Ellsworth Place has provided updates regarding the upcoming Commas Food Hall and the status of MOD Pizza.
A soft opening date for the Commas food hall, which is expected to open by the end of this year, will be announced soon. “Ellsworth Place hopes to announce a soft opening date very soon as we’re working with the food hall tenants to coordinate [the] construction of the individual kitchens and service areas,” an Ellsworth Place representative said in an email to the Source.
Construction is underway for the 13,000-square-foot space on the third floor of Ellsworth Place; exterior signage was installed last month. There will be 12 food and beverage vendors, with an emphasis on international foods from local producers, purveyors, chefs, and restaurateurs.
The first four vendors to sign leases at Commas were announced last year:
DMV Empanadas comes from Bolivian brothers Marco and Nacho Almaraz. The company has been offering held-held foods at the Washington/Baltimore-area farmers’ markets for nearly 10 years. Growing from its storefront in Gaithersburg, the Almaraz brothers have expanded from the original chicken filling recipe to nearly two dozen filling options including arroz and spicy pork, shrimp Old Bay and cheeseburger.
Trini Vybez was launched by Natalia Kalloo as a food truck in 2020, appearing at area food markets and festivals, along with catering private events. Trini Vybez features Trinidadian street food, including traditional cook-ups, curries, and roti which includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Tokoa was created after friends and long-time restaurant workers Evelyn Cruz and Delmy Hernandez “decided to combine their knowledge and experience to create their versions of their favorite foods.” The menu focuses on cheesesteaks and burgers, both classic and innovative, from the traditional Philly Cheesesteak to a spicy cheesesteak to cheese-stuffed burgers.
J&J Mex-Taqueria is a family-owned and -operated business that has served the DC community since 2015. José and José Tovar are a father-son duo committed to sharing authentic Mexican recipes, flavors, and sauces passed down from generation to generation, as well as creating connections with the people they serve.
Commas is the second food hall planned for downtown Silver Spring; construction of the 11-vendor Solaire Social began earlier this year.
Additionally, MOD Pizza’s reopening status is yet to be determined. “Ellsworth Place is working with MOD Pizza management to support a consistent operation schedule,” says an Ellsworth Place representative.
We reported in July that MOD Pizza had been closed for several weeks with “plumming issues” (sic). Employees reported that the restaurant was previously closed last year because of flooring issues.
The Source will update as more information becomes available.
Rendering courtesy GBT Realty/Cana Development