Here’s a look at the latest openings, closings, and upcoming projects at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg.
- Orange Pocket, a new Japanese and Korean-inspired pop culture and lifestyle store, is now open at 30 Grand Corner Ave. The shop features gashapon machines, claw machines, blind boxes, snacks, beauty products, collectibles, stationery, and home goods.
- Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen is now open at 212 Boardwalk Place, taking over the former Bach to Rock space. Led by Chef Rachid, whose culinary roots trace back to Beirut, the restaurant serves Lebanese favorites including hummus, mezze, shawarma, falafel, grilled entrées and flatbreads. The menu also features Lebanese wines, cocktails, zero-proof drinks and desserts such as baklava and pistachio ice cream.
- Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen permanently closed in September. A sign posted at the restaurant thanks guests and team members who made the Gaithersburg location part of the community and directs customers to the company’s nearby Miss Toya’s Creole House at 923 Ellsworth Dr in Downtown Silver Spring. Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen opened at 229 Boardwalk Pl in June 2023, taking over the 2,741 SF space previously occupied by BGR. The fast-casual restaurant served Southern-influenced dishes including red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese and a Southern fried chicken sandwich. The restaurant was part of Jeffeary Miskiri’s Miskiri Hospitality Group, a collection of restaurants and hospitality concepts in the DC area. Miss Toya’s Creole House opened in Downtown Silver Spring in August 2022 and remains open. According to the closure notice, Miss Toya’s also has locations in Baltimore, Gambrills, Laurel and Washington, DC.
- J.Crew Factory will be taking over the former Finewine.com space at 20 Grand Corner Ave., Suite A. J.Crew Factory is the value-focused brand under the J.Crew Group umbrella, offering its own line of clothing inspired by the main J.Crew brand at lower price points. Once open, the Rio Lakefront store will become J.Crew Factory’s third Montgomery County location, joining stores at Congressional Plaza in Rockville and Clarksburg Premium Outlets.
- Sip, a family-owned dirty soda and mocktail stand, recently opened next to Bear’s Shaved Ice near the carousel and playground, offering a menu of customizable dirty sodas, mocktails, energy drink mixes, sparkling water refreshers, and specialty beverages. Owned and operated by Mindy Merrill, Sip is the result of what she describes as a true family effort. Her husband, Tyler Merrill, helps with the business, while their teenage children, Cameron and Jane, assist with management and social media. Even their two younger children have played a role through extensive taste-testing duties. The family moved to Montgomery County in 2013 after spending time in Oregon, Utah, Alabama, Texas, and California. Mindy noted that their oldest child, who started kindergarten in Montgomery County, recently graduated from Quince Orchard High School. Mindy said the idea for Sip came after years of working from home in tax and financial services while raising four children. Once her youngest started kindergarten, she decided it was time to pursue something more ambitious.
