Planning Board Green Lights Tavern at River Falls

A new restaurant-bar could be could to Potomac Village as soon as August after the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission gave the project the go-ahead in a meeting on Thursday.

The planning board unanimously approved the development of the — a restaurant that will serve contemporary American food and drinks, said President of River Falls Jeff Grolig. The Tavern at River Falls will occupy space at the empty M&T Bank next door to the River Falls Market in Potomac Village.

Several Potomac residents showed up at the meeting to testify in favor of the restaurant-bar, Grolig said in an e-mail. Also, the West Montgomery County Citizens Association and wrote letters to the board backing the project, Grolig added.

Grolig said they now have to wait for the approved site plan to make its way to Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services — a process which should take two to four weeks. Pending approval, construction will begin in about four weeks and last three to four months, he added.

“With staffing and training we are shooting for an August opening,” Grolig said in an e-mail. “One good thing which has come with the site plan delay is that we will have all drawings and contractors ready to go.”