VinoRita closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Apparently, there's no demand for wine slushies in Bethesda. Last weekend, I noticed that VinoRita, which opened only about five weeks ago in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall, was closed on a busy Saturday evening. Now their kiosk is entirely cleared out. It's recently become one of the unluckiest spots in the mall, as HalfSmoke lasted less than a year in the same kiosk, and VinoRita has now chased that with one of the fastest business failures I've ever reported in the 17 years I've been publishing news in Montgomery County. 

It looks like wine moms have been following the ultra-rich out the door in their mass exodus from moribund Montgomery County, folks. You would think County residents could have used a stiff slushie after looking at their new, jacked-up MoCo property tax bills. VinoRita may want to try a Spring Valley, Leesburg or Clarksville location instead. Meanwhile, Westfield may need to break the emergency glass, and bring in Steak and Shake, In-N-Out Burger, Jack in the Box, Raising Cane's or Zaxby's to hit a home run in this struggling kiosk. In the words of Shia LaBeouf, "I'm tired of starting over...just DO IT!!!!"

VinoRita was still there, but
abandoned, last Saturday night

A week later...VinoRita is gone

*Sad trombone*

VinoRita wine slushies kiosk opens, Wild Custom Apparel moves at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

VinoRita, a wine slushies kiosk, has opened in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. "Have a wine slushy," an electronic menu screen floating above the kiosk advises. A menu screen lists 5 flavors available. VinoRita's marketing calls the new kiosk "your classy place to drink."

In other mall news, Wild Custom Apparel has made a short move to relocate. It has reopened in a space between the Lego Store and The Children's Place on Level 1, essentially just leapfrogging to the opposite side of the Lego Store from where it was. The shop is what it sounds like, a custom-printing apparel business. What makes it "wild," is left to the imagination. Downing a couple of wine slushies before shopping may assist in that department.

VinoRita wine slushies kiosk to open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

A new frozen treat is coming to the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. VinoRita, a kiosk dispensing frozen wine slushies, plans to open next month at the mall. This will be the small-but-growing chain's first location outside of the south, where it currently has two kiosks in North Carolina, and one in Georgia.

VinoRita's wine slushie menu features its most popular Blackberry Sangria, alongside Peach Frose, Strawberry Daiquiri, and Blueberry Pomegranate. The kiosk won't be just for adults; there is a selection of non-alcoholic flavors available. VinoRita will be open 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Thursday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sundays. 

Downtown Brews to open in Rockville

Downtown Brews will be opening soon at 5751-E Fishers Lane in The Alaire apartment building in Rockville. The shop will sell beer, wine and coffee. It will be open from 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM seven days a week. This space was formerly home to Downtown Beer and Wine.

A look inside the new Rockville Beer & Wine (Photos)

Here's a look inside the new Rockville Beer & Wine store that just opened at 15809 Frederick Road (MD 355), in the Derwood area just south of Redland Road. As you can see, there is an extensive selection. The store also sells lottery tickets. It is located between Wendy's and 7-Eleven, and surface parking is available.

Rockville Beer and Wine is now open

Rockville Beer and Wine has opened at 15809 Frederick Road in the Derwood area across from King Farm. In addition to a fine selection of beer and wines, the store also sells Maryland Lottery tickets. This is in the small strip center between Wendy's and 7-Eleven on MD 355.

Signs of life at Rockville Beer & Wine (Photos)

It was back in November 2021 when I broke the news that Rockville Beer & Wine would be opening at 15809 Frederick Road in Derwood. The store had a liquor license hearing in January, but still hasn't opened. Now some beer brand logo signs have appeared in the windows of the storefront, suggesting things are moving forward again, although the covered windows make it difficult to see what progress has been made inside. Another sign reads, "COLD BEER."

Beer and wine store to open in Derwood

A new tenant has signed on at the small strip mall just south of the 7-Eleven at MD 355 and Redland Road in Derwood. The store will sell beer and wine, as well as Maryland Lottery tickets. It fills the end space at 15809 Frederick Road, across from the Rockville neighborhood of King Farm.

