Federal Realty has announced that Nordstrom Rack will open a 26,000 square foot store at Congressional Plaza in Rockville in fall 2026.

Nordstrom Rack serves as Nordstrom, Inc.’s off-price retail division and offers up to 70 percent off clothing, accessories, beauty products, home goods, and footwear.

“We look forward to being a part of the Rockville community and serving our customers with an amazing offering of great brands at great prices,” said Gemma Lionello, President of Nordstrom Rack. “We’re excited to grow our footprint in the Washington D.C. market and introduce new customers to the Nordstrom experience.” Lionello added that in this location “customers will be able to take advantage of our convenient services such as online order pick up from both Nordstrom.com and NordstromRack.com, and they can make returns easily.”

Congressional Plaza is also home to Barnes & Nobel, Fresh Market, Taco Bamba, and Ulta.

“We are delighted to welcome Nordstrom Rack to Rockville’s Congressional Plaza,” said Christian Melgard, Vice President, Federal. “Congressional Plaza has been the shopping destination of choice along Rockville Pike for decades. Nordstrom Rack will be a strong complement to our boutique fitness offerings at FITRow (Orangetheory, Pure Barre and Core Power Yoga), as well as the mix of national and local shopping, dining, and service brands. This highly-desirable retail addition further elevates the exceptional experience we offer our customers.”

Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa, the popular fast-casual restaurant known for its Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, is preparing to open its newest Montgomery County location in Rockville and has begun hiring for all positions ahead of its debut.

The restaurant will open at 5290 Randolph Road in Loehmann’s Plaza (Rockville/North Bethesda), taking over the space that previously housed Toosso Pakistani Kitchen and, before that, Boston Market. Construction began this past summer, and while an exact opening date has not been announced, Sardi’s is targeting a November 2025 opening timeframe. The brand already operates Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Olney, and Takoma Park.

In a post shared today, Sardi’s announced a hiring event taking place Monday, November 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Gaithersburg location. The company is looking to fill both front-of-house and back-of-house positions and will be conducting on-site interviews throughout the day.

Founded in 2008 by Montgomery County cousins Phil E. Sardelis and Phil G. Sardelis, Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa began in Beltsville, Maryland, where it quickly earned a devoted following for its signature pollo a la brasa, a Peruvian-style blackened rotisserie chicken that traces its origins to Lima in the 1950s. To ensure authenticity, the founders traveled to Peru to recruit chefs experienced in the country’s culinary traditions.

Despite their Greek heritage, the Sardelis cousins’ passion for Peruvian cuisine inspired them to create a warm, family-friendly restaurant that celebrates the flavors and hospitality of Peru. Over the past 17 years, Sardi’s has expanded across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, serving millions of customers each year. The restaurant emphasizes the use of fresh, local ingredients and traditional Peruvian recipes for its dishes and sauces.

Sardi’s has also become known for its commitment to the community through efforts such as the Sardi’s Scholarship, created in honor of co-founder Phil G. Sardelis, which supports students pursuing higher education.

Ice Cream Worx is now open at 20215 Goshen Rd in Gaithersburg, located in the former New Fashion Nails space in the Goshen Oaks shopping center.

In addition to ice cream, the menu features a wide variety of items, including hot dog “boats,” mac and cheese bowls, grilled cheese, Belgian waffles, crepes, chicken skewers, street foods and snacks, fresh-baked cookies, espresso, frappes, smoothies, and slushies.

Current ice cream flavors include Old Fashioned Vanilla, Chocolate, Extreme Chocolate, Pistachio, Cappuccino Crunch, Moose Tracks, Cookie Dough, “Oatmazing” Chocolate Chunk, Mint Chocolate Chip, and PlayDough.

Ice Cream Works is open Tuesday through Sunday with the following hours: Tuesday to Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The shop is closed on Mondays.

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“Ice Cream Worx has a unique mix of multiple flavor soft serve and hard-dipped ice cream, water ice, rolled ‘Thai’ style ice cream, sundaes, shakes, blends, ice cream tacos and nachos, and a variety of street foods, including hot dog ‘boats, loaded macaroni & cheese bowls, loaded grilled cheese, Belgium waffles, skewered chicken, American and Korean corn dogs, and crepes on weekends. A variety of coffee, espresso drinks, international teas, lemonade, ice tea, frappes, and smoothies. Gourmet popcorn and international chocolates.”

Ahead of a winter, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its 2025’s Best Winter Holiday Destinations report, with Washington DC and surrounding suburbs in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia ranked the third best winter travel destination in the country.

Focusing on cost and convenience rather than scenic beauty, WalletHub compared nearly 70 of the largest U.S. metro areas grouped by warm and cold weather. Each destination was analyzed based on 37 key metrics, primarily the expense and hassle of traveling to each location but also on other indicators, such as weather forecasts, safety and variety of activities.

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV Metro Area as a cold-weather destination:

Overall Rank: 3rd among the listed destinations.

Travel & Local Costs

• Travel Costs & Hassles Rank: 3rd — relatively easy and affordable to reach compared to most other destinations.
• Local Costs Rank: 27th — on the pricier side once you arrive, reflecting higher costs for lodging, dining, and activities.

Attractions & Activities

• Attractions Rank: 4th — very strong in cultural, historical, and entertainment offerings (museums, landmarks, dining, and events).
• Cold-Weather Activities Rank: 11th — moderate appeal for winter-specific activities; not a ski or snow-focused destination, but offers seasonal events and outdoor attractions.

Weather & Safety

• Weather Rank: 5th — fairly mild and manageable winter conditions compared to northern destinations; cold enough for a winter atmosphere without harsh extremes.

• Safety Rank: 15th — middle-of-the-pack safety ranking, indicating reasonable safety but room for improvement versus smaller or less dense metros.

For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-winter-holiday-destinations/7930