Hard Times Cafe at 1117 Nelson St in Rockville is temporarily closed again due to ongoing plumbing issues in the Woodley Gardens shopping center. The restaurant was previously closed during the week of October 14 for similar issues. Hard Times Cafe had originally reopened in July after a closure that began in September 2023 due to plumbing problems.
A representative from the location stated that the closure and plumbing problems are a “landlord issue,” and the situation will be assessed day-by-day. Businesses to the left of Hard Times, including Shanghai Taste and the Woodley Gardens Veterinary Care, will also be affected. Meanwhile, businesses to the right of Hard Times, such as Carmen’s Italian Ice and Z&Z, remain open for now, though this is subject to change. We will provide an update when additional information becomes available.
The restaurant is known best for its wings and chili with variations that include Texas, Cincinnati, Terlingua, and vegetarian. Menu items include the Chili Bubba (chili over corn bread), Chili Mac (over spaghetti), Frito Chili Mac, chili dogs, chili burgers, and chili fries. The restaurant also serves non-chili dishes, such as salads, wraps, and chicken tenders.
According to its website, “The Hard Times Cafes are designed to recall a southern depression era chili parlor. Its design is simple and honest, making use of polished red oak and terra-cotta tile. Photographs of day-to-day western life, circa 1930, are featured on the sand textured walls.” The first Hard Times Cafe opened in Alexandria, VA in 1980 and the Rockville location opened in 1984. There was previously a Hard Times Cafe at 13032 Middlebrook Rd in Germantown, which closed in 2014, and others outside of Montgomery County. There are currently additional Hard Times locations in Alexandria, Fredericksburg, and Springfield, VA.