In November 2021 we let you know that Kung Fu Tea signed on to take over the location that’s as recently home to Yogi Berry, next to Starbucks in the same shopping center as Cava Mezze, CVS, and Cafe Rio at 3128 Olney Sandy Spring Road. After a few delays, the bubble tea spot is now open.

The Olney Kung Fu Tea location will also eventually offer TKK Fried Chicken and Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt. Neither are available at the location at this time. TKK Fried Chicken is a Taiwanese chain that specializes in fried chicken. They’ve been around since 1974 and have locations across Taiwan, China, and the United States. The menu consists of fried chicken, chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwiches, and more. Tutti is a frozen yogurt chain that has had several locations in Montgomery County.


Dominic’s Italian Grille, located at 12854 New Hampshire Ave in Colesville, has closed permanently. A post was made on the Dominic’s Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon, stating the following:

When a commenter asked if Gary was leaving or if Dominic’s was closing, the Dominic’s Italian Grille Facebook page replied with “Dominic’s has closed 😔.” In 2022, the owners of Dominic’s planned to open Bourbon, Wings, and Beer in the location that was formerly home to Buffalo Wings and Beer in Cloverly. Last month we received confirmation that the restaurant would no longer be opening.


A previous version of this article listed 808 Rockville Pike as the address of the Wendy’s being remodeled. The correct address is 15807 Frederick Road.

The first 100 customers at the renovated Wendy’s in Derwood could receive free food for a year. The renovated Wendy’s location at 15807 Frederick Rd will reopen on Saturday, January 28th. As the fast food chain did with its 18425 Woodfield Rd restaurant in Gaithersburg, they’ll give away 100 VIP ticket to those 16 and older and present in line at 10:30am when the dining room opens (a purchase is necessary to be considered for a card). Anyone who gets a VIP ticket will be able to come back to the store once a week for a year to receive a free sandwich, salad, or breakfast biscuit.


Back in May, Dog Haus announced that the company has executed a development agreement with local franchisees Faizan and Adila Khan to to open 15 new Dog Haus locations over the next five years. Cities listed include Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, Frederick and Germantown.  No specific information has been released on dates and locations, but now we know that a new College Park location will be opening soon will open in the new City Hall complex at 7401 Baltimore Ave.

Faizan Khan currently franchises three MoCo Dog Haus locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring. “We’re thrilled to see Faizan and Adila parlay their success with Dog Haus into expanding throughout the entire state of Maryland,” said Dog Haus Director of Franchise Development Erik Hartung in a press release. “Faizan has been a highly accomplished franchisee with Dog Haus by entering the restaurant industry with an incredibly unique, effective business strategy. We can’t wait to see this growth unfold and bring our one-of-a-kind creations to more markets throughout this great state!”


Yesterday we reported that Texas Parrillada at 9631 Lost Knife Rd in Gaithersburg has closed with the restaurant’s last day of service being on Sunday, January 1. Now we know that the restaurant will be replaced by Los Amigos– a Mexican restaurant. We are told the restaurant plans to offer authentic Mexican cuisine and hopes to open on January 18th:

Texas Parillada had a long run in the Montgomery Village Crossing shopping center, which is home to BLT Grill, Hook & Reel, and Roy Rogers. the restaurant offered menu items that included Tex-Mex staples like burritos, carne asada, enchiladas, and tacos.


Over a year ago we let you know that Black Lion Café, which has a location in Rockville, will be opening a new location in the Fenton Silver Spring apartments at 8240 Fenton St in Silver Spring. After a previously planned November 1st opening that was pushed back, a new opening date of Monday, January 2nd was set. The cafe announced another delay on Instagram (post available below), stating that the “opening has been delayed, but not for long. Stay tuned for updates!”

