Playa Bowls to Cabin John, Bambū Opens, Fuddruckers Closes, Smashburger’s Back

Playa Bowls, a favorite from the Jersey Shore, is heading to Cabin John Village. The healthy-eats chain with a surfer vibe is taking over the long-empty Robeks space, where owner Jeff Giuliani says he hopes to open by late September. On the menu: bowls, juices and smoothies featuring custom blends of acai berries, bananas, dragonfruit, chia seeds, coconut, kale, peanut butter, oatmeal, granola and honey. And for the caffeinated crowd: New Orleans-style cold brew chicory coffee. Giuliani, who owns franchise rights for the D.C. area, says he’s also close to signing a deal in Kensington.

Five months after it went dark on Rockville Pike — and two months after the company assured us that it wasn’t coming back — Smashburger reopened this week for a fresh start at the Galvan. Meanwhile, just a bit further north, longtime burger joint Fuddruckers has closed its doors to make way for upcoming redevelopment. (So what’s up with that Wegmans plan anyway? Stay tuned; we’re working on an update.)

Now open at 12242 Rockville Pike: Bambū Cafe, a sleek-looking snack shop in the strip center that once was home to Chef Geoff’s and Five Guys. The restaurant offers a Vietnamese-inspired menu of sweet coffees, bean-based chè drinks, fruit smoothies and bánh mì sandwiches. A couple of doors down, the Nature Kitchen restaurant that was supposed to open this summer is no longer happening. Its space has been filled by quick-serve Japanese eatery Katsu Go.