Subway "coming soon" to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Subway is "coming soon" to Westfield Montgomery Mall, signage just installed at its future space in the Dining Terrace food court promises. I broke the news that sandwich artists will soon be preparing America's favorite sub sandwiches at the mall back in September 2024. Subway replaces longtime tenant J. Chow in the food court. Construction on the conversion of J. Chow to Subway is now getting started behind the wall, and the signage promises a spring 2025 opening.

Kelly's Cajun Grill temporarily closed at Montgomery Mall due to gas problem

Kelly's Cajun Grill had to temporarily close yesterday at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Located in the Dining Terrace food court, the restaurant cited a "gas supply interruption" as the reason for the closure. A specific day or time for reopening was not given, but it promised to "reopen as soon as possible," so it could reopen as early as today. It's always best to call ahead in this situation, if this is the only reason you are going to the mall. The gas issue did not seem to impact the other tenants around it in the food court last evening.

Mykonos restaurant under construction at Cabin John Village in Potomac (Photos)

Construction continues on the new Mykonos restaurant at 7965 Tuckerman Lane at the Cabin John Village shopping center in Potomac. The Greek restaurant's newest Montgomery County location has been in the works since 2023. Mykonos had a hearing to obtain its liquor license from Montgomery County yesterday, January 16, 2025. The existing Mykonos Grill is located at 121 Congressional Lane at the Congressional North shopping center in Rockville.

McDonald's gutted in surprise renovation at Cabin John Mall (Photos)

The venerable McDonald's at 11301 Seven Locks Road inside the Cabin John Mall in Potomac has been gutted inside. According to signage posted at the restaurant, it is temporarily closed for renovations. No reopening date has been posted, but one of the signs says that the remodeling will take a few weeks to complete. A second, more optimistic sign says "a few days," but that's a bit too optimistic from what you can see here. But overall, the renovation sends a very positive message to customers that the ownership wants to provide a brand new dining room experience for them.

This McDonald's almost closed a couple of years ago, but agreed to stay at the mall after outcry from its many loyal customers. It looks like they are now updating the store for the long haul, with a sneak peek at the new interior visible in the photo above. Customers are being directed to the Montgomery Mall McDonald's while the renovations take place. Yes, Cabin John Village has Shake Shack - but Shake Shack doesn't have the Big Mac! Or America's favorite fries.

Pelicana Chicken opening soon in Rockville (Photos)

Pelicana Chicken looks close to opening at 4 N. Washington Street at the Courthouse Center shopping center in Rockville. The opening date has slipped from the fall 2024 debut the chain was targeting when I broke the story into very early 2025. Virtually everything appears to be in place inside the restaurant, including most of the seating, and permanent signage has been installed above the storefront. Pelicana's reputation as the "King of Chicken" precedes it, and is sure to reignite the Korean chicken debate in Rockville, with Bonchon a block away. For now, you can check out the Rockville location's menu online.

White Flint McDonald's closes on Rockville Pike (Video + Photos)

McDonald's has closed at 11564 Rockville Pike in White Flint. The loss is not permanent, however. McDonald's is relocating into a new restaurant building on the former Arby's site just up the Pike at 11710 Rockvile Pike. I had expected they might make an overnight switchover, but it looks like the transition won't be as seamless as I thought. The new McDonald's will have something this one never did: a drive-thru.

Ruby Thai Kitchen closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Ruby Thai Kitchen has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Its kiosk in the Dining Terrace food court has been cleared out, and signage has been removed. Ruby Thai Kitchen has been a longtime tenant of the mall, surviving even as many other food court occupants have opened and closed around it. Perhaps Charleys Philly Steaks was simply too much competition.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue opens in Rockville

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is now open at 785-G Rockville Pike, at the Ritchie Center shopping center. "Hawaii's Favorite Plate Lunch" invites you to "slither into 2025" here during the Year of the Snake. In 1999, the founders of L&L called their restaurant "Hawaiian Barbecue," assuming their future patrons on the mainland United States would be unfamiliar with the culinary history of the Hawaiian Plate Lunch. You, dear readers, won't suffer that ignorance, as you will be armed with this knowledge before visiting.

The Hawaiian Plate Lunch was an improvised invention of the islands' plantation workers during the 1800s, using leftovers packed into tins that had multiple compartments. Because the workers were of a diverse background, and tended to share their midday meals with their colleagues, the Plate Lunch evolved into a meal that usually contained the following elements: Rice, macaroni salad, and fish or chicken. 

Other dishes available on the menu include an L&L House Special BBQ Cheeseburger, the aptly-named Loco Moco with fried egg-topped beef burger patties, and a BBQ Beef Bowl. Hawaiians' love for SPAM is also well-represented, with the sushi-like SPAM Musabi and hearty SPAM Saimin noodle soup. Perfect for this weekend's weather. Another great addition to the dining lineup at Ritchie Center!

Chateau de Rockville "coming soon" to Rockville Pike

Chateau de Rockville is "coming soon" to The Shops at Congressional Village at 1701 Rockville Pike. Signage posted in its future storefront describes the business as a bakery, and a dessert and coffee shop. Property owner IVEA had promised a new focus on attracting overseas restaurant chains to the shopping center, with the initial group largely representing Asian cuisines. Now Francophiles may also find themselves lured to the retail center, to visit the Chateau de Rockville. Incroyable!

Chili's demolished on Rockville Pike (Photos)

The Chili's restaurant at 11428 Rockville Pike has been demolished. Demolition of the adjacent Woodglen Park property is still underway. The site is being redeveloped with a mixed-use residential apartment building, branded for now as North Bethesda Market II. Montgomery County has already approved that project.