Coming Soon: Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch and Abercrombie Kids are “coming soon” to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. This announcement comes at a great time for Westfield, as several national retailers, including Banana Republic, Bonobos, ICING, Talbots, and Express (closing soon), have recently exited the mall. Abercrombie’s previous location in Montgomery Mall closed in January 2021. There are nearby locations in Tysons Corner and Leesburg, VA. Abercrombie is best known for their casual clothing, jeans, and fragrances.
Now Open: Dumpling for Life
Dumpling for Life is now open in the Montgomery Mall Food Terrace. The restaurant is located in the space that was previously occupied by Malia’s Kitchen and Lazzaro’s, next to McDonald’s. Menu items at Dumpling for Life include steamed or pan fried dumplings, pork buns, and noodles.
Coming Soon: Kapow Buddy
Kapow Buddy, a Thai restaurant offering “Bowl Style” Thai cuisine, is coming soon to Montgomery Mall. The restaurant will be taking over the space that was recently home to Butter Me Up at the Old Navy Wing on the lower level of the mall. Kapow Buddy does not have an opening date yet, but will offer alcohol with its dining options, as it recently had a hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services (ABS). Menu offerings include “Thai Street Bowls” (priced at $11.50 on the Kapow Buddy website), and other Thai “street snacks” that range in price from $8-$12. The restaurant’s website can be seen here.
Toy and game shop Mind Games is now open on the mall’s lower level, near the Lego store. According to the company, “Mind Games is North America’s premier specialty retailer “Where Creative Minds Come to Play” which offers a wide selection of board games, puzzles, and collectibles. With over 33 stores located across Canada and the USA, Mind Games is dedicated to providing customers with the latest and greatest games from around the world. At Mind Games, we believe that games bring people together and create lasting memories. Our mission is to help families and friends connect through the joy of play. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a beginner, our knowledgeable staff is always on hand to provide recommendations and answer any questions you may have. We pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of games and toys that appeal to all ages and interests. From classic board games to the latest in tabletop gaming, Mind Games has something for everyone. We also specialize in hard-to-find collectibles, including action figures, Funko, and trading cards. At Mind Games, we’re more than just a retailer – we’re a community of passionate gamers and toy collectors. Follow us to stay up-to-date on our latest products and promotions, as well as industry news and events. Join the Mind Games family today and discover the joy of play!”The store is currently running a special promotion on Funko Pop dolls for its grand opening.
Kafean Koffee is coming to the lower level of the mall, in the kiosk that was previously home to Moorenko’s. KaFean is set to open in about two weeks and will specialize in espresso drinks and pastries. It will join Starbucks and Nordstrom Marketplace Cafe as another option for getting your caffeine fix while you shop. We will provide an update when additional information becomes available.
Now Open: Pollo Campero
Signage is up for the seasonal business Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too, which opens annually for the holiday shopping season. The store offers a variety of items, including sheepskin steering wheel covers, boots, rugs, and throws. No opening date has been announced yet.
Swiss chocolatier Läderach is now open on the mall’s upper level, in the space previously occupied by Chocolate Moonshine. Läderach is renowned for its FrischSchoggi (fresh chocolate) slabs, pralines, and truffles.
Now Open: Tomato
Egyptian based clothing store Tomato is now open on the lower level of the mall. The store specializes in casual clothing for men and boys. According to its Instagram page, the chain has additional locations Waldorf, Md, Fairfax, VA, and Woodbridge, VA.
According to its website, “Historically, Egyptian clothing was known worldwide for its high-quality materials and manufacturing mastery. Based on that legacy, TOMATO began a journey to build a strong entity and reclaim consumer confidence in the value and modernism of our national products by offering competitive prices and internationally renowned quality. Established over 20 years ago (1994, to be exact), TOMATO’s policy has been to provide products that are special and unique in the fashion industry. Initially, our activities focused on import and distribution, until we took the turn to the direct customer sales through our extended chain of stores across the country. Our first store was opened at Loran, Alexandria, where manufacturing perfection and collection diversity were merged with competitive prices. It was not long before we launched other stores in Alexandria and expanded to other governorates.”
Coming Soon: Kelly’s Cajun Grill
Signage is up for Kelly’s Cajun Grill, which will be located between Panda Express and Sarku Japan in the mall’s dining terrace. Kelly’s is known for its “world famous” bourbon chicken, blackened fish, and Cajun shrimp. Kelly’s was previously located at Lakeforst Mall in Gaithersburg and was one of the last remaining tenants at the time of the mall’s closure.
According to its website, “In 1991, Kelly’s Cajun Grill became the home of the World Famous Bourbon Chicken when it opened its first restaurant in the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida. The delicious food and innovative concept fueled the company’s rapid expansion, even surpassing all of IRMG’s other concepts combined. Kelly’s Cajun Grill is a proven concept with an excellent track record. The operations are very streamlined and the restaurants are capable of producing very high sales volumes with a very limited amount of space. Our world famous Bourbon Chicken is a delicious yet healthy dish made with fresh grilled chicken and our own special blend of sauces and seasonings. Other favorites include Blackened Chicken, Blackened Fish, Shrimp Etouffee, Cajun Spicy Chicken, as well as a variety of delicious side dishes.”
Coming Soon: The Jam
Coming soon signage is up for the The Jam, an “arts and style experience.” The Jam will be located in the space previously occupied by the Wentworth Gallery on the mall’s upper level next to Nordstrom. We will provide an update when we learn additional information.
Coming Soon: JD Sports
Signage is up for JD Sports on the mall’s lower level. JD Sports sells sneakers, sportswear and accessories from brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, New Balance, and Vans. According to its website, “Established in 1981 with a single store in the North West of England, the JD Group is a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion and Outdoor brands. The Group now has over 3,400 stores across 38 territories with a strong presence in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.” JD Sports currently has locations across the DMV, with Tysons Corner Center being the closest.
