Route 1’s Sangfroid Distilling is planning a major expansion in Takoma Park.

The Hyattsville distillery, which makes craft brandy, whiskey and Dutch-style gin, will open a larger space at 6950 Carroll Ave., former home to a Bank of America branch.

Co-owners Jeff Harner and Nate Groenendyk told the Hyattsville Wire that the neoclassical building, which dates back to 1927, is perfect for a large-scale production facility that will allow them to dramatically increase production.

The new building has about 4,500 square feet on the main floor and a similar amount of space in the basement, compared to their current Hyattsville building’s 1,000 square feet.

The new space will also have a cocktail bar, much like the tasting room at their current facility at 5130 Baltimore Ave. in Hyattsville, which will remain open.

“We hope to start renovations early next year, once we have our building permits. Our best bet is that it will be spring or summer 2025, but we’ve grown accustomed to construction delays,” Harner told the Wire.

He said they’ve already gotten approval from Montgomery County’s Historic Preservation Commission for an exterior addition on the rear of the building and restoring some street-facing windows that were removed for ATMs.

The two are also thinking of finding ways to add food to the menu.

“Our state permit allows caterers (including food trucks) to operate on the premises of the distillery, and with an ample-sized parking lot attached to the building, we’ll be able to take advantage of that,” Harner said.

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Taqueria Habanero and its neighbors in a College Park shopping center will have to relocate after Sept. 30.

The popular Mexican restaurant and other tenants of 8145 Baltimore Ave. will shut down at the end of the month as the Campus Village Shoppes shopping center will be torn down to make way for new student housing.

Yicela Alvarado, director of operations and the oldest daughter of owners Dionicio Montero and Mirna Montero-Alvarado, told the Hyattsville Wire that the taqueria will be run out of a food truck until they can find a new location.

“We are actively working with the new project developer and City of College Park to operate under modified conditions this includes obtaining a designated space for Taqueria Habaneros food truck and a possible future location so that we can continue building community through food,” she said.

Other tenants that will be affected include Mr. Fries Man, Hanami Japanese restaurant, Pupuseria La Familiar Salvadoran restaurant, Box’d Kitchen, Jodeem African cuisine, Jidong Tea, Paris Beauty Bar, UM Nail Spa, Pandora’s Cube videogame store, Vape Exchange and College Park Liquors, which has started a GoFundMe to pay for the cost of relocating.

The owners of the shopping center said recently that they are working with tenants individually.

“Nearly all tenants have agreed to compensation and LV is actively negotiating with the remaining few,” they said in a statement to D.C. News Now. “We have partnered with some tenants to come back to the new development once completed.”

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A fast-growing national Greek franchise is opening in College Park on Monday.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill was started in Las Vegas in 2016 and has quickly become one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains, with College Park set to become the 39th location around the country and the first in Maryland.

Based on the menu of a mom-and-pop restaurant in Henderson, Nev., Great Greek features standards like dolmades, spanakopita, gyros and souvlaki along with salads and rice bowls. Dessert options include baklava and rice pudding.

There’s also a kids’ menu with basic options like cheese pizza and chicken fingers as well as a souvlaki plate for more adventurous eaters.

Located at 8900 Baltimore Ave., next to Rita’s ice cream shop, will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

The local franchise, one of 20 to open this year, is owned by Fahad Naroo of Baltimore.

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Chick-fil-A’s new ghost kitchen is scheduled to open in College Park on Thursday, Sept. 14.

Called Little Blue Menu, the kitchen delivery service will be located at 7242 Baltimore Ave., the former site of the Applebee’s restaurant.

The ghost kitchen will prepare food for pick up, delivery and catering, including standard Chick-fil-A items as well as wings and burgers.

Although Little Blue Menu will not have indoor dining, there several outdoor tables with blue umbrellas for customers picking up.

The kitchen will deliver within a 10-mile radius of the location, including most of the Route 1 corridor, using hybrid electric vehicles.

The College Park location is the second for Little Blue Menu, which started in Nashville in 2021.

