Spice X-ing X-iting at Rockville Town Square?

Update - 8:44 PM: Spice X-ing was closed during dinner hours again tonight

There are signs that Spice X-ing at 100-B Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square may be making an X-it from the development. There was a realtor-style lockbox on the front door of the restaurant last evening. Today, I called Spice X-ing twice during lunch hours, and each time an electronic message stated the phone number has been disconnected. Finally, while Spice X-ing remains on the public-facing Town Square tenant map, it has been replaced on the leasing map by a restaurant called "Kumbia."

El Mercat Bar de Tapas "coming soon" at Rockville Town Square

 

El Mercat Bar de Tapas has posted "coming soon" signage at its future Gibbs Street space at Rockville Town Square. It has also applied for its liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on its application has been scheduled for October 21 at 10:30 AM. El Mercat is now hiring for all positions.

Chocolicious, Cutesy Celebrations opening at Rockville Town Square

Chocolicious, a handmade chocolate candy shop specializing in truffles, and Cutesy Celebrations & Boutique, a children's activity and event space, are both opening at Rockville Town Square. Both are family-owned businesses. Chocolicious will also provide larger and special orders for your events. Cutesy Celebrations currently has a Gaithersburg location.

Èkó House, El Mercat Bar de Tapas to open at Rockville Town Square

Here's an update on my earlier scoop that broke the news on two new restaurants coming to Rockville Town Square. El Mercat Bar de Tapas will serve traditional Spanish tapas, paellas, gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas, Tortilla Española as well as sangria, wines and beer. It will have seating for 60 indoors, and offer outdoor patio seating next spring.

The bigger news is that Lagos Bar & Grill has had a last minute name change to Èkó House. There is also more information about menu and the interior layout planned. As expected from the original name, it will be a Nigerian restaurant. Dishes served will include Suya, a spicy meal made with beef, lamb, or chicken; Nigerian Jollof rice; Nigerian yams; peppered soups; sauteed spinach; collard greens; and more. There are plans to rotate visiting African chefs through the kitchen over time, as well as to feature artists from across the African continent.

Its large 6500 square foot interior will have a private room for events.“Èkó House will provide a sophisticated blend of flavors, allowing Nigerians living in the community to reminisce of home, while introducing others to our cuisine, flavors and lively culture,” Èkó House co-founder Francis Odiase said in a statement this morning. “Rockville is one of my favorite neighborhoods to visit with the family, so we are excited to bring the vibrant features of Lagos here," co-founder Yomi Ajao added. "With its family friendly atmosphere and diverse cuisines, the addition of a Nigerian restaurant will make Rockville Town Square the place to be.” 

Lagos Bar & Grill, Mercat Bar de Tapas coming to Rockville Town Square

Rockville Town Square is adding two more restaurants. Lagos Bar & Grill will take over the Bar Louie space at 150 Gibbs Street. Mercat Bar de Tapas has leased 101-C Gibbs Street down the block. That's a space that has suffered heavy turnover in the last decade, including former tenants Gumbo Ya Ya, Ev & Maddy's and Lab Cafe.

Rockville Town Square now offering 2 hours free parking without validation

 

A major challenge for businesses at Rockville Town Square has been greatly reduced after years of debate. Patrons at the Federal Realty development will now be able to park free in the Rockville Town Square garages for 2 hours, without validation. 

After two hours, the parking fees are $1 (2-3 hours), $3 (3-4 hours), and $5 (4-5 hours). While parking there still won't be free for unlimited hours like it is at competing developments Rio Lakefront and Downtown Crown, the two free hours at least makes it competitive now.

Thai Chef posts "coming soon" signage at Rockville Town Square

Thai Chef is coming soon to Rockville Town Square, and signage has been installed in the windows to remind passersby of that. It is expected to open later this summer. The restaurant is currently hiring for all positions.

Saints Valley opens at Rockville Town Square

Saints Valley, a pop-up shop, has opened at Rockville Town Square. It has been here before, and recently ended a run at Bethesda Row. Saints Valley specializes in handmade jewelry and clothing, as well as prints, bags and other textile products.

Thai Chef Street Food coming to Rockville

Thai Chef Street Food is coming to Rockville Town Square in late summer 2021, property owner Federal Realty announced yesterday. While the development has struggled in many respects, Asian restaurants have generally been successful there, as Rockville has continued to emerge as the near-equal to Annandale as the region's top choice for Asian cuisine. Now the winning formula for the city and Federal Realty expands with the arrival of Thai Chef, which has an existing location at Dupont Circle.

What sets Thai Chef apart from all the other Thai restaurants around? “We believe that if you haven't had Thai street food, you haven't had Thai food,” Thai Chef's Chalisa Fitts, said Monday. “We look forward to getting to know the community and showcasing our Thai favorites such as Moo-phing, BBQ pork on skewers and Catfish Dry Curry, fried catfish filet sautéed with spicy curry paste, Thai eggplant, wild finger root, kaffir lime, peppercorn and fresh basil, as well as our handcrafted specialty cocktails.”  

