In April 2021, we let you know that IHOP’s new concept, Flip’d by IHOP, would be taking over the old Asian Bistro Cafe location at 8537 Georgia Avenue between Panera and Red Lobster, according to the PetersonCos website. Asian Bistro Cafe closed about 6 years ago and the space has remained vacant ever since.

Over a year later, construction is moving along  and the kitchen looks nearly ready to go (photo below) at the fast-casual breakfast spot. Downtown Silver Spring previously let us know that Flip’d was expected to open this Spring, but it looks like it still may be a couple months away as signage has not yet been installed.


Earlier this month we let you know that signage was up at Miss Toya’s at 923 Ellsworth Dr in Silver Spring, the former site of Eggspectation.  In early June, the restaurant posted on its Instagram page that they are now hiring and according to an Instagram story by Miskiri Hospitality, the restaurant would be opening in about 30 days (an early July opening).

Eggspectation, a Montreal based breakfast restaurant with locations across the world, closed back in September 2020 after 15 years in that location. Miss Toya’s is a Cajun/Creole restaurant by local chef Jeffeary Miskiri.


A Nike Unite store is coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive, according to a report by Source of the Spring. We spoke with an employee Nike Unite store in Fairfax, VA, which opened on May 26th, who told us that the Silver Spring location is expected to open later this year, but did not have a specific date.

An employee at the Nike Unite store told us that the pricing and products offered at a Unite store are similar to that of a Nike Factory store (often found at outlets), with a slightly different layout and a specific return section for items purchased on Nike.com. Nike describes the Nike Unite concept as:


Back in September 2021 we let you know that Kusshi, a popular sushi restaurant in Pike & Rose, would be opening a new location called Kusshi.ko in Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly occupied by Gusto in Downtown Silver Spring (8512 Fenton Street).

We have been told that the restaurant will be dropping the “ko” from its name due to approval issues with the signage and will now be going by the Kusshi name going forward. The restaurant will have a similar, but slightly more limited, menu as Kusshi in Pike & Rose. We are told it will definitely have all of the sushi items.


Plan recommends development of key opportunity sites, new parks, improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and vision for sustainable economic growth in downtown 

Per Montgomery Planning: The resolution of adoption of the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan was approved unanimously by the Montgomery County Planning Board on June 2. This follows the Montgomery County Council’s approval of the plan on May 26. The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), began work on the plan in 2020, and the Planning Board Draft Plan was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board and transmitted to the County Council in January 2022.


The World Heritage Festival will take place on June 5, 2022 at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring (1 Veterans Place) from 1pm – 7pm. This will be a free and in-person event.

Per the event listing; “Taste delicious ethnic food, while getting refreshed with a scoop of ice cream or shaved ice or even a fresh smoothie!! Enjoy a beautiful cultural performance show and shop from more than 60 vendors displaying everything from fine art to jewelry, ceramics to crafts, and every creative item in between. Other vendors include area nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and local businesses.”


The Breakfast Club is coming soon to 8240 Fenton Street in Downtown Silver Spring and a recent Instagram post by the restaurant shows that another step closer to opening has been taken as signage is up at the upcoming restaurant.

The restaurant, which will feature breakfast all day, but will also have lunch and dinner menu items, is inspired by “Papa Sherman” who is owner Jason Miskiri’s father. The Breakfast Club’s menu will include omelets, French toast stuffed with cream cheese and strawberries, and pancakes, according to a previous report by Bethesda Beat. “Additionally, there will be heavier entrees, such as lamb chops, chicken and waffles, and shrimp and grits.”


For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 26, 2022

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 26, 2022 —The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution approving the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan. The Plan makes recommendations within the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan area for land use and zoning, housing, economic development, urban design, transportation, parks and public spaces, environmental resiliency, community facilities and historic resources.


Pride in the Plaza will take place the week of June 20th in Downtown Silver Spring and beyond. Per the event listing, it is a “week-long celebration of Montgomery County’s beautiful, diverse LGBTQ+ communities.” All events are free of charge unless a suggested donation is indicated. Some are listed below and the rest can be found on the Pride in the Plaza website.

Pride on the Field Friday, June 24, 2022 | 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM at the White Oak Recreation Center


Ivela Sports Lounge will be moving in to 949 Bonifant Street Suite A, the previous location of Urban Winery, in Silver Spring. Urban Winery opened in the location back in 2015 and remained there until they closed the location to move to 2315 Stewart Ave, a bigger space in late 2020. The new winery is temporarily closed due to construction.

Not much information is currently available on Ivela Sports Lounge, but permits are up in the windows and construction is coming next. Ivela Sports Lounge LLC was incorporated in June 2021 by Legesse Negash, according to filing documents.


J. Hollinger’s Watrerman’s Chophouse will open on Tuesday, May 10 in Silver Spring, according to a report by Source of the Spring. It will be located in the Lee Plaza building at 8601 Georgia Avenue, in the space that was previously home to Ray’s the Classics (later known as just the Classics) from 1998 until 2018. The restaurant is being opened by Jerry Hollinger and Mike Ellis. Hollinger currently has two other Montgomery County restaurants- The Daily Dish on Grubb Road and The Dish & Dram on Kensington Pkwy in Kensington.

Executive Chef, and Olney native, Mike Ellis was most recently the executive chef at Charlie Palmer Steak in DC. He helped open the restaurant as a sous chef under Bryan Voltaggio and came back in 2016 as executive chef after earning a Michelin star at Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Sonoma County. According to a recent report by Eater, “Look for a la carte cuts of meat along with produce sourced from D.C.-area and Pennsylvania farms.” and “Sundays will be a busy affair, with a live jazz brunch followed by prime rib night.”


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