Below a is a list of restaurants that have recently opened or are coming soon to Olney, MD:
Coming Soon- Bubbakoo’s Burritos: New Jersey-based Bubbakoo’s Burritos has signed on to open its first Montgomery County location at 16822 Georgia Ave. in Olney. Signage is now up in the window for Bubbakoo’s Burritos– ending a mini-mystery surrounding Ramen Ya, which was previously slated to take over the space next to Salon H2O in the shopping center that’s home to Roots Market.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos is a fast-casual Mexican-fusion restaurant chain that originated in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, in 2008. It’s known for its unique and customizable menu items, prepared fresh and made-to-order, offering a “wow-worthy” dining experience. Beyond traditional burritos and tacos, their menu often features distinctive items like the “Chiwawa” (a lightly fried panko-crusted cheesy rice ball) and various “Killer Creations” with diverse flavor profiles like Honey Sriracha and Nashville Hot. The brand emphasizes fresh ingredients, a high-energy atmosphere, and strong community involvement.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos has additional Maryland restaurants in : Marriottsville, Eldersburg, Linthicum Heights, Laurel, Owings Mills, Millersville, Baltimore, Bel Air, Cockeysville, Edgewater, and Pasadena: 350 Mountain Road, Pasadena (listed as “coming soon”).
New- Classic Bakery: Classic Bakery is now open at 18195 Village Center Dr., its third location overall, joining Gaithersburg and Tyson’s Corner. The new Classic Bakery location takes over the space formerly occupied by Cold Stone, prior to its move within the shopping center.
The Classic Bakery legacy began over half a century ago when Grandpa Souren discovered his passion for baking in 1947 at the age of 17 in Tehran, Iran. He left his job as a machine mechanic to focus on his small bakery. Rubic, his eldest son, began working in the family bakery at just seven years old, learning every aspect of the business– from sweeping floors to mixing batches by hand.
After immigrating to the United States, Rubic Movsessian and his grandfather opened Classic Bakery in Gaithersburg in 1991, establishing it in the shopping center that was once home to Hechinger’s and is now home to Bruster’s Ice Cream. The bakery quickly earned a reputation for its commitment to family traditions and exceptional customer service, crafting baked goods from scratch using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients.
Today, Classic Bakery is run by Rubic Movsessian and his son, Areen, marking the third generation of the Movsessian family to be involved in the business. By popular demand, the bakery has expanded its offerings to include sandwiches, imported coffee, and homemade gelato in addition to its signature cookies, pastries, baked goods, and custom cakes. A few years ago, a second location opened in Tyson’s Corner, VA, while the original 3,000-square-foot establishment in Gaithersburg moved to a state-of-the-art, 10,000-square-foot facility on Gaither Road to better serve its ever-growing clientele.
Areen remains committed to the hands-on approach that Grandpa Souren and Rubic pioneered when Classic Bakery was established in 1991. Their treasured recipes and high standards continue to shape the bakery’s identity, ensuring that each generation wins the hearts of local clients through a blend of tradition and quality.
New- Mackie’s Barbecue (seasonal food truck):
Earlier this year, the popular Mackie’s Barbecue announced the closure of its Clarksburg, Frederick, and Olney locations, effective January 10th, to concentrate on expanding its catering and online delivery services through its Gaithersburg location. Now, approximately six months later, owner Cam Makki has revealed plans for Mackie’s to make a comeback in Olney with a seasonal food truck.
In a statement shared with us and on social media, Mackie’s announced its intention to station a seasonal food truck at Johnson’s Florist and Garden Centers, located at 5011 Olney-Laytonsville Rd., directly across from Lone Oak Brewery. The new set-up promises to offer “picnic tables, string lights, great food, and a laid-back vibe.”
Coming Soon- Mezeh: Mezeh Mediterranean Grill is coming to 18129 Town Center Dr in Olney, next-door to Chopt. The restaurant will be taking over the space that we previously occupied by The Olney Winery in the Fair Hill Shopping Center. Mezeh is a fast-casual eatery with a buffet-style of offerings that include rice and salad bowls, wraps and a variety of sauces and toppings that are very similar to national chain Cava. Construction has not yet begun. Mezeh Mediterranean Grill opened its first store in Annapolils, MD in 2013 and the chain has additional Montgomery County locations in Aspen Hill, Gaithersburg and Germantown.
Update- Olney Alehouse: Back in March 2023 we let you know that the 100-year old building that is home to the Olney Ale House was sold to Two Sibs LLC, led by Selim Kantar, for $1.45 million. More than two years later, restaurant management tells us that the hope is to open by the end of the summer.
Owner Selim Kantar previously told us that there were a few bumps in the road and delays to deal with during construction since it’s a rehabilitation rather than a new build. The restaurant, located at 2000 Olney Sandy Spring Rd (Rt. 108 and Doctor Bird Rd.), operated in the space until a kitchen fire caused the restaurant to shut down in 2019. The upcoming version will keep the Olney Ale House name and operate with an updated menu, keeping some of the old favorites, and new cocktails.