The cafe opened its first location at the Traville Gateway shopping center in late 2016. Black Lion Café sources its coffee from three regions of Ethiopia known for producing some of the best tasting coffee beans in the world. Keffa, the region of Ethiopia that gave the name ‘coffee’ to the bean, Yergacheffe, and Harrar. Featured photo courtesy of Taste MoCo


 

In July 2021 we let you know that New York based Mexicue, which has a nearby location at 1720 14th St NW in DC, would be coming to 4733 Elm St. in Bethesda, the former site of Gusto Farm to Street. The Mexican restaurant opened on Tuesday, June 7th with a menu featuring tacos, bowls, shareable platters, margaritas and weekend brunch. Just over six months later, the restaurant has closed permanently.


As 2022 ends, we’re sharing a few of our most-read stories of the year, from September: “For Sale” signage is up at the Olney Ale House at 2000 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd in Olney. Owner John Roach tells us that he is looking to sell the 99-year-old building to someone that will continue to run it as the Olney Ale House restaurant.  A kitchen fire caused the restaurant to shut down in 2019 and COVID-19 only compounded the issues for the restaurant.  There will be additional information regarding the potential sale/reopening of the Olney Ale House in the next few weeks, according to Roach.

Back in July of 2021 it was announced that the Montgomery County Green Bank and Sandy Spring Bank would be teaming up to provide flexible financing to help the Olney Ale House re-open. Roach tells us that both financial institutions are still committed to helping the Ale House reopen. As we wait for the reopening, we wanted to share with you its history, courtesy of the Olney Ale House website: In 1923, Richard Bentley Thomas and Ethel Farquhar Thomas purchased the five acre triangular shaped piece of property from the estate of Sam Owens. The property had a four room log cabin in the middle of what is today’s parking lot. The corner was known as Davis Corner. Almost immediately construction began on a hipped-roof, pavilion-type building that would contain a kitchen, dining room and two bedrooms. This building was completed in 1924, and opened for business as “The Corner Cupboard.” They served homemade ice cream, breads, cookies, pies and cakes, as well as, sausage, scrapple and ham sandwiches from hams that were cured in their smokehouse. Garden vegetables were also grown and sold. The Corner Cupboard was a unique establishment and drew many loyal followers.


As 2022 ends, we’re sharing a few of our most-read stories of the year, from November: Back in May 2021, we let you know that fast food chain Cook Out is coming one step closer to MoCo, as a new location was expected to open at 8502 Centreville Road in Manassas Park– the first in the DC Metro area. The location, which was formerly home to a Roy Rogers, is now open according to a social media post by the fast food chain (seen below).

In 2020, the MoCo Show made the 60 mile trek down to Fredericksburg, VA to visit what was then the area’s closest Cook Out location. We left Gaithersburg, located in the approximate center of MoCo, at 6:14pm and arrived an hour and twenty minutes later, at 7:34pm. The Manassas Park location is a little over 30 miles from the center MoCo, about half the distance of Fredericksburg. Another location recently opened in Winchester, VA, but that isn’t considered part of the DC Metro area. There is also a location in Salisbury, MD but that is further than both of the Virginia locations mentioned.


Maryland-based Poke Bowl, a restaurant serving poke bowls, bubble tea, a variety of appetizers, and more, is coming to 2229 Bel Pre Road in Plaza Del Mercado– replacing Smoothie King, between Pizza Stop and Aldi.

Poke Bowl has five locations in Maryland, primarily in the Baltimore region with one location in Frederick. Signage has just been posted on the window informing shoppers of the restaurant’s impending arrival, but an opening date is now available. Smoothie King, which closed permanently last month after four years at Plaza Del Mercado, has additional Montgomery County locations in Bethesda and Rockville (Fallsgrove and Congressional Plaza), and an upcoming location in Olney.


Smoothie King, which opened at 2229 Bel Pre Road in Plaza Del Mercado in September of 2018, closed permanently last month. Smoothie King will be replaced by Maryland-based Poke Bowl– a restaurant serving poke bowls, bubble tea, a variety of appetizers, and more.

Poke Bowl has five locations in Maryland, primarily in the Baltimore region with one location in Frederick. Signage has just been posted on the window informing shoppers of the restaurant’s impending arrival, but an opening date is now available. Smoothie King has additional Montgomery County locations in Bethesda and Rockville (Fallsgrove and Congressional Plaza), with an upcoming location in Olney.


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