Montgomery Village

Opening soon signage is up at BooBoo Pho at 19230 Montgomery Village Ave. in the Montgomery Village Shopping Center. While no opening date has been announced, the restaurant is in the early stages of its buildout so it will likely be several more months. The restaurant will specialize in Vietnamese cuisine.

Last week we reported that Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken is also coming to the Montgomery Village Shopping Center. Hangry Joe’s will be located next to the upcoming Starbucks. Earlier this year Hangry Joe’s opened a location at 2533 Ennals Ave in Wheaton and has additional locations opening at 10050 Darnestown Road in the Travilah Square shopping center and at 718-B Rockville Pike.


Park Potomac

Gregorio’s Trattoria will begin renovations on its newest location at the former home of Sugo (12505 Park Potomac Ave), this fall and is hoping to open in around January, according to Store Reporter. This will be Gregorio’s Trattoria third MoCo location, and fourth overall. Sugo closed its doors permanently last summer. Park Potomac is also home to Attman’s Deli, Founding Farmers, Gringos & Mariachis, King Street Oyster, and Yirisai Sushi.

Gregorio’s started out in Reston in 2008 and opened a second location in what’s now Cabin John Village in Potomac. The restaurant opened its second MoCo location in November 2020 at the Shops at Sumner Place in Bethesda, in the spot that was home to China Pavilion for over two decades until it closed almost three years ago.


Gaithersburg

The upcoming Taco Bamba location in Gaithersburg is now projecting to open this fall, although no opening date has been announced. The new restaurant will be located in the space that was formerly home to Urban Crawfish at 670 Quince Orchard Road, next to the recently opened Miyaji Kebab and Rumali Rolls (which is next to Beers & Cheers Too).

Taco Bamba had its hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services on June 2nd, for a “Class B, Beer, Wine and Liquor License, On Sale Only.” The restaurant was origin planning a June or July opening for the location.


Bethesda

On Friday, August 5, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan did a tour of Montgomery County, visiting several local businesses.  He started the day off  at the Glen Echo Fire Department, which is scheduled to undergo major renovations after receiving a state grant.  He then toured Maxim Biomedical on E. Gude Dr. in Rockville, one of the few companies that produce American-made COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, followed by a tour of Twin Valley Distillers, also on E Gude. Twin Valley was the first distillery to open in MoCo in over 100 years and owner Edgardo Zuniga tells us Twin valley was,  “honored having the Governor visit when he presented us a proclamation for small business in Maryland.”

Hogan then spent the afternoon in Poolesville visiting the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, and having lunch at the recently reopened Bassett’s Restaurant.


Cava

Coming soon signage is up for Cava Digital Kitchen at 19865 Century Blvd in Germantown, which is replacing the recently closed Zoe’s Kitchen. CAVA opened their first Digital Kitchen in Sandy Spring, GA back in March. According to a social media posts by CAVA,  “CAVA Digital Kitchen has arrived… Just order ahead on our app or our site for easy pickup or delivery! Convenient *and* delicious. Build your bowl: order.cava.com.”

CAVA, the fast-casual restaurant that started in MoCo, acquired Zoe’s and its 200+ restaurants in 2018 for approximately $300 million


Gaithersburg

Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken is coming to the Montgomery Village Shopping Center, according to KLNB realty.  The restaurant will be located in the brand new space next to the upcoming Starbucks. Earlier this year Hangry Joe’s opened a location at 2533 Ennals Ave in Wheaton and has additional locations opening at 10050 Darnestown Road in the Travilah Square shopping center and at 718-B Rockville Pike.

Hangry Joe’s joins a growing list of restaurants that are all expected to open in the redeveloped shopping center by the end of this year that includes Antojitos Salvadoreños Isabel, Boo Boo’s Pho, Dickey’s BBQ, and Kobe Japan. The Joint chiropractic care center and Safe Splash Swim School have also signed leases and will coming to the center.


Silver Spring

Back in June, Silver Spring Wings announced it will be opening up a new location this year in the Wheaton Urban District. The restaurant tells us that they are now in the final inspection/licensing stages and are hoping to open in the first week of September. The menu will feature chicken wings, chicken tenders, boneless wings, fried rice, potato wedges, coleslaw, fresh lemonade, strawberry shortcake, double fudge brownies.

According to owner Evan Walton, Silver Spring Wings will also be sharing a space with its sister brand, District Teriyaki. He plans to announce more information, including the exact location and opening date, in the the next couple of weeks. Walton tells us, “I’m super excited to serve Moco again. It’s been a long stressful year and a half but I’m committed to my work and this community.”


Gaithersburg

Pollo Campero has additional Montgomery County locations in Takoma Park and Wheaton. The Downtown Silver Spring location closed in December, 2021.

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.


Bethesda

HalfSmoke is now open in Montgomery Mall. The restaurant is located in a kiosk in the food terrace that was the former home of Coldstone Creamery and more recently Gelato Galaxy. Though there have been separate restaurants off of the food court that served alcohol (ex: Slade’s), this is the first restaurant/bar that’s actually located in the food court to serve alcohol.

The menu consists of the best selling sausages and sides from their DC location, as well as boozy milkshakes and a funnel cake bar. HalfSmokes sister restaurant Butter Me Up opened its Montgomery Mall location in May.


Bethesda

Lazzaro’s confirmed its closing on Sunday morning when owner Larry Lazarro wrote the following in response to a post on the Support MoCo FB page: “Thank you for all you and everyone has done on this page. Business was great and so was the feedback. It was a personal family health matter. But this is not the end I’m looking to move into a brick/ mortar. This place fell into my lap. Goin into the mall was never my first choice. lol Thank you to everyone we’ll miss seeing your beautiful faces every day! We love you and appreciate what everyone has done for us in this group! And the family is doing fine now.” The restaurant featured imported cold cuts that are cut fresh daily, homemade meatballs, cannolis, and more. Owner Larry Lazzaro told us his family owned Lucia’s Deli on University Blvd in Wheaton back in the 80’s. The business was eventually sold and the company became what is now Mamma Lucia.

The menu consists of the best selling sausages and sides from their DC location, as well as boozy milkshakes and a funnel cake bar. HalfSmokes sister restaurant Butter Me Up opened its Montgomery Mall location last week. Butter Me Up is located in the old Aroma Espresso Bar location, which is downstairs near the Old Navy entrance and features “instagrammable” decor, will offer a menu that consists of a variety of breakfast sandwiches, toasts, sides, bowls, smoothies, and juices.


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