- Angelo’s Pizza Pasta and Deli is coming to North Pointe at Flower Hill, a new 16,000-square-foot retail and restaurant center at 18251 Flower Hill Way. It will be the brand’s second area location, joining its Rockville spot at 4011 Norbeck Road. The menu features pizza, pasta, wings, subs, and calzones, plus specialty pies such as Chicken Tikka, Southwest Chipotle, and Truffle and Burrata. According to the restaurant, pizzas are made with fresh daily dough, scratch sauces, and carefully sourced cheeses and toppings.
- Compari Trattoria is coming soon to 72 Market Street, taking over the space most recently occupied by Caspian House of Kabob in Kentlands. While details remain limited, the restaurant has indicated that it will offer “modern Italian dining.” The space had been home to Caspian House of Kabob for many years before the restaurant permanently closed earlier this year.
- Chipotle is set to open a two new Gaithersburg locations, both featuring drive-thrus. One in the Walnut Hill Shopping Center, behind the Bank of America, and the other at the Spectrum, in the northwest quadrant of Route 355 and Watkins Mill Road, next to Royal Farms.
- Exclusive Bashes Balloon Bar, a balloon décor and event planning business coming to the Gaithersburg Square shopping center at 536 N. Frederick Ave. The business will occupy the former Claire’s space, located between AT&T and Ashley Furniture HomeStore. According to signage posted at the storefront, Exclusive Bashes Balloon Bar will offer balloon columns, balloon arches, balloon bouquets, balloon garlands, grab-and-go garlands, helium balloons, backdrops, marquee letters and numbers, event rentals and full-service event décor.
- Gina’s Cucina Siciliana is coming to 640 Center Point Way Kentlands. The restaurant will be located in the space previously occupied by Cinco de Mayo, which closed in September 2025. Gina’s will highlight recipes originating from the Sicilian regions of Agrigento and Messina while drawing on the broader culinary influences that have shaped Sicilian cuisine for centuries. According to the restaurant, the concept grew out of a family’s effort to preserve the recipes of Gina, a Sicilian mother and grandmother who passed away in 2014. Her son began regularly preparing more than 45 family recipes so his young daughters could connect with the grandmother they were too young to remember. Over time, the dishes became favorites among friends, neighbors, and community groups, eventually leading to plans for a restaurant dedicated to sharing those recipes with a wider audience.
- Guapo’s Taqueria and Charcoal Chicken is coming to the former California Tortilla location at 12211 Darnestown Road. The new restaurant will replace the long-running fast-casual Mexican spot, which closed permanently earlier this month. Guapo’s Taqueria and Charcoal Chicken will bring the local restaurant group’s popular fast-casual concept back to Gaithersburg. The brand, operated by the same family behind the long-running Guapo’s Restaurant chain, currently has three similar locations in Northern Virginia. Each offers a streamlined version of the full-service Guapo’s menu, focusing on rotisserie chicken, tacos, burritos, and Latin American sides made fresh daily.
- J.Crew Factory is expanding in Montgomery County, with a new location planned for Rio Lakefront. The retailer will take over the space previously occupied by Finewine.com (20 Grand Corner Ave., Suite A), which closed at the shopping and dining destination last month. Once open, the store will bring the outlet-style brand’s signature preppy aesthetic and lower-priced apparel options to the waterfront development. J.Crew Factory operates as the value-focused brand under the J.Crew Group umbrella. While it shares the same overall style and look as the main J.Crew brand, the factory line functions as a separate retail concept with its own designs and production.
- Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen is set to debut at Rio Lakefront, taking over the space formerly occupied by Bach to Rock at 212 Boardwalk Place. An opening timeframe is not yet available. Already a success in Naples, Florida– where the restaurant opened its doors in February 2018– Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen boasts impressive reviews, with a 4.6/5 rating on Google from over 900 reviews and a 4.4 rating on Yelp from more than 300 reviews. According to Rio Lakefront, the restaurant is renowned for its authentic Lebanese flavors and brings a vibrant taste of the Mediterranean to the local dining scene. From savory shawarma to fresh mezze, their menu is steeped in rich traditions and bold flavors that promise an unforgettable dining experience.
- Kitchen Social has signed on to take over the former space of Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar in Downtown Crown. This new concept will mark Kitchen Social’s first Maryland location and bring a scratch-made comfort food menu with a lively bar atmosphere.
