The new Chopt location in Cabin John Village (Potomac), in the space next to Boulangerie Christophe, will hold its grand opening on March 14 (originally scheduled for March 8.) This will be Montgomery County’s fifth Chopt restaurant, with locations currently open in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and two in Bethesda. Prior to the grand opening, on March 13, Chopt will be partnering with Manna Food Center for “Chopt Gives Day” (a tradition the day before every new opening), where 100% of sales go towards their initiatives in ending food insecurity among children and families in Montgomery County.

Chopt joins a bevy of restaurants and retailers that have recently opened or are coming soon to Cabin John Village. Recently Open: The Pretzel Bakery opened in April. Authentic French bakery, Boulangerie Christophe, opened in May. Stretch Zone opened in July. The Scoop ice cream shop opened in August. Cabin John Village, formerly known as the Cabin John shopping center and mall, is  named for the adjacent creek and regional park. It has been a pillar of the Potomac community since 1967 and was acquired by EDENS in 2016. Per EDENS: “EDENS has transformed the traditional shopping center experience into a welcoming communal environment that naturally fosters meaningful social interaction. Complementary retail options include a curated mix of home goods, dining, health and wellness and more outdoor greenspace welcomes the opportunity for community events.” 

The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Co. at 1605 E Gude Dr in Rockville has announced the creation of the Bean Bag Bakery, a direct-to-consumer cookie and dessert bar delivery service. Flavors include Espresso Double Chocolate Chunk, Fun-Fetti, Heath Bar, and Orea White Chocolate Chunk.  Full details below courtesy of the bakery:
“Rockville’s favorite family-owned, local deli, the Bean Bag Deli & Catering Co., is launching a direct-to-consumer bakery named the Bean Bag Bakery (BBB), where customers can order-up fresh and delicious cookies and bars for home delivery.

Since 1977, The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Co. has been serving-up the best cookies ever at their storefront in Rockville, Maryland. Bean Bag Bakery’s founder, Mitchel Wool, grew up in the family business, watching each morning as his mother baked her famous, homemade chocolate chip cookies. Mitch and his friends would line up outside of the kitchen door to snag a sample straight out of the oven, and the rest were sold to the hundreds of happy customers that Mitch’s parents treated like family. Soon, they added oatmeal raisin cookies and brownies to the list, and for the next 40 years, the deli garnered a reputation for the freshest, most delicious cookies around.

Bean Bag Bakery offers a wide variety of handcrafted soft and chewy cookies and melt-in-your-mouth brownie and blondie bars, including vegan and gluten-free options, all made fresh using real, premium ingredients and no additives. Every delicious morsel is baked at their Rockville storefront. Their cookie dough is also available for wholesale purchase.

Customers can order customized “Cookie Cubes” in quantities of 6, 12, or 18, and mix-and-match their cookie and bar selections. Cookie Cubes will ship-out within 24-48 hours of purchase and delivered fresh to the recipient’s doorstep. Add a special message or personalize the Cookie Cube with your business logo, and it makes the perfect gift for cookie lovers of any age!

“My local customers have pushed me for years to expand our bakery offerings. I am so excited to offer our cookies to everyone in the United States,” said Mitch. “So far our custom cookie cubes have been a hit. A lot of local parents have been sending them to their kids away at college.”
For more information, or to place an order, visit beanbagbakery.com.”

Pho Nom Nom, which has a location at 842 Rockville Pike, will be opening a second restaurant at 18509 N Frederick Ave at Gaithersburg S.C. (that’s the name of the shopping center), at the former site of Pho Viet Saigon. A representative from the Rockville location tells us the new store is still a few months away from opening. Pho Nom Nom specializes in authentic Vietnamese cuisine, including pho, banh mi, noodles and grilled dishes.

Gaithersburg S.C. is home to MoCo’s only Bruster’s and Corner Pizza. The shopping center was also once home to Hechinger, the hardware store that once had over 130 locations in the Mid-Atlantic.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 417 N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg has temporarily closed. According to signage on the front door, the restaurant is closed due to a maintenance issue and will reopen tomorrow. Customers are asked to visit the nearby Popeyes at 19911 Frederick Rd in Germantown. We will post an update when we have confirmation the location has reopened.

Tara Thai has permanently closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda). The Thai chain closed its Gaithersburg location at 9811 Washington Blvd in Rio back in April 2022.  No word yet on what could be replacing the Montgomery Mall location. Charley Prime Foods, the new restaurant from Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks (Little Coco’s, El Chucho, Bar Charley, Quarry House Tavern) is scheduled open in the former Rio space later this year. The Tara Thai location at 12071 Rockville in Montrose Crossing remains open.
Store reporter was first to report Tara Thai’s closure.

