Buffalo Wild Wings GO coming soon to Rockville

Buffalo Wild Wings GO is coming soon to Rockville. It will be located at 16256 Frederick Road at the Rock Grove shopping center, at the southwest corner of MD 355 and Shady Grove Road. Buffalo Wild Wings' "GO" concept took off during the pandemic, when the chicken wings chain sought to capitalize on an explosion in demand for takeout orders, as well as a chance to muscle in on carryout-focused competitors like Wingstop. Rockville and Gaithersburg both have traditional, full-scale Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, which are more like sports bars, competing with sit-down competitors like Hooters.

You'll find a slimmed-down menu at Buffalo Wild Wings GO, comprised of some of BWW's customer favorites. An "innovative cooking process" is able to churn out the same crispy wings you find at a regular BWW at a speedier pace, the company says. The interior set-up is designed to get customers in and out of the smaller-scale GO store as quickly as possible, especially when ordering ahead. GO also has some exclusive flavors not found at the full-size BWW.

One of the exclusive flavors at GO locations

Watching Wingstop's tremendous success surely has BWW concentrating even more on growing the number of GO locations around the country. CNBC reported just last week that the preference of sports television viewers for wings while watching the game has allowed Wingstop to avoid the recent sales downturn experienced by McDonald's and Starbucks. Sports fans don't favor the latter two for their game day smorgasboards, the network found, and Wingstop has kept its prices relatively low while McDonald's customers have been ravaged by the Hamburglar's inflation-jacked price hikes.

It's interesting that Rock Grove also has a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins store, as those brands are also in BWW parent company Inspire Brands' portfolio. That might have played a role in the development scoring another popular brand. Buffalo Wild Wings GO will be next to Qdoba Mexican Eats at the property. Construction on the Rock Grove location is expected to begin early this fall, so we might expect a winter opening. Just in time for the Super Bowl!

Photo 1 & 3 courtesy Inspire Brands

MíaCane Juicery and Açaí Bar opens in Rockville

MíaCane Juicery and Açaí Bar is now open in Rockville. The shop brings the newest beverage trend of sugarcane juice alongside smoothies, açaí bowls and Vietnamese coffee to 785-I Rockville Pike at the Ritchie Center. It has already earned a perfect 5-star rating from early customers on both Yelp and Google Reviews.

"Welcome to MiaCane Juicery and Açaí bar, where freshness meets flavor!" the store said in a statement. "Indulge in our vibrant selection of fresh-pressed juices and refreshing sugarcane elixirs. At MiaCane, we believe in harnessing the power of nature to deliver beverages that not only tantalize your taste buds but alsow boost your health. Our fresh-pressed juices are crafted from the finest, sourced fruits and vegetables, ensuring every sip is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Our signature sugarcane drinks, naturally sweet and rich in nutrients, provide a refreshing energy boost and support hydration. Come to MiaCane for a revitalizing experience that's as delicious as it is nourishing!"

The great HalfSmoke saga ends in Rockville

Where there's HalfSmoke, there isn't always fire. A four year odyssey of disappointment came to a whimpering conclusion at Rockville Town Square yesterday. It was almost exactly four years ago that local sausage chain HalfSmoke had announced plans to open a Rockville location at 36-A Maryland Avenue. During the long period of befuddled anticipation, a HalfSmoke kiosk came and went at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. But the Rockville HalfSmoke never came to pass.

Last night, the "coming soon" signage that had covered the windows of the former Austin Grill and American Tap Room space since November 2020 was gone. Passersby could finally see through the large windows, and judge for themselves what had - or hadn't - been done inside since the last presidential election. This is a huge space that needs a really good restaurant tenant. Meanwhile, HalfSmoke still has a Washington, D.C. location, with a second D.C. restaurant rumored to be in the works.

