It’s not at a megamall – it’s all in Rockville Town Center, and a new Dining and Shopping Guide, published by Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) leads seekers of food, entertainment, retail and services directly to their destinations. In addition, the guide shows the eleven public parking garages and lots in downtown Rockville, so visitors can conveniently park once and take care of all their errands.

The City of Rockville is currently redeveloping 15 acres of downtown Rockville as a mixed-use development called Rockville Town Square. Sally Sternbach, Executive Director of REDI, says, “There is a public misperception that the City knocked down all of Rockville’s retailers for the redevelopment. Actually, there are over 100 shops and restaurants in Town Center, and many of them are unique entities that can’t be found anywhere else. Where else can you purchase Chinese language videotapes, give a home to a parrot, have a bridal gown designed and find the ingredients for a Middle Eastern feast, all within walking distance?”

Another popular myth is that parking in downtown is extremely limited. Actually, according to Sternbach, it is fairly plentiful. “With eleven parking garages, there are up to 1700 parking spaces available in downtown. The new Dining and Shopping Guide marks the entrances to all of the garages with the traditional “P” symbol, so they are easy to find.”

While the garage parking is fee-based, visitors to the shops on “Regal Row”, the block of East Montgomery Avenue anchored by the Regal Cinema, can take advantage of free parking on weekends and after 6 pm on weekdays. That free parking is available in the garage at the end of Regal Row, at the intersection of East Montgomery Avenue and Monroe Street. Street parking in downtown Rockville is also free after 5 pm and on weekends.

REDI will be distributing free copies of new Dining and Shopping Guide at its table on East Montgomery Avenue during Rockville’s Hometown Holidays Celebration on Saturday, May 28, from 12 to 6 pm. Copies are also available from the downtown retailers, and will be found in the July edition of the City of Rockville publication Rockville Reports. In addition, REDI is adding an electronic version of the map on its website, www.RockvilleREDI.org, and hard copies are available in its office at 95 Monroe Street.

For further information about Downtown Rockville, the new Rockville Town Center Dining and Shopping Guide or REDI, call (301) 315-8096 or e-mail Lynne Benzion, Associate Director, at Benzion@RockvilleREDI.org.

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The mission of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) is to strengthen and broaden the economic base of Rockville. As part of that mission, REDI promotes Rockville as a great place to work and live; assists businesses looking to relocate or expand in Rockville; facilitates the site selection, permitting and licensing processes; serves as a liaison to the people and programs in other levels of government; and maintains and disseminates information on the community, workforce and economic climate of Rockville, where we are “Known for the Companies We Keep”.