OTC Bar & Grille, a family-owned restaurant that has served Olde Towne Gaithersburg for decades, will permanently close its longtime location this Sunday, November 15, with plans to open in a new location in Bethesda in 2027. The restaurant operates at 226 E. Diamond Avenue in a historic property with roots dating back to 1893, making the site more than 130 years old.
The property’s history dates to when Dr. Elisha C. Etchison purchased the northwest corner of Diamond and Summit Avenues from John B. Diamond in 1893 and opened a drugstore. The location maintained a long history as a neighborhood pharmacy through multiple ownership changes before eventually becoming home to the restaurant.
The same family has operated the restaurant since 2000. Previously known as Diamond Fountain Cafe and Olde Towne Cafe, the business reopened as OTC Bar & Grille in 2022 after expanding into the neighboring former Diamond Drugs storefront.
The owners announced in October that a change in ownership of the property would prevent them from continuing operations at the Gaithersburg location.
“We’re sad to leave the place that has been our home for so long. Because of a change in ownership, we’re unable to continue our business here. But our story isn’t over,” the family shared.
The restaurant has signed a lease for a new location in Bethesda, where it plans to reopen in late spring or early summer 2027. An exact address has not yet been announced.
The owners also plan to host a soft opening for longtime customers at the future Bethesda location and have encouraged regulars to contact the restaurant before Sunday’s closure to receive an invitation.
The November 15 closing will mark the end of the restaurant’s 26-year run in Olde Towne Gaithersburg, with plans to begin its next chapter in Bethesda in 2027.