Signage installed at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Rockville

The sign is up at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, which is expected to open by the end of summer 2024 at Federal Plaza in Rockville. Kura is splitting the former Chuy's space with Torchy's Tacos. Asked for an update, a Torchy's spokesperson says only that they are still scheduled for a fall 2024 opening; there is still not an official opening date on the calendar. The windows at Kura remain covered, so we can't yet get a sneak peek at the progress inside, which is to include sushi conveyor belts and KuraBot robots. 

HEYTEA, Sassy Arch Brows opening in Rockville

HEYTEA and Sassy Arch Brows are coming to Rockville. Both will be opening at Wintergreen Plaza on Rockville Pike. HEYTEA will move into the storefront at 981-F Rockville Pike, and Sassy Arch Brows already has signage installed at 815-B Rockville Pike. There's still a lot of work to do inside Sassy Arch Brows, and construction hasn't even begun on HEYTEA, which is still occupied by Sweet Frog.

HEYTEA is a Chinese beverage chain founded in 2012 in Jiangmen in southern China. Its name means "Happy Tea," and is sometimes written as "Hey Tea." The company claims to be the first to sell a cheese tea, which has a real cheese foam topping. 

HEYTEA will be between Paisano's and Wingstop

In recent years, HEYTEA has expanded to the United States, primarily in the New York City area. Rockville is one of several new American locations the chain hopes to open before the end of 2024.

Sassy Arch Brows construction underway

Sassy Arch Brows already has an existing Rockville location at 1170 2B Rockville Pike. The beauty salon offers brow threading and tinting, lash lifts, cosmetics, full face threading, and facial and body waxing services.

KaFean Koffee opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda as PSL season begins at Starbucks

KaFean Koffee has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The upstart coffee and espresso kiosk has picked an interesting time to make its debut, as today is the official start of PSL season at Starbucks, which also has a location in the mall. KaFean Koffee serves coffee by Austrian coffee roaster Julius Meinl, as well as tea, hot chocolate, and fresh juices. Look for KaFean Koffee on Level 1 of the mall, near Kiehl's and the Lego store.

Pelicana Chicken opening this fall in Rockville

Bonchon is about to get some major competition in the Rockville Town Center area. Pelicana Chicken, a full-service Korean chicken restaurant, will open this fall at 4 N. Washington Street at Courthouse Center. The Pelicana chain was founded in 1982 in Daejeon, South Korea, and today boasts of over 3000 locations worldwide. It opened its first U.S. location in 2014 in Flushing, Queens, New York.

Despite a tagline of "old is gold," Pelicana promises its chicken is fried in "fresh, new oil daily." The motto is inspired more by Pelicana's claim to be "the longest-standing Korean chicken brand." Some of their stores even have secret menus. Pelicana's Rockville location will be open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 AM to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. An October opening is currently anticipated.

Photos courtesy Pelicana

Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet sets opening date in Rockville

Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet at 1471 Rockville Pike will welcome its first customers this weekend. The restaurant will open tomorrow, Saturday, August 10, 2024. Promising "the largest and most elegant Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine restaurant," Umi is opening several new locations in the U.S. this year. This building was formerly home to Miller's Ale House.

Rockville Pike Arby's conversion to McDonald's moving forward

The conversion of the vacant Arby's restaurant at 11710 Rockville Pike into a McDonald's has stalled out since the lease of the building by the Golden Arches came to light this past February. Construction work is now expected to begin by early fall. The nearby McDonald's at 11564 Rockville Pike will move to this location when the work is completed, with the major benefit of now offering drive-thru service, which is great news for McDonald's fans in the White Flint area. I've learned that the planned addition to the Arby's building will expand its size by about 170-square-feet.

Arby's closed here in May of 2021. Shake Shack was said to have interest in leasing the building a month later, but ultimately decided to settle for locations at Cabin John Village Center and Westfield Montgomery Mall, and pulled out by September of 2021. Despite its prime location and drive-thru configuration, the Polinger Company-owned building then sat vacant until McDonald's came aboard this year. Saul Centers owns the existing McDonald's property at 11564 Rockville Pike.

