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Retail & Restaurant news for Rockville, Potomac & North Bethesda. We know it all. And we like to share.

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Corned Beef King

Goodbye Noodles & Company, hello dumplings & veggies — plus a comeback for Great Beginnings

November 19, 2015 By Store Reporter 8 Comments

 

 

 

Noodles & Company logo

 

Noodles & Company exits downtown Rockville

Noodles & Company has shuttered its restaurant on Gibbs Street in downtown Rockville, where business was slow and the company says it wanted to focus on its more successful Rockville location at bustling Congressional Plaza. This brings the number of closings at Rockville Town Square to more than a dozen in the past two years, with merchants continuing to complain about slow foot traffic and customers still grumbling about the parking fees. Restaurateur Danny Trehan, who will open a Mellow Mushroom pizzeria in the former Oro Pomodoro space next spring, says he plans to validate parking and wishes more of his neighbors would do the same. “So it’ll take an extra five dollars from my pocket,” Trehan says. “If it brings more people into my restaurant, who cares?” Three other restaurants — Miso Café, Samovar and Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub — had been scheduled to open at Rockville Town Square in the past few months, but now are expected to arrive sometime this winter.

 


 

Shanghai traysDumplings and veggies at the mall

Shanghai Bao Kitchen opened for business last week just outside the main Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall. This is a new venture from three young brothers whose family owns the Rockville restaurant Bob’s Shanghai 66. Dumplings and steamed buns are the focus here, as you’d expect — but we were surprised by the Cava-like assembly line of fresh Asian vegetables, as well as the willingness of servers to recommend which sauces would best complement them. With Chloe’s Deli next door and Korean B/Bop/Q slated to open just across the hall, this new section of the Dining Terrace is turning into an unexpectedly interesting showcase for ethnic foods from local entrepreneurs.

 


 

Founding Farmers Thanksgiving-to-go ad

 

 


 

Great Beginnings

 

A comeback for Great Beginnings

Great Beginnings, the children’s furniture store that closed its Gaithersburg location last summer, is looking to reopen in North Bethesda late next year. Owner Jim Streight says he’s signed a lease for 15,000 square feet in a new strip shopping center that will soon begin construction just north of the former White Flint Mall. The store will focus on baby gear, nursery furniture and high-end toys, with a smaller area devoted to rooms for older kids and teens. Streight says the Gaithersburg store was a huge success for much of its 25-year history, but shifting demographics and the landlord’s redevelopment plans left him no choice but to find a new location. “This whole area is changing,” he says. “We do still have some customers coming from Gaithersburg, but now they’re coming more from Rockville, Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Kensington.” Until the new store is built, Great Beginnings customers can visit the company’s Chantilly location or shop online at www.greatbeginnings.com.

 


 

Holy Child Mayfield Market Gift Girl reducedHoliday shopping at Mayfield Market

‘Tis the season for holiday gift shows in greater Rockville and Potomac. This weekend brings the Holy Child Mayfield Market, Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 21 and 22) at the Connelly School the Holy Child, 9029 Bradley Boulevard in Potomac. Shop more than 60 vendors offering artisan-made jewelry, home decor items, clothing and accessories for men and women, all sorts of gifts and an exquisite Christmas shop. There will be food trucks on hand and a bakery with breakfast items, desserts and freshly made Thanksgiving pies. For more info, visit www.holychild.org.

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kaufman 1200px traditions

 

 


 

Corned Beef King food truck

 

Corned Beef King finds a home on the Pike

The Corned Beef King food truck, always on the lookout for long-term parking spots, has found a new home on Rockville Pike outside the century-old Hank Dietle’s Tavern. This is Truck #2 for the Corned Beef King, whose owner plans to keep Truck #1 at its usual spot in the parking lot of Potomac Petals and Plants on River Road. The Hank Dietle’s/Corned Beef King partnership follows a short-lived attempt by another food truck, Curley’s Q, to operate from the kitchen of the historic dive bar. That arrangement got off to a promising start last May, but fell apart by August when the two parties couldn’t come to terms.  The Corned Beef King also has had trouble finding the right home: A previous attempt to park outside a Falls Road swim club went awry after neighbors complained to the county.