- Lakeforest Redevelopment: The first three retail tenants have officially signed on for the Lakeforest Redevelopment. The initial lineup includes a roughly 140,000SF Home Depot, a 23,000SF Sprouts grocery store, and a smaller “boutique” 15,000SF Landmark Theatre.
- Oak Barrel Vine, Montgomery County Department of Alcohol Beverage Services’ (ABS) upgraded retail concept is coming to North Pointe at Flower Hill at 18251 Flower Hill Way.
- Orange Pocket, a new Japanese and Korean-inspired pop culture and lifestyle store, is coming soon to 30 Grand Corner Avenue at RIO Lakefront. According to the business, Orange Pocket will feature a variety of products and interactive attractions including gashapon capsule toy machines, claw machines, blind boxes, Japanese snacks and drinks, beauty and skincare items, toys, collectibles, pet products, stationery, and home goods such as bowls and chopsticks. The store says it is aiming to create a colorful and interactive shopping experience geared toward families and younger customers. An official opening date has not yet been announced, but the business is currently targeting a grand opening around August.
- Picky Thrifter, a thrift and vintage retailer focused on curated fashion and unique finds, has announced plans to open a new location at 9121 Gaither Road this fall. The store will offer a selection of vintage clothing, secondhand fashion, accessories, new-with-tags merchandise, and one-of-a-kind pieces. According to the company, every item sold in the store is carefully hand-selected and reviewed before being placed on the sales floor. Picky Thrifter says its mission is to provide the community with affordable, high-quality fashion while offering shoppers a more personalized thrift store experience. The store’s inventory is designed to blend vintage and contemporary styles, giving customers access to unique pieces that may not be found in traditional retail stores.
- Plaza Mexico, which has two locations in Frederick, has signed on to open a rooftop restaurant and bar at the upcoming North Pointe at Flower Hill. According to its website, “For years, Plaza Mexico Restaurants have been serving up all your Mexican food favorites all day long. When you’re craving quesadillas, nachos piled high with all your favorite toppings, or sweet and crispy churros to complete your meal, we have you covered. Your taste buds will be delighted and your stomach will be nice and full of our hearty food prepared fresh that day. We invite you to visit our family restaurant with your own family. Our colorful décor and fun atmosphere makes visiting our restaurant a treat every time. Whether you indulge in our delicious Mexican food or have a cold cerveza or margarita at the bar, you’re sure to enjoy your experience from the moment you walk through the door.”
- Sheetz: Construction is ongoing on the second Montgomery County location for Sheetz, which will be built at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center at 16529 South Frederick Ave. The 4,959-square-foot retail building and gas station will be the smallest Sheetz location the company has constructed, designed specifically to fit within the existing shopping center.
- T Pot Hot Pot & Korean BBQ is coming to 9679 Lost Knife Road in the Montgomery Village Crossing shopping center in Gaithersburg. It will be located in the space that was previously home to Golden Star Buffet. T Pot currently has locations at 2404 Brandermill Blvd in Gambrills, MD and 3016 Waldorf Market Pl in Waldorf, MD. According to its website, “T Pot understands that the perfect meal starts with the perfect ingredients which is why our food is fresh, local, and sustainable. We set high standards and are involved in each step of the process of ensuring high quality food. You can trust T Pot to provide you with these high quality ingredients at the best price.”
- 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
- Viva Mexico Bar & Grill is now anticipating a May opening at the former Pizza Hut location at 18509 Woodfield Rd. Permanent signage was recently installed and the restaurant had its liquor license hearing with the Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services last month. According to the restaurant, Viva Mexico Bar & Grill aims to be an upscale dining destination in Gaithersburg, offering authentic Mexican cuisine elevated with modern Latin American influences. The menu is expected to feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients, innovative dishes, and handcrafted cocktails designed to create a refined yet approachable dining experience.
- Construction is nearing completion on Whip Clean’s new location at the Festival at Muddy Branch Shopping Center, with the company describing the facility as a high-tech, state-of-the-art car wash experience. The new location will feature an advanced wash tunnel, an assembly-line-style finish bay and a limited “Founders Club” membership promotion for the first 333 customers.
- Wonder is continuing its expansion across Montgomery County. The rapidly growing, delivery-focused concept is preparing to open in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood after securing a permit from the City of Gaithersburg. The new location will take over part of the former Party City space, which is being subdivided into three separate storefronts following the retailer’s closure.
