Paladar closes at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg

Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar has closed at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg. A sign posted at the restaurant calls the closure a "tough decision," but that unspecified "challenges in recent years have made continued operations unsustainable." Paladar was one of the original businesses at the decade-old development, and was successful enough to reach the end of a 10-year lease at the property. However, the chain appears to have been struggling in recent years, closing its North Bethesda Market restaurant in 2018, Annapolis in 2020, and Cleveland, Ohio in 2023. At some point their Tysons location closed, as well.

Sweetgreen coming to Gaithersburg

Sweetgreen is finally moving upcounty. The upscale salad chain will open its first restaurant north of Montrose Parkway in Gaithersburg. It will located at 299 Copley Place at Downtown Crown. That's a prime spot near Starbucks and Harris Teeter. Sweetgreen: It's not just for Bethesda anymore!

ASIA NINE OPENS AT DOWNTOWN CROWN (PHOTO)

Asia Nine opened this past Friday at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg. The Asian fusion restaurant was previously only available to those venturing to 9th Street in the District. Its new location gives Montgomery County residents an easier way of getting there. Asia Nine's signature entrées include Asia Nine Lamb Chops, seasoned with house spice rub, grilled and served with mango-soy coulis, and potato nest with mint oil; Miso Honey Duck Breast, marinated in miso honey and fresh herbs and laced with a sake butter sauce; Hoisin BBQ Ribs, Miso Honey Duck Breast, Pad Thai, Singapore Fried Rice and spicy Kapow. Dessert items include Thai Tiramisu, and Sesame-Ginger Cheesecake.

254 Crown Park Avenue

(202) 629-4355

DOWNTOWN CROWN CELEBRATES WITH NIH CHARITY EVENT (PHOTOS)

Downtown Crown welcomed a crowd - including residents and local VIPs - to sample food from some of its best restaurants (and beer from Dogfish Head Alehouse - also located in Gaithersburg), and enjoy live music and a photo booth last Friday evening. All proceeds from the Sip. Nosh. Mingle. Charity Event went to NIH Charities.

Gaithersburg Mayor (and future Montgomery County Councilmember) Sidney Katz was among the notables in attendance. Katz has presided over a building boom in the city, which has included its latest planned development, Downtown Crown. 

Participating restaurants included Coastal Flats, newly-opened Asia Nine, Starbucks, Paladar, Venti Tre, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Chopt, and even the not-yet-open Ted's Bulletin. Many were also celebrating the big news from earlier in the day, that another Ted's - Ted Turner's Ted's Montana Grill - is coming to Downtown Crown in 2015. It was a very nice event with great weather, and a chance for many to get their first taste of what the downtown restaurants have to offer. With several events held this past weekend alone, I'm curious to see what Downtown Crown will have up its sleeve for the rapidly-approaching holiday season.

The Dogfish Head Alehouse
beer bus has arrived

La Madeleine opened October 16

Food samples were available under the tent

Live music

The tent was packed

Those are official Downtown
Crown red bags, with a
surprise gift inside

Working the grill at
Asia Nine

Asia Nine just opened
at Downtown Crown

Chopt

The always-great Coastal Flats

Coastal Flats was serving up
its deviled eggs

An impressive display from
Paladar 

Speaking of Paladar...their
outdoor seating areas (at their
actual restaurant in Crown) were
absolutely packed Friday evening

Ruth's Chris Steak House

A sampler tray from Ruth's Chris

Ted's Bulletin (coming in
January 2015 to Downtown Crown)

Peanut Butter and Bacon
Pop Tart samples from
Ted's Bulletin!

In fact, they had 4
flavors to choose from

Venti Tre Modern Italian
restaurant

A small sample of what
Venti Tre had to offer

Those red bags are
catching on

Photo booth fun

The weather was perfect,
especially considering it
is late October

This upper level near the tent
became an impromptu biergarten

I had Dogfish Head's
Punkin' Ale, which is
fantastic

As day turned into night...

...the stringed bulbs inside
the tent could be better
appreciated...

...and the band kept playing

TED'S MONTANA GRILL COMING TO DOWNTOWN CROWN IN GAITHERSBURG

Ted's Montana Grill is the latest A-list restaurant to sign on at the Downtown Crown development, giving Montgomery County's newest planned community "a restaurant for every night of the week,” in Gaithersburg Mayor Sid Katz's words. Media mogul Ted Turner is the biggest name behind the Ted's chain, which takes inspiration from the Big Sky Country state, and serves up American food ranging from the traditional to the more adventurous.

The restaurant will take a 5,031 SF space on Ellington Boulevard, and like many of the dining options in Downtown Crown, will include an outdoor dining area. Crown residents who like to leave the Thanksgiving cooking to someone else, take note: Ted's is open on Thanksgiving annually with a classic American Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, it won't be open yet this year, but that will come in handy in years to come.

Word of the lease became public at the big Downtown Crown ribbon cutting Friday morning, which was attended by Mayor Katz, as well as Dave Wagner, Executive Vice President of JBGR Retail, retail developer of Downtown Crown; Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett; Robert H. Zeiller, Executive Vice President, Westbrook Properties, Crown master developer; and Toby Bozzuto of The Bozzuto Group, developer of the Cadence luxury apartments at Crown.

Bison nachos anyone? There could be some confusion with two restaurants named Ted's in town (the other being Ted's Bulletin, of course). Both serve adult milkshakes, too. But given the 2 restaurants in question, that's a good kind of confusion to have.