Chick-fil-A will be temporarily closing its Downtown Silver Spring location at 825 Ellsworth Drive for renovations according to signs placed on the restaurant. “We will be closing for renovations on August 3rd. We will be closed for about 10 weeks. Thank you for understanding and we are looking forward to serving you soon.” The news was first reported by Source of the Spring, who noted that the restaurant was last remodeled in 2017.

Chick-fil-A has additional Montgomery County locations in Bethesda, two in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Rockville, and Silver Spring (between Calverton, Fairland, and White Oak). The chain opened its newest location last month in GaithersburgFeatured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


The restaurant posted the following message Tuesday afternoon on social media:

It is with a heavy heart that we share some difficult news. After facing unprecedented challenges since opening just two weeks before the pandemic shutdown, we have decided to close our Silver Spring location.


BIBIBOP Asian Grill, which has locations in Downtown Silver Spring (935 Ellsworth Drive) and Pike & Rose (11584 Old Georgetown Rd. Unit 1126), is offering free bowls for all nurses on Friday, May 12th (International Nurses Day). BIBIBOP offers fully customizable bowls with your choice of proteins, bases, toppings, and sauces. Options include Korean BBQ, steak, spicy chicken, and tofu.

Per BIBIBOP: “Nurses have gone above and beyond to take care of us, so we would like to take care of them! Offer: We are offering all nurses a complimentary bowl when they stop in at their local BIBIBOP on Friday, May 12th (International Nurses Day). Restrictions: Available in-store on 5/12/23 only. One bowl per nurse. Valid ID or proof of profession required.” Featured photo courtesy of BIBIBOP on Facebook. 


Tastee Diner at 8601 Cameron St. in Silver Spring permanently closed on March 22, at 2pm. The diner was sold on March 21 to D.C. based Roadside Development for $3.1 million according to Maryland Land Records. Now you can own a piece of the diner’s long history, as the contents of the restaurant are currently being auctioned. From artwork, to photographs, to tables, chairs, and booths, you’re able to bid on almost everything inside the diner.

Roadside Development, which purchased the adjacent Capital One bank lot back in August, plans on creating a “multifamily mixed-use” redevelopment at the two sites. According to a press release, the original dining car from the diner will be incorporated into the future project. Tastee Diner opened its Silver Spring location on the corner of Wayne Avenue and Georgia Avenue in 1946. After 65 years, the diner faced being closed and destroyed to make room for Silver Spring’s Discovery Building but local residents rallied to save and move the diner to the location it was in until recently.


Back in February, we let you know that Downtown Silver Spring landed two major tenants with Uniqlo and Golds Gym signing on. “Coming Soon” signage is now up for Uniqlo (featured photo by Kristen Rowe), which opened its first and only other MoCo location in September of 2018 in Pike & Rose. The Downtown Silver Spring location will be taking over the 10,058 SF space at 914 Ellsworth St that was formerly home to Ulta prior to the move to its current location in Downtown Silver Spring.

Uniqlo will offer the brand’s unique guest experience and its lineup of LifeWear clothes for men, women and kids. Fast Retailing Co. has opened over 2,400 Uniqlo stores worldwide since launching its first store in Hiroshima in 1984. “Uniqlo has created apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity, featuring universal designs, supreme fit and comfort to improve the daily lives of its customers.”


At approximately 12:45 on Friday morning, officers were dispatched to 13th St near Kennett St, just off of Eastern Ave in Silver Spring, for several ‘shots fired’ calls. Per Montgomery County Police, “an adult male victim was found suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The victim stated that it was attempted robbery. There is no suspect in custody and the victim was transported to an area hospital in stable condition.” Our public safety reporter, Cordell Pugh reports that Montgomery County Police 3D Officers applied a tourniquet prior to the arrival of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue EMS (second tweet below). Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING SHOOTING: ~12:45AM Friday, 13th St near Kennett St, just off of Eastern Ave (Montgomery County, MD). Man shot in arm during robbery attempt. Montgomery County Police 3D Officers applied a tourniquet prior to @MCFRS arrival. #DTSS #StopTheBleed #ShepherdPark


Per the Downtown Silver Spring Chalk Festival: “Join us for a colorful day of chalk art and community at the first ever Downtown Silver Spring Chalk Festival! Watch as artists decorate the roads with colorful chalk art, create your own masterpiece, or doodle in sidewalk chalk with the kids in our Community Chalk Zone. Our newest 400-foot-long street mural design will be unveiled to the public, and a DJ will keep the energy high. Fuel your day with food and drinks from the wide variety of restaurants in Downtown Silver Spring!”

The chalk art won’t last forever, so catch them before the next rain! Artwork will be located along Ellsworth Drive in between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue, and blocked off to vehicles. There is no experience required for participating in our chalk festival! There are two opportunities for creation: a reserved artist square, or doodling in our community chalk zone.


Coming soon signage went up at the upcoming Gold’s Gym location at 12922 Middlebrook Road in Germantown in late 2022, at the former location of DSW that closed earlier that year in the Germantown Commons shopping center next to Bed Bath & Beyond. We were told by a Gold’s Gym representative that the gym plans to open in mid-May.

In December we reported that Gold’s Gym closed its Layhill Center location in Silver Spring. We were told the decision was made to not renew the lease at 14348 Layhill Rd. A new Downtown Silver Spring location was announced last month. Gold’s Gym has other Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Olney, and two in Rockville (Rockville Town Square and Wintergreen Plaza). A new tenant has already been announced for the old Germantown Gold’s Gym space in the Fox Chapel shopping center.


Outback Steakhouse will be opening its third Montgomery County location, according to a report by Source of the Spring. The Australian-themed casual dining chain will open in the space that was previously home to Not Your Average Joe’s  at 8661 Colesville Rd at Ellsworth Place in Downtown Silver Spring. It will be the chain’s third Montgomery County location, joining existing restaurants in Aspen Hill and Germantown.

While Outback Steakhouse is an international chain, one of the founders has strong local ties. Chris T. Sullivan, one of the founders of Outback Steakhouse, is a Blair High School alumnus. Sullivan attended the school, and Takoma Park Middle School before that, in the 60s before heading to the University of Kentucky to study business and economics.


Nike Unite officially opens its Downtown Silver location today, Thursday, February 23, at 10am. The store will be open from 10am-8pm Monday through Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sundays.

Back in June we let you know that the Nike Unite store would be coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. Nike is also opening a store in Bethesda.


Nike Unite will be opening its Downtown Silver location on Thursday, February 23, according to a recording on the store’s phone line. The store will be open from 10am-8pm Monday through Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sundays.

Back in June we let you know that the Nike Unite store would be coming to Downtown Silver Spring, taking over the location that was formerly home to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse location at 910 Ellsworth Drive. Nike is also opening a store in Bethesda.


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