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Rio Entertainment Center
Category: Shopping Shopping Centers Shopping Centers [Edit]
9811 Washingtonian BlvdGaithersburg, MD 20878
(301) 921-4684
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Rio Entertainment Center
Review Highlights
"Or step into Barnes and Noble for coffee and a book."
(in 4 reviews)
"...want, and a nice man-made lake to walk around (paddleboats..."
(in 3 reviews)
"best place to hang out for locals and out of towners."
(in 6 reviews)
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Rom C.
Rockville, MD
4/20/2011
best place to hang out for locals and out of towners!
Plethora of free parking, plenty of sites to see, people to watch, restaurants to rest at; pretty much, you won't be bored here!! -
Review from Mariella B.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/15/2012
Love/hate this shopping center, love the restaurants, stores, and entertainment especially in the summer time. But I hate the complications and traffic caused to get in/out of here especially with the garages. I find it genius who ever created this place surround the lake so everything was nearby. The movie theater is great, especially since I live so close it would be cool if there was easy access to go through the first and second levels of the movies but that is something easy to get over. I do prefer to not drive here due to how crammed it gets with idiot pedestrians crossing when and where ever because they feel they have the right of way, this may be due to the fact that there is a strip of hotels equaling the abundant amount of foreigners shopping and people in Gaithersburg are just dumb also.
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Review from Fenny L.
1/4/2011 19 Check-ins Here
Dear Rio,
I've watched you grow up and mature into an ubiquitous suburban "town center".
In a way, I guess it's better then what you used to be. A little ghetto wannabe strip mall with a skeevy arcade center with few dining choices, but at least then, you were unique and different. You weren't the most original kid on the block, but you didn't shop at Benneton and wear swatches either.
Now you've grown a certain gentrified polish, with a cupcakery and timid mid-level upscale food chains to your name. I suppose that this is a good thing; lord knows that I hit up your Target all the time, but part of me misses the younger, sillier, free-er you.
But then, I too have grown older, more boring and bland, so I guess I can not fault you for doing the same. I just hope that somewhere deep in your vaguely whitewashed, over-planned, suburbian soul, the spark of what was, is still alive and will surprise me someday.
I doubt it though.
Sincerely,
~FListed in: All the Stores at the Rio
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Review from Jiawei L.
Bethesda, MD
11/22/2010
I used to love this place when I was a teeny bopper. But no way can I revisit here. When you go at night, it is crammed packed with little pre teens wearing almost next to nothing , with hoards of their friends. It really is a nice area, with good eats, pretty lakes, good shops etc.
But weekend nights are not my favorite time to go. -
Review from Chang W.
Gaithersburg, MD
10/19/2008
Minivans with automatic sliding doors, 1.5 kids, strollers, Target, trophy Asian wives imported from the Mainland, cougars decked out in bebe, crappy chain restaurants, a man-made lake, a gigantic movie theater
Basically a suburbanite's wet dream -
Review from Samira J.
Fairfax, VA
12/21/2006
Maryland, USA.
It`s pretty much the focal point of all-things-boring. Unless you live by the beach, your "funtime" pretty much revolves around Saved by the Bell re-runs in your living room. In this state of ultimate dullness, Rio has been my knight in shining armor.
Lets start with food. Rio has over 12 resturants; 5 of which are waterfront! The variety is mind-blowing. Mexican, Indian, Iranian, American, Asian, Seafood, Italian, Thai... the list goes on! Rio is like the United Nations of GRUB! The best part...? All the food is amazing! (Personally, I must recommend Village Green Kabob. Gotta represent the Iranians!)
Need some dessert? Try Maggie Moo's Ice Cream... or Lindt for some mouth-watering deeeeeelightful Swiss chocolate. Coffee & Sweets? Corner Bakery is right on the Corner, literally. Or step into Barnes and Noble for coffee and a book.
Still working on the christmas shopping? Try Target ... Kohls ... Peir 1? Or many one of the maaaaaaaany smaller retail stores. Chico's might help. If you`re looking for my gift... head over to the Wine Shop, PRONTO!
For the more athletically, uhhh ... skilled & willing (hehe, lazzzzy...) head over to Galyan's for some cute sports apparel before your oh so gruesome workout at the HUGE Sport & Health Club. They have everything. I promise. Basketball, Tennis, Badmittion, a Pool, a Sauna... Not so into the whole workout scene (don`t worry... i`m right there with you!). NO WORRIES! The Washington Golf Center is riiiiiiiight there! Golf not your thing? (Still with you!) Loews Cineplex... The theater has 18 screens! & honestly, running to catch the movie is all the workout i need =)
Overall, Rio is miraculous. The view and atmosphere are perfect, the water puts it all together, and everything you need is in one stop. So get over the Kelly & Zack drama, leave the Slater-drooling to Jessie and go get yourself a real life ... at RIO! -
Review from Micah P.