 


 

pumpkin pieGiveaway winners coming up next week

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we’re going to give three Store Reporter readers a little something extra to be thankful for. Stay tuned next week to find out who will win our three current giveaways: a $50 gift card to Asia Nine, a workout outfit from Equilibrium Activewear, and a bag of goodies from the Washington Hebrew Congregation Holiday Boutique and Silent Auction.

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PEP ad

 

 


 

 

Filed Under: Current Issue Tagged With: B/Bop/Q, Bob's Shanghai 66, Chloe's Deli, Corned Beef King, Curley's Q, Danny Trehan, Finnegan's Wake Irish Pub, Great Beginnings Gaithersburg, Great Beginnings Rockville, Hank Dietle's, Holy Child Mayfield Market, Kaufmann Jewelers, Mellow Mushroom Rockville, Miso Cafe, MoCo's Founding Farmers Thanksgiving-to-go, Noodles & Company, Rockville Town Square, Samovar, Shanghai Bao Kitchen, Westfield Montgomery Mall

New food, new looks at the mall — plus a grand opening, a contest winner and corned beef on wheels

September 17, 2015 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

 

 

 

Yum CrepesThis fall at the mall: five new eateries to try

The lively dining scene at Westfield Montgomery Mall continues to expand this fall, with two new eateries already open and three more on the way. Jamaican Mi Crazy, a food truck-turned-restaurant, is serving up jerk chicken, curry goat and fried plantains next to Naples Ristorante in the Dining Terrace. Just around the corner, Yum Crepes offers sweet and savory options near the ArcLight Cinema escalator. Shanghai 66 Innovation Kitchen, from the owners of the Bob’s Chinese restaurants in Rockville, will open in the next few weeks next to Chloe’s Deli. November will bring B Bop Q, a Korean fusion restaurant moving into the former Laila Rowe store next to Macy’s Home. Opening around the holidays: a new branch of Tara Thai, breathing new life into the long-empty Legal Sea Foods space.

 


 

J. CrewNew moves, new looks: J. Crew, J. Jill, Journeys and more

There was a bit of reshuffling at Westfield Montgomery Mall this summer, as several retailers moved to new locations while others freshened up their storefronts. J. Crew closed down in June for a months-long renovation, reopening last month with a polished new look for the increasingly upscale Nordstrom wing. J. Jill moved into the space next to Lilly Pulitzer, where it’s better positioned to capture traffic from the nearby Macy’s store. Bose built a posh new storefront in the Sears wing, where customers now linger in the patio-style seating next to Peet’s Coffee. The Specs sunglass store and the Avalon nail salon also are sporting new looks, as will the teen store Journeys at its new home in the Old Navy wing. The empty Caché store near the mall’s center is occupied for now by Storm J, a pop-up store selling soccer apparel. There’s lots more to tell about what’s happening at the mall this season; next week we’ll have details on who’s about to move in.

 


Joseph Ribkoff dress

 

Join the party at Ibhana — with a 15% discount

If you’re a fan of Joseph Ribkoff dresses, Damee jackets and Lior tunics, you’ll want to check out the new Ibhana boutique at Potomac Woods Plaza off Montrose and Seven Locks Road. The store also carries a lovely selection of Joanel handbags and Lipault luggage, plus scarves, belts and jewelry from Canada, India, England, Italy and France. Store Reporter readers are invited to Ibhana’s grand opening party this Friday (Sept. 18) from 6-8 p.m. With the coupon below, take 15% off your purchase on Friday or any day through the end of September. Planning to attend the grand opening? RSVP by phone (301-424-0906) or by email (click here).
 

