Signs of activity at iPic, Regal theaters even as MoCo ban on food, drink sales remains in place

There's no indication Montgomery County's ban on concessions sales at movie theaters will be lifted anytime soon, but a couple of theater chains are showing signs of preparing for reopening. Regal Cinemas already announced a tentative reopening date for its Montgomery County cineplexes next month, in an apparent gamble that the ban on the sale of food and drink will be lifted by then. Workers began sprucing up the exterior of the Regal Cinemas Majestic & IMAX theater in downtown Silver Spring on Monday. And iPic at Pike & Rose is now hiring servers for its in-movie food and drink service, a clear indication that the luxury theater chain believes the ban will be revoked in the coming weeks.

Tarps on the sidewalk outside the Regal Cinemas
Majestic & IMAX theater in Silver Spring, where
workers are touching up the exterior

However, a list of potential steps in loosening restrictions at County businesses released by the County Council does not specifically mention movie theaters or performance venues - nor the ban on food and drink - among the relaxed rules. Only at Phase 3, which will be reached when 50% of the county population is fully vaccinated, could theaters sell food and drink because the County will belatedly adopt the current state guidelines at that point. Under the current ban, which eliminates the most profitable revenue source for theaters, only AMC has reopened its theaters in the county.

Lao Sze Chuan coming to Rockville

NoBe Market has found a new tenant for the restaurant space vacated by Brio. Lao Sze Chuan, a Szechuan Chinese restaurant, will open in the towering high-rise on Rockville Pike. 

Tony Hu, the "Mayor of Chinatown" in Chicago, has operated Lao Sze Chuan restaurants there, and in Connecticut, Minnesota and Nevada. Many diners and critics have considered his restaurants to serve the best Chinese food in Chicago. NoBe Market is located at 11351 Woodglen Drive in the White Flint area.

Car stolen from Rockville parking garage

City of Rockville police responded to a report of a car being stolen from a parking garage on Rockville Pike early Wednesday morning. The vehicle was taken from a commercial parking garage in the 1500 block of Rockville Pike, according to crime data.

Regal Cinemas sets reopening date for Regal Rockville Center movie theater

Montgomery County movie theaters have remained almost entirely dark since the County lifted the ban on movies, primarily due to the County banning the sale of food and drink at cineplexes to ensure patrons do not remove their masks indoors. AMC has been the only chain willing to reopen its two Montgomery County locations so far, somehow affording to do so while forgoing the concessions sales where theaters make most of their profits. Now, Regal Cinemas is either going to accept that scary revenue picture, or the chain is gambling that the ban might be lifted a month from now.

Regal Cinemas Germantown is now scheduled to reopen on May 14, 2021, the company has announced. A week later on May 21, Regal Cinemas Rockville Center in Rockville Town Center and Silver Spring Majestic & IMAX in downtown Silver Spring will reopen.

The announcement notes, however, that these dates could change depending on "unique circumstances" at each location. We will find out soon enough if a ban on food and drink concessions is a "unique circumstance," or if the chain has simply agreed to accept a low-or-no profit operating mode.

Cuban flavors coming to the border of Rockville this Friday

Colada Shop has set an opening date for its newest D.C.-area location, at Cabin John Village at 7993 Tuckerman Lane in Potomac. The Cuban cafe will open this Friday, April 23, 2021. Colada Shop offers Cuban coffee (is there any other kind?), croquetas and empanadas, and a couple of new menu items that will be exclusive to this location.

Photo courtesy Colada Shop

Athleta, Custom Ink open in Rockville

Athleta and Custom Ink have both opened at Congressional Plaza on Rockville Pike. While the former retailer was more public in its advancement toward opening day than the latter, ironically, both the activewear and custom printing shops ended up opening around the same time.

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.