Galito's Flame-Grilled Chicken opens in Gaithersburg

Galito's Flame-Grilled Chicken has opened at 15918 Shady Grove Road, in the Shady Grove Center on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. An employee at the restaurant said they opened for the first time on Monday. This is the first American location for the South Africa-based spicy chicken chain. Operating hours are 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Lobby closed at Taco Bell in Germantown Town Center (Photos)

The Taco Bell at 19923 Century Boulevard in Germantown is the latest in Montgomery County to get a significant renovation. At this time, the lobby is closed, but the drive-thru remains open for business. Taco Bell, like many fast food restaurants and stores, is shifting the design of its buildings to accomodate the new emphasis on takeout, curbside pickup, delivery, and drive-thru services. Thirty locations will even get a second drive-thru lane in 2022.

The interior is completely cleared out

But the drive-thru is still open!

Spicy Chicken McNuggets return to McDonald's

Spicy McNuggets drive-thru
advertisement at McDonald's

How do you make America's favorite chicken nugget better? Make it hot and spicy, of course. McDonald's has brought back Spicy Chicken McNuggets for a limited-time. A six-piece is $2.50 - not bad, considering what you pay for a four-piece McNuggets. Ranch is probably the best sauce for this McNugget variation.

Gaithersburg Shopping Center owner seeks rezoning for mixed-use residential buildings

Kimco Realty is seeking approval of a redevelopment concept plan and height waiver that would allow it to construct two residential apartment buildings on the site of its Gaithersburg Shopping Center property at 18501 N. Frederick Avenue. The retail center is across MD 355 from the Spectrum development. Two proposed buildings would hold a told of 580 residential units, and ground floor retail and restaurant space. A small park space, and a rain garden at the corner of MD 355 and Travis Avenue would create "a signature gateway landscape experience."

Although the buildings would not exceed the 6-story height limit in that area, because of the topography of the site, the six stories would exceed the 65' height cap. As such, Kimco is seeking a waiver from the city to exceed that height cap. City planning staff approves of the granting of a waiver, and of all other arguments made by Kimco for the value of the project, and of its compliance with master plan considerations. 

Gaithersburg's Mayor and Council will consider the concept plan application and waiver request at its meeting tonight, April 4, 2022 at 7:30 PM. Staff recommends approval of the application and waiver request.

Wawa Gaithersburg site demolition update (Photos)

Every smash and bash of the heavy machinery at 405 S. Frederick Avenue is bringing us one step closer to that first bite of a hot Turkey Gobbler. A bigger demolition vehicle has been brought in at the future site of Montgomery County's first Wawa convenience store and mega gas station in Gaithersburg. The vacant antiques shop can't put up much of a fight, as the vehicle maneuvers back and forth over growing piles of dislodged bricks, weathered wood planks and rubble.

Donutchew "coming soon" to Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Donutchew is getting ready to open a new location at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. "Coming soon" signage has been installed at the future storefront. Dense and chewy, ring-shaped mochi donuts are the unique specialty of the chain, along with a selection of fruit and milk teas. 

The shop will be across the street from Lilly Magilly's, increasing the competition in the dessert category at Rio. Donutchew is amidst a major expansion that will more than triple the size of the chain; its existing two shops are in Northern Virginia.

There's Lilly Magilly's right across
the street

Assault at Montgomery Village laundromat

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a laundromat in Montgomery Village yesterday morning. The assault was reported at a laundromat in the 9600 block of Lost Knife Road at 7:08 AM, according to crime data.