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Ibhana coupon

 

 


 

Corned Beef King food truck

 

Another move for the Corned Beef King

The Corned Beef King food truck has a new home in Potomac: the parking lot of Potomac Petals and Plants, the nursery that replaced Behnke at 9545 River Road. Truck owner Jon Rossler says he gave up his previous spot at a Falls Road swim club after too many altercations with an unhappy neighbor. At the nursery, he’s serving up a varied menu with matzoh ball soup, knishes and lobster rolls. But in Potomac, he says, most customers are looking for the basics: “plain corned beef on rye with mustard” is far and away the best-sell

 

 

 


 

Sandy NesbitWho won our Urban Heights gift card?

Congratulations to Store Reporter reader Sandy Nolan Nesbit, who won our gift card to Urban Heights on Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda. She’ll get to sample the fresh Tuna Bar and the Asian-influenced menu from new executive chef Cliff Wharton. We have more great giveaways in the works; keep reading Store Reporter for your chance to win.
 

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Filed Under: Current Issue Tagged With: ArcLight CInema, Avalon Westfield Montgomery Mall, B Bop Q, Bob's Noodle, Bose Westfield Montgomery Mall, Caché Westfield Montgomery Mall, Corned Beef King, Corned Beef King Potomac, Ibhana, J. Crew Westfield Montgomery Mall, J. Jill Westfield Montgomery Mall, Jamaican Mi Crazy, Journeys Westfield Montgomery Mall, Laila Rowe Westfield Montgomery Mall, Legal Sea Foods Westfield Montgomery Mall, Lilly Pulitzer Westfield Montgomery Mall, Macy's Home Store Westfield Montgomery Mall, Peet's Coffee & Tea Westfield Montgomery Mall, Potomac Woods Plaza, Sandy Nolan Nesbit, Shanghai 66, Specs Westfield Montgomery Mall, Storm J, Storm J Westfield Montgomery Mall, Tara Thai, Tara Thai Westfield Montgomery Mall, Urban Heights, Westfield Montgomery Mall, Yum Crepes

An Addie’s update, a Mother’s Day giveaway and new Amex rewards — plus more on the corned beef front

May 7, 2015 By Store Reporter 2 Comments

 

 

 

Addie's

 

Addie’s on the Pike to reopen as Helen’s Bar & Grill

D.C. caterer Helen Wasserman is eyeing a July 4 opening for Helen’s Bar & Grill, her new restaurant in the former Addie’s location on Rockville Pike. Addie’s was  the first venture for local restaurateurs Jeff and Barbara Black, who earned a loyal following there from 1995 to 2013. Enter Wasserman, who owned a restaurant in the ’80s and wanted to get back in the business after 35 years of catering. “I live just down the street from Addie’s, and when the location came up I thought it was perfect,” she says. The century-old building is undergoing a complete makeover, including the transformation of its famous yellow facade to a muted palette of grey, white and plum. The menu will draw on Wasserman’s favorite catering recipes, with a focus on Mediterranean, Asian and southern dishes. “At lunch we’re going to offer a $15  special with entree, salad, dessert and non-alcoholic drinks,” she says. “I want to make sure that it’s not too high-end, because I want people to come back a lot.”

 


Valerie Nahmani sideways agate necklace

 

Mother’s Day giveaway: Win this necklace

Store Reporter is teaming up with local designer Valerie Nahmani for a Mother’s Day jewelry giveaway. Nahmani’s handmade pieces incorporate gemstones, crystals, gold and silver for beautiful results like this sideways agate necklace, valued at $195. Want a chance to win it? The best way to enter is through Facebook: 1) Like Store Reporter (click here). 2) Like Valerie Nahmani Designs (click here). And 3) Post a comment about the giveaway. If you’re not on Facebook but you’d still like to enter, click here to send us an email. Update: Dana Stewart was the lucky winner of this necklace. Stay tuned for more great contests from Store Reporter.

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American Express card

 

Amex Plenti program makes its debut

This week American Express rolled out its new Plenti rewards program, a flexible system that allows shoppers to earn points at one business and spend them at another. So you could, for example, buy gas from Exxon or cell service from AT&T — and then use those points for purchases at Macy’s or Rite Aid. The new program comes in the wake of recent news that Amex and Costco are terminating their longtime partnership. For details of the program and a list of participating merchants, click here for the Plenti website.

 


 

Corned Beef King food truck at Copenhaver Swim Club

 

The Corned Beef King is finally back

After many months of delays and setbacks, the Corned Beef King food truck finally found its way home this week to the Montgomery Square Copenhaver Swim Club on Falls Road near Montrose. Truck owner Jon Rossler, whose family once owned the Celebrity Delly at Cabin John Shopping Center, signed a deal last December to operate from the swim club’s parking lot. After he was driven out by neighbors’ complaints, Rossler applied to the county for express permission to operate from that spot. This week he was finally back in business with everything from Reubens to mac-and-cheese plates to matzoh ball soup. (We tried the corned beef and were duly impressed.) Rossler is still working out the schedule for when he’ll be onsite, but it’s likely to be dinner-only Wednesday through Friday with longer hours on weekends.

 


 

Baskin Robbins cone

 

Cabin John deals and discounts

In case you missed it last week — or in case you tried to use our link during a temporary technical glitch — we invite you again to check out our Coupons & Giveaways page for great deals, discounts and freebies at the Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall. There  you’ll find offers from Baskin-Robbins, BGR, Broadway Pizza, California Tortilla, My Gym and many more. You’ll also find a special 20 percent-off coupon for Leila Jewels, which is good through May 10. Click here to see them all.

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Jenny Camps ad

 

 


Ian Band edited profile photoReader Favorite: Chloe’s NY Style Deli

Our Reader Favorite section is the perfect place to tell us about that dish you dream about, that dessert you crave, or that go-to gift from your favorite local store. Ian Band, a Potomac immigration attorney, is impressed with the newly opened Chloe’s NY Style Deli on the edge of the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall. “I’ve been there twice and had the Reuben and the knish both times,” he says. “Fresh, stacked and delicious. Each sandwich is made to order with care. Highly recommended!” Want to tell us about your favorite local place? Click here.

 

 


 

Filed Under: Current Issue Tagged With: Addie's, American Express Plenti, Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, Chloe's NY Style Deli, Corned Beef King, Costco, Helen's Bar & Grill, Ian Band, Jeff and Barbara Black, Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels, Leila Jewels, Montgomery Square Copenhaver Swim Club, Valerie Nahmani Designs, Westfield Montgomery Mall

A New York-style deli, a Behnke successor and gourmet Chinese on the way — plus giveaways from ArcLight and Cava Mezze Grill

April 16, 2015 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

 

 

 

Chloe's Deli with owner

 

New deli is the real deal

Here’s something we weren’t expecting: Chloe’s NY Style Deli, which opened last weekend in the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall, turns out to be the real deal — complete with half-sour pickles, kippered salmon, egg creams and Dr. Brown’s sodas. This is the first business for owner Caje Fernandes, who spent 20 years working his way up from server to manager at Celebrity Delly, Attman’s, Shalom Kosher and other local restaurants. “I know everything about Jewish delis,” he says. “I even have my own recipe for knishes, and I make my own latkes, soups, salads, corned beef, brisket and pastrami.” Chloe’s also serves breakfast all day with eggs, bagels, lox and nova. (We should mention here that the menu also includes bacon; this is a Jewish-style deli, but obviously not a kosher one.) Click here for a peek at the Chloe’s menu. And click here if you missed our April 2 report on the Corned Beef King, a deli on wheels that will soon be parked at Falls Road and Montrose.

 


 

Screen Shot 2015-04-15 at 9.48.57 PM

 

Turning over a new leaf at Behnke

Behnke's Nurseries

New life is blooming on River Road: A new business — Potomac Petals and Plants — is set to open this month in the former home of local favorite Behnke Nurseries. Employees were busy this week giving a facelift to the space, where Behnke’s operated for 16 years before moving out last summer. “The cost of staying on that property simply didn’t make business sense anymore,” Behnke’s VP Stephanie Fleming said at the time. We’ll have more on Potomac Petals and Plants in an upcoming issue. Meanwhile, click here to read more about why Behnke left Potomac.

