Update: A representative from Trader Joe’s has reached out to us to let us know the company posted the 2/21 opening date in error. We were told that an opening date has not yet been determined and it will be shared with us as soon as it is.
The website has since been updated with the opening date removed.
Last summer we let you know that the folks who brought you Kenaki Sushi to the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg and Aki to The Roost food hall at Capitol Hill would be bringing Kema by Kenaki to Cabin Village in Potomac. Initially the hope was for a late winter/early spring 2022 opening, but we spoke with sibling founders Ken and Aki Ballogdajan, who told us that some additional work was needed on the space and that it won’t be delivered until later this spring. The hope is now for the restaurant to open in October or November of this year.
The almost 2,000 square foot restaurant will be very similar to what Kenaki in Kentlands offers, but will be more “fast paced,” in what will be a hybrid between Kenaki and Aki. Kenaki is a full-service restaurant while Aki is a sushi counter at a food hall. Kema will offer signature rolls from Kenaki/Aki such as the Black Magic roll- made with “forbidden rice”, spicy tuna, pickled jalapenos, and truffle oil, the Donkey Kong roll- made with eel, fried plantain, cream cheese, cucumber, tempura flakes, togarashi spice mayo, and sweet shoyu, among others.
SOKO, a neighborhood butchery, has officially opened at 7306 Carroll Ave in Takoma Park.
Owned and operated by partners Brad Feickert & Chris Brown, SOKO focuses on local & sustainable farms that raise animals ethically and humanly. The neighborhood butchery offers a menu that consists of breakfast and lunch. Breakfast offerings include sandwiches, breakfast burritos, bagels, bacon, and sausage. Lunch offerings include a variety of deli sandwiches with sides of fries or chips. They are open every day from 7:30am-8pm and both menus are available all day.
Last month we let you know that Buffalo Wings and Beer had closed in the Cloverly Village Center (15412 New Hamphire Ave). According to employees, the restaurant closed on January 4th.
This morning we confirmed that the restaurant will once again open, as it will be taken over by the owners of Dominic’s Italian Grille in Colesville. The BWB name will remain, but the acronym will have a slightly different meaning as the restaurant will now be named Bourbon, Wings, and Beer.
Underground Pizza Company at 8235 Georgia Ave in Silver Spring (formerly Olazzo) will now be opening on Saturday, February 19. The restaurant will be open this weekend for carry out only, from 1-10pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Owner Evan Weinstein, a concert promoter and founder of Steez Promo, started Underground Pizza Company (UPC) in 2020 after concert venues in the area closed their doors due to the pandemic.
Edith’s Pizza at 6910 Arlington Rd in Bethesda is holding its grand opening today, Wednesday, February 16.
Edith’s is the new pizza restaurant from Breads Unlimited, located just a few doors down at 6914 Arlington Rd.
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 BizJournals. Per the report, “representatives for Gordon Ramsay North America recently submitted plans to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts for what would be a two-story Hell’s Kitchen at 652 Wharf St. SW.”
Most of Chef Ramsay’s North American presence has been in partnerships with Caesar’s Entertainment. His two existing Hell’s Kitchens locations can be found in Caeser’s at Las Vegas (2018) and Lake Tahoe (2020), ads well as a Hell’s Kitchen at Caeser’s in Dubai, with the upcoming DC location being the only non-casino affiliated Hell’s Kitchen restaurant.The high-energy restaurant and bar takes its cue directly from the primetime television hit seen worldwide by millions of viewers, which is slated to premier seasons 19 and 20 in the near future. The restaurant shines the spotlight on many of Hell’s Kitchen cast/chef recipes and dishes featured on the show, including many of Chef Ramsay’s signature dishes like the Pan Seared Scallops, Lobster Risotto, Beef Wellington, Crispy Skin Salmon and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
SkinSpirit, a medical spa, is coming soon to 215 Market St. W in the Kentlands. It will be taking over the location that was formerly home to My Big Finds, which is moving into the paseo area of Kentlands.
SkinSpirit provides guests with skin care, body contouring and Botox, among other spa treatments and is supervised by Stanford-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Dean Vistnes. SkinSpirit, which was founded in 2003, promises that it will bring cutting-edge technology and a luxurious spa-like setting to the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg.
Luchador Bar & Eats is now open in the former bar space of Chapala Tex-Mex Grill at 15530 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville.
The lucha libre themed cantina, a new concept by the owners of Chapala, is now open for fast casual dine in and carryout, according to social media posts. Chapala permanently closed on February 15.
Last month we let you know that Royal Farms will open their new Gaithersburg location on February 17th.
The store is located in the Spectrum Town Center on 355, next to the I-270 Watkins Mill exit.
Update: AMC Theater in Montgomery Mall will be opening on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, according to MyMCM.
Visit www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/washington-d-c/amc-montgomery-16/ for more information.