Pollo Campero closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Pollo Campero has permanently closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, according to a sign posted at their stall in the Dining Terrace food court. The Guatemalan chicken chain opened this location in July 2024. From what I can tell, this is one of the rare closures we can't necessarily blame the Montgomery County Council for. I see that quite a few Pollo Campero restaurants have closed elsewhere across the country this year.

I recall that the chain went through a major expansion push in 2024, after celebrating record sales growth the previous year. Several of the planned 45 new locations were here in Montgomery County. I notice that a recurring theme in news articles about the other closures is that they all opened during that heady expansion year of 2024. 

Kareem's Lebanese Kitchen opens in Gaithersburg

Kareem's Lebanese Kitchen opened with a ribbon-cutting yesterday at 212 Boardwalk Place at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. The dining room was packed this evening. Specialties include fresh breads, handmade mezze, Lamb Mouzat, Farrouj, and Kareem's signature hummus, which is prepared from scratch in a three-day process. 

"I'm proud to bring Kareem's to Maryland and share the food, traditions and hospitality that have been part of my family for generations," Chef Rachid Eido said in a statement. "Lebanese hospitality is about more than serving a meal. It is about opening your table, sharing generously and making people feel like they belong. That is what we want every guest to experience when they come to Kareem's."

Hong Kong Tea House opening in Rockville

Hong Kong Tea House is coming soon to Rockville. It will be located at 605 Hungerford Drive (MD 355). At Hong Kong Tea House, patrons will "indulge in Hong Kong's sweetest secrets," the local chain promises. Specialties include handcrafted milk teas, fruit teas, Vietnamese coffees, smoothies, desserts, and a wide selection of authentic Chinese street foods from a variety of regions. Hong Kong Tea House is currently hiring cooks, baristas, and assistant managers. 

Arby's construction begins in Derwood

Construction has begun on the future Arby's restaurant at 7200 Muncaster Mill Road at the Red Mill Shops shopping center. So far, they are demolishing the interior of the former McDonald's. They haven't added Arby's to the tenants on the shopping center's monument sign yet, but you can see the blank space where it will go. Here's a look inside:

Police called after assault at grocery store in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a grocery store this past Saturday afternoon, August 29, 2026. The assault was reported at a store in the 200 block of N. Washington Street in Rockville Town Center at 3:01 PM Saturday. That is the new Trader Joe's store at The Square at Rockville.

Sneak peek: Bogotá Coffee House in Rockville

Bogotá Coffee House looks close to opening at 115 N. Washington Street in Rockville. Seating and equipment are now in place. Artwork and photos are in the process of being hung on the walls. So far, vintage photographs display scenes of the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá, the now-demolished Hotel Granada in that grand city, and the historic Pedro A. López Building on the Avenida Jiménez de Quesada. Here's a sneak peek inside:

College Plaza shopping center getting a facelift in Rockville

College Plaza, the venerable and popular shopping center at 15100 Frederick Road in Rockville, is getting an updated look. A significant remodeling project is underway at the property, which is anchored by a New York Mart grocery store. All tenants remain open for business during the renovations. Here's a look at the work in progress: