Silver Spring construction upate: Central (Photos)

Central is advancing more in the final touches department than in structural ways at this point. You'll notice the angled wing of the building now has a decorative fence-like piece added at the roofline. There are more of those white dashes between floors, as well.

The Grosvenor Americas mixed-use project is scheduled to deliver this summer. A total of 243 residential units, and 17,000 SF of retail/restaurant space, will be located steps away from the new Silver Spring Library and future Purple Line station.

Silver Spring construction update: Pollo Campero (Photos)

The seating has been installed at the new Pollo Campero, which is located next to The Fillmore on Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring. As you can see, walls, flooring and artwork are also in place.

Wheaton IHOP real estate changes hands

The Wheaton IHOP building was sold last month, but unlike some real estate transactions, this one may actually help keep a Wheaton landmark in place. IHOP has been a fixture in the Wheaton community at 2526 University Boulevard West since 1970. The current owner of the business, William Moore, is very much a part of that community, as a lifelong resident and with numerous local business and charitable organizations.

Now Moore's company, Moore Hospitality Properties, LLC, also owns the property. MHP bought it from Crepe Trust, an entity that acquired much of the IHOP chain's real estate in the early 1970s. According to real estate records, the purchase price for the iconic 3104 SF building was $2,000,000.

Wheaton Tilted Kilt future in question, in court

What Facebook shows when you
go to the Wheaton Tilted Kilt page

Wheaton residents - and Tilted Kilt fans countywide - have been waiting for the grand opening of the new Tilted Kilt at Wheaton Plaza for a couple of years. Now it's unclear when that will happen. The restaurant's Facebook page has vanished, although its Twitter and Instagram accounts are still up, and the location is still listed as "opening soon" on the Tilted Kilt corporate website.

Construction of the restaurant seemed to take forever, and an examination of court records suggests why. The restaurant owners are being sued in the Circuit Court of Maryland in Montgomery County by Ashmark Construction, LLC for unpaid bills, fraud, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, negligence and breach of promise.

It also appears Wheaton Plaza and parent company Westfield have been pulled into the case as third parties, as well. Unless a settlement can be reached by late this year, the dispute will go to a jury trial currently scheduled for January 8, 2018.

In a separate civil case, the franchisees are being sued by Premier Fire Protection Services of Frederick, Maryland, again for unpaid bills and unjust enrichment. A mechanic's lien was granted in that case in March, and will require a $40,000 bond to remove. That case, too, remains open.

Perhaps the biggest loser is the Tilted Kilt brand. Before it vanished, the Wheaton Tilted Kilt page had received over 1000 likes, before the restaurant had served a single beer. That suggests, particularly with the demise of Hooters in Rockville (tied to a tragic drunk-driving incident), there is strong demand for this type of establishment in Montgomery County.

If the Wheaton location can survive and open, it should do well. If not, Tilted Kilt, Hooters, Twin Peaks and others may want to look at opportunities countywide.

Downtown Silver Spring Chick-fil-A closed through Saturday for renovations (Photos)

The downtown Silver Spring Chick-fil-A looked like a war zone yesterday. Closed for business, a crew was busy tearing the interior apart. The closure is for a major renovation project, which will keep the popular fast food restaurant closed through Saturday, June 10. This could be the week to try one of those new Signature-Crafted chicken sandwiches at McDonald's, or the fried chicken at Hen Quarter, for lunch.

Sign installed at Core apartments in Silver Spring (Photos)

The sign is up over the lobby entrance at the future Core apartments, located at 8621 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. You may recall the large analog clock was mounted on the front facade just a couple of weeks ago. All signs that this project, with its projected Walk Score of 95, is nearing delivery.

Q'Viva Restaurant and Lounge coming to Wheaton

A new tenant is taking over the old Matamoros Restaurant building at 2322 University Boulevard in Wheaton. Q'Viva Restaurant and Lounge is the latest venture from the owner of Master 8 Billiards. Inquiries regarding the type of cuisine that will be served have not been returned as of press time. Q'Viva is expected to open in July.