4/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
The Rio has three places I love going to: Target, The Loft, and Barnes & Noble all right near each other! Thank you! Although everywhere at this place is basically a chain, it's convenient. Also, the restaurant area is beautiful! Love the waters and the bridge. One day I might even go paddle boating. :)
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Review from Jamie B.
Germantown, MD
6/30/2008
This is basically the Germantown/Gaithersburg hang-out spot and it's not bad. It has certainly grown up rapidly over the last few years.
There's Joe's Crab Shack for a little casual food and drinking, a decent (3-star) Mexican place next to that, a fairly good (3.5 star) Italian restaurant, a pretty decent (4 star) Chinese place if you walk up the street a bit, a Potbelly (5 stars if you're in the mood for soup and/or sandwiches and/or milkshakes, 3 stars otherwise) , Hamburger Hamlet (4 stars) and, well, a whole bunch of other places including a bookstore, wine shop, a pretty nice theater, etc. Very nice selection of restaurants, really. There's at least 5 more I didn't list because I'm not as familiar with them plus a whole crapton of shops.
There's also ample parking. Hmmm... 5 huge parking garages, is it? All free. If you're new to the area or just find yourself in Gaithersburg wondering where you can go that does not involve driving from parking lot to parking lot, this is a good place to head to. In fact, there's a nice hotel here and you couldn't ask for a better place to stay if you need a place in Gaithersburg on a business trip or whatnot, with so much within walking distance.
Really, all this place lacks is a few good bars, but I suppose that's not really the atmosphere they're going for. Although Joe's Crab Shack and Red Rock both feature bars, they are *packed* on weekends. Honestly, they've hit on the right idea with this area because G'burg/G'town have a lot of people looking for something to do that does not involve driving into D.C. and dealing with traffic and parking down there. -
Review from Nicole P.
Gaithersburg, MD
10/29/2007
Love it! I work very close by, and it's just so convenient. I imagine that staying in one of the Marriotts on business or such would be great given the location...
Target! No shopping center is complete with it! Barnes and Noble (Get your intellectual fix! Or just take it easy). There are three (count 'em, three!) Starbucks -- one stand alone, one in Barnes and Noble, and one in the Marriott. Food of any variety (Tex-Mex -- Guapo's is the place to be! American fare -- Red Rock Canyon or the Grille at the Marriott (try the margaritas at the Marriott, you will not be disappointed); Thai, Indian, Japanese, Iranian, Chinese, Italian (if you can call Macaroni Grille Italian). For dessert, stop by the ice cream shop, pick up a bottle of wine, or just sip at the wine bar "http://finewine.com" (yes, the name of the store has a .com -- odd, I know); Doing some family shopping and already hit up the Target? How about Kohl's? Or bath and body works. Dick's sporting goods.
Bored? See a movie at the 18 theater Rio theaters. Or get a great workout at the Rio Sport and Health club. Maybe talk some personal golf lessons from "Golf," the indoor training facility.
Great spot -- check it out. -
Review from Ashley D.
Potomac, MD
3/20/2011
I love you Rio. The boardwalk if fun and pretty, the theatres are always clean and this is the only theatre where I can get my curly fries!!!!!!!!! Hell yeahhhh!!!
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Review from Dee B.
4/23/2008
If you like sanitized suburbia, then this is the place for you.
Being a Midwesterner who grew up in a not-very-large city and regularly shopped at both Kohl's and Target, I won't put this place down too much. It certainly has many dining and shopping options in one place, and the fake lake is a very nice touch. But if you like your hang-out spots to have a bit more soul, then you'll have to look further, as this won't be your place. -
Review from Sreeniket R.
Rockville, MD
8/30/2010
I've been here many times before (to work out at Sport and Health), but came here Saturday after several years of not visiting to take a walk with my parents. We arrived around 9:30 p.m. and the place was PACKED. I love the lake (I'm guessing it's an artificial lake) with the lakefront restaurants and the movie theater looks pretty impressive from the outside. They also have paddle boats available for those who are interested. While it may be an attempt at creating faux-urbanity out of suburbia, the Rio Center is certainly a splendid addition to North-Central Montgomery County! Best part? The starbucks is open until 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights!
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Review from J K.
Montgomery Village, MD
1/25/2011
What happened to the RIO? It use to be one of the nicest and funnest places to hang out in MoCo. Actually, it is still a nice place to visit once in a while, but its not the same place as it use to be. I don't think you can visit the RIO anymore without running into a group of 10 year old boys making obscene poses.
