El Mercat Bar de Tapas now open in Rockville

El Mercat Bar de Tapas is now open at 101-C Gibbs Street at Rockville Town Square. George Rodrigues is the executive chef and owner of the Spanish tapas bar. You can see the menu, make reservations and order online on the restaurant's website. I've already heard a rave review from one reader of Rockville Nights.

Photos courtesy El Mercat Bar de Tapas

Pupuseria Mamá Emilia opens in Rockville

Pupuseria Mamá Emilia is now open at 785-H Rockville Pike, in the Ritchie Center. "We are happy to announce to you our favorite customers, we are finally open to the public in our new location," the restaurant posted in a comment right here on Rockville Nights. "Please stop by and come and visit us."

Here is a look at the takeout menu. In addition to dine-in and takeout, you can also have your selections delivered by DoorDash.

Warby Parker opening Rockville location

Warby Parker, the eyeglass retailer known for online sales but growing larger on the bricks-and-mortar front, will open a new store at Pike & Rose this year. It will be located at 11811 Grand Park Avenue. The company says the store will open this summer. Warby Parker already has locations north and south of Rockville, at Bethesda Row and Downtown Crown. 

Drive-thru Dunkin' Donuts planned for Shady Grove Road in Rockville

A new Dunkin' Donuts store with drive thru service is planned for the Shady Grove Road corridor, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. The new store will take over the vacant United Bank branch at 16268 Frederick Road, which actually has more prominent frontage onto Shady Grove than MD 355. This follows the recent pattern of Dunkin' stores moving into vacated banks that already have significant drive-thru infrastructure in place. There is an existing Dunkin' Donuts just around the corner at 16220 Frederick Road.

Signage installed at Ebisu Life Store in Rockville (Photos)

Permanent signage has been installed at the future Ebisu Life Store at 836 Rockville Pike. The Japanese grocery store is currently hiring staff. Last night, both signs were lit. Interior fit-out of the store is still a work-in-progress, however, as there is no shelving, merchandise, or checkout counter yet. When it does open, it promises to be one of the most interesting retail additions to the Pike yet.

DoorDash to bring DashMart convenience store service to Rockville

DashMart items awaiting orders via
virtual convenience store service

Montgomery County DoorDash users will get access to the company's DashMart convenience store service in the coming months. Much like the "ghost kitchens" that serve a variety of menus from one restaurant - or a remote kitchen that isn't in a restaurant at all - DashMart functions as a ghost convenience store. DoorDash drivers will pick up your order from a central warehouse in Rockville, including anything from milk and eggs to ice cream, soda and potato chips. DashMart also partners with local businesses who wish to sell their packaged food items, artisan wares and home goods through the delivery service.

Photo courtesy DoorDash

Rockville Wegmans/Twinbrook Quarter update (Photos)

Sheeting, shoring and excavation are the primary steps taken at the future site of Wegmans and the Twinbrook Quarter development at Rockville Pike and Halpine Road since my last update. Contractors are now grading the excavated area for construction of the underground parking garage. The shuttered Fuddruckers restaurant remains a prominent sight on the horizon beyond the excavation for the B.F. Saul project.