After 25 years, the original Britches Warthog returned to Warrenton, VA with a new store that opened in 2020. Now, Britches has returned to DC with a store at 12 District Square SW, Washington DC 20024 that opened at the beginning of April. Britches Great Outdoors opened its first store in Georgetown in 1967 and grew to have over 100 locations nationwide before ceasing operations in the early 2000s.

Per Britches: “Being deeply aware of the responsibility they bare in the rebirth of this iconic brand, this team of Britches fans from the 1980s has begun with a foundation built on quality, value, service, and honesty. The new Britches team is working directly with the original crew of designers, manufacturers, and dreamers to ensure every piece is authentic to the original mission. The future for Britches includes rugbys, durable cotton polos, backpacks, and many other items we all remember. They know what this means to you – it’s more than just a piece of clothing. Britches’ first store in 25 years opened in historic Warrenton, Virginia – this small store in a beautiful small town is a launchpad and proving ground for future stores. It is from here that Britches Great Outdoors is working to rebuild a great American clothing brand, which includes establishing an American manufacturing base as they grow. There truly was no other clothing company like Britches and we are thrilled to be on this journey with you as they rebuild.


Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House is now open at 19520 Waters Road Unit 5 in Germantown. The new restaurant has taken over the location that was formerly home to Provisions Cafe closed in January 2022 after just over three years in Germantown.

Ji Bei Chuan is a restaurant franchise based in China that was founded in 2018. In just five years it has become one of the fast growing noodle restaurants in China with over 400 locations across the country. There are now several locations in the United States (over 50 in the last two years) with the Germantown location being the first in Maryland. Ji Bei Chuan Noodle House is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-9:30pm, and Sunday from 11:30am until 9pm (closed on Tuesdays). The menu can be seen here. Featured photo courtesy of Ji Bei Chuan, photo below courtesy of Google Maps.


The wait is almost over as the highly anticipated Salt & Vine has announced a Spring 2023 opening (exact date not yet available). It will be taking over the Olney House, which was previously the home of Ricciuti’s at 3308 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd. Initially, things didn’t move as quickly as anticipated due to Covid delays. Then the permitting process moved at a slower pace due to the historical significance of the building, but the restaurant is now hiring ahead of its planned opening within the next few months.

Owner and head chef Thomas Zippelli is a Howard County native, having grown up in the county during his childhood and attending River Hill High School. He is passionately sharing his message “EAT LOCAL!” Since his return to the area, Thomas has worked on building his relationships with the local farmers and farmer markets. His morning wouldn’t be complete without taking his truck around to pick up some local produce to add to the menu each night. Zippelli has worked at some of the most notable restaurants in the country, including Michelin three-star restaurants Eleven Madison Park in New York and The French Laundry in California.


California Tortilla has reopened its Cabin John Village location, according to a report by Store Reporter. Per the report, the newly reopened fast-casual restaurant now has a “revamped design (now featuring a Cava-style assembly line) and an expanded patio area.” Often referred to as “Cal Tort”, the fast-casual chain serves fresh, made-to-order burritos, quesadillas, and salads all grounded in a foundation of Mexican cuisine.

California Tortilla has nearly 50 locations in the DMV, burn its first ever location came in August 1995 on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. The restaurant’s headquarters are also currently in Rockville/Potomac. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Last October we let you know that Peet’s Coffee would be closing its Silver Spring location with a Starbucks taking over the storefront at 1316 East-West Highway in Silver Spring. After a few months, construction has begun at the upcoming Starbucks location. The interior appears to have been gutted with a lot left to go, so we would anticipate a wait of a few months before coffee is being served at the lcoation again.

The Berkeley, California-born Peet’s coffee chain that closed, originally planned to open 23 locations in the DC area in 2014/2015, with the first debuting at 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. MoCo locations included the Silver Spring location and two Bethesda locations– one in Montgomery Mall that closed in 2017 and one at 7629 Old Georgetown Rd that closed in 2020 after 6 years. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Last October we let you know that French pastry shop Le Macaron is coming to 7 Grand Corner Ave (next to BurgerFi) in Gaithersburg’s Rio. The shop is expected to open in the coming months, and is owned by MoCo residents Natalia Mejia and Camilo Beltran. Le Macaron, a Florida-based pastry shop now has more than 70 locations across the US, with more locations on the way as franchisees are opening in shopping centers like Rio, food trucks, and kiosks in malls.

Menu items at the upcoming Rio location will include macarons (available in 20 flavors), gourmet chocolates, French gelato, specialty European style coffees, classic French pastries, and homemade candies.  The store is scheduled to open in “Spring 2023”, but our best guess would be late spring based on where it’s at in the construction process. More on the history Le Macaron, per its website:


Giacomo’s, a Neapolitan-style mobile brick oven pizzeria that has operated in various places across MoCo, has announced that it will cease operations at the end of this month. The pizzeria was founded by Giacomo Sciuto, an MCPS history teacher and son of a Sicilian immigrant who came to the country in 1988. According to an announcement made via social media, Giacomo’s will continue with all of its April events and will post that schedule later this week. The full post can be seen below (featured photo courtesy of Giacomo’s Brick Oven Pizza Instagram):


The City of Rockville will host four interactive listening sessions to kickoff outreach and engagement for the Town Center Master Plan update, which will help guide the area’s success in coming decades.

The same material will be covered at all listening sessions, so only one needs to be attended. Light refreshments and a children’s activity area will be available at the in-person sessions. A master plan is a long-range document that establishes a vision for future growth and development, and makes recommendations for zoning, streetscapes, public infrastructure, and other aspects of land use.


Montgomery County Police and Gaithersburg Police responded to a stabbing on Friday, March 31, at the Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg.  According to a report by WTOP, four juveniles were taken into custody following the incident. Officers at the scene located a juvenile female victim who was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Tonight at approx. 7:23 p.m., ofcs from @GPDNews & @mcpnews responded to the unit blk of Grand Corner Ave for the report of a stabbing that just occurred. Ofcs located a juvenile female victim. The victim was transported to an area hospital with superficial injuries. pic.twitter.com/cFhBeozXzh


Signage is up for Wild Custom Apparel on the lower level of Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Wild Custom Apparel currently has a location at St. Charles Towne Center in Waldorf, MD. According to its website, “Wild Custom Apparel offers high quality, customized printing or embroidery for your t-shirts, masks, or hoodies.” No opening date has been announced.


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