things to know in Montgomery County. 1. Tax-Free Week: Comptroller Peter Franchot will be at Nolan’s Apache Appliance in Aspen Hill at 11:15 a.m. to highlight Shop Maryland Energy weekend, when shoppers can get a break on the state’s 6 percent sales tax on qualifying Energy Star products. […]

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is a centuries-old celebration to begin a new calendar year that has become a global observance. The new year is rung in with 15 days’ worth of traditions, culminating in the Lantern Festival. Events are being held throughout Montgomery County to start […]