 


 

 

Win ArcLight tickets — plus a live-stream Q&A with Michael Douglas

This week we have a great offer for night owls and Michael Douglas fans: a chance to win tickets to the new Douglas flick Beyond the Reach, followed by a live streamed Q&A with Douglas and co-star Jeremy Irvine. It all starts at 10 p.m. tonight in the ArcLight Cinema at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The event is open to everyone (click here for details) but ArcLight is offering five pairs of FREE tickets for Store Reporter readers. If you’d like to put your name in our hat, be sure to do it quickly: The winners will be announced by 6 p.m. tonight (April 16). Click here to enter by email (subject line: ArcLight) or click here to enter via Facebook. 

Sponsored Content

 


 

Chef Peter Chang, Rockville Town Square 25KBPeter Chang’s Rockville restaurant to open next week

Famed Chinese Chef Peter Chang is scheduled to open his new restaurant at Rockville Town Square next week, on Maryland Avenue in the former home of Taste of Saigon. The highly anticipated restaurant will bear Chang’s name and feature some of his favorite dishes from previous ventures: Duck in Stone Pot, Scallion Bubble Pancakes and Grandma’s Steamed Pork Belly. Last year was a tough one for Rockville Town Square, but things are definitely on the upswing: This is the second restaurant opening since January, with two more on the way this summer. Click here for more in our April 2 edition.

 

 


 

Aveda cleanserAveda’s out at the mall

Aveda, the plant-based skincare and cosmetics company, has closed its store at Westfield Montgomery Mall. It’s the second cosmetics store to vacate the mall this spring, after the recent departure of bareMinerals (whose spot has since been taken by Sunglass Hut). Both stores faced tough competition from the popular Kiehl’s brand, which opened in a prime spot at the mall last December.

 


 

Cava Grill Westfield Montgomery Mall

 

Congrats to our Cava Mezze Grill winner

Congratulations to Store Reporter reader Kelly Rudolph Pashkoff, who won our $25 gift card to Cava Mezze Grill. (And by the way, to all those readers who wrote to tell us how much they love, love, love Cava: We passed your sentiments along to co-founder Ted Xenohristos, who was touched to hear them. Xenohristos was in Los Angeles last week gearing up for the chain’s West Coast expansion.)

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Filed Under: Current Issue Tagged With: ArcLight CInema, Aveda Westfield Montgomery Mall, bareMinerals Westfield Montgomery Mall, Behnke Nurseries, Cava Grill, Chloe's NY Style Deli, Corned Beef King, Kelly Rudolph Pashkoff, MoCo Founding Farmers, Peter Chang Rockvile Town Square, Potomac Petals and Plants, Sunglass Hut Westfield Montgomery Mall, Taste of Saigon, Westfield Montgomery Mall

The Corned Beef King is back — plus new restaurants in Rockville, new shops at Wildwood and a Cava giveaway

April 2, 2015 By Store Reporter 3 Comments

 

 

 

Corned Beef King food truck

 

The Corned Beef King rolls back into town

Remember a few months ago when the Corned Beef King food truck appeared on Falls Road near Montrose — and then disappeared the following week? Well, the King is coming back — and this time it sounds like he’s here to stay. “My goal was to get back into Potomac, and I’ll definitely be there by mid-April,” says truck owner Jon Rossler, whose family once owned the Celebrity Delly at Potomac’s Cabin John Shopping Center. Rossler signed a deal last December to operate from the parking lot of the Montgomery Square Copenhaver Swim Club, but he was quickly driven out by neighbors who complained to the county. This time, Rossler says the county has granted him express permission to be there — and he’ll keep the neighbors happy by choosing a less conspicuous parking spot with some tree coverage. “We’ll be there Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” he says. “We’ll have an extended menu including matzoh ball soup, chili, mac-and-cheese, hot dogs, and maybe even chicken nuggets.” For more on the Corned Beef King, click here for our Dec. 4 issue.

