Hello Flower Child, goodbye Mellow Mushroom, new sushi from Raku chef

Here’s your retail & restaurant scoop for the week of Sept. 27th, 2018.

Buzzy new restaurant about to make its Montgomery County debut: Flower Child, opening Nov. 7th at Travilah Square Shopping Center and next spring at the Wildwood Shops. The Phoenix-based chain, from the founders of True Food Kitchen, has a similar focus on healthy, flavorful dishes that accommodate various special diets. (Vietnamese Crunch Salad or Thai Cashew Quinoa Bowl, anyone?) Decor is casual and hippie-chic (click here for photos on our Facebook page). The restaurant should pair well with the new Trader Joe’s at Travilah Square — but complaints about the small parking lot are only going to get worse.

Funky pizzeria Mellow Mushroom has closed its doors after just two years at Rockville Town Square, where it replaced original tenant Oro Pomodoro across from the ice rink/performance stage. Co-owner Danny Trehan had complained over the years that parking fees were deterring foot traffic at Rockville Town Square. Trehan, who also operates franchised Mellow Mushroom restaurants in Herndon and Adams Morgan, says those two locations will remain open. “The (Rockville) restaurant was not doing so good,” he says, “and I wanted to get on with life.”

Hammer & Stain, a do-it-yourself sign-painting studio, is heading to Rockville Town Square this fall. Owner Robyn Rutland plans to offer group workshops, parties and drop-in gatherings where people can turn unfinished wood into wall decor, personalized signs, holiday gifts and more. Also: She’ll be serving wine and beer so you can sip while you paint. “We’ll walk you through the whole thing,” says Rutland, who will provide stencils and plenty of tools to assist the non-artistic. “Even someone like me, who is not really crafty, will walk out of there with a finished piece that’s creative and unique,” she says. Doors will open in the next few weeks on Gibbs Street across from First Watch, at the former home of Pigtails & Crewcuts.

Here’s a fresh sushi spot that might be worth a drive to Gaithersburg: Kenaki Sushi Counter, a new venture from former Raku sous chef Ken Ballogdajan, just opened its doors at Kentlands Market Square. “We’re only doing lunch for right now, but we’re hoping to add dinner in the next few weeks,” says Aki Ballogdajan, who co-owns the restaurant with her brother. Signature rolls include the Black Magic (black rice, spicy tuna, tempura flakes and crispy leeks) and the White Tiger (seared scallops, salmon, eel and Granny Smith apples). Hours will vary for the next few weeks, click here for more.