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Community Forklift will hold its last “First Friday” event of 2023 on Sept. 1.

The nonprofit reuse warehouse at 4671 Tanglewood Dr. near Edmonston will be open late, with discounts on modern and vintage salvaged material as well as live music, food and drinks and booths featuring local artists and vendors.

Live music will be provided by jazz-influenced pop Band Brûlée, with a food truck from Catalyst Hotdogs and beer from City-State Brewing Co.

Local artists and vendors include Delia Mychajluk, Blue Basset Barkery, painter Joseph Rogers, Grimshank Art, Skye Marinda Tarot, Monica Creates Daily, Meredith Esguerra and Peijian Art.

There will also be free face painting by Rachel Israel.

Community Forklift is asking for people to RSVP for planning purposes, but it isn’t required to attend.

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Zeke’s Coffee recently began construction on the expansion of its Route 1 location in the Woodridge neighborhood of D.C., just south of Mount Rainier.

“It’s been a long time coming, but today we started our buildout next door,” the local coffee roaster posted on Instagram.

The new space will more than double its footprint, adding 1,500 square feet from the former Kaaos Gym at 2304 Rhode Island Ave.

The added space will be used for Zeke’s main coffeeshop while its current space at 2300 Rhode Island Ave. next door, which it has been at since 2013, will be used for production only.

Zeke’s owner John Kepner told the Hyattsville Wire they will hold in-person gatherings in the new space such as coffee cuppings and tasting events and add more outdoor seating on the sidewalk in front.

He said they were working on plans for the buildout with Bandura Design, an all-women hospitality interior design firm, just a few doors down. They too are renovating their space on Rhode Island Avenue.

Zeke’s opened its third location in D.C. at 4602 14th St NW this past spring, joining its downtown location at 731 15th Street NW and it’s roastery and coffee shop in Woodridge.

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A pop-up brunch spot on Route 1 run by refugees and asylum-seekers has moved in permanently.

Earlier this summer, New York-based nonprofit Emma’s Torch held pop-up brunches at 2212 Rhode Island Ave. NE, on Route 1 in the Woodridge neighborhood, just south of Mount Rainier.

Now, Emma’s Torch is returning to the same location, offering brunch on Saturdays and Sundays with students who have gone through its culinary training program for refugees and asylum-seekers.

Founder Kerry Brodie told the Hyattsville Wire that she first came up with the idea behind the nonprofit when volunteering at a D.C. soup kitchen and working at the Human Rights Campaign.

Brodie told the Wire that she was also inspired to start the program by the work of organizations like Sunflower Bakery in Rockville, which works with young adults with learning differences.

To sign up for a brunch at Emma’s Torch, go to Eventbrite. Ticket prices for the Saturday and Sunday meals, taking place through the end of September, start at $20. You can also donate online here.

Why did you choose the Woodridge neighborhood for your expansion?

We were so fortunate to learn about the space in Brookland when we were trying to find our first location in Washington D.C. We knew we wanted to be in the D.M.V., and finding this beautiful kitchen, in such a welcoming community was a dream come true! We love how friendly our neighbors are and how everyone feels invested in our success. Whether it is stopping by to say “hi!” or asking about our indoor garden, it is so nice to feel this welcome.

Where do you find the people who work in the kitchen?

We work with a range of partner organizations that refer candidates to our program. We onboard a new cohort each month, and are grateful for other social service providers, English classes, and community centers who connect us to people interested in this program.

Any success stories so far? 

Even though we are just getting started, we have been so excited to watch our new graduates begin new jobs and launch their careers. We love to celebrate major accomplishments and milestones for each of them. One particular moment stands out. One of our students recently reflected that this was their very first paycheck, and how proud they felt receiving it.

Who have you worked with locally?

We are working to build our partnerships with local restaurants. We have been so grateful that so many places have reached out about working with us. So far, we are working closely with Rasa, Tatte, Whole Foods, and many others in the area. We look forward to adding even more.

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