Good Fortune Cafe, which had been a staple in the area since 1994 (according to its website), closed its doors in August at 237 Kentlands Place. At the time, an employee mentioned that the restaurant would be returning later in the year to a new location—the space previously occupied by Happy Uncle in Germantown’s Clopper’s Mill shopping center (18022 Mateny Rd.), where it had been for more than 20 years. Today, it has been confirmed by Happy Uncle that Good Fortune will be taking over the space early next year.
A representative from Happy Uncle confirmed the changeover, stating that Good Fortune Cafe might be reopening “Maybe January 1st,” though the exact date is still pending. While many are excited about the return of Good Fortune, Happy Uncle has also been a beloved restaurant in the Germantown community for many years.
Good Fortune Cafe was originally located in the Beacon Place shopping center (the same strip as Giant), where it started out in a larger space before downsizing in the early 2000s. The location at 237 Kentlands Blvd. will be taken over by Bangkok Garden, which plans to introduce a new concept to the space.
When it first opened, Good Fortune Cafe offered a broad menu, as noted in a 2002 Washington Post article. “Lots of familiar dishes of the General Tso and moo shi varieties, a few softball-dad specials (a handful of “Revolution Diet” offerings, steamed and presumably low-carb), and an accommodating mix of Americanized and more authentic noodle dishes, from chow meins to chow foons, that are clearly big favorites with children.” Though there were changes, much of the menu remained intact until August 2024 when the restaurant closed.