About Tara Thai: “Walking into Tara Thai is like walking into the soothing serenity of the deep blue sea, with indoor waterfalls and seaside colors sparking from the ceilings and walls. This is a place worth indulging in courses. We proudly bring you to experience fine dining with the most successful Thai restaurant on the east coast. Serving delicious Thai cuisine, along with an enjoyable atmosphere. Our unique decoration reflects quality of our dishes with finest ingredients, in preparing our gourmet-quality dishes. All ingredients are carefully selected by our experience head chef.”

Lil’ Cakes & Creamery will open its newest location at 844 Rockville Pike, the former site of Sam’s Cafe & Market, on Saturday, March 11. The grand opening will include “free cupcakes or ice cream everyday for a week” to the first 50 guests, face painting, and raffles. Lil’ Cakes & Creamery offers a rotating selection of cupcakes and ice cream, as well as macarons, pupcakes, cookies, cookie sandwiches, pushpops, and milkshakes.

Lil’ Cakes & Creamery opened its first location in Gaithersburg Square back in October 2019 and have additional locations in Urbana and White Marsh.

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Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken at 16248 Frederick Rd (on the border of Gaithersburg/Rockville), which opened on February 19, will hold its official grand opening on March 11. The restaurant will donate 10% of that day’s sales to the Montgomery County Humane Society. The North Carolina-based biscuit chain is known for their buttermilk-brined chicken and has additional Maryland locations in Columbia and Towson.  Menu items include biscuit sandwiches, biscuits & gravy,  fried chicken strips, and donuts. Full details below per Rise:

“Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken, the award-winning biscuit and chicken concept based in Durham, North Carolina, will celebrate the grand opening of its new Gaithersburg, MD location on Saturday, March 11th. Rise will be donating 10% of that day’s sales to the Montgomery County Humane Society and giving customers multiple opportunities to win free Rise food and branded merchandise.

Rise Gaithersburg is locally owned and operated by Fran Kirley, Chris Kirley, and David Brindza, who also own Rise locations in Towson, MD and Columbia, MD.

“We’re excited to celebrate our opening with the community, and to use this occasion to raise money for a deserving local organization, who does so much for pets and their owners,” said Brindza. “If you haven’t tried Rise’s scratch-made buttermilk biscuits, crispy Righteous Chicken, Southern sides and sweet treats, this is a great day to have breakfast or lunch with us. You might win a free grand opening T-shirt and other prizes including free Rise food!”

Grand Opening day festivities kick off at store opening at 7am on March 11th. The first 100 customers will spin a wheel to win one of a series of prizes including a limited edition T-shirt, Rise sticker, branded koozie, or Rise food. Throughout the day diners who join the Rise Rewards loyalty program will receive a free Rise biscuit on a future visit.  The Grand Opening giveaways are highlighted by the chance  to win Free Rise for a Year. Customers can learn more and enter to win this “Golden Ticket” at https://risebiscuitschicken.com/golden-ticket-gaithersburg. One winner will be announced the week of March 13th.

Recently named to QSR magazine’s 40/40 List for 2021 and Fast Casual’s 2021 Top 100 Movers & Shakers, Rise serves Southern Biscuits, Righteous Chicken, sweet treats, donuts and coffee. Their flaky buttermilk biscuits are made from scratch throughout the day and are filled with savory ingredients ranging from crispy bacon and sausage to fried green tomatoes and their famous Righteous Chicken. No meal is complete without an order of Cheddar Tots, Rise’s signature cheesy Idaho potato treats. Rise serves Counter Culture Coffee and features a creative sweet treat menu, including a glazed blueberry biscuit, biscuit cinnamon rolls, donuts, and more.

Rise’s streamlined ordering and pickup process gets customers their orders quickly and efficiently. Orders are placed online at Rise’s app and website or via kiosks in the restaurant. Convenient pickup is available through heated food lockers.

Rise Gaithersburg is located at 16248 Frederick Road, at the corner of 355 and Shady Grove Rd in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The quick-serve concept is open from 7 am – 2 pm daily.

For more information about Rise, visit www.risebiscuitschicken.com.

About Rise Southern Biscuits and Righteous Chicken: Founded in 2012 by Culinary Institute of American trained Chef Tom Ferguson in Durham, North Carolina, Rise ranked among the Best Biscuits in the United States by Food & Wine magazine and was awarded Fast Casual Magazine’s Top 100 Mover & Shaker for 2016, 2017 and 2021. Rise serves up southern-style biscuits, Righteous Chicken, sweet treats, and donuts with freshly brewed Counter Culture coffee in an efficient, small-footprint store. Rise currently has eighteen stores open with over 100 franchise locations under contract.”

