Pumphrey Relocates to Rockville Town Center

Robert A Pumphrey Funeral Homes is moving from the corner of Williams Street and West Montgomery Avenue in Rockville's historic district to a new spot in Rockville Town Center. The sixth-generation, 150-year-old business occupied the former location since 1928.

Funeral Director Mark Calaway says "competition for stiffs has been stiff" since the Covid-19 pandemic waned, and relocating to Town Center strategically places them where people seek establishments close to the grave.

Rockville Town Center has proven time and again to be the black hole of Montgomery County retail, where fusiony Italian restaurants die from spaghettification and upscale boutiques cross the event horizon on opening day. "It made sense for Pumphrey to go where the action isn't," Calaway told The Montgonion.

Pumphrey Funeral Homes is moving into the space formerly occupied by Èkó House, the pan-African restaurant that succeeded Bar Louie and Montgomery Wood Fired Pizza. "The brick ovens are still there, making it virtually turnkey for our crematorium," said Calaway.

The turn-of-the-century Rockville mansion the Pumphrey family purchased in 1928 has been leased to DMD Enterprises, LLC, owner of the Dunkin' franchises on Hungerford Drive and Gude Drive in Rockville.

Pumphrey's Wisconsin Avenue isn't moving, but in keeping with the times will be rebranded Bethesda Pumphrey Today Funeral Home. Despite the rebranding it will continue to serve all of southwestern Montgomery County.