Below is a list of businesses that have recently opened, closed, or are coming soon to Gaithersburg’s Kentlands:
Coming Soon: Bangkok Garden (concept)
Bangkok Garden has leased the space that was the longtime home of Good Fortune Cafe in Kentlands Square.
Bangkok Garden first opened started back in 1984 by two Thai immigrants, Visith and Yupin Laohapant, who came to America in hopes of being able to share a part of their culture through Thai Food. They served the Bethesda community for 37 years later before closing in 2021.
The restaurant opened a Rockville location in November 2019, with a menu focus on Thai street foods– “the hot, sizzling, tasty dishes that you would find in the night markets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai.” We are told the Kentlands location may have a different name, but could also offer some of the menu items from the Bethesda restaurant.
Good Fortune has cleared out and the restaurant is empty. No word on any potential remodeling or an opening timeframe for the new restaurant yet, but we’ll keep you updated. Featured photo shows Moo Yang (grilled pork skewers served w sticky rice) over Pad Thai from Bangkok Garden Rockville
Coming Soon: Bearded Goat Barber
Bearded Goat Barber is coming soon to 720 Center Point Way in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood. The barbershop is taking over the space that was home to Sport Clips from April 2014 until April 2024. The barbershop is expected to open in November.
Bearded Goat Barber Shop was started by entrepreneur Scott Parker (who owns various restaurants and bars in the DMV, including Don Tito in Arlington) and barbers Eric Renfro and Jon Dodson. Its first location in Ballston opened in 2019, with additional locations in D.C.’s Navy Yard in 2″20 and in Shirlington, VA in 2021, according to ARLnow. “Bearded Goat Barber offers a full array of haircut styles, shape-ups, and grey blending. If a shave is what you’re looking for, we provide a relaxing straight razor hot towel shave. We also specialize in beard shaping and sculpting. Put your trust in us, and let our clippers and scissors do the work.
Coming Soon: Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree has signed on to move in to the vacant space that was recently home to Privai Spa and previously home to Mynd Spa and Red Door Spa at 62 Market St. An opening timeframe/date for Dollar Tree is not yet available.
Closed: Good Fortune Cafe
Good Fortune Cafe, which has been serving the area since 1994 (according to its website), closed at the end of August. The restaurant, located at 237 Kentlands Place in the Beacon Place shopping center (same strip as Giant), initially had a bigger space before downsizing to its current space in the early 2000s. A representative from the restaurant informed us earlier this month that their lease would be expiring at the end of August and they couldn’t agree to new terms. Fans of the restaurant, which offers Chinese cuisine, sushi, and Thai cuisine, may be happy to hear that the restaurant will look for a new space. As of now, there is nothing to report about the next possible location if it was to reopen elsewhere.
Coming Soon: Häagen-Dazs
Häagen-Dazs is coming 211 Market St W, in the space previously occupied by Bel Pre Family Dental. Häagen-Dazs stores offer “irresistible creations made with Haagen-Dazs super-premium ice cream and sorbet.” The ice cream brand has seen a resurgence as of late, opening new shops across the country with fun giveaways at the grand opening celebrations. Recent openings have offered free mini cups or cones for the first 500 guests, scratch-off cards to win free ice cream for a year, and more. We will provide an update if a grand opening event is announced for this location.
Häagen-Dazs currently has additional Montgomery County locations at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and at 1516 Rockville Pike. The brand closed its Bethesda Row store in the summer of 2021 after about a decade of business at the location.
Coming Soon: KOR Artisanal Bistro
KOR Artisanal Bistro is coming to 216 Main Street in Gaithersburg, taking over the space previously occupied by Kathy’s Gallery & Frames. At this point, we have limited information about KOR Artisanal Bistro. Interior work on the restaurant does not yet appear to have begun, and there is no specified opening timeframe. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Now Open: Neko Nook
Neko Nook has officially opened in the space previously occupied by FD Book Cafe at 422 Main St in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood. The new cafe touts “comfort meets creativity” and the menu features Japanese-style sandwiches known as “sando.” A first-look video is available below by @tastemoco.
The menu includes unique flavors like the Strawberry Sando (Homemade cream, strawberry, shokupan), OG Tamago Sando (Japanese egg salad, shokupan, sweet mayo), Hambagu Sando (Japanese hambagu patties available in beef & pork, egg, cheese, cabbage, shokupan, homemade spicy mayo), Matcha or Ube Strawberry Sando (Homemade matcha or Ube cream, strawberry, shokupan), a variety of coffee and tea, and more.
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Now Open: Our Neighborhood Deli
Our Neighborhood Deli is now open at 240 Main St. in Gaithersburg. Our very own Mr. MoCo stopped by to support and has created a ‘first look’ video to show you what the deli, which is promising to bring authentic flavors of a classic New York deli, has to offer (video below).
The menu features a diverse selection, including freshly made sandwiches (hero bread made in-house, per ownership), NY-style hot dogs, breakfast sandwiches, and knishes. Guests can also enjoy authentic New York bagels, and a variety of sweet treats like muffins, cookies, cake slices, and soft serve ice cream. The deli also offers Jamaican patties with cocoa bread.
The restaurant is located in the space that was home to Kentlands Nutrition for the past 15 years.
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Closing: Pacifica Cafe
Pacifica Café, located at 621 Center Point Way in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood, will close permanently on November 28th, according to a sign posted on the restaurant’s door.
The Restaurant, which features “authentic cuisine from Shanghai” and has been there for at least 17 years (we do not have confirmation on the exact timeframe it opened, but know it was open in 2007), has been under its current ownership for the last decade. The sign on the door states the following:
“Dear friends, Pacifica Café will be closed permanently after November 28, 2024. Over the past ten years, it is because of your company and support that Pacifica Cafe has become a warm place. To express our gratitude and give back, all dine-in dinners will enjoy a 10% discount from now until November 28. Thank you for your kindness along the way, and look forward to meeting you again in the remaining time and leaving beautiful memories.” Photo courtesy Google Maps
Coming Soon: Prime IV Hydration and Wellness
Permanent signage is up for Prime IV Hydration and Wellness, which will be located between Vine Alley and Neal’s Bagels. Prime IV offers treatments And IV infusions provided by medically licensed staff to help with hydration, athletic performance, anti-aging, hangover recovery, weight management, immunity boosts, altitude sickness, jet lag recovery, and more. Prime IV opened its first Montgomery County location at 4923 Elm Street Bethesda, the former home of arts & crafts shop All Fired Up.
Now Open: Stretch Lab
Stretch Lab is now open at 113 Market St. Founded in 2015, StretchLab is an assisted stretching brand, offering one-on-one and group stretch services for all ages and fitness levels. StretchLab offers consumers more ways to reduce their risk of injury, regain mobility, improve flexibility and range of motion, and reclaim their freedom. The company has additional Montgomery County locations in Bethesda and Olney.
Coming Soon: Quincy’s Clubhouse
Last June we let you know that Quincy’s officially signed a lease to bring its new concept, Quincy’s Club House, to 245 Kentlands Blvd. The country club style restaurant, bar, and golf venue is taking over the location that was recently home to Not Your Average Joe’s. A $990,000 permit to begin alterations in the space was approved this past spring and now ownership tells us that they’re hoping for a Fall opening.
Abramson Construction is currently doing the fitout work for the upcoming location. The space was cleared following an auction for the contents of the shuttered Not Your Average Joe’s in the spring. Per our previous report, fans of the original Quincy’s, located just a couple miles away at 616 Quince Orchard Rd, will be happy to hear that there is no current plan to close the existing bar and grill and that ownership believes both restaurant are sustainable due to the difference in concepts.
