Seasonal retailer See’s Candies is now open at Montgomery Mall at 7101 Democracy Blvd in Bethesda.  See’s specializes in chocolates, truffles, fudge, brittle, toffee, and nuts. See’s joins Socks To Be You and Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca Too as stores that have recently opened in the mall for the upcoming holiday shopping season. For a full list of recent openings, see: What’s New and What’s Coming Soon to Montgomery Mall (November 2022 Edition)

According to their website, “See’s Candies has been making quality chocolate and candy Mary See’s way for over 95 years. From the beginning, Mary took pride in her recipes and insisted on only the finest, freshest ingredients. Today, we’re still just as committed to making candy the right way.  See’s has expanded from one chocolate shop to over 200 shops across America and a flourishing online store. And though we continue to grow, our commitment to tradition, taste, service and quality never wavers. Stop into one of our iconic black-and-white shops inspired by Mary’s kitchen, or visit us online. You’ll find over 100 varieties of delicious candy, chocolates, and seasonal gifts made with the same motto in mind: Quality Without Compromise®.


The Toys “R” Us store-in-store is now open inside of Macy’s at Westfield Wheaton Mall (11160 Veirs Mill Rd). The Macy’s locations at Lakeforest and Montgomery Malls opened their Toys “R” Us shops back in August.  Macy’s has added the Toys “R” Us stores to all of its U.S. locations and depending on the success of the Macy’s versions, the company could consider bringing back standalone stores. The former Toy “R” Us location at 600 Frederick Rd in Gaithersburg has remained vacant since the company closed all its stores in 2018.

In 1957 he used the supermarket model of being able to walk around with a cart and shop for whatever caught one’s eye in his first Toys R Us location…on 355 in Rockville, MD. The original location was a little further north on the Pike than the Mid-Pike plaza location a lot of folks remember, located where Mi Rancho and Chesapeake Seafood House used to be near the current location of Party City.


Lilly Magilly’s Cupcakery, located at 220 Boardwalk Place at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg for over a decade, has announced that it will be closing on November 20th. A new storefront has been announced, but the exact location of where it will be is not yet available. The full message from Lilly Magilly’s can be seen below:

Big news! We’re Moving!! After 12 years, Lilly Magilly’s last day at 220 Boardwalk Place will be November 20, 2022.


Back in July we let you know that Caruso’s Grocery will be taking over the dining room portion of Owen’s Ordinary in Pike & Rose. We also let you know that the bar and patio at Owen’s Ordinary will be rebranding as Owen’s Tavern and Garden.  Chef Matt Adler announced via Instagram (seen below) that Owen’s Tavern will be holding its soft opening this weekend (first weekend of November). Adler does include a disclaimer letting everyone know that they may not be fully ready. The menu can be seen below:

Both Caruso’s and Owen’s are operated by Neighborhood Restaurant Group.  Chef Matt Adler previously told Washingtonian Magazine that Owen’s dining room was never as busy as its  bar and patio so it made sense to repurpose the underutilized space. Caruso’s is still in progress, so there will be a little bit more of a wait until that aspect of the rebrand is ready to open.


Many of us have been in a position where we have to find a restaurant to accommodate a larger group of people for dinner, and as fun as they can be, the task isn’t always easy. Eater DC put together a list of “18 DC Area Restaurants That Are Great For Big Groups” and two MoCo establishments made it on the list. “Large group dinners are fun, but they also require a bit more planning and preparation. When everyone RSVPs “yes” to the invite and suddenly the party has gone into 10-12 person territory, not every restaurant is equipped to meet the demand.”

Summer House Santa Monica in Pike & Rose (11825 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852): “With a sprawling, light-filled interior, this Bethesda spot is beloved for its brunch and dinner offerings alike. Whether you have a big party or an intimate gathering to plan, the full restaurant can be booked for larger groups; a banquette table in the main dining room is available for smaller parties. Summer House also offers full-service catering for off-site events, with menu choices like taco bars and sushi platters.”


Michelin-starred Chef Elias Taddesse, executive chef and owner of DC’s acclaimed Mélange restaurant, will open his Ethiopian-style fried chicken restaurant on November 17th at 11 a.m. The first 50 in-person guests will get a free 2-piece Fried Doro Chicken Plate with Black Cumin Qibe Cornbread and Spiced Mac & Cheese.

Doro Soul Food infuses traditional American soul food with Ethiopian flavors. The restaurant is located in a virtual food hall at 1819 7th Street, NW, blocks from Howard University. Chef Taddesse says he plans to offer a catering menu in the near future. Doro Soul Food will be open for pickup and delivery during the following hours:


Apna Pizza at 14050 Travilah Rd in Rockville (Travilah area), has announced it will hold its grand opening on Saturday, November 12.  The event will include a free tasting from 1-2pm, live DJ, and face painting. Apna will serve “Indian” style pizza, wings, and “loaded fries,” which they describe as “poutine but with an edge.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CkYbQXzOWru/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=


John “Ned” Kenneth Toms, 90, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at his home in Durham. Mr. Toms was born in Point of Rocks, Maryland and worked at Crisfield Seafood in Silver Spring, MD for close to 50 years. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter and served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Steve Chapman shared the following regarding Tom’s, “Sad news for long time lovers of Crisfield’s restaurant in Silver Spring. Ned Toms, who worked behind the front circular counter for nearly 50 years, died this week at 90. Whether shucking oysters and clams, uncapping a beer, offering up some local lore, or telling an abusive customer to watch their tongue, Ned was the soul of Crisfields. They even created a hot sauce for him with his own profile on the label!”


Josephine Gluten Free Bakery officially opened on October 22 at 4927A Saint Elmo Ave in Bethesda. The bakery specialize in gluten-free, savory, and sweet waffles and pastries. Josephine also offers a wide range of gluten-free dishes, snacks, drinks, and coffee.

The treats at Josephine are made with exclusive gluten-free recipes, using ancient grains and flours, organic ingredients, and robust flavors and textures, according to its website. The product mix is strictly made in a 100% gluten-and allergen-free facilities for the safety of our customer highly sensitive customers.


Gordon Ramsay recently opened his first DC restaurant, Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, at The Wharf. His Hell’s Kitchen concept, which was announced last February, is up next with an updated Winter/Early 2023 timeframe.

What started in 1998 with Chef Ramsay’s first-owned restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, the Gordon Ramsay brand has evolved into restaurants in three continents, six countries, and dozens of cities.  The Michelin-starred Chef is now bringing his Hell’s Kitchen concept to The Wharf in nearby Washington, DC, according to a recent report by. The two-story Hell’s Kitchen will be located at 652 Wharf St. SW.


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