Filipino Fast Food Giant Jollibee Opens Its First D.C.-Area Store This Week | Eater DC

"I’m excited that Jollibee is opening its first greater D.C.–area location this week at the Westfield mall in Wheaton (2800 University Boulevard West, Suite C.); the new store will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and will serve signature items like buckets of fried “Chickenjoy” with brown gravy, “Yumburgers,” sweet cheesy spaghetti loaded with hot dogs and ham, peach mango handpies, and other favorites. Customers can phone in preorders up to two hours ahead to 240-657-9850 and will receive a text when orders are ready; takeout and DoorDash delivery will be available, but the store will not offer indoor dining, walk-in ordering at opening (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), or a drive-thru. The opening is expected to echo the chain’s typically grand celebrations — mascot appearances and oversized chicken-bucket stunts — reflecting the hyper-loyal, nostalgic following among Filipino ex-pats, even as the company balances ambitious expansion goals (a stated plan for 450 new locations in 2021) with recent pandemic-related losses after operating more than 5,800 stores in 33 countries." - Gabe Hiatt