ElGuapo

Mandalay Restaurant and Café will continue operating at 930 Bonifant St. until mid-2021:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/mandalay-restaurant-remain-bonifant-street-until-mid-2021/

Urban Butcher has hit the “pause” button on operations at the restaurant at 8226 Georgia Ave. “due to the current situation,” according to an announcement on its website and Facebook page. The operators will concentrate their efforts at “Urban Butcher’s younger brother,” El Sapo Cuban Social Club.

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/urban-butcher-hits-pause-button-operations/

The upscale Mexican, all-you-can-eat menu at Buena Vida has been eliminated from the Silver Spring restaurant in favor of offering the casual Tacos, Tortas & Tequila fare, said Ivan Iricanin, founder and CEO of Street Guys Hospitality. The unlimited menu concept will remain, however, the form of weekend brunch offerings at TTT.

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/buena-vida-concept-eliminated-favor-tacos-tortas-tequila-menu/

The Quarry House Tavern will reopen for outdoor service on Thursday, Aug. 13, according to an announcement on the tavern’s website and social media accounts:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/quarry-house-tavern-reopen-outdoor-service-next-week/

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There are at least 25 “virtual restaurants” operating out of the small local chain’s Takoma Park location. Have you tried GastroPub, Nonstop Breakfast Club, Burger Land, or Caroline’s Country Fried Cafe? How about Big MaMa’s Seafood & Soul Food, Rainbow Smoothie, Just Wing It, On A Bun, or Giant Breakfast Burrito? 

"Fry Me a River and Burger Mansion Are Two of Mid-Atlantic Seafood's 25 Virtual Restaurants" by Laura Hayes on washingtoncitypaper.com

8 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Alert, alert: a denizen of Montgomery County just said they love Great Wall!

It's true

We love Great Wall. So glad our friend Will (who owns the fabulous Spotted Owl in Cleveland) tipped us off to them when we first relocated here a few years ago.

6 minutes ago, dracisk said:

This has been the talk of the surrounding neighborhoods this weekend. All I want to know is whether the new owners will still be able to sell beer and wine.

“We first have to transfer the beer and wine license,” he said. “That takes 30 days. You have to post [the notice] on the door. So my guess it will be some time in September, October.”

Snider’s Super Foods in Montgomery Hills has been sold to a locally based group of small food markets, according to Terry Sweet, one of Snider’s managers. The purchasers operate Streets Market & Café, based in Washington, D.C. The company opened its first store in 2014 and currently operates nine locations in the District, Baltimore, Arlington and Alexandria, Va.

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/sniders-sold-local-group-food-market-operators/

Bump 'n Grind will take over the kiosk at Silver Spring Library which will be vacated by Kefa Cafe:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/kefa-leave-library-location-bumpngrind-take-over/

Kefa Café will leave its location in the Silver Spring Library and open a café in the new Wheaton Library, while Bump ’n Grind will take over the Silver Spring spot. “We have been honored for the past five years to operate the coffee shop located on the grounds of the Silver Spring Library,” said Kefa’s co-owner Lene Tsegay in a statement, “and we are proud to have established a precedent for creating a welcoming and supportive community space for library customers.”

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/kefa-leave-library-location-bumpngrind-take-over/

Locavino, the wine café that overlooks Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, has been recognized with a 2020 Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator magazine. The award “recognizes thoughtfully chosen wine lists that offer quality and diversity, as well as compatibility with the restaurant’s style and menu,” according to the announcement.

&Pizza is opening its fifth Montgomery County location in Downtown Silver Spring:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/two-businesses-sign-leases-central-apartments-locations/

"Part of Georgia Avenue Will Close Temporarily To Allow Outdoor Dining" by Mike Diegel on sourceofthespring.com

"A portion of Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring will be temporarily closed as of 5 p.m. June 12 to allow restaurants additional space to provide customers outdoor dining. The right lanes of Georgia will be shut down between Silver Spring and Thayer avenues in a pilot project that will run through at least June 21. The pilot, known as Streetdine, is the result of a collaboration between the State Highway Administration, the Silver Spring Urban District, County Council Vice President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) and local business owners."

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot has lent his support to a Montgomery County Council request that the state extend the alcohol delivery and carryout provisions allowed during the COVID-19 emergency. The council made the request, which was signed by all nine councilmembers, in a May 22 letter to Franchot (D) and Gov. Larry Hogan (R).

The Taste the World of Fenton Village event will mark its 10th anniversary this weekend with a change in both format and duration due to the COVID-19 emergency. The annual celebration of the area’s small, independent restaurants and their ethnic culinary offerings will begin Sunday, May 17 and run through Saturday, May 23. It will feature take out options rather than small tastings from participating restaurants.

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/10th-taste-world-opens-weekend-changes/

"Mrs. K's Marks 90 Years in Business" by Jerry A. McCoy on sourceofthespring.com

Pho Hiep Hoa, the Vietnamese restaurant on the second level at 921 Ellsworth Dr. in Silver Spring, has closed, according to The Peterson Cos. The restaurant, one of the original outlets in the Downtown Silver Spring development, ceased operations at the beginning of March.

Area nonprofit Silver Spring Cares has teamed up with a group of Silver Spring/Takoma Park restaurants to provide meals to needy area residents. To fund the effort and help to support the restaurants’ employees, SSC last week launched a Community Connection Go Fund Me page, according to Heather Foley, SSC’s executive director.

Abol Ethiopian Restaurant closed last week after an unsuccessful attempt to rebrand the location, then returning to the original concept. The location at 8626 Colesville Rd. was rebranded as Blu Nile Restaurant and Lounge with a launch shortly before the holidays.

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Kitfo Sandwiches (ElGuapo)

El Sapo Cuban Social Club and Urban Butcher have begun providing free meals to senior citizens, according to chef/owner Raynold Mendizábal. “We went to The Bonifant building and we’re going to be taking care of them for the time being,” he said:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/local-restaurants-proving-fresh-meals-bonifant-discounts-take-out/

The Sligo Creek Golf Course and a renovated Sligo Pit BBQ have reopened for the season and live music will return this year, according to team leader Laura Russell. The Friday night free concerts will kick off June 5 with The Loose Ends and a special appearance by County Executive Marc Elrich:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/sligo-golf-pit-bbq-reopen-live-music-will-return/

The Eleanor will open its Downtown Silver Spring location this Monday, February 24:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/the-eleanor-open-silver-spring-location-monday/

The former location of Ethio Express Grill at 952 Sligo Ave. in Silver Spring opens today, Feb. 8, as Debab Restaurant under new owners. Ash Edossa and his wife Abebech “Emu” Taddese took over the business in January:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/business/debab-restaurant-to-open-in-ethio-express-location/

Urban Butcher & El Sapo named to Washingtonian's 100 Very Best Restaurants List.