Below is a list of businesses that are coming soon to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Coming Soon: VinoRita VinoRita Wine Slushies is coming to the Montgomery Mall food court, taking […]
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Wentworth Gallery, which sold paintings and limited edition prints from established artists and celebrities, has closed its location at Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) in Bethesda. The gallery recently hosted events and appearances by Paul Stanley from KISS and Joe Satriani. The Tysons Galleria location at 1807 International Drive in McLean, VA remains open.
About Wentworth Gallery: “At Wentworth, we define selection not only by bringing you some of the most collected and heralded artists worldwide, but by travelling to the far reaches of the globe in order to introduce you to new artists whose works are sold exclusively through Wentworth Gallery. We carry artists such as Peter Max, Ric Ocasek, Mickey Hart, Rick Allen, Paul Stanley, Michael Cartellone, Brian Wheat, Charles Fazzino, Elena Bond, David Schluss, Michael Godard and Romero Britto. If you are in the area, please visit one of our many gallery locations. In any one of our galleries, you will find hundreds of works by internationally renowned artists. We also offer our unique Home Show service where we will bring up to 20 works of art to your home or office for a private viewing, within 50 miles of any of our galleries at no charge and no obligation, at a time convenient for you. At Wentworth, you will find the best selection, the best service, and the best prices. We hope you enjoyed your visit.
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Duck Duck Goose Bethesda has been a staple of fine dining in Bethesda since French-trained chef, Ashish Alfred, opened it in 2016. Immediately, the French brasserie was a bonafide success. There were lines, waits for tables and Southern Living Magazine even named it the Best Restaurant in Maryland. More than a commercial success, Chef Alfred, who is a MoCo native and 2005 graduate of Magruder High School, credits the intimate, 27-seater for saving his life – this was his first venture after kicking an almost life-ending drug and alcohol addiction. And he feels Duck Duck Goose Bethesda put his career on the map. It was also because of DDG Bethesda that Alfred was named Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland and the restaurant was named Best Brunch by Washingtonian Magazine three years after opening.
He doesn’t take any of that lightly. However, change is the one constant in the restaurant business. Times change, tastes change, prices fluctuate and the one who chooses NOT to evolve is the one that sinks. For Duck Duck Goose Bethesda, it all came down to the numbers. Despite having a packed dining room most nights, the rising costs of doing business caused DDG Bethesda’s profit margin to plummet. While Alfred’s four other restaurants in Baltimore and DC are both spacious and busy, Bethesda was just busy. Cozy and intimate at about 1100 square feet total (counting interior and the seasonal outdoor patio), and unable to add any more seating, it became obvious that the business was just no longer sustainable as is and, according to Alfred, he was putting an increasingly unfair demand on his employees.
Chaia, a vegetarian taco shop, has closed its pop-up shop on Bethesda after almost two years. The restaurant was located at 7237 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, the former site of Häagen-Dazs. Though the pop-up shop in Bethesda has closed, Chaia owners have “plans to soon bring its insanely delicious tacos further into the DMV area and beyond.”
On social media, Chaia wrote, “When we opened our pop up shop in Bethesda, we thought we’d have a great time – and boy did you prove us right! Thank you so much for welcoming us with open arms, big hearts, and hungry bellies. Come stop by during our pop up’s LAST FEW DAYS to get your fill of our fresh, seasonal veggie tacos. We’re open through Wednesday! After that, come visit us in one of our two shops in Georgetown and Chinatown.”
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In December we let you know that Red Ribbon Bakeshop, a Filipino bakery chain, is coming to Wheaton. The bakery will be located at 2501 University Blvd W right next to the Anchor Inn sign that still stands. Currently, Red Ribbon Bakeshop has over 200 locations across the Philippines and 39 in the United States. In 2005 it was acquired by Jollibee Foods Corporation, which opened its first D.C. area Jollibee location at Wheaton Mall in 2021. ‘Coming Soon’ signage came and went, but the bakery now appears to be very close to opening based on interior construction looking to be nearly complete (photo below). We still don’t have an opening date, but fans may be enjoying sweet treats by the end of the summer. Google lists a September opening.