We will have additional information about the new Olney Ale House in the coming weeks. Below we share some photos of the restaurant along with some of its rich history, courtesy of the previous Olney Ale House website:
In 1923, Richard Bentley Thomas and Ethel Farquhar Thomas purchased the five acre triangular shaped piece of property from the estate of Sam Owens. The property had a four room log cabin in the middle of what is today’s parking lot. The corner was known as Davis Corner. Almost immediately construction began on a hipped-roof, pavilion-type building that would contain a kitchen, dining room and two bedrooms. This building was completed in 1924, and opened for business as “The Corner Cupboard.” They served homemade ice cream, breads, cookies, pies and cakes, as well as, sausage, scrapple and ham sandwiches from hams that were cured in their smokehouse. Garden vegetables were also grown and sold. The Corner Cupboard was a unique establishment and drew many loyal followers.
In 1930, a large addition was added to the original structure. This included bedrooms in the rear and a second floor with more sleeping quarters. At this time, heat was installed making it a year-round operation. The log cabin was torn down at this time.1930 also saw the addition of the stone fireplace in the dining room. It was built by Adolphus Gordon. The rocks came from a factory building at Triadelphia. The left over rocks were used to build the bell tower at Sherwood High School.Two famous visitors of this time were Herbert Hoover, perhaps visiting the area because of his Quaker background and Dean Acheson, who owned a summer home in the area.
In 1937, the business was sold and became the Francis Lattie Inn. Miss Lattie operated the business as a tea room and carried on many of the former owners’ traditions. The business has changed hands many times and operated under a variety of different names. “The Anchorage” had a retired naval officer Harold Hilliard at the helm, a Maggie Levesque purchased it but little is remembered of her time, then Mrs. Cramer bought it and named it the “Country Corner Inn.” In the late 50’s, Irma Turnbull purchased it, she kept it until 1962 and then sold it to the McKenzie’s. Mrs. McKenzie had been one of her waitresses. Both of these owners operated under the “Country Corner Inn.” Mr. McKenzie was an engineer at WTOP and when they remodeled the station he brought out the large windows that were being discarded from a sound booth. They are currently installed in the bar room.
Sometime in 1970, the Matney’s purchased it. They added what is now known as the Beer Garden. They operated as a steak house and sold liquor. Two years later, they sold it to George, Fred and Anita Virkus and the “Olney Ale House” was born. In 2000, it was purchased by the current owners. Among some of the reported famous visitors are Burl Ives, Eve Arden, Tyrone Powers, Talulla Bankhead, Harry and Bess Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Milo O’Shea, Chris and Susan Sarandon and Jason Miller.
Event- National Night Out: After being ranked 14th in its population group out of more than 17,000 participating communities worldwide last year, Olney’s National Night Out is back and bigger than ever for its 30th anniversary. Hosted by the Olney Chamber of Commerce, this beloved community event takes place on Tuesday, August 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the parking lots of The Fair Hill Shops and Olney Village Center.
Per the Olney Chamber of Commerce: This milestone year promises the largest celebration yet, with expanded space, more exhibitors, new attractions—and the return of favorites for all ages. Admission is free, and all are welcome. The evening kicks off with an opening ceremony at 5 p.m., as elected officials and other VIPs arrive via motorcade. Olney is always their first stop of the night—widely regarded as the premier National Night Out event in Montgomery County.
National Night Out is a nationwide campaign that fosters positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Olney has proudly celebrated National Night Out for 30 years, growing it into one of the community’s most anticipated annual traditions.
Highlights of the event include:
- Police horses, K9 units, and car and motorcycle displays
- Fire trucks, rescue vehicles, and the Fire Safety House
- U.S. Secret Service child fingerprinting
- Obstacle course, dunk tank, face painting, crafts, and kids’ games
- Food trucks, giveaways, and exhibitor booths
- A DJ and performances from local dance and martial arts groups
- Opportunities to interact with police, fire, and rescue personnel, and elected officials
- And many more surprises in the works!
“It’s been exciting to watch this event continue to grow over the years,” said Terri Hogan, Executive Director of the Olney Chamber of Commerce. “We’re proud of how it brings people together in a meaningful and positive way—and how it continues to reflect the spirit of our community.”
“Our 30th National Night Out is shaping up to be something truly special,” she added. “It’s a chance for families to have fun while showing support and appreciation for the first responders who keep our community safe.” Proceeds benefit the Olney Police Satellite Station, Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department, Maryland-National Capital Park Police, and the Officer Noah Leotta “Act Responsibly” Scholarship Fund.
The Chamber extends its heartfelt thanks to our Gold Sponsors—Brooke Grove Retirement Village, Sandy Spring Bank, Carlos Covarrubias State Farm, Friends House Retirement Community, and Montgomery County Recreation. We are also grateful to the many Silver Sponsors and Community Partners, whose continued support helps make this beloved community tradition possible. For more information, visit www.olneymd.org or follow the Olney Chamber of Commerce on social media.