Update on Mia Cane Juicery and Açaí Bar in Rockville

The window coverings have been removed at Mia Cane Juicery and Açaí Bar at 785-I Rockville Pike at the Ritchie Center. Inside, juicing equipment and cash registers are in place around the front counter. There is some seating in the dining area. All that's missing at the moment are the menu boards or screens. Outside, the operating hours have been applied to the glass entrance door, along with an Instagram account that isn't yet functional as of this morning.

Curtains for Butter Chicken House at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda?

Butter Chicken House in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has been closed during business hours on visits to the mall over the past week. Last evening, funereal black curtains were drawn across the front of the business. Men were seen removing kitchen equipment from the stall. Butter Chicken House opened here in September 2023.

Update on Torchy's Tacos in Rockville (Photos)

Permanent lighted signage has been installed at Torchy's Tacos at 12266-A Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza in Rockville. Last night, it was already lit up. It's not quite as large and prominent as former tenant Chuy's' was when viewed from the Pike, but includes a sharp rendering of the Mexican chain's devilish mascot.

Outdoor seating has put placed on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. Pitchfork door handles have been installed on the entrance doors. A liquor license hearing for Torchy's has been scheduled for August 15, 2024. Just yesterday, the company posted a help-wanted ad for a Local Store Marketer for this location on Indeed. Torchy's Tacos is expected to open by fall.

Kapow Buddy opening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kapow Buddy is coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It's the latest in a long line of Chipotle-style fast-casual bowl restaurants. This time, the theme cuisine is Thai. 

Your imagination will suggest to you that a grain base will be loaded with vegetables, proteins, and Thai cuisine toppings, and - incredibly - your hunch is correct. In fact, Westfield says in its promotion of the restaurant that "Kapow Buddy is eager to introduce their famous Thai food in the 'Bowl Style' to offer customers a variety of choices including grains, proteins, toppings, and more." When it opens, look for Kapow Buddy on Level 1 in the Old Navy wing.

Pollo Campero opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Workers had been seen going in and out of the new Pollo Campero in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda over the last two weeks. Now the Latin American chicken chain's latest location has opened for business. As you can see in the photo below, it is already a popular addition to the mall's lineup of eateries. Westfield is going all-in on Pollo Campero in Montgomery Mall, to which it has also leased a space at its Wheaton Plaza mall food court, as well.

Kajiken holding soft opening in Rockville

The doors have opened at Kajiken at 1701 Rockville Pike A7, at the Shops at Congressional Village. A soft opening is being held through Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Soft opening hours are 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM for lunch, and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM for dinner. Each day, you'll have a chance to win a tote bag by playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with restaurant staff. 10 bags will be given away each day, while supplies last.

Kajiken was founded in Japan in 2010. The chain specializes in the abura soba style of ramen. This soupless ramen derives its flavors from a distinctive blend of sauces imported directly from Japan, and cooking oil. Their homemade noodles are thicker and chewier than those served in most ramen establishments. Without a heavy broth in the bowl, Kajiken's dishes tend to be lower in fat and calories than typical ramen. Kajiken is one of several new Asian restaurants opening at the Shops at Congressional Village this year.

Little Miner Taco sets opening date in Rockville

Little Miner Taco has set an opening date for its new Rockville location. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is now scheduled to be held at the restaurant at 39 Maryland Avenue at Rockville Town Square on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Little Miner Taco was previously located inside The Block, the food hall at Pike & Rose that recently closed. The signature dish that has gained them fame in the Washington, D.C. region is their birria taco.

Yummy Bowl "coming soon" to Rockville

Yummy Bowl is "coming soon" to 2010 Veirs Mill Road in the Twinbrook area of Rockville, according to signage posted in the storefront windows. The growing restaurant chain specializes in sushi, ramen and Mongolian stir-fry dishes. Your "culinary journey through Asia" will also include Korean-style fried chicken, the brand promises. 

Yummy Bowl currently has - or will soon open - locations in Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. Their Rockville restaurant will be their first in Maryland.