Buffalo Wild Wings GO signage installed in Rockville

Permanent signage has been installed above the future storefront of Buffalo Wild Wings GO at 16256 Frederick Road at the Rock Grove shopping center, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. The logo for the express version of Buffalo Wild Wings has been added to the roster on the shopping center's monument signage, as well. Things aren't quite as far along inside, however, as you can see in the photos below. Rockville and Gaithersburg each already have full-scale Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, which are more like sports bars, competing with sit-down competitors like Hooters.

Andy's Pizza to add second Montgomery County location

Andy's Pizza's first venture into Montgomery County in Bethesda has been so successful, the local pizzeria chain is opening a second one. It will be located at 145 Commerce Square Place at Kentlands Market Square, next to CHOPT, in Gaithersburg. Andy's serves New York-style pizza in whole pies, or by the slice, making it an upgrade from previous tenant MOD Pizza. No opening date has been announced, and this location does not yet appear on the chain's website.

KPUB Irish-Korean fusion bar "coming soon" to Rockville

Here's something you don't see every day: an Irish-Korean fusion bar and restaurant are "coming soon" to Rockville Town Center, according to signage posted at its future space in the ground floor of the BLVD Ansel apartments at 33 Monroe Street. According to property owner Comstock, KPUB "is a dynamic full-service restaurant and bar that offers a bold menu of Korean-inspired cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and an energetic nightlife atmosphere. KPUB will feature private karaoke rooms, a lively bar scene, and a sleek ambiance that is set to bring an elevated dining and entertainment experience to the Rockville Town Center neighborhood."

"With KPUB, I set out to create a groundbreaking Irish-Korean fusion bar that blends high-energy social dining with cutting-edge technology,"KPUB founder Derek Liu said in a statement. "This isn’t just another pub—it’s an immersive experience where guests can send drinks to other tables, enjoy elevated Korean-Irish cuisine, and transition into a late-night speakeasy with private karaoke rooms. KPUB is redefining nightlife in Rockville and beyond with innovation and excitement the industry hasn’t seen before."

"We are excited to welcome KPUB to BLVD Ansel," said Tim Steffan, Chief Operating Officer of Comstock COO Tim Steffan said. "Their concept will bring a fresh, engaging dining and entertainment experience to Rockville Town Center, creating yet another unique destination that our residents and the surrounding local community will enjoy."

Montgomery Village McDonald's to add 2nd drive-thru lane

The menu items at McDonald's keep getting smaller, but the drive-thru at the Montgomery Village location is about to get bigger. A second lane will be added to the drive-thru later this summer. This will bring the fast food restaurant in line with current McDonald's drive-thru standards, and with the dual-lane capacity of rivals like Chick-fil-A. McDonald's is located at 19388 Montgomery Village Avenue, and is one of the few 24-hour drive-thru fast food restaurants in Montgomery County. Don't tell the County Council!

Vine Alley, Brews & Barrels spaces marketed for lease at Kentlands Market Square

Kimco Realty is marketing the spaces currently occupied by Vine Alley and Brews & Barrels at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg as "available" for lease. Both spaces have a notation that parties interested in leasing either storefront "do not disturb" the current tenants, who are still open for business. In addition, both businesses have been removed from the tenant roster in Kimco leasing materials for the property. Brews & Barrels opened at 625 Center Point Way in 2020, and Vine Alley opened two years later at 114 Market Street.

Aggravated assault with firearm at restaurant in Derwood

Montgomery County police responded to a report of disorderly conduct at a restaurant in Derwood on July 4, 2025. The report came from a restaurant in the 15800 block of Frederick Road at 8:07 PM Friday. One or more suspects were accused of aggravated assault with a firearm, and of 2nd-degree assault, in the incident. There are a McDonald's and a Wendy's on that block of Frederick Road.

Rockville hotel restaurant space available for lease

The ground floor restaurant space at the venerable Best Western hotel at 1251 W. Montgomery Avenue in Rockville is now available for lease. At 5,500-square-feet in size, the space is suitable for restaurant or retail use. The monthly rent amount is available upon request, according to the online listing. As part of the hotel building, the restaurant space delivers a "captive audience" on-site, hotel guests in search of convenient breakfast, lunch, and dinner options you can provide. Not to mention room service!

Police called after assault at Rockville restaurant

Rockville City police were called to a restaurant after someone was assaulted there on Wednesday morning, July 2, 2025. The assault was reported at a restaurant in the 14900 block of Shady Grove Road at 9:16 AM Wednesday. An emergency petition for an involuntary mental health evaluation was filed in relation to the incident.

