Renovations underway at Glenwood Shopping Center in Glenmont

A major renovation project is underway at the Glenwood Shopping Center at 12134 Georgia Avenue in Glenmont. It looks quite imposing if you are driving past. So, understandably, the property owner and the business tenants like Trippy Tacos and Maria's Hair Classic want to reassure you that they are all fully open for business during this work. There's also the new Dunkin' Donuts, so don't hesitate to pull off the road and support your favorite businesses, as they navigate the temporary inconveniences.

Seafood in the Buff open during renovations in Wheaton

Seafood in the Buff is getting a makeover at 12132 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton. But the restaurant remains open for business as the work is performed. Hours of operation remain the same, as well. The seafood boil menu isn't changing either, but the restaurant will get a new look and atmosphere. And Fish Fry Friday is back!

Dunkin' Donuts to remodel Silver Spring Metro Plaza store

The interior of the Dunkin' Donuts store at 8401 Colesville Road at Silver Spring Metro Plaza will have a new look later this year. A remodeling and renovation of the downtown donuts-and-coffee destination is expected to begin by summer. New finishes, new display cases, a new ceiling, and even a new door are among the upgrades planned. Plumbing and electrical improvements will also be made.

Renovations ahead for Chick-fil-A in Olney

Chick-fil-A at 18115 Georgia Avenue in Olney will be making minor renovations to the restaurant this spring. Outdoors, a new order pick-up canopy will be installed. The dumpster enclosure will be relocated. And a new employee break room will be constructed. The restaurant is expected to remain open during the renovations.

Renovations ahead for Takoma Park City Hall

The coming months will see additional renovations at City Hall in Takoma Park. Changes will be primarily focused on the lower level of the atrium. The Takoma Park City police department will be expanding into that lower level. A new floor slab and structural supports will be installed to create the functional space for the police, that is being claimed from the open atrium's vertical space. A storage room on the upper level will also be expanded in size. 

Burger King Burtonsville remodeling update (Photos)

Massive, sharp-looking Burger King logos have been attached to the facades of the Burtonsville location at 15703 Columbia Pike at Burtonsville Crossing. The franchisee is looksmaxing the restaurant building, and doubling the drive-thru lanes, but the new BK Sizzle store design concept is apparently not in the cards here for now. Menu boards have been installed in the drive-thru, but there was also a pile of small boulders in one lane. Don't go to bed before the King, even in Burtonsville!

Burtonsville Burger King renovations update (Photos)

Renovations on the Burger King restaurant at 15703 Columbia Pike at Burtonsville Crossing continue at a snail's pace. What were frameworks in my last update now are facades that have been painted. You can see that the drive-thru has been upgraded with dual lanes. Can't wait to get a Whopper when it's all done. Don't go to bed before the King!

Renovations ahead for The UPS Store in downtown Silver Spring

Renovations are planned for The UPS Store at 8705 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring. The makeover will include new lighting fixtures and paint, as well as some minor utility upgrades that won't necessarily be noticed by customers. Work is anticipated to begin before the end of fall. No significant disruption to store operations is expected.

Burtonsville Burger King remodeling update (Photos)

Burger King wasn't kidding when they said they would be remodeling their Burtonsville restaurant at 15703 Columbia Pike at Burtonsville Crossing. The restaurant is currently in a very primitive state, but it's growing larger than the previous structure, particularly in the vertical direction. They promise they are "reopening soon." Will the updated building have the burger chain's new "Sizzle" store design? That remains to be seen, but many in Burtonsville just want to be able to get a flame-broiled Whopper. Don't go to bed before the King!

Canada Dry bottling plant facade rehab ahead in Silver Spring

A facade rehabilitation project is imminent for the historic Canada Dry bottling plant at 1201 East-West Highway in downtown Silver Spring. The art moderne-style bottling plant opened in 1946, and ceased operations in 1995. It was then used as a warehouse by the beverage company until 2003, when part of the building was demolished. Today, the portion that remains is a protected historic structure, and is part of the Silverton condominiums. It has been largely hidden from the street by trees in recent years.

Silver Spring Chick-fil-A renovation update (Photos)

The Chick-fil-A restaurant at 825 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring is temporarily closed for renovations. It is a major gutting and remodeling of the space, and the store is expected to reopen before summer. According to the chain, every Chick-fil-A location will undergo a major overhaul like this at least once every thirty years. Updating kitchen equipment to the latest standards, and improving the flow of pickup and delivery orders, are among the goals of the renovation. Here is a look at the current status of the project:

Remodeled Dunkin' Donuts looks close to reopening in Wheaton (Photos)

The Dunkin' Donuts store at 2405 Reedie Drive in Wheaton has been temporarily closed for a few weeks for renovations. As of Sunday, it looks like the reopening isn't far off. New signage with the shorter "Dunkin'" branding has been installed, virtually all kitchen and counter serving equipment is in place, and the new place-making sign denoting this as "Wheaton" is on the wall inside. Menu boards are up above the counter, and seating is in place for diners. (Almost) time to make the donuts!

Wheaton Dunkin' Donuts temporarily closed for renovations (Photos)

The Dunkin' Donuts store at 2405 Reedie Drive in Wheaton has temporarily closed for renovations. This is an ongoing series of renovations to the franchisee's Dunkin' Donuts locations across Montgomery County. In addition to the remodeling, expect signage to be updated with the new, shorter "Dunkin'" branding that drops the "Donuts" half of the name. This store was a popular stop for drivers of the Metrobus L6 route during the 1980s, and with good reason.

Wheaton Ice Arena to close for renovations

Wheaton Ice Arena will close for an extended period this year, Montgomery Parks announced yesterday. The facility at 11717 Orebaugh Avenue will be shuttered from mid-April 2025 to early October 2025.  There will be no public skating sessions, camps, programs, or rentals during the renovations. The reason for the closure is the need to replace the arena's refrigeration system. Montgomery Parks plans to add more programs and skating sessions at Cabin John Ice Rink during the Wheaton closure.

Photo courtesy Montgomery Parks

Colesville McDonald's to "McDouble" drive-thru

The McDonald's at 504 E. Randolph Road in Colesville is going to "McDouble" the size of its drive-thru. Currently, the fast food restaurant has a single drive-thru lane. The franchisee's plan is to double that to two lanes in the coming months. McDonald's, like Chick-fil-A, has concluded side-by-side dual drive-thrus are more profitable and efficient. Given that the majority of fast food sales occur at the drive-thru window, maximizing volume and efficiency make perfect sense. 

Renovations ahead for Plaza Del Mercado McDonald's

Significant renovations are scheduled for the McDonald's restaurant at 2207 Bel Pre Road at Plaza Del Mercado in Aspen Hill. The front counter, dining room, and restrooms will all be remodeled or updated. New seating will be installed, as well as new kitchen equipment and fixtures. However, the restaurant is expected to remain open for business during the construction. We've seen a number of McDonald's in Montgomery County getting makeovers in recent times, particularly in the East County and Upcounty areas. Work at the Plaza Del Mercado location is anticipated to begin before the winter.