Now Open: Le Macaron
Officially open for business at 7 Grand Corner Ave, conveniently located next to BurgerFi. Owned by MoCo residents Natalia Mejia and Camilo Beltran, the pastry shop offers a delightful menu featuring macarons in over 20 flavors, gourmet chocolates, French gelato, specialty European-style coffees, classic French pastries, and homemade candies.
Originating from Florida, Le Macaron has expanded its reach to encompass more than 70 locations across the United States. The brand continues to grow, with additional locations in the pipeline as franchisees set up in shopping centers like Rio, food trucks, and kiosks in malls. Indulge in the sweet delights that Le Macaron has to offer at their newest location. Image courtesy of @lemacaronrio on Instagram.
Coming Soon: Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
Set to make its debut at 201 Boardwalk Pl, taking over the space currently occupied by Locally Crafted, which was previously home to Joseph A. Bank. The fast-casual restaurant will offer a delectable menu featuring lobster rolls, lobster (or shrimp) salads, lobster BLT, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac and cheese, potato salad, lobster bisque, clam chowder, and more. While construction has not yet commenced, an official opening date is eagerly anticipated.
Originating from its flagship Annapolis, Md., location in 2014, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls has experienced rapid expansion. The fast-casual franchise has captured the hearts of seafood enthusiasts, establishing additional locations across various states, including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C., Washington state, Texas, Virginia, and more. Stay tuned for more details on Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls’ newest location. For more information, please visit Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls site.
As a note, Locally Crafted will bid farewell on December 24th, 2023. However, a new location is in the works within Rio, with the exact location and opening date yet to be announced, promising a fresh and exciting start this spring. Featured image courtesy of @masonslobster on Instagram
Coming Soon: Han Spot
The owner of popular dim sum restaurants China Garden (Rockville) and Han Palace (Tysons, Woodley Park, Barracks Row) announced that she is bringing a new restaurant to Rio– taking over the space that was previously home to Union Jack’s until June 2020. It has now been confirmed by Rio that the restaurant will be known as Han Spot. Construction recently began on the interior of the restaurant, with much of the previous interior being removed (photos below).
Zhu made the initial announcement via social media in May, “Another milestone. New baby from Han Palace coming to Rio Gaithersburg. Next to AMC theater & Guapo’s.” One of Zhu’s other restaurants, Han Palace, offers an all-day dim sum menu. Scallops, shrimp, pork/crab dumplings, rice rolls, barbecue pork buns, lobster sticky rice, Han-style filet mignon, and Peking duck are included on the Han Palace menu. An opening timeframe is not yet available, we anticipate a mid to late 2024 opening being a likely scenario.
Coming Soon: Copper Canyon Dining Pier on the Lake
Copper Canyon Grill is requesting approval for a 1,012 square foot covered dining pier to be located on the RIO Lake. The restaurant submitted its final site plan back in July and the planning commission approved it unanimously in September. Renderings of what the pier will look like can be seen below.
Access to the outdoor dining area/pier will be via two gangways attached to the existing boardwalk. The new structure projects 10′-2″ from the boardwalk and will be 12 feet tall from the finished floor. Gaithersburg Planning Staff supports the proposal for a dining pier in the Rio Washingtonian Lake, finding it in compliance with the approved sketch plan and Schematic Development Plan SDP- 9462-2023. “The dining pier will provide additional outdoor seating for Copper Canyon and will enhance the use of lake. There remains adequate parking for the proposed commercial addition and all applicable development standards have been met.” No timeframe for the pier has been announced. Featured image courtesy of Copper Canyon Dining Pier on the Lake
