Le Pain Quotidien, the Belgian-founded international chain that bakes organic, artisan breads and serves tartines (open-faced sandwiches), quiche, salads, pastries, plus a charming breakfast, is opening a second Bethesda location in the Wildwood Shopping Center.
The restaurant has already enjoyed success on Bethesda Row, and given the similar demographics and need for a casual eatery in the shopping center, the new Wildwood location should be a shoe-in.
Kelly Silverman, retail strategist and broker with Streetsense, which represents Le Pain Quotidien, said the new restaurant will be 3,100-square feet, making it slightly larger than the Bethesda Row locale, but with the same look and feel.
It will replace the short-lived Mixt Greens, the upscale eco-friendly salad shop which closed last year after only 10 months in business. The West Coast chain, which lacked name recognition here, pulled out of the area entirely, also shutting down its three downtown Washington D.C. locations.
As for the new Le Pain Quotidien, look for a late May opening.
