Balducci’s bankruptcy, Lego Store ready to launch, cashing in your jewelry

Gourmet market Balducci’s has joined the Chapter 11 club and will close its two-year-old Reston location this weekend. The bankruptcy filing comes after years of increased competition from all sides: Amazon-owned Whole Foods is on a mission to lower prices, while discounters like Costco and specialty grocers like Trader Joe’s continue to broaden their array of organic foods and prepared meals. Balducci’s, based in New Jersey, says it expects to emerge from bankruptcy and has no immediate plans for additional closings. Does that mean the Wildwood store will be sticking around? “Yes!” a spokesman confidently assured us this week.

Here’s a sneak peek inside the Lego Store, opening next month on the lower level of Westfield Montgomery mall. This place should be a major draw for parents who are ready to return to in-person shopping — especially with the synergy of family-friendly neighbors like The Children’s Place, Build-A-Bear Workshop and the new Moorenko’s ice cream kiosk. And just down the hall, Spirit Halloween is moving back into the empty Sears space for the second year in a row. In other mall news: Cava has reopened in the Dining Terrace, but a couple of other restaurants are still dark.

All these months at home have given many of us a chance to tackle long-neglected organization projects. If you’ve been sorting through old jewelry — and thinking about parting with some of the pieces you no longer love — now is a great time to take advantage of high gold prices and the booming auction market. “A lot of people have jewelry that they’ve acquired through their life and they’re still holding onto, but they never wear it and their kids don’t want it,” says Debrah Dunner, a Potomac-based rep for the auction house Freeman’s. “Sometimes it’s more advantageous to sell those pieces now and get the money to invest, to buy something new, to put away for your heirs or give to a charitable organization.” Freeman’s is especially interested in pieces from legacy brands like Boucheron, Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels. Not sure if what you have is valuable? Dunner offers free auction estimates via virtual appointments, with easy no-contact pickup of your goods. Email ddunner@freemansauction.com, or call (301) 738-0347.

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THIS WEEK’S UPDATES: If you’re looking to make a fresh start this fall with your home and your belongings, be sure to scroll down for our Furniture, Art, Jewelry & Collectibles section. In addition to learning about the auction market at Freeman’s (see article above), you’ll want to check out ISI Furnish (lightly used furniture and decor), iSoldIt (electronics, music equipment, jewelry, collectibles and furniture) and STX Gold (paying cash for your precious metals). And for Jewish holiday catering and platters, you’ll find what you need at Brooklyn’s Deli, Gregorio’s Trattoria and Potomac Pizza, working with sister company Bagels & Grinds.

 

DINING & DELIVERY

 

• BROOKLYN’S DELI, homemade meats, soups & sandwiches at Potomac Woods Plaza, 1089 Seven Locks Road. Try our corned beef, hand-carved pastrami, brisket, nova, chopped liver, pancakes from scratch, cheese blintzes & more — plus artisan bagels from Bethesda Bagels. Phone: (301) 340-3354. Open daily for carry-out, catering & patio dining. Menu: brooklynsdelimd.com.

 

• GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA, Italian favorites at Cabin John Village, 7745 Tuckerman Lane. Outdoor seating & limited indoor seating now open for lunch & dinner, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. We also offer curbside pickup, pay by phone & contact-free delivery. Full menu and weekly specials, plus 1/2 off all wine, beer & cocktails. Phone: (301) 296-6168. Menu: gregoriostrattoria.com.

 

• HUNTER’S BAR AND GRILL, the “Cheers” of Potomac. 10123 River Road. Phone: (301) 299-9300. Open for lunch, dinner and gift card sales. Half-priced bottles of wine with food purchase. Delivery through DoorDash and GrubHub, choose no-contact curbside carryout, or enjoy our patio for outdoor dining plus limited seating indoors. Reservations recommended. Check Facebook for daily specials. Menu: huntersbarandgrill.com

 

• LAHINCH TAVERN AND GRILL, regional American cuisine at Cabin John Village. New menu featuring split grilled bangers, Guinness-battered fish & chips, corned beef & cabbage, shepherd’s pie, chops, steaks & sandwiches. Discounted beer and wine to go. Delivery, carry-out, curbside pickup or enjoy outdoor dining in our new socially distanced patio & have a cocktail at our new outdoor bar. Call: (240) 499-8922. Menu: lahinchtavernandgrill.com.

