Sweet + Sour Cafe Opens New Location in Rockville

The cafe has moved from its former food stand in Westfield Wheaton to a new storefront at 9613 Medical Center Drive.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A modern cafe storefront with a red brick facade and glass doors, featuring a single bistro table outside on the sidewalk.
Sweet + Sour Cafe has opened its first standalone storefront at 9613 Medical Center Drive in Rockville, transitioning from its previous food stand. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sweet + Sour Cafe has officially opened a new brick-and-mortar location at 9613 Medical Center Drive in Rockville. The establishment takes over the space formerly occupied by Passion Bakery Cafe.

Why it matters

The opening represents a transition for the business as it moves from a food stand model at Westfield Wheaton to a full retail storefront. This expansion provides a permanent home for the brand's menu of Colombian treats and coffee.

The cafe maintains weekday operating hours from 7am to 5pm and Saturday hours from 10am to 5pm. The site at 9613 Medical Center Drive replaces the previous tenant, Passion Bakery Cafe.

The players

Sweet + Sour Cafe

This food service business recently transitioned from a food stand model to a permanent brick-and-mortar storefront.

Passion Bakery Cafe

This establishment is the previous tenant of the Rockville space and continues to run locations in Aspen Hill, Beltsville, and Olney.

The details

The new cafe serves a variety of breakfast and lunch options along with smoothies and Colombian-inspired treats. While the space is new for this brand, Passion Bakery Cafe continues to operate its other locations in Aspen Hill, Beltsville, and Olney.

Timeline

  1. October 20, 2026: Sweet + Sour Cafe opened in Rockville.

Market Landscape

This move reflects a broader industry trend where independent food operators prioritize establishing stable, permanent storefronts over transient stand placements. By securing a fixed location, the business shifts its strategy to compete more directly for suburban dining market share.

Local residents can now access the full menu of Colombian treats and coffee at the new storefront during regular weekday and Saturday hours. Customers should note that the cafe is closed on Sundays.

The takeaway

Moving to a brick-and-mortar space allows small cafes to diversify their service offerings and maintain consistent daily operating hours. Diners in the area can expect a more stationary retail experience than the previous food stand provided.

Further reading

For more news on local business developments, visit the Rockville Openings & Closings section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.

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Do you welcome the opening of new cafes and small businesses in your community?