Bethesda

BIBIBOP Asian Grill will permanently close its Bethesda location, located at 4820 Bethesda Ave at Bethesda Row, on Sunday, February 12, according to a representative from the restaurant. They will operate under regular hours until the restaurant’s closing at the end of the weekend.

BIBIBOP has additional locations at Downtown Silver Spring (935 Ellsworth Drive) and Pike & Rose (11584 Old Georgetown Rd. Unit 1126) that will both remain open. The Bethesda Row location opened in May 2017, the same month as the Pike & Rose location. The Silver Spring location opened later that year. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Burtonsville

Barra Brava Cevicheria Peruana is “coming soon” according to signage on the location that was previously home to Old Hickory Grill at 15420 Old Columbia Pike B in Burtonsville. The restaurant opened its first location at 15921 N Frederick Rd in Rockville in October of 2017.  The restaurant hopes to open in a few months.

The menu consists of seafood entrees, a variety of ceviches, non-seafood entrees like lomo saltado, aji de gallina, and more. We spoke with a representative from the Rockville location today who told us that they didn’t have an opening date for the upcoming Burtonsville location yet. We’ll have an update with additional information as soon as it’s available. Photos of some of the dishes available at the Rockville location can be seen below:


Beyond MoCo

Malick Boly is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency suspended its global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries in March 2020. Boly grew up in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso in West Africa before moving to Gaithersburg in 2011, where he attended Lakeland Park Middle School and Northwest High School (Class of 2016) in Germantown.  Boly graduated from UMBC with a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and will serve as an English literacy volunteer in Samoa.

“My mother was a volunteer in Gabon during the early 80’s,” said Boly. “Her decision to join Peace Corps sent her on a thirty plus year humanitarian journey that culminated in the creation and management of multiple schools and a happy family of five. I am proud to follow in her footsteps.”


Crime

On February 9, at approximately 7:32 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the area of Westmoreland Avenue and Carroll Avenue for the report of a carjacking that had just occurred.  The victim was in his parked vehicle on Westmoreland Avenue conducting work through his employment when he was approached by three suspects walking from Carroll Avenue on to Westmoreland Avenue.  The suspects approached the driver’s side door, opened it and demanded the victim get out.  The victim complied and the three suspects fled in the vehicle towards Carroll Avenue and made a right turn.  All of the victim’s work tools were inside the vehicle.

The suspects are described as two Black males and one Asian male, all approximately 5’10-6’2, all last seen wearing all dark clothing and all wearing black masks. A lookout was broadcast to all surrounding jurisdictions. Officers canvassed the 400 block of Elm Avenue after a call was received of various items scattered in the roadway.  Officers were able to collect the items and determine they did belong to the victim. The stolen vehicle is described as a 2016 maroon Honda CRV, PA Tag #LZB2505.  The outstanding vehicle has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) stolen vehicle database. Investigation continues. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230006712. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Maryland

The Montgomery County Police Department shared in 2020 that Text-To-911 is now available in Maryland and has provided the following guidelines. If you’re experiencing an emergency and are unable to place a voice call, you can send a text to 911. Follow these steps to request emergency services:

Tips for using text-to-911:


Gaithersburg

Isaac’s Poultry Market at 12167 Darnestown Rd in Gaithersburg, the former site of Pizza Hut, is scheduled to open the week of February 20th. The restaurant is being opened by Rob Gresham, a lifelong MoCo resident and the former Director of Operations at CAVA. The restaurant will feature American roasted chicken, wings, sandwiches, and salads. You can view the full menu here.

Gresham tells us that everything they sell will be made from scratch and that the menu will feature plenty of healthy options. Isaac’s will also feature frozen custards, slushies, juice, and a variety of baked goods and desserts.


Silver Spring

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Major Crimes Division and Takoma Park Criminal Investigations Division are investigating a series of commercial robberies that began in January 2023. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects believed to be responsible for multiple food truck robberies in Montgomery County and Takoma Park.

On Monday, January 23, 2023, 4th District officers responded to Elvira’s Kitchen Food Truck in the 14000 block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring for the report of a robbery that just occurred. The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 2:55 p.m., two Hispanic male suspects approached the food truck, vaulted the barrier and climbed inside. Once inside, one of the suspects began to pull an object from his waistband. Believing it was a weapon, the employee fled the truck. The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of money and fled the scene in an unknown direction.


Maryland

Per the State of Maryland (2.9.23): Today, Governor Wes Moore, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and state legislators announced a comprehensive reproductive rights legislative package, taking the first steps towards enshrining reproductive rights in the Maryland constitution. The bill package will provide concrete protections for Marylanders’ reproductive freedoms, protect private medical information, and expand access to reproductive healthcare services. 

“As long as I am Governor, our home will be a safe haven for abortion access,” said Governor Moore. “While some states have decided to move toward restricting reproductive rights, I can assure you, we will protect them.”


Potomac

F45 Training, an Australian franchisor and operator of fitness centers based in Austin, Texas, has opened a new  Montgomery County location in Potomac. The fitness center opened at 1087 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac Woods Plaza, taking over the location that was previously home to BB&T bank.

The fitness center recently announced it will open its Olney location on February 25th in the 3,200 SF space that was previously home to Pet Valu in Olney’s Fair Hill Shopping Center (previously Olney Town Center) at 18100 Town Center Drive, Unit 8115. The upcoming Germantown location will open in the 3,299 SF space that was previously home to Da Marco The Italian Place at The Shops at Seneca Meadows shopping center, next to Wegmans and across from Siriwan Thai. Da Marco closed its Germantown location in April of 2020, following 4 years in Germantown. Part of the space is still available for lease and will include the outdoor dining patio for a future restaurant. Two new Bethesda locations are also coming soon.