Openings, Closings, and Coming Soon to Montgomery Mall: May 2024

Below is a list of businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon to Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) in Bethesda:

Now Open: Brio’s Chicken
Brio’s Chicken chicken opened April 14. The restaurant is located in the space previously occupied by Tara Thai. Menu items include Peruvian charbroiled chicken, empanadas, steak, and seafood. Brio’s Chicken was scheduled to open a location in the Kentlands but after several years of delays and issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant never materialized. Brio’s Chicken previously had a location in Aspen Hill in the Aspen Manor shopping center, where Outback is located, but that location is under new ownership and is now known as Gio’s Chicken.

Coming Soon: Kelly’s Cajun Grill
Signage is up for Kelly’s Cajun Grill, which will be located between Panda Express and Sarku Japan in the mall’s dining terrace.  Kelly’s is known for its “world famous” bourbon chicken, blackened fish, and Cajun shrimp. Kelly’s was previously located at Lakeforst Mall in Gaithersburg and was one of the last remaining tenants at the time of the mall’s closure.

According to its website, “In 1991, Kelly’s Cajun Grill became the home of the World Famous Bourbon Chicken when it opened its first restaurant in the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida. The delicious food and innovative concept fueled the company’s rapid expansion, even surpassing all of IRMG’s other concepts combined. Kelly’s Cajun Grill is a proven concept with an excellent track record. The operations are very streamlined and the restaurants are capable of producing very high sales volumes with a very limited amount of space. Our world famous Bourbon Chicken is a delicious yet healthy dish made with fresh grilled chicken and our own special blend of sauces and seasonings. Other favorites include Blackened Chicken, Blackened Fish, Shrimp Etouffee, Cajun Spicy Chicken, as well as a variety of delicious side dishes.”

Closing: Talbots: 
“Store Closing” signs are up and inventory is nearly depleted at Talbots. Talbots is a “dynamic women-led fashion brand offering smile-worthy style for every area of your life.” The chain has an additional Montgomery County location at the Clarksburg Premium Outlets.

Now Open: Mango
Women’s clothing store Mango is now open in the space previously occupied by Altered State. The “Mediterranean style and culture” brand got its start in Barcelona, Spain in 1984 and is planning to open additional area stores on 50 F Street in DC, Tysons Corner Center, and Pentagon City in 2024. According to Mango, “The new stores are part of the expansion plan in the United States that Mango began last year with the aim of opening approximately 30 new stores in three years to reach a total of 40 stores by 2024, combining its presence in major shopping malls with standalone stores. The company wants the country to become one of the group’s top five markets in terms of turnover through increasing its number of physical stores, as well as driving its online sales on mango.com and in marketplaces.”

Coming Soon: The Jam
Coming soon signage is up for the The Jam, an “arts and style experience.” The Jam will be located in the space previously occupied by the Wentworth Gallery on the mall’s upper level next to Nordstrom. We will provide an update when we learn additional information. 

Coming Soon: JD Sports
Signage is up for JD Sports on the mall’s lower level.  JD Sports sells sneakers, sportswear and accessories from brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, New Balance, and Vans. According to its website, “Established in 1981 with a single store in the North West of England, the JD Group is a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion and Outdoor brands. The Group now has over 3,400 stores across 38 territories with a strong presence in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.” JD Sports currently has locations across the DMV, with Tysons Corner Center being the closest.

Coming Soon: Pollo Campero 
Pollo Campero is coming to Westfield Montgomery’s dining terrace. It will be taking over the space previously occupied by Greek Aroma Grill. Menu items include fried and grilled chicken, empanadas, yuca, plantains, and flan.  Pollo Campero has additional Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, and Wheaton. The fried chicken chain, which originated in Guatemala, opened its first location in 1971 and has grown to over 400 locations worldwide, including over 70 in the United States.

Relocating: Chocolate Moonshine / Coming Soon: Läderach
Chocolate Moonshine is relocating to the space that was most recently home to 7-Eleven, which closed in February. We’re told the new location will be open in a couple of weeks. Swiss Chocolatier Läderach is expected to take over the former Chocolate Moonshine space. Läderach is known for its FrischSchoggi (fresh chocolate) slabs, pralines, and truffles. We will provide an update when additional information becomes available.

Undergoing Renovations: AMC Theater
AMC officially opened its theaters in Montgomery Mall,  taking the place of ArcLight, back in March 2022. A little more than two years later, AMC has received a permit for $2.8 million for improvements at the theater. In early 2022 AMC announced “high-profile, major-market acquisitions” of former ArcLight locations in the D.C. and San Diego areas, which included the former ArcLight location in Montgomery Mall. AMC Montgomery 16 is the theater that took over the closed ArcLight location in Montgomery Mall after ArcLight announced in April 2021 that due to losses during the pandemic, it would not be reopening any of its locations. Maryland Newsletters reported that reclining seats will be part of the $2.8 million in upgrades.

Good Festival

On Saturday, May 4, the Westfield Good Festival at Westfield Montgomery will take place in Center Court from 9 AM to 6 PM. The event schedule features:
9 AM to 10 AM:
Complimentary Fabletics workout class, complete with giveaways

11 AM to 6 PM:
Sixx Cool Moms Makers Market, exhibiting sustainable goods from select small local artisans and businesses like:
Hammer and Stain: ready-made studio art and take-home craft kits
Absolutely Abby Designs: hand painted seashells by a talented teenage artist
Le Den Clay: hand-poured soy wax candles and recycling program
Heremeow: one-of-a-kind pieces crafted from vintage upcycled materials
Get Clutched by CJ: sustainable handbags inspired by Indian American heritage
Clothing drive in support of Interfaith Works, with a Spin-to-Win wheel for participants
Food and beverage sampling from Shake Shack and Windridge Vineyards
Live DJ performances throughout the event

“The Westfield Good Festival is the perfect opportunity to support local makers and give back to our community while enjoying live entertainment and other activities,” said Zeina Davis, Marketing Director at Westfield Montgomery. “We’re excited to partner with Sixx Cool Moms to bring together an amazing group of eco-friendly vendors, creating a memorable experience that celebrates local artisanship and environmental stewardship.”

For more information about the Westfield Good Festival at Westfield Montgomery, visit www.westfield.com/united-states/montgomery/events-detail/the-good-festival. Stay up to date on all the Westfield Good Festival happenings by following Westfield Montgomery on Facebook and Instagram.