Saturday morning, the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department celebrated the housing of their new fire engine, known as Engine 703, and dedicated it in memory of their Past Fire Chief, Scott Eric Emmons.

Past Fire Chief Scott Eric Emmons, who died in 2021, volunteered with the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years, in every operational rank from Firefighter to Fire Chief. Chief Emmons also was a DC Metropolitan Police Detective, where he served on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Chief Emmons’ daughter is now a Rockville Volunteer Firefighter as well.


Restaurant news is a staple here at The MoCoShow and TasteMoCo (our food division that “shows you the dish”). Below we’ve created a list of five recently opened restaurants across Montgomery County that have created the most buzz on our social media accounts and website. Check them out below, listed below in no specific order:

Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles (Rockville): Grandma’s Ice Cream and Waffles at 389 E. Gude Dr in Rockville, next to the former Branded 72/O’Brien’s restaurant space, opened last month. Grandma’s is owned and operated by the same owners as “Grandma Kona’s” Kona Ice franchise in Gaithersburg/Germantown and offers liege waffle sandwiches with a variety of options including vegan and “soft serve ice cream with unbelievable flavor (including dairy free options) with Grandma’s twist of injecting flavor into the ice cream and if wanted dipped in chocolate or caramel.”


Since 1974, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood has served the Baltimore community with iconic culinary creations. Founded by the late Dimitrios “Jimmy” Minadakis, the restaurant quickly became synonymous with crab cakes and Maryland seafood in general. Today, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood carries on his vision through his sons, who have grown the business into a nationally known brand, shipping their food across the country.  The restaurant’s soups, dips, and crab pretzels are now available through 197 Weis Markets locations. Weis currently has two Montgomery County locations (Damascus and Gaithersburg) with a third on the way in Clarksburg.

The restaurant announced today that “You can now find our Famous soups, dips, and crab pretzels at 197 Weis Markets! We’re thrilled to enter this partnership, which brings us closer to new customers via the most convenient method possible! Thank you for your unwavering support. Be sure to share your photos with us when you discover our products at a location nearest you!” We recommend checking with your local Weis, as the partnership is new.


Update: Laperaux will open on Tuesday, February 7

Back in April we let you know of the impending arrival of Laperaux, the Journeymanchef’s Bistro,  the new restaurant coming to 18056 Mateny Rd in Germantown- the former home of Gumbo Ya Ya, Dickie’s BBQ Pit, and Cafe Mileto (located in the Cloppers Mill shopping center, in the same strip as Shoppers). The French bistro has recently completed “front of house” training and plans to open in the coming days (possibly by the end of this weekend).


Shouk, which recently opened two MoCo locations– Rockville at 5568 Randolph Rd in the Montrose Shopping center in November 2021 and Bethesda at 5436 Westbard Avenue in the Westwood Shopping Center in 2022, has closed its Bethesda location permanently. The plant-based Kosher street food restaurant was operating as a pop-up shop in Bethesda and the plans no longer include a permanent location.

Shouk is best known for its plant-based, Kosher street food. Per their website, their menu is “Inspired by the bold flavors of the world’s liveliest street markets, we craft our food from real ingredients you can pronounce. Fresh vegetables, beans, grains, and lots of spices.” Shouk’s offerings include stuffed pitas, homemade veggie burgers (known as “Shouk Burgers”), eggplant burgers, mushroom shawarma, different flavors of hummus, salads with mediterranean ingredients, plant based side dishes (shouk’n nuggets, red lentil soup, cashew labneh), desserts, and more.


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.


Earlier this month it was reported by Source of the Spring that Mark’s Kitchen, a Takoma Park staple for 32 years, would be closing permanently. Recently, a sign was placed on the door stating the following: “Sorry for the confusion. Mark’s Kitchen will remain open until the business is sold.” A second sign below it states: “We do not know what is the last day. Sorry.” A third sign below that one states: “Thank you for your patience with this ongoing uncertainty.”

About Mark’s Kitchen: “Welcome to Mark’s Kitchen, a small neighborhood restaurant with an amazingly big menu full of so many choices that everyone can easily find something that will make them happy. Mark’s Kitchen is a very friendly place. It’s vegetarian-friendly, vegan-friendly, carnivore-friendly, kid-friendly, traditional family-friendly, alternative family-friendly and everyone else-friendly. A full meal or a light meal, a complete breakfast – most of which is available all day long – fresh juices, craft beers, wines, wonderful milkshakes, great ice cream desserts. That’s Mark’s Kitchen, a Takoma Park institution since 1990.


Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) announces the recent opening of ANINE BING at Bethesda Row, the brand’s first location in the DMV. Sustainable fashion brand Reformation and Veronica Beardwill also join the leading lineup of premium retail in the Bethesda, Md. neighborhood later this year.

ANINE BING features everyday wardrobe essentials and investment pieces for modern women seeking a timeless, yet rebellious approach to style. Reformation combines stylish, vintage-inspired designs with sustainable practices, releasing limited-edition collections for individuals who want to look beautiful and live sustainably, and Veronica Beard features a uniform of cool wardrobe classics that speak to today’s multifaceted, multitasking woman.


Gordon Ramsay’s new two-story waterfront restaurant, Hell’s Kitchen DC, sits in The Wharf (652 Wharf Street SW, Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20024) with views overlooking the Potomac River. The space is over 14,000 SF and offers dining room, patio,  or terrace seating. It officially opens to the public today, Monday, January 30th. The menus offered at the restaurant can be seen here.

Hell’s Kitchen, Washington, D.C. serves iconic Chef Ramsay dishes like Beef Wellington, Pan-Seared Scallops, Lobster Risotto, and one of Chef Ramsay’s personal favorites, Sticky Toffee Pudding. “The design considers the waterfront location and ensures a relaxing yet luxurious experience. With beautifully-plated dishes, experiential cocktails being served in smoking lanterns, delectable desserts, and the famous red and blue kitchen, Chef Ramsay brings the energy of Hell’s Kitchen to Washington D.C.”


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