Quince Orchard Shopping Center (now called Potomac Valley Shopping Center) was built in 1969. The first shops opened in 1970 and included a Safeway and a People's Drug as the two anchor stores. The People's Drug store actually had a soda fountain inside. Other businesses included Tool Shed Hardware, University National Bank, Pizza Barn, High's Dairy and Quince Orchard Dry Cleaners. In the mid-1980s, I remember my father bringing our TV to the TV repair guy located in this shopping center. You don't see many of those around anymore. Eventually, the Safeway became Fuddruckers and then Rockafellas. The People's became a CVS, which is now Montgomery County Liquor.

Name Date Comment
Debbie Doan 7/6/11 My friends and I used to go to Pizza Barn alllll the time. 1977 to about 1982 or so..
G-Burg Alumni 7/21/11 I too grew up in the Orchards, and would go to the Pizza Barn, eat Pizza, play Defender, and Gallega. great Pizza, good times.
Buck Magee 8/11/11 There was a great Butcher in that shopping center in the early 80's.
Derek 9/15/11 I also remember a movie theatre and small pet store being there. Worst memory though is TH Mandy, a women's clothing store that my mom frequented. Being small kids, we had to go to the fitting room with her. For some reason, the individual stalls within the fitting room area did not have curtains or doors. As a kid, it was pretty embarassing to see all those strange women in their underwear!
Alan G 2/6/12 I remember Happy Hobbies hobby shop at the bottom of the center stairs at the front.
Veronica Riggs 2/29/12 I worked at the People's Drug Store when it first opened.
Wally 7/14/12 How about Mr Howard, who lived down the road and drove his tractor to safeway
Brent 4/3/13 Wow, what memories this brings back. I remember the Pizza Barn. Our pediatrician was in the lower level, adjacent to the Safeway. I just remember he had this huge fish tank.
Darlene Jackson 8/10/13 We lived on Quince Orchard Rd
Jan 5/15/15 I remember an Exxon gas station next to the shopping center at the corner of 28 and Quince Orchard Road.
Margaret 9/25/15 I remember a shop that you could buy material and hat supplies. I purchased netting and the small headpiece for a wedding at the shop. That was in early 1970. Nice...nice ladies to help you figure out how to make it.
Jeryll Dorsey 3/29/17 Had maybe my first car breakdown in the parking lot in '71.
Greg 5/5/17 The Pizza Barn had rectangular pizza. The Safeway had a conveyor belt that would take your groceries out of the store where someone would load them into the car for you.
Laura Rathbun 8/21/19 We lived in Ancient Oaks down 28 towards Darnestown and I worked the Peoples Drug lunch counter in 1971 with my best friend, Laura Houston. Mr. Dube was the Pharmacist back then. Pizza Barn was a regular for us!! I'm trying to find pictures of the florist/garden center that had the large GREEN greenhouse on the corner of 28 & Quince Orchard Rd.