As we approach the first anniversary of pandemic-related closings, we’re taking a moment to look back at some stores and restaurants that we’ve lost along the way. The sheer size of this list is shocking — but it’s also important to remember a few key things: 1) Some of these businesses were already struggling before any of us had ever heard of the novel coronavirus. 2) Several on this list had not been open long enough to develop a loyal customer base, which might have been willing to support them through the pandemic. 3) A few longtime retailers decided that 2020 was a really great year to retire.

Westfield Montgomery mall, which was forced to close for several months last spring, has lost more businesses over the past year than any other shopping center in our area. About half of the mall’s eateries have gone dark since March 2020, along with more than a dozen chain stores: Abercrombie & Fitch, Alex & Ani, Bose, Clarks, David’s Tea, Eyebobs, GNC, Godiva, Hanna Andersson, Marmi, Microsoft, Steve Madden, The Art of Shaving and The Walking Company.

Lord & Taylor also closed up shop in 2020, as did the entire Pet Valu chain and Lucky Brand at Pike & Rose.  Also gone are ABC’s & 1-2-3’s at Wintergreen Plaza, GameStop at Fallsgrove, and It’Sugar at Rockville Town Square. And Cabin John’s beloved Toy Castle closed its doors last summer after 41 years.

On the restaurant scene, here are 25 notable losses of the past 12 months.

  • Addie’s at Park Potomac: This three-year-old reboot from Black Restaurant Group never seemed to regain the fan base of its predecessor on Rockville Pike. Most of its sister restaurants managed to survive the pandemic, but Addie’s didn’t make it. The prime corner space already has been filled by a new place: King Street Oyster Bar.
  • Aroma at Westfield Montgomery mall: This popular Israeli coffee chain had a seven-year run at the mall, but it couldn’t seem to woo the crowds away from Starbucks. Aroma closed at the beginning of the pandemic and never reopened.
  • Bagel City on Rockville Pike: This beloved local landmark was originally expected to reopen for takeout, but a family health challenge made the logistics too difficult. Co-owner Stephanie Kavadoy tells us she hopes to return in the future with a smaller operation.
  • Beefsteak at Westfield Montgomery mall: José Andrés’ veggie-centric restaurant closed most of its locations during the pandemic. With popular Cava just across the aisle, Beefsteak rarely seemed to draw much of a crowd at the mall.
  • Breadsmith at Cabin John Village: This kosher and nut-free bakery, a franchise owned by locals, was a go-to in Potomac for 12 years. Owners blamed the pandemic when they closed last September.
  • Chuy’s on Rockville Pike: The Mexican chain had already announced closings just before the pandemic, shuttering its Federal Plaza location in March. In this case, coronavirus was not to blame.
  • Cold Stone Creamery at Westfield Montgomery mall: The ice cream chain had been a centerpiece of the Dining Terrace since 2015. Cold Stone closed in December.
  • Cici’s Pizza on Rockville Pike: This longtime chain, known for its all-you-can-eat pizza buffets, was unable to survive on takeout business alone. Its parent company has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Flower Child at Travilah Square: The two-year-old eatery closed at the beginning of the pandemic and was initially expected to reopen, but the company changed its mind. The Wildwood location, always much busier, is still in business.
  • Gumbo Ya Ya at Rockville Town Square: This locally owned eatery, offering a mashup of New Orleans-style cuisine and traditional Puerto Rican dishes, had only been open for a few months before the pandemic.
  • Gusto at Westfield Montgomery mall: This pizza and salad spot closed at the beginning of the pandemic and never returned to the Dining Terrace. Gusto eventually shuttered all its Maryland locations.
  • Honeyfish Poke at Congressional Plaza: This California-based concept was among the first local eateries to specialize in the Hawaiian-style raw fish dish. Honeyfish went dark early in the pandemic after a three-year run in Rockville.
  • La Tasca at Rockville Town Square: The Spanish-style tapas chain, one of the last original tenants at Rockville Town Square, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy last May and closed all its locations.
  • Le Pain Quotidien at Cabin John Village: LPQ was already struggling before the pandemic, and its U.S. division filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last May. The Cabin John and Wildwood locations both went dark, but Wildwood made a surprise comeback in late 2020. It doesn’t look like that will be happening at Cabin John.
  • Mirch Masala at Westfield Montgomery mall: The Indian restaurant spent a decade at the mall, but owner Poonam Chopra opted not to renew her lease in the current environment.
  • Möge Tee at Westfield Montgomery mall: This New York-based bubble tea chain debuted at the mall in 2019 and disappeared last spring.
  • Nantucket Reef at Traville Village Center: This Cape Cod-style eatery said it was closing “temporarily” last March. It never reopened.
  • Panera in downtown Rockville: While other Paneras have remained open throughout the pandemic — including the one at Federal Plaza — this location did not survive.
  • Pizza CS on Rockville Pike. In this case, coronavirus only accelerated a closing that would have happened a few months later. The Neapolitan-style pizzeria lost its home to a planned Wegmans-anchored redevelopment project.
  • Poké Papa at Westfield Montgomery mall: This Hawaiian-style eatery had been in business for just six months when the pandemic began. It closed last spring and never reopened.
  • Roti at Pike & Rose: While other Pike & Rose restaurants have survived the pandemic, this Mediterranean fast-casual chain gave up early.
  • Spice 6 at Westfield Montgomery mall: This Indian fast-food chain arrived at the mall in 2018 and closed last spring. Other Spice 6 locations remain open.
  • Subway restaurants in Rockville and Potomac. The sandwich chain closed its locations at Cabin John Village and Federal Plaza. The reasons are unclear.
  • Sweetly Anchored Patisserie at Cabin John Village: This bakery continued filling cake orders while the Cabin John mini-mall was closed, but owner Lindsay Miniaci said the space was so quiet that it wasn’t worth reopening to foot traffic. She moved out last fall.
  • Thai Pavilion at Rockville Town Square: After a long run at the Square, this restaurant closed in August. It was the fifth eatery to exit the Town Square in 2020.
  • The Wine Harvest at Park Potomac: This ten-year-old restaurant and wine shop, known for its convivial atmosphere, closed its doors on New Year’s Eve. Andrew Meyrowitz, whose family also closed their Kentlands location in 2019, said it was too difficult to turn a profit in the current environment.