 


 

Rockville Town Square

 

Three new restaurants heading to Rockville

Last year was a rough one for restaurants at Rockville Town Square — but things seem to be looking up for 2015. The big news this spring is the still-unnamed restaurant from famed Chinese chef Peter Chang, opening soon in the former Taste of Saigon space on Maryland Avenue. Meanwhile, two more eateries have announced plans to open over the summer. First up is Samovar, a new venture from a father/daughter team that currently handles catering for the Tajikistan Embassy in Washington. They’ll be renovating the former Cosi space on North Washington Street, with plans for a menu of Russian food with Central Asian influences. Also on the way is Miso Cafe, a Korean/fusion restaurant from Annandale that’s opening its second location in the former Pho & Rolls space on Maryland Avenue.

 


 

Hadlee outfits

 

New boutique opens at Wildwood

Spring is bringing some changes to the Shops at Wildwood off Old Georgetown Road and Democracy Boulevard. Hadlee opened last week in the space formerly occupied by Madeline, which closed in November after 24 years in business. Hadlee owner Jackie Pletcher, who also operates the neighboring Sequel boutique, will target Madeline’s former customers by carrying some of the same designers — particularly Canadian dressmaker Joseph Ribkoff. This is the fourth venture for Pletcher, who also owns Wear It Well on Bethesda Row and Corby at Mazza Gallerie. But Hadlee will be somewhat less conservative than the other three stores, says company spokesperson Julianne Pulvirenti. “The look is going to be very colorful, with lots of prints and patterns.”

 


 

Coco Blanca interior

 

Another Wildwood boutique set to open next month

Also on the way to the Shops at Wildwood is Coco Blanca, offering a tone-on-tone mix of furniture, home accessories, jewelry and clothing. “The entire store will have the palette of a coconut, with a bit of black and a splash of turquoise,” says co-owner Susan Neithamer. She and her business partners, who have another Coco Blanca store in Old Town Alexandria, had been looking for a shopping center with similar demographics and plenty of room to park. “A lot of our customers in Old Town had been coming to us all the way from Bethesda, so we knew this was an area with our kind of shopper,” Neithamer says. Doors are expected to open next month.

 


 

Toys R Us logo

 

Toys ‘R’ Us leaving NYC?

If you’re heading to New York City for spring break with the kids next week, take note: This may be your last chance to visit the iconic Toys “R” Us store in Times Square. The struggling toy retailer says it may not renew its lease for the 15-year-old store with the giant Barbie house and 60-foot indoor ferris wheel. The lease runs out next year. Still to be determined: Whether Toys “R” Us will find a new, smaller home in the Big Apple.

 


 

 

Win a gift card to Cava Mezze Grill

Hometown favorite Cava Mezze Grill is making plans to head west after this week’s $16 million cash infusion from a Virginia-based venture capital firm. Two Los Angeles locations are set to open later this year — Cava’s first expansion outside the D.C. area, where it currently has eight eateries with three more on the way. The investment money also will be used to expand Cava’s lines of dips and spreads for grocery stores. We don’t have $16 million — but we do happen to have a $25 Cava Mezze Grill gift card for one lucky Store Reporter reader. Want to put your name into our hat? Click here to enter by email (subject line: Cava Grill) or click here to enter via our Facebook page. Update: Store Reporter reader Kelly Rudolph Pashkoff won this giveaway. Stay tuned to Store Reporter for upcoming contests.

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Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 9.05.42 PM

Bye Bye to “Be well”

If you shopped at Walgreens this week, you may have noticed the absence of that annoying “Be well!” salutation at the checkout counter. Two years after the company began forcing its employees to use those words, the campaign is finally over. Walgreens says it will now look for other ways to “build relationships” with its customers — possibly by thanking them by name after each transaction. (As in, “Enjoy that acid reflux medication, Mr. Jones.”) We can’t wait to hear the reaction to that one.

