Pollo Campero is taking over the location that was home to KFC until December 2020 at 426 N Frederick Rd in Gaithersburg, according to the Gaithersburg Office of Economic Development.

The fried chicken chain, which originated in Guatemala, opened its first location in 1971 and has grown to over 400 locations worldwide, including over 70 in the United States.


Raising Cane’s, a Louisiana based restaurant chain specializing in chicken fingers, is planning on opening its first D.C. region restaurant in March with the upcoming opening of its Sterling location at 45545 Dulles Eastern Plaza.Per Biz Journals, Raising Cane’s aims to open 14 stores in the all this year stretching from suburban Baltimore to the Richmond area, with more to on tap for 2023 including Bowie, Dumfries, Manassas and Springfield.

Founded by Todd Graves in 1996 in Baton Rouge, La., Raising Cane’s has more than 460 restaurants in 27 states, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with multiple new restaurants under construction. The international expansion began in 2015. The menu is simple and focuses on chicken finger combos , chicken finger sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, sweet/iced tea, and Cane’s sauce.


TGI Fridays is recognizing delivery drivers across the country by offering them a free appetizer of their choice on February 10th. The restaurant has two Montgomery County locations, Rockville and Silver Spring (near White Oak).

Additional information via the press release below:


Back in June of 2020 we let you know that Ela Mesa Taste of Greece would be coming to the Spectrum Town Center in Gaithersburg. After speaking with the owners earlier this week, we were told that the hope is to open in next month (February).

The new Greek restaurant is located at 109 Paramount Park Drive in the Spectrum Town Center in Gaithersburg, which is currently home to restaurants like Barking Made Cafe, California Tortilla, Hot Pot Hero, and Firebirds. The pandemic coupled with permitting issues have delayed the opening, by nearly a year but the restaurant is almost ready to roll. The restaurant will offer traditional Greek fare and will also have a full bar that seats 10 people.


Last January we let you know that Java Nation would be moving in to 121 Market Street in the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg, which was formerly a Starbucks. Starbucks opened a new Kentlands location at 160 Kentlands Blvd at the beginning of this year that features a drive-thru.

We have been told there were material and equipment delays by manufacturers, initially pushing the opening timeframe from August to October, then November, and more recently January. Yesterday, we spoke with representatives from the Rockville and Kensington locations, who told us that the Kentlands location has been pushed back to late February or early March.


A pad site is available for a restaurant at the Clarksburg Premium Outlets to be built in the near future, according to the klnb website.  The pad site offers up to 8,164 square feet as well as a fairly large outdoor patio. It will be located at the Clarksburg Road entrance to the outlets, just off of I-270.

Currently, Clarksburg Premium Outlets dining options include Auntie Anne’s, Charley’s Philly Steaks, Day and Night Cereal Bar, Rise Pies, Guaca-Mole, and Texas BBQ Factory, in addition to the La Pote-ria food truck.


Back in January we told you that Planta, an upscale plant-based restaurant featuring a menu by Chef David Lee, would be coming to 4910 Elm St at Bethesda Row, in the location formerly occupied by Cafe Deluxe (Cafe Deluxe closed permanently back in March of last year). We spoke with a representative from Planta last night who told us that the restaurant is expecting to open early next month (February).

Planta was founded in 2016 and currently has several locations in Florida, New York, and Toronto. Planta has been notable for serving a long list of different celebrities who aren’t plant-based like Rob Gronkowski, Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber and more, pushing that the restaurant was created for everyone.


Normandie Farm Restaurant at 10710 Falls Rd. announced today that the current owners will be retiring and the restaurant will be temporarily closing on June 30. New ownership will be taking over and are expected to reopen the restaurant in late summer.

Normandie Farm was founded in 1931 by Marjory Hendricks in the midst of the Depression. It is one of a handful of restaurants that are still in existence from that era.


View More Stories