Wheaton Archives - Page 48 of 87

Cause of Wheaton Restaurant Fire Appears to be “Suspicious in Nature”; ~$750K in Damage

Published August 7, 2023 at 2:22PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a fire in the basement of Rumba Y Carbon, a restaurant located at 11222 Grandview Ave (off of Veirs Mill Rd) in Wheaton, early Sunday morning. According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the call came in at approximately 3:30am and approximately 65 firefighters responded to the call to get the fire under control and eventually extinguished.

On Monday, Piringer tweeted that the “fire is still under investigation, but origin & cause appears to be suspicious in nature.” Total damage is estimated to be $750K, including $500K to structure and $250K to contents. One employee of the restaurant was transported to the hospital with minor burns and other non-life threatening injuries. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Approximately 65 Firefighters Respond to Early Morning Fire at Wheaton Restaurant

By MCS Staff

Published August 6, 2023 at 8:34AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a fire in the basement of Rumba Y Carbon, a restaurant located at 11222 Grandview Ave (off of Veirs Mill Rd) in Wheaton, early Sunday morning.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the call came in at approximately 3:30am and approximately 65 firefighters responded to the call to get the fire under control and eventually extinguished. One person was transported to the hospital with minor burns and other non-life threatening injuries. As of 7:17am, the origin/cause of the fire was still under investigation with explosive investigators on the scene.

Suspects in Stolen Kia Arrested for Stealing Cash Registers From Several Businesses

By Patrick Herron

Published August 4, 2023 at 2:44PM

Per MCPD: Three suspects; 18-year-old Jefry Stevent Padilla-Sanchez, of Silver Spring, 18-year-old Josue Membreno, of Washington D.C., and 18-year-old Edward Canales, of no fixed address, have been arrested and charged in connection with a commercial burglary trend in the Wheaton and Silver Spring areas. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, officers observed a stolen Kia Sol and later determined that the three suspects in the car forced entry into three stores and remove cash registers and cash drawers.

Following a traffic stop, all three suspects were taken into custody without incident. Padilla-Sanchez has been charged with multiple counts of 2nd degree burglary, theft: $1,500 to under $25,000 and auto theft related charges. He was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he is currently being held without bond.

Red Ribbon Bakeshop Moves Closer Toward Opening Wheaton Location

By MCS Staff

Published August 4, 2023 at 7:36AM | Updated August 12, 2023 at 12:22PM

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.

Sarku Japan to Return to Wheaton Mall

By MCS Staff

Published August 3, 2023 at 7:25PM

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.

Firehouse Subs to Open Third MoCo Location in Wheaton Mall

By MCS Staff

Published August 2, 2023 at 6:43AM

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 Has Officially Opened in its New, Larger Location

By MCS Staff

Published August 1, 2023 at 2:14PM

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:

Nick’s Diner Remains Closed Due to Power Outage Caused by Saturday’s Storm; Hoping to Reopen Mid-Week

By Patrick Herron

Published July 31, 2023 at 9:33AM

Nick’s Diner at 11199 Veirs Mill Rd in Wheaton remains closed after a heavy storms knocked out power in the immediate area on Saturday afternoon. The restaurant posted the following update Monday morning: “Attention valued customers, We regret to inform you that Nick’s Diner is still closed due to the ongoing power outage. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. Updates on our reopening will be provided as soon as electricity is restored. Thank you for your patience and continued support. -Nick’s Diner”

Nick’s recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and serves diner classics like pancakes, French toast, omelets, hot & cold sandwiches, chili, souvlaki, and gyros. Featured photo courtesy of Nick’s Diner on Instagram.

Wheaton Mosaic Mural Created by Students and Montgomery Housing Partnership Residents Working with Wheaton Arts Parade Dedicated

By Patrick Herron

Published July 30, 2023 at 10:14PM

Per Montgomery County: A community mosaic mural that was created by families living in Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) apartments in Wheaton working with artists from the Wheaton Arts Parade organization was formally dedicated on Thursday, July 27. The mosaic panels were created in 2019, but installation was delayed due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The Wheaton Arts Parade “Community Mosaic” was supported in part by a grant from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

The mosaic mural is installed on the wall of the Pembridge Square Apartments at 2319 Blueridge Ave. and is visible from the side facing Elkin St. in Wheaton. Residents from nearby Amherst Gardens also participated in its creation. Among those at the dedication were Montgomery County Councilmember Natali Fani-González, MHP representatives and mosaic artists Edwin Salmeron and Ge’Vonna Keyes. Dan Thompson of Wheaton Arts Parade led the ceremonies.

Tree Falls on Two Houses, Trapping Occupants; No Injuries, 10 People Displaced

By MCS Staff

Published July 29, 2023 at 7:45PM | Updated July 29, 2023 at 8:02PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call on the 12200 block of Charles Rd, off of Veirs Mill Rd (near the Korean Korner) at approximately 4:45pm on Saturday, for a tree that fell onto a house and trapped at least some of the occupants.

MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer provided an update stating that there were no injuries and that all 10 occupants are accounted for. The affected families, which include five adults and five children, have been displaced. The Red Cross is assisting. Severe damage was caused across the county due to Saturday’s storm.

Tonight’s “TGIF Free Friday Concert” Featuring The Nighthawks Has Been Postponed Due to Heat

By Patrick Herron

Published July 28, 2023 at 3:11PM

The concert was scheduled to be held outside at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station. The Wheaton Arts & Entertainment District will try to reschedule The Nighthawks for a concert later this summer. For updated information on the concert series, go to https://www.wheatonmd.org/.