Sneak peek: Lao Sze Chuan in White Flint

It was all-hands-on-deck last night at Lao Sze Chuan, the Szechuan Chinese restaurant opening soon at 20 Paseo Drive at North Bethesda Market off Rockville Pike. Workers were putting the finishing touches on decor, setting dining tables, and making final kitchen preparations. Founded in Chicago in 1998, Lao Sze Chuan's Windy City location received the coveted Three-Fork rating from the Chicago Tribune a year later, a groundbreaking honor for a Chinese restaurant in that city.

Lao Sze Chuan will offer dine-in, curbside pickup and contactless delivery options. The restaurant takes over the former Brio space at NoBe Market.

European Wax Center update at Fallsgrove Village Center

European Wax Center looks just about ready to start waxing at Fallsgrove Village Center in Rockville. The spa is way ahead of neighbor Bethesda Bagels in its construction. Texas-based European Wax Center was founded in 2004, has over 800 spas nationwide, and recently went public and exceeded earning forecasts.

Urban Plates closes; Aerie, Marvel Adventure Lab open at Montgomery Mall

A second tenant in the most-prominent space in the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall has failed. Urban Plates has closed permanently, according to a sign posted at the interior entrance to the restaurant. The upscale buffet concept had the tragic timing to run head on into a global pandemic that idled buffets, and a shift to table service after the initial lockdown clearly failed to turn things around. One wonders how the chain will prosper at the struggling Collection at Chevy Chase if it flopped in a busy food court, but Clyde's has made it work, so let's give them a chance.

On the positive side, Aerie has opened on Level 1. It just missed the summer opening target as fall arrived at 12:00 AM last Wednesday. As a bonus, there is an Offline by Aerie shop.

Finally, there is a fun new attraction in the Dining Terrace near CAVA. The Marvel Adventure Lab is a photo booth that allows you to pose with your favorite Marvel Comics superhero. Or to insert yourself into a page from a comic book. The final product prints out for you to take home. Excelsior!

Amazon Fresh Shady Grove Road update (Photos)

The exterior of the future Amazon Fresh grocery store is nearly complete at the 270 Center on Shady Grove Road. Of course, there's no logo yet. The Friendship Heights location has already opened, but this one remains top secret.

Rockville construction update: Bethesda Bagels at Fallsgrove Village Center (Photos)

Construction is advancing slowly, but not so surely, at the future Bethesda Bagels location at the Fallsgrove Village Center in Rockville. All that has been completed since July are primarily some frames of interior walls where the kitchen, office and restroom spaces will eventually be, as well as some ceiling substructures. 

Kumbia confirmed for Rockville Town Square

Federal Realty has just confirmed Kumbia will replace the departing Spice X-ing at Rockville Town Square. Kumbia will serve dishes from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador. It will also feature live entertainment and a tableside cocktail menu. Kumbia is expected to open this winter.

“We are excited to bring a unique Latin offering, to include exciting cocktails, beloved dishes and live music inspired by the variety of cuisines that represent South American food culture,” Kumbia co-owner Steven Tobar said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming Kumbia to Rockville Town Square, to complement the now open Plaza Oaxaca, and the soon to open Thai Chef and Half Smoke, to name just a few,” Mickey Papillon, Vice President at Federal Realty added. “These new restaurants, alongside longtime Rockville favorites, make for a compelling and unique dining scene for the greater Rockville and Montgomery County community.”  

Rockville gas station destroyed by fire demolished

The Sunoco gas station at 790 Hungerford Drive in Rockville has been demolished. It was heavily damaged in a November 2019 fire. Klotz Construction is the demolition contractor, leveling the service station to its concrete slab. Sunoco itself provides some unintentional humor, as its website lists the demolished station as open and ready to serve you this morning.

Oops!