Arepa King, a Venezuelan restaurant preparing to open its first Montgomery County location in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood, has announced the permanent closure of its Hagerstown restaurant as it transitions to the new location.
The Hagerstown restaurant officially closed on Thursday, November 12, after opening in February 2025. In a social media announcement, the restaurant thanked customers for their support and expressed excitement about its upcoming Kentlands location.
“While saying goodbye to Hagerstown is bittersweet, we are also excited about what lies ahead! We are turning the page and transitioning to our NEW LOCATION AT KENTLANDS!” the restaurant stated.
Arepa King’s new restaurant will be located at 109A Market Street in Kentlands Square, taking over the former Potomac Cookie Co. space. The restaurant is targeting an opening before the end of 2026, although an official opening date has not been announced.
The restaurant is scheduled for a liquor license hearing with Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) on Thursday, November 19. If approved, the license would allow Arepa King to serve beer and wine, including Latin American beers such as Polar and Aguila.
Owner and founder Jorge Ramos, a 1994 Watkins Mill High School graduate, previously operated Arepa Queen before launching Arepa King as an independent brand. The Gaithersburg opening marks a return to the community where he grew up.
Arepa King specializes in Venezuelan cuisine, including freshly prepared arepas, tequeños, patacones and rice bowls. Its signature King Arepa features shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains and cheese. The Kentlands location also plans to serve Venezuelan and Colombian coffees.
