From The Banner · Jeff Barker · · 1m
Olde Towne Café closes after 25 years
Olde Towne Café in Gaithersburg closes after 25 years as family moves to Bethesda.
In brief
Olde Towne Café in Gaithersburg closes after 25 years as family moves to Bethesda. Olde Towne Café, run by Aliakbar family since 2000, closes in Gaithersburg after lease dispute to reopen as OTC Kitchen & Social in Bethesda. Originally reported by The Banner.
Olde Towne Café closing
Olde Towne Café in Gaithersburg closes after 25 years due to lease disagreement with new owners.
“We believe in ghosts in here”
Family history
Aliakbar family has run café since 2000 in 177-year-old building with creaking stairs and musty basement.
Ghost stories
Aliakbar says he hears steps, sees things fall, and believes ghosts from customers and patients are present.
“We hear stuff; we hear steps; we see stuff fall over”
Last day details
Sunday is last day before café closes; Aliakbar will move items to Bethesda for new restaurant.
Historic items
Café contains old pharmacy bottles, including sodium salicylate and Penresina products from 1849 building.
Customer reactions
Longtime customer Stacy Miller says she doesn’t know what to make of ghost stories and will be there on last day.
“I told Sean I don’t know where to go after that”
What matters most
Olde Towne Café, run by Aliakbar family since 2000, closes in Gaithersburg after lease dispute to reopen as OTC Kitchen & Social in Bethesda.
