Rappaport to manage retail leasing at Rockville Town Square
Federal Realty Investment Trust has announced a partnership with the real estate group Rappaport intended to expand leasing efforts for the 187,000-square-foot Rockville Town Square property.
“We chose Rappaport because they share our vision of Rockville Town Square as the arts and entertainment destination of the city,” FRIT Vice President of Asset Management Deirdre M. Johnson said in a statement. “They come with a deep understanding of the customer base and retail needs of the Rockville community.”
Rappaport has handled retail leasing for shopping centers and mixed-use properties in the Washington region for more than 30 years, including Leisure World Plaza in Silver Spring, Rock Creek Village Center in Rockville and three Bethesda locations.
Rockville Town Square is at the intersection of Rockville Pike and East Middle Lane. The center includes Dawson’s Market, Lebanese Taverna and Peter Chang’s China Grill.
“Rockville Town Square is uniquely positioned to continue to serve the needs of the community and evolve as the city continues to grow its residential base,” Rappaport Executive Director of Brokerage Michael Howard said in a statement.
Rockville is forming an advisory group made up of tenants in the center to help address closings and revitalization plans for the property.
State unemployment remains steady in February
Maryland lost 5,800 jobs from January to February, but the state’s unemployment rate stayed at 3.7 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report for February.
Jobs in the state were up by nearly 13,000 on a year-over-year basis, an increase of 0.5 percent. The leisure and hospitality and professional and business services sectors both experienced gains in February.
“Building a skilled, ready workforce is always our goal,” Acting Labor Secretary James E. Rzepkowski said in a statement.
Bethesda solar power company adds former Tesla executive
Bethesda-based Empower Energies announced Friday the appointment of Vanessa Deutschmann as senior director of human resources.
Deutschmann most recently held a similar position at automotive and energy company Tesla and has nearly 15 years of experience in the energy field, according to the company.
“I can’t express how thrilled we were to find someone of Vanessa’s caliber to join the Empower Team,” Michael Belko, the chief operating officer, said in a statement. “The HR expertise and solar industry experience she brings to this role will help us grow intelligently to meet our clients’ needs.”
Empower designs, builds and finances commercial solar projects and other renewable energy solutions. The company has completed dozens of projected across the country, included two ground installations and a rooftop installation in Maryland.
Liquor department releases ID check reminder calendars
The county’s Department of Liquor Control has handed out more than 1,000 ID checking calendars to alcohol licensees in an effort to combat underage drinking, according to a news release.
The calendar features a tearable section for sellers and servers to keep track of the legal purchasing cutoff, along with tips for regulating sales and service. The calendar also includes training dates and licensing hearings.
“The Department of Liquor Control strives to educate licensees and provide them with tools to help them succeed,” said Kathie Durbin, chief of licensure, regulation and education at the department, in a statement. “These calendars are a great, free resource.”
Every licensed business in the county received a calendar, which were paid for by a grant from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association.
Charlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
