At the beginning of this year we let you know that Peterson Companies, which owns Rio Lakefront, submitted an application that proposed to add a floating dining pier for Guapo’s restaurant. The Gaithersburg Planning Commission approved the plan in February, but Guapo’s tells us that “the project will not be happening as of right now” and will keep us updated if anything changes.
At a January Gaithersburg City Council meeting, Councilmembers Neil Harris, Lisa Henderson, and Robert Wu voted in favor of finding the application has a minor effect and directing the planning commission to make a final decision on the application, while Councilmembers Jim McNulty and Yamil Hernandez voted against it. Because of the 3-3 vote, the matter moved on the city’s planning commission, which was then approved.
A dining barge for Copper Canyon Grill was previously approved in 2023 and opened last month with its grand opening yesterday. The plan for Guapo’s pier was to also be located on the existing adjacent Washingtonian Lake including open-air seating with two small gangways from the floating pier to the existing boardwalk totaling approximately 1,056 square feet.
The floating pier was to have an operable roof and side panels for shade and heating purposes during the summer, fall, and spring seasons (there were plans for heaters and fans to be installed). Guapo’s in Rio, widely regarded as one of the busiest restaurants in Montgomery County, will continue to offer indoor and outdoor seating as it has in recent years.