JK Beer & Wine opens in Rockville

There's a new option for beer and wine purchases in Rockville. JK Beer & Wine has opened at 800 Rockville Pike, in the Golden Arcade shopping center. It is in the space formerly home to Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Hogan extends moratorium on utility shutoffs, allows breweries to serve in outdoor seating

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued two coronavirus-related executive orders this morning. First, he has extended the moratorium on utility shutoffs - including internet and phone service - until July 1, 2020. Secondly, he is allowing state-licensed breweries, wineries and distilleries to begin serving customers on-premises in outdoor seating only. Hogan's order also allows third-party shipment of alcoholic beverages to consumers.

Bliss in a Bottle opening at Montgomery Mall

Bliss in a Bottle will open a kiosk this fall at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The gift retailer specializes in chocolate-covered wine bottles. It's more sophisticated than it sounds - the specific chocolate coating is specially chosen to pair with the wine inside the bottle, a variety of chocolates are used, and mix-ins found in the chocolate can be a sophisticated as hibiscus berry powder and rose sugar. The Ohio-based Bliss in a Bottle already has an area location in Tysons Corner Center.

Photo courtesy Bliss in a Bottle

Cooper's Hawk Rockville opening next week

Cooper's Hawk has set the opening date for their new Rockville location. The restaurant and winery will open Monday, July 15, 2019 at 1403 Research Boulevard in the new Research Row shopping center, a company spokesperson tells me.

You can see that the permanent signage has been installed on the facade of the restaurant. They've also already got an interesting assortment of wine bottles and containers arranged inside the front windows.

Free wine tasting tonight at Dawson's Market in Rockville

Start the weekend off right with a free wine tasting tonight at Dawson's Market in Rockville. The wine tasting will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM this evening, Friday, June 14, 2019. Dawson's Market is located at 225 N. Washington Street at Rockville Town Square.

Rockville construction update: Cooper's Hawk (Photos)

Work continues on the future Cooper's Hawk restaurant and winery at the Research Row shopping center in Rockville. More glass has been installed, and the flooring is now being put down inside. They are hiring for all positions - candidates can apply at a trailer outside the restaurant. Cooper's Hawk has a liquor license hearing scheduled for June 20 at 9:00 AM.

Darnestown's Windridge Winery tasting room on Planning Board agenda

Windridge Vineyards grapes growing
along Darnestown Road

Windridge Vineyards at 15700 Darnestown Road in Darnestown has proposed adding a winery tasting room to their property. That proposal is now coming before the Montgomery County Planning Board, at their June 6 meeting.

Map of proposed vehicle access point (in blue)
for the tasting room on Darnestown Road

The proposal includes a new road access point on Darnestown Road, at the Bellingham Drive intersection. Windridge would also provide a 10' multi-use path along the frontage of their property as part of the project. Planning staff is recommending approval of the tasting room. Windridge hopes to open the tasting room this summer.

Construction underway at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Rockville

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant is now under construction at the Research Row shopping center in Rockville. Part of the parking lot in front of the future restaurant's space has been closed off for construction vehicles.

While a substantial amount of work has been done inside, it is still in the earliest phase of construction. This will be a nice sit-down dining addition to Research Row, and the second Cooper's Hawk location in Maryland. Cooper's Hawk is expected to open this summer.

Pour Vino n' Hops opens in Rockville

Pour Vino n' Hops is now open at 42 Maryland Avenue, in the ground floor of the Upton apartments in Rockville Town Center. Try and buy hundreds of hand-selected fine wines from here and around the world, and choose from a selection of local and imported craft beers. They also offer charcuterie and cheese pairings for your selections.

Rockville Pike Craft Beer & Wine opens (Photos)

Rockville Pike Craft Beer & Wine has opened at 1800-D Rockville Pike, in the ground floor of The Galvan apartments near the Twinbrook Metro station. The interior looks modern and sleek, and they have a nice bar and tasting area in the front part of the store. Certainly a much-appreciated addition for residents of the building.

Beer & wine store close to opening at The Galvan on Rockville Pike

The sign is up and lit, but the name has changed. We've been waiting months for the debut of The Beer Junction in the ground floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook development at 1800-D Rockville Pike. Now workers are putting the finishing touches on the interior, where seating and tables are also in place. The store will now be called The Rockville Pike Craft Beer & Wine.

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