The RIO has some of my favorite restaurants though like Guapo's and Joe's Crab Shack. There is also a cafe, Uncle Julio's, and a few various restaurant on the boardwalk. They also have a two level Target, Dick's and Kohls. They also have a movie theater that I visit once in a while, although I haven't been there in a few years now. Oh yeah, they also have a bench with a pedo Tiger and Bear there also. -
Review from Lianne Z.
San Francisco, CA
10/14/2008
I used to live across the street from what used to be a golfing center way back when.
I witnessed the development of this now beautifully booming suburban mecca of entertainment. Movies, food, paddle-boating, athletics, and shops. Its still home to the golfing center but also houses a wonderfully equipped gym as well as various sporting activities and even a sporting shop (plus Target, and who doesn't love Target?!)
It's a wonderful place to take a stroll along the "boardwalk" or paddleboat and feed a few ducks.
You can catch a movie at the multiplex or do a little shopping in their kitschy array of stores/boutiques.
There's a wine store where they feature live music and wine-tastings. Their food selection varies from chain powerhouses (Corner Bakery, Macaroni Grill, Joe's Crab Shack, California's Pizza Kitchen, Rio Grande) to Hamburger Hamlet, Tara Thai and Red Rock, among others.
Come Christmas they have a beautiful tree ideal for pictures.
It's a great place for families, friends and couples.
It's family-friendly while managing to provide exclusiveness for those who crave it.
I really love this place and am proud of how much it has expanded.
It holds many great high school memories for me and is still a go-to favorite of mine every time I visit my hometown. It captures small-town charm intermixed with urbanite chaos.
Love. Love. Love. -
Review from Cyrus N.
Takoma Park, MD
4/16/2008
I am rather loathe to say it, but this is a damned nice retail center. It's really got all the movies, food, and shops you could want, and a nice man-made lake to walk around (paddleboats available in the summer). As other reviewers have stated...it can be rather nice to walk around at night. On a nice night, you'll see gobs of couples making out in the grass, and you could be one of them!
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Review from Elissar K.
Kensington, MD
2/26/2009
A little artificial-feeling with the many franchises, man-made lake, gazebo, etc. but a really convenient place overall: a nice clean(er) movie theater, a couple of good restaurants (not every one of them is a "crappy chain", as a previous reviewer put it), and a bunch of shopping options.
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Review from Nick P.
Gaithersburg, MD
4/22/2011
this is the place where i grew up.
loved it.
my first kiss was here :) -
Review from Shawna G.
Germantown, MD
1/30/2007
Lots to do! Great restaurants! EXCELLENT Courtyard by Marriott!!! Ask for the lake view, high floor for a nice little getaway. Go to Red Rock Canyon, have a cocktail, hit California Pizza Kitchen for a snack and another cocktail... swing by Starbucks... what more could you ask for ????
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Review from Ame C.
Jacksonville, FL
4/27/2007
This is our "hang out". Yes- we live in a very dull area so we hang out around a lake and a Target. But it's awesome though! Hey- this is coming from a Miami girl... it's no South Beach but who cares? I prefer this to the drunk guys checking you out all over the place at the beach. There are lots of restaurants to choose from, lots of shopping to be done, a lake full of ducks and fish to look at and a park to take my kids to. It's in no way FUN (unless you do the peddle boat thing... which we haven't tried but looks somewhat fun) but I don't want fun- I want enjoyable and relaxing which is exactly what Rio/Washingtonian Center is about. =)
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Review from kara h.
Brookeville, MD
4/8/2008
Great place to get your errands done, have a good meal and have the kids run and play.
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Review from Jen L.
Washington, DC
11/30/2007
I've watched the development of Rio Center. It used to just be a movie theater, gym, arcade, and a few restaurants all inside a big building surrounded by dirt. They then added the Barnes and Target super-section. Now they have the entire section with the new Starbucks and California Pizza Kitchen. The Center looks clean, new, and posh. I absolutely love the lake.
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Review from Jay K.
Washington, DC
7/6/2008
This is my favorite place to hang out with my friends. The restaurants here are awesome. The ones I go to often are Potbelly, California Pizza Kitchen, Hamburger Hamlet and Rio Grande Cafe. The stores are also pretty nice and the ones I frequent the most are Barnes and Noble and Dick's Sporting Goods. The movie theatre is also pretty nice and there is a beautiful lake you can walk around. This has always been a favorite place of mine to visit since I was a kid.
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Review from Arista W.
Fort Mill, SC
2/12/2008 1 Check-in Here
i love this place! the only thing they need over there is a grocery store! you can get everything you need from this shopping plaza...you can also see a movie...there are plenty of resturants and at night it can be kinda romantic if the mood is right=0]
