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April 18, 2019 By Store Reporter Leave a Comment

Japanese steakhouse flames out, Cinnabon wafts in — plus new Java on Rockville Pike and a Big Greek giveaway

Japanese steakhouse flames out

Bad news for those who were hoping for hibachi at Westfield Montgomery mall: It looks like Viva Japanese Steakhouse is never going to happen. The restaurant originally was supposed to open last summer across from the ArcLight Cinema, replacing the short-lived MET Bethesda. But construction moved at a snail’s pace as summer turned to winter and finally to spring. Earlier this month, mall reps told us that Viva would open May 1st. This week all work came to a halt yet again, and now it appears the project is likely dead. We did manage to snoop inside for a glimpse of the partially finished interior; you can check out our photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Pike Central Farm Market at Pike & Rose
Realtor Lisa Nasar of Long & Foster

What's that smell?

That scent wafting across the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall can only mean one thing: Cinnabon, whose aroma alone has wrecked many a diet, has finally arrived. So who’s out this week? Kids’ clothing store Gymboree has closed its doors after a three-month going-out-of-business sale, soon to be followed by Crabtree & Evelyn. Sports Nation exited its lower-level spot and moved to the second floor. The other big news, in case you missed it, is the closing of Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar. More on that in our April 11th edition.

Wink Eyecare Boutique

The Big Greek giveaway

It’s been 10 years since brothers Nikos and Simos Marmaras opened The Big Greek Cafe in Silver Spring. The twins had grown up around hearty Greek dishes, helping their father run The Golden Flame restaurant while enjoying their mother’s family recipes at home. Their four-restaurant chain — now with additional locations in Rockville, Kensington and Bethesda — is modeled after their mother’s hospitality as well as her cooking. “The number one thing when anybody entered our house was to have a meal with us,” Simos says. “At our restaurants, we want every guest to feel right at home like they’re sitting around my mom’s table.” This year, they also want two lucky guests to visit the place where it all began: The restaurant chain is giving away a six-day trip to Athens, Greece. For your chance to win, visit any Big Greek location between April 22 and June 22. For directions to all four locations, as well as weekly specials and a preview of the menu, click here.

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Realtor Mimi Arnold of Century 21 Redwood Realty

New Java for Rockville Pike

Kensington coffee shop Java Nation is moving into the old Addie’s/Helen’s space on Rockville Pike, right next to the burnt-out dive bar Hank Dietle’s. More on that, along with tons of other retail and restaurant news, in our post-spring break edition. In the meantime, catch up on any news you missed at storereporter.com.

Power Hour Editing
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Did you miss these issues?

New taqueria for Rockville, Quincy’s debuts in Potomac, Walking Company walks away
Trading Addie’s for oysters at Park Potomac; closings for Abercrombie and Not Your Average Joe’s
Goodbye to Lord & Taylor and three Rockville stores — plus our latest guide to winter takeout
Gameworks to the mall, Wildwood restaurant reopens, Mexican food for Rockville
Indoor dining is out, new Potomac sports bar is in — plus holiday meals & gift ideas
Restaurant restrictions rolling back in, closings at Park Potomac — plus holiday meals, Korean hot dogs & Chick-fil-A
More closings at the mall, new salon for men, start the bidding for holiday auctions
Black Friday shopping, Call Your Mother Deli, new stores & two surprise comebacks
Goodbye Wine Harvest, hello to three new restaurants

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Filed Under: Asian Food, Bakeries, Bubble Tea & Desserts, Coffee Houses, Rockville Pike, Steakhouses, Westfield Montgomery mall

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Recent Issues

  • New taqueria for Rockville, Quincy’s debuts in Potomac, Walking Company walks away
  • Trading Addie’s for oysters at Park Potomac; closings for Abercrombie and Not Your Average Joe’s
  • Goodbye to Lord & Taylor and three Rockville stores — plus our latest guide to winter takeout
  • Gameworks to the mall, Wildwood restaurant reopens, Mexican food for Rockville
  • Indoor dining is out, new Potomac sports bar is in — plus holiday meals & gift ideas
  • Restaurant restrictions rolling back in, closings at Park Potomac — plus holiday meals, Korean hot dogs & Chick-fil-A
  • More closings at the mall, new salon for men, start the bidding for holiday auctions
  • Black Friday shopping, Call Your Mother Deli, new stores & two surprise comebacks
  • Goodbye Wine Harvest, hello to three new restaurants
  • County cracks down on dining crowds, Fish Taco returns, two more stores go dark
  • Latest on Lord & Taylor, county faces new COVID dining restrictions, Pet Valu goes belly-up
  • Three more restaurants out at the mall, new stores on the way
  • Cabin John update: Who’s moving in, who’s moving out & what’s up with Sisters Thai
  • Athleta to Rockville, Potomac salon closes, two more restaurants that won’t be back
  • Three new openings for Wildwood, closings for H&M and Regal Cinemas
  • Hello Lego, two new sweet spots, Rose’s Luxury delivered to your door
  • Office Depot out, Amazon grocery in, Pike & Rose dog park drags its tail
  • Balducci’s bankruptcy, Lego Store ready to launch, cashing in your jewelry
  • Goodbye Breadsmith, hello Attman’s and cookies to your door
  • Home Depot Design Center, mall dining update and the future of Flower Child
  • New restaurant from the Cava/Julii team, half-smokes for Rockville and the end of Lord & Taylor
  • Under the big top at Park Potomac, dine-in and diamonds at the mall, shakeups on the salon scene
  • Wegmans update, more mall closings & another departure at Rockville Town Square
  • Goodbye Lord & Taylor and Toy Castle, hello new Barnes & Noble
  • Thirteen local restaurants that won’t be back, sneak peek of the Amazon store, Peruvian chicken debuts, CPK files bankruptcy

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