“Street food has become a fan favorite over the years for many people and Thai Chef’s twist on the genre is a unique and welcome addition to the Rockville Town Square neighborhood,”  Federal Realty Director of Asset Management - Mixed Use Dan Corwin said yesterday. Thai Chef's menu is said to feature entrees you would expect to find from street vendors in Bangkok. But as you can see from the rendering above, the atmosphere will be more refined than a street cart experience.

Images courtesy Federal Realty/Thai Chef

Plaza Oaxaca sets opening date in Rockville

"Oaxaca has never been so close," Plaza Oaxaca promised in its long-anticipated announcement of its opening date at 141 Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square. The grand opening is now set for Saturday, May 8, 2021, missing Cinco de Mayo by only 3 days. Plaza Oaxaca fronts onto the temporary Gibbs Street "Streetery," where the roadway has been converted into an outdoor dining area in a partnership between the City of Rockville and property owner Federal Realty. Permanent signage has just been installed on the restaurant's facade, as you can see here.

Nature by Trejok coming to Rockville Town Square

Nature by Trejok is coming to Rockville Town Square. The tableware and accessories retailer specializes in combining past and contemporary designs into contrasting balance for tea and coffee, kitchen and home decor use. Nature by Trejok takes over the space at 130-B Gibbs Street previously occupied by IT'SUGAR. Their grand opening is scheduled for this Saturday, May 1, 2021, from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Plaza Oaxaca aiming for May opening at Rockville Town Square

Plaza Oaxaca, the Mexican restaurant opening at 141 Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square, is now aiming for a May debut. Their operating hours will be 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday-Thursday, 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM on Sundays. As the name indicates, the restaurant will be focused on serving authentic Oaxacan cuisine, and with mezcal being the specialty at the full bar. 

Plaza Oaxaca "opening soon" at Rockville Town Square

Plaza Oaxaca is "opening soon" at Rockville Town Square, signage at 141 Gibbs Street now declares. Owners Cecilia Pastor and Maria Barragán promise authentic Mexican cuisine, focused on their home state of Oaxaca. One of the signature dishes will be their Oaxacan Mole, and the pre-Spanish spirit mezcal will be the featured drink from the bar. Oaxaca produces the most mezcal of any state in Mexico.

The restaurant has some of the most-detailed coming soon signage seen. It includes large black-and-white portraits of iconic Mexican legends.

Indecent exposure at Rockville restaurant

City of Rockville police were called to a restaurant at Rockville Town Square on Tuesday afternoon in response to a report of indecent exposure. The incident occurred at a restaurant in the 100 block of Gibbs Street around 4:47 PM, according to crime data. 

Rockville-based Gemma Gelato now available at Dawson's Market

Gemma Gelato is a local Rockville company producing artisan, Italian-style gelato and vegan sorbetto from scratch daily. Their products have previously been available at local farmers markets, but just got even more convenient to buy. Gemma Gelato is now available at Dawson's Market at 225 N. Washington Street at Rockville Town Square. They will also soon be sold through another Rockville grocer, MOM's Organic Market, and you can ship their products directly to your door by ordering online. 

Photo courtesy Gemma Gelato

IT'SUGAR closing at Rockville Town Square

IT'SUGAR, the candy store at 130 E. Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square is closing, the company confirmed this morning. A closing sale is now underway, although a closing date has not yet been announced. The IT'SUGAR company filed for bankruptcy in September.

Rockville Town Square ice skating rink returning for 2020

The winter season ice skating rink is coming back for 2020 at Rockville Town Square. It is under construction now. This is an interesting development, as not everywhere in the country will it be possible to use an outdoor rink this winter. Operators of similar rinks in places like San Francisco have chosen not to set up due to the pandemic this year. 

"Operators of all the seasonal ice skating rinks that typically kick off in time for Thanksgiving have announced that they will not be opening this year," ABC7 News in San Francisco reports. "None of the usual outdoor ice skating rinks in the Bay Area are opening this year. That includes the rinks at Embarcadero and Union Square in San Francisco, the rink in downtown San Jose, or the rinks in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Napa, Marin and Walnut Creek."

Gyuzo Japanese BBQ opens in Rockville

Gyuzo Japanese BBQ held a soft opening that completely sold out this past weekend at 33-B Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square. They are closed Mondays, but their initial operating hours will be Tuesday-Sunday 5:00-10:00 PM. Due to the high demand, the restaurant says reservations are highly recommended, and can be made online.

HalfSmoke posts "coming soon" signage at Rockville Town Square

HalfSmoke is expanding from Washington, D.C. to Rockville, as I reported in September. "Coming soon" signage has now been installed in the windows at the future upscale sausage restaurant. There are quite a few of the window screens, as HalfSmoke's space is a large one. 

Gold's Gym renewing lease at Rockville Town Square

Rockville Town Square has suffered another round of business closures over the last year, but the development is going to hold on to one of its biggest tenants. Gold's Gym is going to renew its lease at the Federal Realty property, according to an agenda item for the October 5 meeting of the Mayor and Council. 

This is good news for several reasons. First, it is one of the largest spaces at the development. Second, it is a major traffic generator for the other businesses in the Town Square. And it is an important amenity for residents in the Town Square and immediate area around it, where there is not a huge number of other gym options.