Subway reopens on Rockville Pike

Subway has returned to 1402 Rockville Pike in Rockville. The submarine sandwich shop has been closed since December for a major renovation. It has now reopened, and operating hours will be 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays. The return at this location and at Westfield Montgomery Mall reflect a renaissance of Sandwich Artists in Montgomery County.

Chips and drinks are fully stocked

Sandwich artist parking only!

Fresh Tomato Pie returning for summer at Pepe's Pizza at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is bringing back its popular seasonal Fresh Tomato Pie again this summer at all of its locations, including the one at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. This is the 17th year that Pepe's has offered the Fresh Tomato Pie, which tops the pizzeria's signature coal-fired crust with fresh native tomatoes, mozzarella cheese sliced daily in-house, garlic, basil, grated Pecorino Romano cheese imported direct from Italy, and just a touch of Pepe’s olive oil blend. The Fresh Tomato Pie will be sold from June 30, 2025 until the end of summer. World-famous Pepe's turns 100 this year, and what better way to celebrate than with a Fresh Tomato Pie from the Montgomery Mall location?

Photo courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

Signage installed at Wild Bean Coffee in Rockville (Photos)

Permanent signage has been installed above the future storefront of Wild Bean Coffee at 1532 Rockville Pike. The coffee shop does not appear to be part of a chain, and has no website or social media presence that I can find so far. Even the precise name is unclear. The "coming soon" signage in the windows has it as "Wild Coffee Bean," and the new sign above reads, "Wild Bean Coffee."

Darband Restaurant replacing Taste of Kabab in Rockville

Taste of Kabab has closed at 765-H Rockville Pike at the Ritchie Center in Rockville. But fans of kababs and kabobs don't have to worry. Their space has been leased by Darband Restaurant, a Persian kabob restaurant. Workers cleared out the interior, and then had tables and chairs set up in the dining room by evening Monday. That would still leave any additional decor or new kitchen/counter equipment to be installed. Taste of Kabab opened here about 21 months ago.

HeyTea opens in Rockville

HeyTea has opened at 891-F Rockville Pike at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville. In 2012, in a small alleyway called Jiangbianli in Jiangmen, China, HeyTea's young founder invented cheese tea, the product that would become the company's signature product. HeyTea's other signature is its worldwide popularity on social media, stimulated by the company's effort in creating Instagram-ready store interiors and packaging, and drinks that have as much appeal to the camera eye as to the taste buds. The hype that preceded the Rockville opening is real, as the line was out the door Saturday afternoon at Wintergreen Plaza.

Feasty Crab seafood restaurant for sale in Derwood

Feasty Crab at 16811 Crabbs Branch Way at The Grove shopping center in Derwood is being marketed for sale. The seafood and crab boil restaurant opened here three years ago. Its lease expires in February of 2031, and the restaurant is offering the potential buyer two weeks of training. The asking price for the restaurant is $350,000, according to the online listing.

Subway opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Subway has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Sandwich artists are now in residence in the former J. Chow space in the Dining Terrace food court, on Level 2 of the mall. $5 Footlongs are a thing of the past, as a Footlong can be two-to-three times that amount, depending on your choice of sandwich. Subway is currently experiencing a renaissance in Montgomery County, with an imminent return to 1402 Rockville Pike also in the works.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings "coming soon" to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings is "coming soon" to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, according to signage posted in the windows of its future space. It will be hard to miss, as it has exterior frontage at the main entrance to the Dining Terrace food court on Level 2. Nan Xiang is expected to open this fall.

Soup dumplings originated in Nan Xiang, China centuries ago, but Nan Xiang the restaurant was founded in Flushing, New York in 2006. Growing into a significant chain, and picking up Michelin-recommended status along the way, Nan Xiang is currently engaging in a rapid expansion into malls and other retail properties in the northeastern United States.

Subway nears return on Rockville Pike (Photos)

The newly-renovated Subway at 1402 Rockville Pike in Rockville looks very close to opening. Digital menu screens have been installed behind the counter, and are already operational. In fact, the shipping boxes for the screens by the Pennsylvania-based digital sign firm Scala are still visible in front of the counter. The company also manufactures touchscreen ordering systems, but none of those are visible yet inside the restaurant. This Subway store closed last December, and even the signage was stripped off of the building, with no message left for customers. Then this spring, a renovation project began and a Subway logo appeared on one of the interior walls.