Below is a list of restaurants and businesses that are coming soon to Germantown, MD.
African Restaurant
Signage is up for a new African Restaurant at 13075 Wisteria Dr in the Germantown Plaza shopping center. The restaurant is being opened by the owners of theAfrican International Markets in Germantown (also in Germantown Plaza) and Gaithersburg (Festival at Muddy Branch Shopping Center). An opening date is not yet available.
Big Blue Swim School
Permanent signage is up and construction is ongoing at Big Blue Swim School (13032 Middlebrook Rd) in Germantown, the former site of Monkey Joe’s from 2016-2019 and Hard Times Cafe before that.Big Blue was founded in 2009 by U.S National Champion swimmer Chris DeJong and this will be the school’s first Maryland location. No opening date has been announced.
Additional information per Big Blue Swim School available below: “Big Blue Swim School teaches kids ages three months to 12 years how to be safe, happy, and confident swimmers. We offer an unparalleled weekly swim lesson experience made easier and more effective by our professional swim instructors, proprietary technology and curriculum, and our comfortable and convenient facilities. Ultra-clean, 90-degree pools; comfortable, Wi-Fi enabled viewing areas; ample changing rooms; and convenient parking are just some of the amenities that set us apart. And don’t forget, you can schedule multiple kids anddifferent levelsat the same time.”
Charley’s Cheesesteaks
Charley’s Cheesesteaks & Wings will be opening its third Germantown location at 9721 Frederick Rd. (previous home of the standalone Verizon store) in the Fox Chapel shopping center. Last year Charley’s opened Germantown locations at 19877 Century Blvd and inside Walmart at 20910 Frederick Rd, taking over the space formerly occupied by McDonald’s. This Charley’s will likely also serve wings and milkshakes, like most new locations in the area.
Charley’s has additional locations in Aspen Hill, Bethesda (Montgomery Mall), Clarksburg (outlets), Gaithersburg, and Wheaton (Wheaton Mall).
Charleys is a Philly cheesesteak franchise that opened its first location across the campus of Ohio State University in 1986. While studying real estate at the school, Charley Shin worked in his mother’s Japanese/Korean restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. A wrong turn on a family trip to New York City resulted in Charley’s discovery of the Philly cheesesteak. Charley convinced his mother to sell her restaurant, and invest her life savings of $48,000 into Charley’s, a 450-square-foot restaurant across the street from Ohio State’s campus.
Hangry Joe’s
Signage is up for Hangry Joe’s at 19730 Germantown Rd in the Shops at Germantown shopping center. According hangryjoesgermantown.com, the restaurant is anticipating a July opening.Hangry Joe’s in known for its hot chicken sandwiches, known as the “Chicken Sando”, and allows guests to choose the spice level of the fried chicken (Plain<Mild<Medium<Hot<Angry Hot). The menu also consists of chicken fingers, chicken & waffles, wraps, nuggets, loaded fries, and salads. Sides include cider slaw, mac & cheese, waffle fries, and fried okra.
Hangry Joe’s has additional Montgomery County locations in Wheaton (2533 Ennals Ave), Rockville (718-B Rockville Pike and 10050 Darnestown Rd.), and recently openedMontgomery Village(19290 Montgomery Village Ave.)
Kung Fu Tea
Kung Fu Tea, located at 19717 Frederick Rd in Germantown, has announced it will hold its grand opening celebration from May 31 to June 2. The location closed its doors in October 2023 but reopened under new management in late April. Currently in its soft opening phase, the store is open daily from 12-9 PM. The grand opening event will feature buy one, get one free on all drinks.Kung Fu Tea has opened various Montgomery County locations in recent years, and currently has nearby stores in Clarksburg and two in Gaithersburg (Kentlands and Rio).
Paris Baguette
Paris Baguette, “the neighborhood bakery café where communities come together over expertly crafted baked and brewed goods”, will be opening a Germantown location at 21030 Frederick Rd in the Milestone Center, according to a listing byPeterson Companies.Paris Baguette opened its first Montgomery County bakery in Rockville Town Square in the summer of 2023. The Rockville Town Square location is located at 101 Gibbs Street and offers Korean and French baked goods. Franchise agreements have been signed to expand across 25 states with approximately 200 locations currently in the United States. Last month, we reported that the bakery will be opening a Bethesda location on the the ground floor of the new Sophia Bethesda Apartments at 4924 St. Elmo Ave.
Ross
Coming soon signage is up for Ross at 12940 Middlebrook Rd. in the Germantown Commons shopping center. It will be located in the space that was previously home to Bed Bath & Beyond, next to the recently opened Gold’s Gym.
Ross is a discount retail chain that sells clothing, shoes, and housewares with over 1,400 stores in the U.S., including Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Silver Spring.
According to Ross, “Since 1982, our focus has been on bringing our customers a constant stream of high-quality department and specialty store brands at extraordinary savings (aka bargains) while providing an easy, fun and organized shopping experience.”Earlier this year,dd’s Discounts, which is owned by Ross, opened at 18236 Contour Rd in the Montgomery Village Plaza shopping center in Gaithersburg. There is currently no timeframe available on when the Germantown Ross will be opening.
Starbucks
Starbucks is coming to the Germantown Square Shopping Center, taking over the space previously occupied by SunTrust/Truist bank at 12605 Wisteria Dr.Germantown Square is home to the Lancaster County Dutch Market, Dollar General, Spice Grill, and Super Chicken. In February, Outback Steakhouseclosed its location at 12609 Wisteria Dr. after more than 30 years in business. We will provide an update once additional information becomes available.
Now Open: Nothing Bundt Cakes
Nothing Bundt Cakes opened at 20650 Seneca Meadows Pkwy in March.The bakery is located in the space previously occupied by Sally Beauty, next to Crumbl Cookies in the Shops at Seneca Meadows shopping center. Bundt cake flavors include Andes Peppermint Chocolate Chip, Red Velvet, White Chocolate Raspberry, Snickerdoodle, Confetti, and Snickerdoodle.Nothing Bundt Cakes got its start in Las Vegas in 1997 and currently has over 500 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, including Montgomery County locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring.
Now Open: School of Rock
School of Rock is now open at 12974 Middlebrook Road in Germantown. The music school is located in the space previously occupied by Code Ninjas in the Germantown Commons shopping center.The company has an additional Montgomery County location at 8634 Colesville Rd in Silver Spring. According to its website, “Our music programs for kids in Germantown are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Germantown MD who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 8 to 13-years-old) can begin Rock 101 without any prior experience. The goal of this rock program is to quickly develop a basic competence on students’ chosen instruments before moving on to our famous Performance Program.”
