New and Coming Soon to Kentlands in Gaithersburg

Below is a list of businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon to Gaithersburg’s Kentlands:

• Wonder, a “modern” food hall, will be taking over part of the former Party City space, which is being subdivided into three separate storefronts following the retailer’s closure. Wonder has been described as a “delivery-first” food hall, offering a different approach from the traditional mall food court model. Instead of individual vendors operating separate stalls, Wonder runs a fully integrated kitchen where one team prepares all menu items. Much of the prep work is handled at a central hub in New Jersey, with dishes finished on-site using high-speed ovens designed for efficiency and consistency. The concept allows customers to combine meals from multiple well-known chefs and restaurants into a single order. That means someone can order a steak inspired by Bobby Flay, tacos associated with José Andrés, and pizza from Brooklyn’s famed Di Fara all at once, with everything arriving together in one bag and under one delivery fee.
• VEG ER for Pets, also known as Veterinary Emergency Group, has also signed on to take over a portion of the former Party City space in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood, which closed in early 2025. The location will mark the first Montgomery County outpost for VEG ER for Pets, a rapidly growing network of emergency-only veterinary hospitals known for its unconventional approach to care. VEG facilities are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no appointment required. Pet owners can walk in at any time or call ahead to speak directly with a veterinarian. The hospitals treat a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, and exotic pets such as birds, reptiles, rabbits, and ferrets
• The Paper Heart Bookstore is now open on the second floor at 200 Main Street, with its entrance located next to Grilled Oyster Co. The shop aims to serve as a neighborhood destination for readers, offering a curated selection of books across genres along with pre-orders and community engagement opportunities.
• Potomac Cookie Co., located at 109A Market Street, has permanently closed. The shop opened in May 2024 and offered “luxury artisan cookies” with flavors such as s’mores, cookies and cream, Ferrero Rocher, funfetti, and double chocolate dulce. In 2024, the owners said they launched the business during the pandemic to provide an elevated cookie experience, initially through local deliveries before opening their first storefront in response to growing demand. It is unclear if the business plans to reopen in another location.
• Poke Bros at 107 Market St W. closed in December 2025. It will be replaced by Sweathouz, which specializes in contrast therapy, a wellness practice centered around deliberate exposure to alternating heat and cold. The company’s first Maryland location opened in March 2025 at 11564 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda.
• Additional retail changes are underway. Mattress Warehouse will occupy part of the former Buca di Beppo space, which closed in June 2024 before the chain’s bankruptcy filing. Prime IV Wellness, first announced in early 2024, is no longer listed as “coming soon” to 117 Commerce Square Place.
• Three New Restaurant/Retail Buildings Planned For Kentlands Square: Saul Centers, which manages a real estate portfolio including 61 properties such as Kentlands Square in Gaithersburg, has shared plans to develop three new restaurant/retail buildings on the parking area currently located between Giant/At Home and Chipotle/Lowes. Saul Holdings Limited Partnership submitted Schematic Development Plan Application SDP-9073-in to the City of Gaithersburg in 2021, requesting approval of three additional infill commercial buildings totaling 21,700 square feet and associated minor site changes. The Mayor and City Council approved the plan on April 4, 2022. This follows the earlier approvals for a 2,100 SF Starbucks building featuring a drive-through and outdoor seating, and a 4,700 SF Shake Shack building with outdoor seating– both of which have been built and opened in recent years. While specific restaurants and retailers have yet to be finalized, renderings suggest future possibilities such as a barbecue restaurant named “Modern BBQ” that resembles Mission BBQ, a store called “Bells & Whistles,” and a venue named “Wine Bar.”

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