Brew House Kentlands at 325 Main Street in Gaithersburg will open this Saturday, March 4. Per its logo, it touts itself as being the “best coffee shop in Kentlands.” Brew House Kentlands is taking over the previous home of Clear Skies Meadery, which has opened its new meadery at 15201 Display Ct in Rockville. In addition to coffee, the menu also features beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as breakfast and lunch options. The full menu can be seen below.

Brew House posted the following message on their social media accounts Tuesday morning: “Good morning Kentlands!!! We’re ready to open on the 4th as planned. Everything went as planned and we moving along. Three days and we will be open to serve you!!! Looking forward to serving everyone who has poked their heads in the shop to wish us well!!! How lucky are we to be here. See you all Saturday”
Feature photo courtesy of Brew House Kentlands on Facebook.

Live Crawfish & Seafood at 765 Rockville Pike Ste. FG in Rockville has permanently closed. Menu items included crawfish, blue crabs, king crab legs, lobster, mussels, and shrimp.  Live Crawfish & Seafood was located in the Ritchie Center, which is also home to Ding Tea, Kiin Imm Thai, and El Mariachi. According to its website, the restaurant has additional locations at 6168 Arlington Blvd in Falls Church, Virginia and in Smithfield, North Carolina.

About: “Live Crawfish and Seafood restaurant is a great place for real and fresh seafood with New Orleans style. Just come and pick what you like – the amount you like – and the taste you preferred. We will make it for you! Casual style but exclusive taste!!!”

Quincy’s South at 11401 Woodglen Dr in Rockville, which will be closing its door on March 31, has released additional information on its closing due to redevelopment, as well as an update on the restaurant’s future and its staff. Quincy’s has additional locations at 9813 Main St in Damascus, 616 Quince Orchard Rd in Gaithersburg, and 1093 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac. Per Quincy’s:

“It’s the end of a 9-year run for Quincy’s South Bar and Grille in North Bethesda, the popular sports bar from restaurateur Marty Magill and partners Jeff Greenberg, John Sahakian and Chris McCasland.

The restaurant and sports bar will officially close for good on Friday, March 31st. A sign on the door reads, “It’s been a great 9 years! We have made so many friends that have become family to us for life. It’s with sadness the time has come for the landlord to redevelop the building.”

“We had a great run here,” said owner Marty Magill. “We never could have imagined how the neighborhood would support us over the years. We are so very grateful for everyone who visited and can’t wait to find our new home nearby soon.”

Nine years was plenty of time for Quincy’s South to establish its brand in the rapidly redeveloped North Bethesda area. Magill’s goal was to create an intimate neighborhood sports bar with live music and casual dining; one where patrons will state “meet me at the Q.” And that is just what “South”, as it is affectionately known, did. The story to be told here is what happened between the walls for the last nine years. An unheard of high retention rate of staff, a complete pivot during the pandemic to carry-out and delivery, and 1000s of meals donated to hospital staff, “South” truly became the “Cheers” of North Bethesda, the place you could go where everyone would know your name.

Magill said some of the employees who work at the South location will work at the Quincy’s Potomac Bar and Grille, which opened in January 2021 during the pandemic and is located in the Potomac Woods Plaza shopping center at 1093 Seven Locks Road. Drew Gardner, head bartender at Quincy’s South and finalist for “Bartender of the Year” by the Maryland Restaurant Association will be a Managing Partner at Quincy’s Potomac.

The closure moves the Minkoff Group with their NOBEII project one step closer to completion, which will include an apartment complex with a retail pad.

You can continue to support the locally-owned Quincy’s brand at their locations in Potomac, Gaithersburg and Damascus. Stay connected to Quincy’s Potomac Bar & Grille at www.quincyspotomac.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @QuincysPotomac for updates.”

After nine years, Quincy’s South at 11401 Woodglen Dr in Rockville will be closing on March 31. The restaurant is currently looking for a new location as the current building is going to be redeveloped by its landlords. Drew Gardner, who is in the running for Maryland bartender of the year, will be the new General Manager and managing partner when the restaurant reopens. After 3/31, Gardner will be at Quincy’s Potomac (1093 Seven Locks Rd) until a new location is found for Quincy’s South.

We’ve also received many questions about Quincy’s opening a location at the space that was home to China Gourmet in Kensington, but have been told that the sports bar/restaurant opening there is not associated with Quincy’s. China Gourmet closed back in December after 35 years in business. Signage at Quincy’s South reads:

“THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
It’s been a great 9 years! We have made so many friends that have become family to us for life. It’s with sadness the time has come for the landlord to redevelop the building. Our last day will be 3/31.
Please come out and support the BEST staff that has taken care of you the last 9 years as we continue to search for our new home. Please visit our sister restaurant, Quincy’s Potomac, a short 3 miles down the road which has all your favorite events like Bingo. Trivia, Family Feud, Karaoke, and 35 TVS.”

Moco Nights first reported that Quincy’s South would be closing by 3/31.