Passion Bakery Closed Rockville Shop

The bakery at 9613 Medical Center Drive has ceased operations as a new cafe prepares to move into the space.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A vacant modern commercial storefront with glass windows in a landscaped medical business park. — Passion Bakery has closed its Rockville location at 9613 Medical Center Drive, with the space set to be occupied by the Sweet and Sour Cafe. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you generally trust the quality of new restaurants replacing familiar local businesses in your area?

Passion Bakery has officially closed its location at 9613 Medical Center Drive in Rockville. Sweet and Sour Cafe, which formerly operated a food stand at Westfield Wheaton, will take over the vacant storefront.

Why it matters

The closure marks a shift in the local retail landscape as a specialized cafe prepares to occupy a prime medical district storefront. While the Rockville branch has shuttered, the business maintains active locations elsewhere in the region.

The closed bakery was located at 9613 Medical Center Drive in Rockville. The owners began their careers in the pastry industry in 1990.

The players

Passion Bakery

A regional bakery chain that maintains active storefronts in Aspen Hill, Beltsville, and Olney.

Sweet and Sour Cafe

An emerging cafe brand that is transitioning from a food stand at Westfield Wheaton to a permanent brick-and-mortar location.

Melvin Mendoza

A co-founder of Passion Bakery who began his professional pastry career in 1990 at the Watergate Hotel.

Huber Mendoza

A co-founder of Passion Bakery who has worked in the pastry industry since 1990.

The details

Passion Bakery continues to serve customers at its other branches in Aspen Hill, Beltsville, and Olney. Sweet and Sour Cafe is slated to occupy the space following its tenure operating a food stand at Westfield Wheaton.

Melvin and Huber Mendoza began their pastry careers in 1990.
The Rockville bakery location was confirmed closed on September 20, 2026.

Market Landscape

The replacement of an established bakery with a new cafe in the Rockville medical corridor follows a standard pattern of commercial space turnover in high-traffic office and medical sectors. This shift illustrates the ongoing evolution of local retail footprints as brands optimize their presence in high-density areas.

Regular patrons of the 9613 Medical Center Drive bakery will need to visit the company's remaining locations in Aspen Hill, Beltsville, or Olney. Local diners can look forward to the eventual opening of the Sweet and Sour Cafe at the same site.

The takeaway

Retail vacancies in high-traffic corridors often attract new businesses eager to capture existing foot traffic. Customers are encouraged to check the bakery's official channels for updates on their other regional operations.