Michael Holstein, owner of Rockville’s Quench restaurant, is close to signing a deal to open a new food hall that will house several stalls, including an artisan bakery, wine bar, coffee shop, juice bar, café, catering kitchen and more.
Tentatively called Quench Market, it’ll be a “hybrid of a Whole Foods and a great 7-Eleven,” Holstein said, adding that he got the initial inspiration from Famima!!, an upscale Asian convenience store chain with locations in Los Angeles.
The market will also showcase a future line of Quench food products, such as sauces, dips, jams, jellies, ice cream and drink mixes. Holstein said he’s meeting with a bottler next week to work out the details.
As for the location, Holstein said he’s deciding among three spaces, either in Rockville, North Bethesda or Frederick. In any of the locales, the market will take up about 6,000-square feet, a “good size but not massive,” Holstein said, adding that he envisions a dozen or so café tables, free Wi-Fi and perhaps an outdoor seating area.
He hopes to have the place up and running sometime this year. Watch this space.
In other Quench news, the restaurant is one of five finalists in the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s “favorite new restaurant” competition. Nominations for the award were submitted by the dining public, and the ballot was finalized by an association nominating committee. The voting period is over, but the winner will be announced on April 15.