 


 

RESC Ad - FINAL2

 

 


 

Filed Under: Current Issue Tagged With: Cabin John Shopping Center, Cava Grill, Celebrity Delly, Coco Blanca, Coco Blanca Wildwood, Corby Mazza Gallerie, Corned Beef King, Cosi Rockville, Hadlee, Miso Cafe, Montgomery Square Copenhaver Swim Club, Peter Chang, Pho & Rolls, Rockville Town Square, Samovar, Sequel Bethesda, Shops at Wildwood, Taste of Saigon, Toys R Us New York City, Toys R Us Times Square, Walgreens, Wear It Well Bethesda

River Falls Market reopens; dueling crabcakes in Potomac Village; Chinese food back at Cabin John next week

December 11, 2014 By Store Reporter

 

 

 

photo 4-9

 

Market at River Falls returns on Wednesday

River Falls Market in Potomac Village is set to reopen next Wednesday (Dec. 17) with a slight name change (it’s now The Market at River Falls) and a new husband-and-wife team in charge: James McWhorter, a VP with wholesaler Coastal Sunbelt Produce, and Yasmin Abadian, a realtor with Long & Foster in the Village. (It was the breakup of the market’s previous husband-and-wife owners that led to its closing last October; click here to read that story.) Andrew Malinowski, the market’s longtime head chef, will be back on board for the reopening along with his popular recipes. “We’re going to expand into more organic and plant-based foods,” Abadian says. “But everything that people loved is coming back, including the superior-quality fish, the chicken tenders, the meatballs and of course the crab cakes.” However, River Falls won’t be the only place to find those crab cakes. Read the next item for more.

 

Potomac Grocer crabcakes

 

Dueling crab cakes

After the demise of River Falls Market in October, several key staffers quickly found jobs across the street at the recently opened Potomac Grocer (10107 River Road). Among those who made the switch are executive chef Steven Fela; meat and seafood specialist Michael “Junior” Turgott; and most recently, general manager Max Devens. “This area feels like home to me,” says Devens, who spent the intervening months working at the D.C. market Wagshal’s. “Since I’ve come back to Potomac Village, the reception I’ve gotten from customers has made this one of the most heartwarming times of my life.” With the reopening of River Falls, it will be interesting to watch how customer loyalties play out now that so many have switched their business over to Potomac Grocer. They’ve been coming not only for the familiar staff, but also for the familiar recipes — which apparently will now be prepared similarly at both stores.

 

Chinese lantern

 

Chinese food back at Cabin John next week

China Gourmet Bistro, the new restaurant moving into the Cabin John Shopping Center, will open for business on Monday, Dec. 15. “We’re going to have a modern Asian menu with the majority Chinese food, but also some Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Singaporean dishes,” says owner Vivien He, whose family also owns a small Chinese restaurant in Ellicott City. “One of our specialties will be Ramen noodles — not the instant kind — where you can choose different toppings like braised beef, chicken or shrimp.” This will be the third Chinese restaurant to operate from the same space at Cabin John. But this one will offer something that its predecessors didn’t: Delivery.

 

Corned Beef King food truck

 

Corned Beef King looking for a new kingdom

The Corned Beef King is no longer holding court on Falls Road. Last week, right after we reported that the popular food truck had signed a long-term lease to park at the Copenhaver Swim Club, owner Jon Rossler was forced to move after an unhappy neighbor complained to the county. The news came as a major disappointment to many Store Reporter readers who told us they’ve been driving as far as Olney for one of Rossler’s corned beef sandwiches. Click here for our Dec. 4 report on the Corned Beef King — and stay tuned to Store Reporter to find out where he’ll park next.

