100 Things Everyone from MoCo Should Know

Inspired by the awesome replies to our “What’s something only people from MoCo know?” question we posted on social media, we decided to create a list of 100 things people from MoCo should know.

We know that not all of these will apply to everyone and that there are way more than 100 things we could have listed, but we believe we’ve compiled a pretty fun list. Enjoy!

1. The first Jerry’s ever was in Wheaton

2. You IMMEDIATELY correct anyone that adds an ‘s’ to Silver Spring.

3. Rio used to be home to Sportland– a place that had almost any type of game you can think of for kids.

4. Wheaton Plaza. The outdoor mall that was located where Wheaton Mall currently is. If you’re over 35, you probably still call it that.

5. Montgomery Donuts! The local donut chain that was around from 1944 until they filed for bankruptcy in 1999.

6. Red font means SNOWWWWW DAY (or 2 hour delay), but not before 5am.

7. Lakeforest was once an amazing mall.

8. Dickerson Quarry

9. The Sunshine Burger is one of the best burgers you’ll ever have (Sunshine General Store).

10. Surrender Dorothy

11. 355, Rockville Pike, and Wisconsin Ave. are all the same road (we know there are more than just these names for 355).

12. The location of every speed camera.

13. Wonder Woman lives in Potomac…and she’s a big Caps fan!

14. You’re either a Stained Glass Pub, Continental, or Gentleman Jim’s fan when it comes to pizza.

15. Three inches of snow will likely give you a day off.

16. MoCo includes some of the most diverse cities in America.

17. Beverly Hills 90210 was rumored to originally be named Potomac 20854.

18. The grocery stores that actually sell beer and wine.

19. The most affordable homes in MoCo are more expensive than 95% of the country.

20. Kemp Mill Records

21. Grosvenor is pronounced GROVE-nur 

22. Subs are better at Fillipo’s (formerly Marchone’s), Twinbrook Deli, and Santucci’s!

23. Roy’s Place had over 200 sandwiches on the menu!

24. You thought you were driving by Disney World or Oz when you saw the Mormon Temple.

25. Lakeforest started off with an ice skating rink then replaced it with a movie theater before finally taking it out for the food court that’s still there today.

26. You follow The MoCoShow (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) for all of your MoCo news, history, entertainment, and food needs!

27. Putt-Putt was the best mini-golf spot to ever exist.

28. Shakey’s!!!

29. A lot of celebrities have ties to the area.

30. Where you can feed Porky the Litter Eater and Billy the Litter Eater (Cabin John and Wheaton Regional Parks).

31. A plastic bag will cost you 5¢.

32. The first Toys R Us in the world was on Rockville Pike!

33. MoCo liquor license #1 belongs to Hank Dietle’s.

34. Matthew Lesko, the question mark guy, lives in MoCo!

35. Even if you’re number has a 240 area code…your area code is 301.

36. Tastee Diner at the end of a night out.

37. F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of the Great Gatsby, is buried in Rockville.

38. GEICO auto insurance is headquartered in Chevy Chase!

39. The Smith Center for Outdoor Education in 6th grade.

40. Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Takoma Park are the only incorporated cities in MoCo

41. Little Tavern Burgers…buy ’em by the bag.

42. Robin Ficker is running. I’m not sure for what, but he’s running.

43. Beach Dr. doesn’t have a beach.

44. You can get almost any type of food you want in Wheaton.

45. Drives up to Damascus for Jimmie Cone every summer.

46. Gifford’s ice cream!

47. Tasty and affordable seafood at Crisfield in Silver Spring since 1945.

48. You know someone who had a sleepover at 1307 Seven Locks Road

49. “Nobody Bothers Me!” Jhoon Rhee, the father of American Taekwondo (RIP).

50. Montgomery College…Harvard on the Pike! Yale on the rail!

51. Northwood High School took 19 years off (1985-2004)

52. The Cider Barrel has the BEST cider.

53. Sam Eig was Mr. Montgomery County.

54. Walter Johnson, one of the greatest pitchers to ever live, had a farm in Germantown and is buried in Rockville

55. Hiking at Sugarloaf Mountain.

56. Chevy Chase was a Town before it was an actor.

57. The life and death of White Flint Mall (1977-2015)

58. Musical instruments at Chuck Levin’s (Wheaton) or Victor Litz (Gaithersburg)

59. White Oak Bowling lanes

60. Can’t figure out where to eat? Drive up/down the Pike and you’re sure to find something.

61. People from Olney pronounce it “Awl-nee”

62. Mrs. K’s Toll House restaurant was actually a tollhouse.

63. Nick’s Diner for breakfast.

64. Silver Spring is named after an actual spring (it can be found at Acorn Park).

65. Anchor Inn was a lot more than just a sign in Wheaton.

66. Lakeforest went downhill as soon as they removed the fountains.

67. The Olney Walking Guy! with and without his dread lock.

68. You always hesitate a little walking down the stairs to enter Quarry House, but there’s no hesitation when it’s time to order.

69. People will complain about the  MoCo Fair and it’ll still be packed every year.

70. Brookside Gardens…any season.

71. Golden Bull’s prime rib was one of the best!

72. Brookeville was the U.S. capital for a day.

73. Seneca Valley football dynasty.

74. Even if you live by a different mall, you still make it out to Montgomery Mall.

75. The courthouse in Rockville hoping the officer doesn’t show!

76. Spending a few hours picking your favorite fruit at Butler’s Orchard.

77. You can watch planes takeoff and land while eating brunch in at the Airpark in Gaithersburg.

78. Kensington Antique Row is a blast from the past.

79. Game Preserve Road is probably haunted…

80. Peary and Woodward were MCPS high schools.

81. Tilt Arcade in Montgomery Mall!

82. You used to get your video rentals or internet from Erol’s.

83. Tuffy Leeman’s bowling alley in Glenmont.

84. Hechinger was better than Home Depot.

85. Brighton Dam

86. Sex and the City, Melrose Place, and Beverly Hills 90210 were all created by Churchill alum, Darren Star.

87. You get your winter weather information from MoCoSnow

88. Indoor soccer = The Corner Kick

89. The Red Line. 90. Rio is the only place in MoCo where you can eat on the water.
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91. Driving through Potomac to look at Christmas lights is almost as good as Brookside Gardens and Great Seneca Park.

92. You’ve danced with the “Bethesda Bopper” while out at Bethesda bars.

93. You know when to avoid 270 and 495.

94. The person that created Epic Games (Tim Sweeney), which in turn created Fortnite, is from MoCo! 

95. The excitement for the outlets went away soon after the outlets arrived.

96. You or someone you know has taken a photo with the bronze animals at Rio.

97. Silver Spring covers a area much larger than just Downtown Silver Spring.

98. You can be on Connecticut, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin without ever leaving MoCo.

99. Country Roads by John Denver was inspired by Clopper Rd. in Gaithersburg!

100. Half of Hootie & The Blowfish are from MoCo and they recorded part of the video for “Only Wanna Be with You” at the Poolesville Golf Course.