Perhaps if enough say that we'll sadly miss that great store, we could influence them to stay open, or put a similar store there, like the Market Basket in New England.

With GIant, MOMs, Whole Foods, Bloom, Fresh Market, Trader Joe's and now Dawson's, why do we need Magruder's? I went a few times when it was near the old People's/CVS, and it had such a bad smell that I couldn't shop there, and never had a reason to go the remaining one on Rockville Pike.

Although they had some good prices on produce the meat department was not the greatest and place was kind of messy an old and it did have a smell.

Perhaps barefaced lying is no way to run a company: "Bortnick [Magruder’s chief operating officer] said last week that the chain had 'no plans to close any of the stores.'"

What is needed in Montgomery County are food stores that offer dairy, produce and meat at reasonable prices. Chains such as Earth Fare and Price Rite that are actively looking for locations in the county would make excellent replacements for Magruders.

Magruder is wonderful - especially their locally sourced produce - will be sadly missed. Wish the family well.

They will be missed. The so-called smells people mention were from the old store environment, with lots of produce, etc. Sure it smelled different than a Safeway or Giant, but those who loved the produce selection, the fresh meats, the deli counter, and the ambiance of a "local" business (good, helpful management included), did not care about smells. Also, in Gaithersburg, they did a booming lunch time business of takeout chicken and other items. Dozens of county road crew workers, construction people, and local retirees stopped in for a great, inexpensive lunch. Now, no more! I really hope that any new operation try real hard to match Magruders.

It is hard to see an old familiar business go under. It must be difficult for the employees, some of them have been there for decades. So many stores fighting for "our" food dollar these days and some are pretty "fabulous".

Magruder's did have that "smell", especially when they were in the old shopping center next to Peoples Drug Store in downtown Rockville, it was a Co-Op grocery store prior.

I once went into that Magruder's years ago, grabbed a cart and was "run into" by several old ladies with their carts without any apology. I left my cart right there in the aisle and never went to Magruder's again..

I loved this store with its great prices, wonderful breads and deli. This is very very sad.

I'm certainly going to miss my feet sticking to the floor as I walked around

If I have a choice to shop in a cleaner store with lower prices then its a no brainer. I guess many others felt the same way. Hence the old makes way for the new. Maybe with Wagmans store opening this summer they saw the writting on the wall.

It would be a great location for a Fresh Market, a jewel-like high-end-but-low-priced small market at Quarry Lake in Pikesville, the first unit in the area from a fast-growing chain which recently opened a unit nearby in Rockville. Or perhaps MOM's Organic Market, a small local chain which started out in Rockville, could be lured north to Gaithersburg.

If you believe that a market only draws people " the immediate vicinity," you are thinking too small, KS. Supermarkets and specialty markets are among the best anchors for a shopping center because they attract a huge number of customers who travel by car to the shopping center in which they're located to shop -- often traveling for long distances if the supermarket offers choices not available at Giant or Safeway. The trading area for a supermarket is usually 3-5 miles from the market's front door. However, an organic market like MOM's or a high-end specialty market like Fresh Market would extend much farther than five miles along Quince Orchard Road, because there is nothing comparable in Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village, or North Potomac.
Don't forget that Gaithersburg's household income has risen sharply in recent years, in part because recent development in the area has been targeted at higher income households. In addition, the demographics of the 20878 market are quite good, partly because household income in Kentlands, Lakelands, Quince Orchard Park, North Potomac, and Darnestown is certainly not to be sneezed at.
And do not forget that Staples and the new LA Fitness (both credit tenants and both major anchors) draw traffic from Germantown and the upcounty because Quince Orchard Plaza is at the intersection of two heavily-traveled state highways, Route 124/Quince Orchard Road (a block from I-270) and Route 117/Clopper Road.

I personally miss it. I am disabled and live on a fixed income. At Magruders I could purchase cheeses, yogurt, and lots and lots of produce cheaply. Giant, Mom's etc. do not always have the vegetables and herbs that Magruders carry. Fresh Market though having great items do not honor the Independence Card (food stamps). It is too costly to shop at Giant, Mom's Whole Foods, Fresh Market etc. when you are on a fixed income. Come back Magruders! I need you!