Copper Canyon Grill reopens at Downtown Silver Spring

Copper Canyon Grill has reopened at 928 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring. The restaurant has been closed since July, due to a fire in a kitchen exhaust shaft. It could have reopened sooner, but Copper Canyon Grill's Director of Operations Erick Cooper said “the future safety of our guests and employees was too important to hurry through this process.” Instead of doing the bare minimum, the restaurant updated all of the kitchen's related systems to the current code standards.

Renovations that were underway at the time of the fire were able to be completed faster while the restaurant was closed for the fire damage repairs. Still to come will be an updated bar, and the additions of a sushi station and a chef's table. Copper Canyon Grill will also be again offering its now-famous Thankgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day, both in the restaurant, and for takeaway catering.

Quarry House Tavern reopens in Silver Spring

Quarry House Tavern has returned to the basement at 8401 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. Staff will be masked, but customers are not required to wear them. The tavern will be working at a reduced capacity at first, so that there can be a greater distance between tables. And the bar will be for seated customers only. Hours to start will be 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM seven days a week. 

Photo courtesy Quarry House Tavern

Wheaton Library reopening moved to new date

Montgomery County Public Libraries announced today that it is moving the reopening of the Wheaton Library at 11701 Georgia Avenue. The new opening date will be June 14, 2021. No appointments will be required, there will be no capacity limit in the building, and social distancing restrictions will be canceled. The initial hours for the Wheaton Library will be as follows:

• Monday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Tuesday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

Signs of activity at iPic, Regal theaters even as MoCo ban on food, drink sales remains in place

There's no indication Montgomery County's ban on concessions sales at movie theaters will be lifted anytime soon, but a couple of theater chains are showing signs of preparing for reopening. Regal Cinemas already announced a tentative reopening date for its Montgomery County cineplexes next month, in an apparent gamble that the ban on the sale of food and drink will be lifted by then. Workers began sprucing up the exterior of the Regal Cinemas Majestic & IMAX theater in downtown Silver Spring on Monday. And iPic at Pike & Rose is now hiring servers for its in-movie food and drink service, a clear indication that the luxury theater chain believes the ban will be revoked in the coming weeks.

Tarps on the sidewalk outside the Regal Cinemas
Majestic & IMAX theater in Silver Spring, where
workers are touching up the exterior

However, a list of potential steps in loosening restrictions at County businesses released by the County Council does not specifically mention movie theaters or performance venues - nor the ban on food and drink - among the relaxed rules. Only at Phase 3, which will be reached when 50% of the county population is fully vaccinated, could theaters sell food and drink because the County will belatedly adopt the current state guidelines at that point. Under the current ban, which eliminates the most profitable revenue source for theaters, only AMC has reopened its theaters in the county.

Regal Cinemas sets reopening date for Regal Majestic & IMAX in Silver Spring

Montgomery County movie theaters have remained almost entirely dark since the County lifted the ban on movies, primarily due to the County banning the sale of food and drink at cineplexes to ensure patrons do not remove their masks indoors. AMC has been the only chain willing to reopen its two Montgomery County locations so far, somehow affording to do so while forgoing the concessions sales where theaters make most of their profits. Now, Regal Cinemas is either going to accept that scary revenue picture, or the chain is gambling that the ban might be lifted a month from now.

Regal Cinemas Germantown is now scheduled to reopen on May 14, 2021, the company has announced. A week later on May 21, Regal Cinemas Rockville Center in Rockville Town Center and Silver Spring Majestic & IMAX in downtown Silver Spring will reopen.

The announcement notes, however, that these dates could change depending on "unique circumstances" at each location. We will find out soon enough if a ban on food and drink concessions is a "unique circumstance," or if the chain has simply agreed to accept a low-or-no profit operating mode.

Islands Lounge reopens in Wheaton

Islands Lounge, the largest Caribbean restaurant, bar and lounge in the D.C.-area, has reopened at 11300 Fern Street in Wheaton. In addition to reopening, Islands Lounge has also updated its website. You can now review your favorite dishes right on the website, share them electronically with friends, and set reminders for menu items you want to be sure to try on your next carryout or delivery order. Hours of operation will be Wednesday through Sunday, 2:00-10:00 PM.

Flower Avenue Montgomery County liquor store reopens

The Montgomery County government liquor monopoly-run liquor store at 8706-B Flower Avenue in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring has reopened. It closed January 20, after an employee tested positive for Covid-19. During the closure, a specialized unit performed a deep cleaning and sanitization of the store, which included cleaning all surfaces and products, and fogging with specialized machines.

Wheaton Plaza to reopen Tuesday, June 23

Westfield Wheaton Plaza is ready to come out of Covid hibernation. They will be reopening on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Montgomery County's Phase 2 reopening that begins Friday at 5:00 PM requires masks to be worn, and social distancing observed, in stores. There may be restrictions on how many customers may be in a store at one time if it gets crowded.

Malls in Montgomery County will be "open for shopping, not for socializing," County Executive Marc Elrich said yesterday. "The food courts will not be opening," Elrich said. "We are not going to allow people to gather in the mall."

Mandarin Restaurant readying return in downtown Silver Spring

Mandarin Restaurant at 8411 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring is poised for a comeback. The popular Chinese restaurant is gearing up to reopen soon. Everything is looking good inside and out.

Quarry House Tavern to reopen Sunday, March 11 in Silver Spring

It's official - Quarry House Tavern is reopening in its original spot, 8401 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, this Sunday, March 11, at 4:00 PM. One of Montgomery County's favorite dive bars returns after restoring its space that was heavily damaged by a 2015 fire.

In a statement Monday announcing the opening date, Quarry House thanked their landlords, without whose support they would not have been able to reopen, they said.

Aspen Hill Library to reopen July 15

The Aspen Hill Library will reopen to the public on Saturday, July 15, at 10:00 AM. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at that time with Montgomery County officials. The library is located at 4407 Aspen Hill Road.

GOOD FORTUNE TO CLOSE FOR 3 MONTHS IN WHEATON (PHOTO)

Popular Chinese restaurant Good Fortune, at 2646 University Boulevard in Wheaton, will close this Wednesday, April 30. The restaurant has been sold. Sources tell me the new owner will close for about 3 months, to renovate and update the interior. At this point, word is the new restaurant will retain its specialty as a dim sum destination.

But for now, this is your last chance to stop by for a while!