More new restaurants for Pike & Rose
Pike & Rose is adding two more restaurants to its lineup, filling the empty spots left by the recently departed La Madeleine and Carluccio’s. Moving into the former La Madeleine space on Old Georgetown Road: Commonwealth Indian, serving beer, wine and cocktails along with a selection of Indian dishes. The Carluccio’s space next to Owen’s Ordinary will be home to Kusshi Sushi and Sake Bar, a new venture from the owners of Bethesda’s Hanaro Sushi. What else is scheduled to open at Pike & Rose this year? A ramen bar called Jinya (click here for more); a Mexican restaurant called Nada (click here for more); and Julii, a new concept from the founders of CAVA (click here for more).
Kung Fu Tea kicks butt
The Tutti Frutti yogurt shop at Pike & Rose is now a Tutti Frutti/Kung Fu Tea combo. That makes three Montgomery County locations for the fast-expanding bubble tea chain, which also can be found in downtown Rockville and Westfield Montgomery Mall. A competitor, Boba Station, closed its doors at the mall last week. But another New York bubble tea chain is coming to test the waters: Gong Cha will open in Rockville this year as part of an all-Asian food court called The Spot. For more on The Spot, click here. For info on other bubble tea stores in our area, click here.
Latest exits at the mall
More changes in store at Westfield Montgomery Mall, where some of the last remaining independent retailers will be among those exiting before summer. Shafa Blends, which opened three years ago under the name Rumi Tea and Spice, has relocated to Gaithersburg. Boba Station also is out (see story above), and other longtime tenants like Solstice and Pen Boutique are getting ready to leave. Hoamgar, an Asian chain that was testing the U.S. market, will close its doors this spring. Some of those empty spaces will likely be filled with attention-getting pop-up shops — like this minivan filled with Italian shoes.
Vince & Dominic’s no more
See that empty space to the right of the Bubbles hair salon? That’s where the Vince & Dominic’s pizzeria used to be. Home Depot, which owns that shopping center, has torn down some of the empty storefronts to make room for more parking.
Good Morning – I would like to make a correction to an update that you ran in two of your latest newsletters..you mentioned that Boba Station Bubble Tea was out…actually, they are no longer in a stand alone kiosk – but they are still selling their Bubble teas and smoothies at Yogi Castle (at the Cheesecake Factory Wing) The only reason I know this – is because I prefer their bubble tea to Kung Pao.
There’s also a Kung Fu Tea in City Place in Silver Spring!
Above in the first comment, I think Jana R. meant Kung Fu, not Kung Pao, LOL. I knew once Kung Fu Tea opened in the Food Court, it was only a matter of time before Boba Station would close. Both stores were too close in proximity to each other and the coveted Food Court area gets the most customers. There is also a Kung Fu Tea in Rockville by the Court House and also one inside the Tysons Mall.