 

 

Filed Under: Current Issue Tagged With: Andrew Malinowski, Cabin John Shopping Center, China Gourmet Bistro, China Jade Bistro, Corned Beef King, Jade Billows, James McWhorter, Max Devens, Potomac Grocer, River Falls Market, The Market at River Falls, Yasmin Abadian

Corned beef on Falls Road; River Falls comeback; Potomac jeweler closing — plus a discount on teen gifts

December 4, 2014 By Store Reporter

 

 

 

Corned Beef King food truck

 

Where’s the beef on Falls Road?

The Corned Beef King food truck that parked along Falls Road last weekend will soon be a familiar sight: Truck owner Jon Rossler has signed a lease to operate from the parking lot of the Copenhaver Swim Club. Rossler, who learned the food business working at his family’s Celebrity Delly restaurants, will offer a rotating menu that includes pastrami, turkey, brisket, hot dogs, knishes, matzoh ball soup, bagel-and-lox sandwiches and more. The food isn’t cheap: most sandwiches cost $10 to $14, plus a few bucks for sides and Dr. Brown’s sodas. Rossler also operates a full-service Corned Beef King restaurant in Olney, and he’s working on a second location in The Kentlands (click here for his website). “I grew up here,” he says. “I know the area. I know the people. If you’re mediocre, you’re not going to make it here.” The Corned Beef King truck will operate Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — along with “guest trucks” on weekends, starting with Go Fish and Hardy’s BBQ. Update: Right after we sent out this report, the Corned Beef King had to move his truck. See our 12/11 issue for more.

 

 

River Falls Market coming back?

River Falls Market, which closed two months ago after the bitter breakup of owners Jeff and Ashley Grolig, may be on the comeback trail. Some former customers received a postcard this week promising that the market was “coming back soon” — under new ownership and management — but with the “same great quality, same great flavors, same great smiles.” That’s going to be a difficult feat, since much of the market’s staff is now working across the street at Potomac Grocer. Click here to read more about the October saga. And stay with us to find out what happens next.

 

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Potomac jeweler closing

Robert Bernard Jewelers, a fixture for 10 years at the Potomac Woods Plaza off Montrose and Seven Locks Road, is closing up shop after the holidays. Co-owner Robbie Rosin is moving to California, but his partner George Kaufmann is looking to open a new store in Potomac next year. “My son Corey, who is studying to be a gemologist so he can work with me, will be the third generation of Kaufmanns in this business,” he says. “My father owned Kaufmann Jewelers in D.C — first on G Street and later on M Street — and I used to go and help out on Saturdays. So with the new store, I’m going back to my roots. We’re probably going to call it Kaufmann Jewelers — or maybe Kaufmann & Son.”

 

Jodi's Jamboree pajama pants

 

Jodi’s Jamboree gift bag winner — plus 20% OFF for everyone else

Congratulations to Store Reporter reader Amy Pogorelc, who scored a gift bag for her daughter from Jodi’s Jamboree: Sugar Lips leggings, a Scout bag, a Next Level hoodie and Boxercraft pajama pants. For everyone else who’s shopping for a teen girl, there’s still time to put together a gift bag of your own: Jodi’s Jamboree is offering Store Reporter readers 20 percent off their total purchase. Click here for our coupon, which is good though Dec. 31st.

Sponsored Content

 

Gift boxes

Black Friday wrap-up

Black Friday was a little less green than usual this year, with both physical stores and online retailers reporting disappointing sales. Although the numbers picked up on Cyber Monday, some reports indicate a drop from last year in total spending for the holiday weekend — despite the fact that many retailers opened their doors on Thursday night before the pumpkin pie was even on the table. Although there was some backlash against that strategy, it appeared to work out for Westfield Montgomery Mall where the doors opened at 6 p.m. and the parking lot was packed by 8.

 

Filed Under: Current Issue Tagged With: Black Friday, Celebrity Delly, Copenhaver Swim Club, Corned Beef King, Cyber Monday, Go Fish, Hardy's BBQ, Jodi's Jamboree, Kaufman Jewelers, Potomac Grocer, River Falls Market, Robert Bernard Jewelers, Westfield Montgomery Mall

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