New restaurant on the way to Westfield Montgomery mall: Kapow Buddy, a fast-casual eatery serving up Thai food with a Chipotle/Cava-style ordering system. Owner Prompas “Kuen” Deeprachakorn, a native of Thailand, says kapow bowls are a staple in his country but aren’t well-known to American diners. Kapow Buddy’s bowls will feature meat, chicken or tofu over rice, assorted vegetables and Thai sauces. Also on the menu: Thai street foods, coffee, teas and cocktails. Plans call for a July opening in the old Aroma Coffee space, most recently occupied by the short-lived Butter Me Up. That corridor has been practically a ghost town since Blaze Pizza went dark in 2016, followed by the closing of Aroma during the pandemic. Just last week, teen store The Icing also closed its doors after a long run. But Deeprachakorn is confident he can bring back the crowds. “Once people try this food in person,” he says, “I’m pretty sure they’re going to love it.”