The County Council unanimously approved another $5 million in funding for the Public Health Emergency Grant program to assist local restaurants and small retail shops during the COVID-19 emergency. The special appropriation is in addition to the $5 million reserved for those businesses as part of the original $20 million appropriation that created the program.
Local nonprofit Silver Spring Cares has teamed up with a group of Silver Spring/Takoma Park restaurants to provide meals to needy area residents. To fund the effort and help to support the restaurants’ employees, SSC last week launched a Community Connection Go Fund Me page, according to Heather Foley, SSC’s executive director.
Residents of the Seven Oaks/Evanswood neighborhood this week crowd sourced a list of local restaurants still serving customers during the COVID-19 emergency. The Google Docs spreadsheet is online for reference and open to edits and additions from others, who have since expanded the original list.
Abol Ethiopian Restaurant closed last week after an unsuccessful attempt to rebrand the location, then returning to the original concept. The location at 8626 Colesville Rd. was rebranded as Blu Nile Restaurant and Lounge with a launch shortly before the holidays.
El Sapo Cuban Social Club and Urban Butcher have begun providing free meals to senior citizens, according to chef/owner Raynold Mendizábal. “We went to The Bonifant building and we’re going to be taking care of them for the time being,” he said.
The former location of Ethio Express Grill at 952 Sligo Ave. will open tomorrow, Feb. 8, as Debab Restaurant under new owners. Ash Edossa and his wife Abebech “Emu” Taddese took over the business in January.
Two Silver Spring restaurants were named to the 100 Very Best Restaurants list this year by Washingtonian magazine. El Sapo Cuban Social Club came in at #57 while Urban Butcher was ranked #75.
The owner of Kaldi’s Social House will take over the space at 8113 Georgia Ave. currently occupied by Pacci’s Pizzeria and turn it into a restaurant with an American-themed menu.
The Board of License Commissioners has revoked the liquor license of the Congress Restaurant and Lounge, located at 6834 New Hampshire Ave. in Takoma Park.
A hibachi-style quick-serve restaurant has signed a lease to open an outlet in the Hillandale Shopping Center, according to an announcement by the company’s leasing representative.
Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro has opened a hiring center for its new outlet on Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring.
Cielo Rojo, a “fine-casual” restaurant specializing in Mexican cuisine, has opened at 7056 Carroll Ave.