 

• METRO MICROGREENS, locally grown hydroponic microgreens. Eighteen varieties available. High in nutrient density and helps boost the immune system. Stays fresh for 10 days to two weeks. Contact-free delivery. Email mark@metromicrogreens.com or call (301) 706-4884. To order online: metromicrogreens.com.

 

• MOBY DICK KABOBS, Persian cooking on the go. Multiple locations in Maryland & the DMV. Our family platters feed 3-4 people starting at $36.99 or 5-6 people starting at $63. Check out daily specials like khoresht gheymeh (yellow split-pea soup with beef) on Wednesdays & ghormeh sabzi (herb stew) on Fridays. All locations open for carry-out, delivery, curbside pickup & limited indoor seating, plus outdoor dining at Fallsgrove. Potomac phone: (240) 660-2626. Rockville phone: (301) 738-0005. Menu: mobyskabob.com.

 

• MOSAIC CUISINE, modern French cooking in Rockville. Freshly reopened for curbside pickup at 186 Halpine Road or delivery with Grubhub. Also offering outdoor dining plus limited seating in our newly redesigned dining room. Offering your favorite waffles, beef bourguignon, two-course family meals for four starting at $58, and much more. Order online or by phone: (301) 468-0682. Menu: mosaiccuisine.com.

 

• OFF THE HOOK CATERING: The team behind the Go Fish food truck, now offering seafood pickup & delivery every Friday. Lobster rolls, lobster meat with butter, ready-to-cook crab cakes, creamy crab soup, fish & shrimp taco kits, weekly chicken & salmon specials, garlic-roasted green beans, corn bread, Mexi-slaw, fresh-baked cookies & much more. Email: missy@offthehookcatering.com. Menu: offthehookcatering.com.

 

• POTOMAC PIZZA, a delicious favorite since 1978. Multiple locations in Maryland and the DMV. Potomac location: (301) 299-7700. Traville location: (301) 279-2234. Chevy Chase location: (301) 951-1127. Offering contact-free delivery, curbside pickup & takeout. Sister company Bagels & Grinds also offering bagels, lox & cream cheese pickup in Potomac on Saturday mornings. Menu: potomacpizza.com.

 

• QUARTERMAINE COFFEE ROASTERS, locally roasted fresh coffee. Bethesda store open 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday with drinks, beans & pastries. Use the Quartermaine app or call (301) 718-2853. Also: $5 flat-rate shipping with $30 minimum for beans shipped to your door. Click on the person next to the shopping cart at www.quartermaine.com.

 

• SISTERS THAI POTOMAC, Asian & Thai cuisine + desserts. Pickup and patio dining at Cabin John Village, 7995 Tuckerman Lane. Specialties like chicken satay, larb gai, pad thai, drunken noodles, curry dishes & more. Phone: (301) 299-4157. Free no-contact delivery with $30 to $40 minimum order. Menu: sistersthaicabinjohn.com.

 

• THE GRILLED OYSTER CO., American fare, seafood & drinks at Cabin John Village. 7943 Tuckerman Lane. Try our new $78 Clambake: double Maine lobster, spiced shrimp, steamed clams, corn, potatoes & cole slaw, complete with checked tablecloth. Call (301) 299-9888 or email valerie@grilledoysterco.com to order. Menu: thegrilledoystercompany.com.

 

• YEKTA Persian restaurant & market. 1488 Rockville Pike. Our restaurant is open for carry-out or curbside pickup, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Call (301) 984-0005 or use ChowNow, UberEats, Grubhub & other delivery apps. Our market is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Carry out or pick up curbside. To place your order, email info@yekta.com or call (301) 984-1190. Menu: yekta.com.

 

FURNITURE, ART, JEWELRY & COLLECTIBLES