A new grocery store is a crucial component of the planned renovation of Loehmann’s Plaza, a shopping mall in Rockville/North Bethesda, into a mixed-use residential and retail neighborhood.
According to a Maryland Newsletters article, the developer, Rosenfeld Investments, has obtained a letter of intent (LOI) with a potential supermarket to serve as the anchor for the new development. The project, which intends to turn the property from a car-centric shopping complex into a walkable community, has advanced significantly with the announcement of the supermarket chain’s name, even though it has not yet been made public.
The Montgomery Planning Board recently approved an amendment to widen Lauderdale Drive from 65 to 68 feet in order to handle the huge delivery trucks that a grocery store would need, demonstrating the community’s commitment to becoming a grocery store in the future.
Located at 5200-5296 Randolph Road, the plaza has the name of the department store brand Loehmann’s, which closed its doors in 2014. The plaza has remained open despite the eponymous tenant’s closure, with companies including City Dance and Furniture & Rug Depot currently operating there. According to the revised plan, the current buildings and their sizable surface parking spaces will be gradually demolished.
Up to 680 residential units, including townhomes and multifamily structures, will be part of the extensive renovation. Up to 40,000 square feet of retail space is anticipated, with the new grocery store acting as a significant anchor. Additionally, a new Sardi’s restaurant is planned for the location.