More about Red Ribbon: In 1979, Amalia Hizon Mercado, husband Renato Mercado together with their five children, Consuelo Tiutan, Teresita Moran, Renato Mercado, Ricky Mercado and Romy Mercado established Red Ribbon as a small cake shop along Timog Avenue in Quezon City. The cakes developed by daughter Teresita Moran are what gave Red Ribbon its prominence in the dessert market of the Philippines. In 1984, it opened its first overseas outlet in West Covina, California. The company began franchising in 1999. Today, there are more than 200 branches all over the Philippines and 39 in the United States as it continues to expand.
Permanent signage is up at dd’s DISCOUNTS (18236 Contour Rd) in the Montgomery Village Plaza shopping center in Gaithersburg. The store will be located in the former space of Marshall’s, which relocated to Gaithersburg Square in 2021. dd’s is owned and operated by Ross Stores, Inc and items for sale at its locations are similar to those found in other discount retailers. This will be the first dd’s location in Montgomery County. While no opening date has been announced, the store is now hiring and construction on interior appears to be complete.
About: dd’s DISCOUNTS opened its first store in 2004 as the place to shop and save in your neighborhood. We’re part of the Ross Family, so our buyers know all about delivering great deals every day on clothing shoes home decor fashions toys and much, much more. We have the looks and brands you love at prices well below other retailers.
Sarku Japan will be returning to Wheaton Mall, opening in a location just outside of Costco, near the relatively new Sydney’s Burger. Sarku Japan is often found inside of malls and has a mall location in Bethesda’s Montgomery Mall. It’s other MoCo location can be found a standalone store (located within a strip mall rather than in a food court) in the White Oak shopping center. The chain offers made-to-order teppanyaki-style Japanese dishes cooked on sizzling grills as well as a limited amount of sushi rolls.
History of Sarku: “In Japan, lunches are often taken quickly from small stalls where freshness and quality are key. Shops value their reputations very highly. This was the same dedication of our founders when they opened the first Sarku Japan in 1987.
First Watch, a tenant of the Muddy Branch Square Shopping Center, located at 802 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, was granted a major sign waiver by the City of Gaithersburg to accommodate a second principal sign. The major waiver is needed to allow the replacement of the secondary signage that First Watch has utilized since they opened their location. Current code only allows one sign per business.
The proposed second principal sign consists of internally illuminated channel letters mounted to a finished backer panel, installed on existing roof brackets. First Watch is in the process of investing more than $100 thousand in the renovation of their Muddy Branch location in an effort to drive business to their restaurant. The renovation includes new signage, replacement awnings, and an updated interior for diners to enjoy.
Firehouse Subs will open its third Montgomery County location when the new restaurant opens in the Wheaton Mall food court. An exact date is not available, but the space is now closed off with Firehouse Subs signage posted while construction begins behind the wall. Firehouse Subs has current MoCo locations in Germantown (19851 Century Blvd) and Rockville (28 Upper Rock Circle).
Firehouse Subs was founded by two former firefighting brothers in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994. Firehouse Subs is all about hearty portions, premium ingredients, and delicious recipes, with a commitment to saving lives through raising funds to support local public safety organizations. To date, more than $80 million has been awarded to first responders and public safety organizations in the U.S. and Canada.
Kantutas Restaurant Bar & Grill, a Wheaton staple serving Bolivian, other South American, and Latin American cuisine, has moved from its previous location at 2462 Ennalls Ave to its new, much larger location at 2400 University Blvd W (video below). The new location was previously home to New Kam Fong, which moved from DC to Wheaton and became Eastern Gourmet before closing last year.
Kantutas’ new space comes with a more modern look and a lot more seating than the previous location. The new restaurant also has a new bar and the same menu that those who are familiar with the restaurant are used to. A video preview of the new location can be seen below:
Back in April we let you know that TJ Maxx, the discount department store that sells clothing, shoes, jewelry, and home décor would be one of Burtonsville Crossing’s new tenants in the revamped shopping center. TJ Maxx currently has four other Montgomery County locations in Germantown, Olney, Rockville, and Silver Spring.
According to Maryland Newsletters, Onyx Creative has pulled a permit for $2 million in tenant work for TJ Maxx at its upcoming 23,790 SF location at 15709 Old Columbia Pike. TJ Maxx will be located in the space that’s as previously home to Dress Barn and Sassafras before that. It was also home to Spirit Halloween following the Dress Barn closure.