Rockville Town Square is having a tough holiday season. Two months after an armed robbery at Dawson’s Market, a longtime jeweler is closing up shop and store owners say they’re worried that crime is on the rise. Town Square Jewelers, which was robbed in a smash-and-grab last April, is exiting the Square due to “recurring crime (and) burglaries,” its owner says. At the nearby gift shop Nature by Trejok, owner Kenia Garcia has posted a sign begging thieves to leave her store alone. After several instances of shoplifting, Garcia tells us she has stopped accepting cash and won’t keep valuable jewelry in the store. Jason West, spokesman for the Rockville Police, says this year’s crime statistics are actually not much worse than last year’s. Still, he knows business owners are anxious and their concerns must be addressed. “We are taking a proactive stance to increase our manpower and our personnel at Rockville Town Square,” West says. “We want this to be a place where people can work, play and enjoy themselves.”
Richard Hayman
Interesting that Jason West left out wanting more people to actually live there. Store owners need local customers. Which is better for Rockville: Subsidize rents as they are doing now? Or build workforce housing nearby?
My vote is more workforce housing for county and city workers located close to where they work. Everybody wins. Montgomery county needs to do this now. Local business owners are also complaining how hard it is to find employees.
Raj
Not surprised. It is the worst place to do business. Library is where homeless people and drug addicts hang out.
Federal Realty (the managing company and owner) should be banned from holding real estate in MD.
The worst management company.
They charge exorbitant rent and do not provide any security. Close this town center down.
Homeless shelter should be moved.
Parking is another issue.
Montgomery Police does not do anything.
Just by issuing a press statement does not justify them at all. They are also the worst.
Bottom line. Not surprised for closings and further closing of businesses.
Store Reporter
Federal Realty no longer owns Rockville Town Square. The property was sold in 2022 to a Canadian firm, Morguard. More on that here: https://storereporter.com/morguard-buys-rockville-town-square-from-federal-realty/
In addition, parking has been free for the first two hours since 2021. More on that here: https://storereporter.com/finally-free-parking-at-the-square/
Larry
Town center should have been parking free, which will get more people shopping or eating there.
Charlene Telemaque
What is needed is an actual large activity space for families. A recreation facility that has indoor games, bowling, golf, laser tag and so forth. Families have very limited choices…movies, salsa night, ice skating or eating.