For Foodies : Development News

A Baltimore County restaurant is toasting the New Year with a new bar that its owners hope will help it draw new customers.

Chappie's Diner Bar & Grill should get its liquor license at the end of the month, co-owner Brian Chapman says.

Located at 3648 Washington Boulevard inside the 112-room Beltway Motel, the 3,000-square-foot restaurant is adding six flat-screen TVs in a bar that seats about 90, Chapman says. The business owner and his partner, Paul Chapman, are spending about $100,000 on the expansion.

Adding a sports bar to the diner will hopefully help it attract a larger crowd, including younger folks who attend the Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville and NASCAR fans.

Chapman likes the area because it is located on a busy road and attracts drive-by traffic from folks heading to the nearby Home Dept and Walmart.

To draw in bar patrons, Chappie's will offer specials such as steak night or shrimp night. By the summer, the restaurant and bar will host a DJ and hold karaoke nights.  

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast costs between $3.99 and $7.99. Chappie's serves seafood, steaks, and burgers for lunch and dinner, costing anywhere from $3 for a bowl of soup to $22 for a crab cake dinner.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Brian Chapman, Chappie's

A new lunch spot will feed downtown office workers at Baltimore's SunTrust building.

Serving made-to-order salads and sandwiches, Nalley Fresh will open by the end of January at 120 E. Baltimore St. It will replace the closed falafel and gyro joint Cypriana Caf�.

Greg Nalley, who owned Tide Point's Harvest Table from 2001 to 2007, is launching the 830-square-foot caf�.

The former executive chef of the Maryland Jockey Club, Nalley says he is looking forward to serving the business crowd again as he did at the Tide Point office complex.

"You see the same people over and over again," Nalley says. "There's a camaraderie with people you see two or three times a week."

Nalley Fresh will also serve tart frozen yogurt sold by the ounce. Tart frozen yogurt � as opposed to the sweet concoctions that were all the rage in the 1980s � has been growing in popularity with the expansions of chains like Pinkberry. Lunch at Nalley Fresh will cost around $10.

The entrepreneur is renovating the interior with new floor, paint, cabinets and televisions broadcasting news and sports. Nalley declined to say how much he is spending to open the caf�.

Nalley says he likes the location because it's in the heart of the business district and provides plenty of outdoor seating on a nice day. The restaurant will seat 30 inside and another 30 outside.

Matthew Haas, vice president of Columbia's Manekin LLC, brokered the deal on behalf of Nalley. Manekin's Vince Brocato and Kevin Haus represented the landlord, Franklin Street Properties.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Greg Nalley

A new burger joint has eaten into the Canton spot formerly occupied by the short-lived Tangiers, offering locals a taste of Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, and Lindsey Lohan. 

Hollywood Burger Bistro opened last month at 845 S. Montford Ave. selling organic burgers made with Certified Angus Beef. Manager Michael Stratigareas got the idea for the concept after frequenting gourmet burger joints in Los Angeles.

"I thought Baltimore is more than ready for something like this," Stratigareas says.

The menu's selection includes a turkey burger, black bean burger, and a fried green tomato burger. There's also a lot of name dropping. The $12 Lindsay Lohan burger is made with mushrooms and onions in a Bailey's Irish Cream reduction. The John Waters Burger comes with crab dip, bacon, and Fontina cheese while the O'Malley Burger is a broiled crab cake on top of a beef burger with cheddar cheese and tomato. Entrees include crab cake, pot roast, and blackened chicken alfredo.

Stratigareas says he isn't shaken by the fact that the spot has been unlucky. Moroccan restaurant Tangiers closed after just a few months. He points out that prior to that, the location held Red Fish for five years. Stratigareas was the original owner of that restaurant. The spot was also home to the popular Weber's of Boston Street.

The restaurant manager says he likes the location because it's in a visible spot, at the intersection of Montford and Boston Street. Canton is also home to both recent college graduates and empty nesters who are hopefully looking for a more healthful burger.

Stratigareas redid the 210-seat restaurant with new plasma screen TVs, zebra prints in the dining room, and Tiffany blue paint in the bar.
The manager pulled together an investor group to fund the venture and couldn't say how much they spent to open the restaurant.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Michael Stratigareas

An Asian restaurant, spa, and dry cleaners will open early 2011 at a $10 million retail center in Columbia.

East Moon Asian Bistro, a 4,154-square-foot Asian fusion and sushi restaurant, will open its third location at the Shoppes at Shipley's Grant.

The two East Moon restaurants in Bowie and Alexandria, Va. serve Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese food. Dishes at the Bowie restaurant include sushi, kung pao chicken, peanut sauce curry, and tempura.

Venus Spa, a 3,229-square-foot nail care salon and spa, will offer facials and massages. Royal Cleaners will operate a 1,449-square-foot store as well.

Located at the intersection of Route 100 and Snowden River Parkway, the Shoppes is located on the Columbia/Ellicott City border and draws residents and office workers from both towns, says Robert Bavar, vice president of developer Bavar Properties Group LLC.

The Shoppes at Shipley's Grant features multi-colored brick buildings with large arches, colorful awnings, and well-lit exterior eating spaces, designed to mimic historic Ellicott City.

Existing shops at the retail center include Starbucks, Cold Stone Creamery, Coal Fire Pizza, and the Wine Seller. The development contains 24,400 square feet, with about 6,000 square feet of space left. There's also a free-standing bank pad for lease.

The shopping center is located at the main entrance to Shipley's Grant, the 396-garage townhome community under development by Bozzuto Homes.

KLNB Retail LLC handles the leasing of The Shoppes at Shipley's Grant.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Robert Bavar, Bavar Properties

There's a new sweet spot in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood. Midnite Confection's Cupcakery, brainchild of mother and son team Sandra and Aaron McNeil, opened its doors in October.

After finding her son busily baking one night just before the witching hour, attempting to satisfy his sweet tooth, mother and son teamed up to create several original recipes. They let their family and friends try them and were surprised when orders started coming in. The pair had been selling their cupcakes from their Prince George's County home before relocating their ovens to Baltimore.

"We were looking for an area to open our business that would be best for us. A friend of mine who lives in Federal Hill suggested the area. We came up looked at available properties. We kept our eye on the area to see if it was going in a positive direction. Everything looked good to us, we found a spot we thought was perfect and opened the shop," says Aaron McNeil who adds that he's planning on moving to Baltimore in the near future.

McNeil says the shop offers a variety of non-traditional cupcake flavors which will set it apart from other local cupcake retailers.

"We have six signature flavors and two specialty flavors every day. Other flavors can be pre-ordered. Our signature dozen includes vanilla, chocolate, carrot, lemon, and black velvet. Our vanilla cupcake is made with vanilla bean in the cake and icing. Our chocolate cupcake has a cream cheese and chocolate chip filling. We keep it basic for people who are no frills but like quality," he says.

The bakery also offers a line of "After Hours" cupcakes inspired by popular cocktails including, Mojitos, Fuzzy Navels, Pina Coladas and Kahluha and Cream.


Source: Aaron McNeil
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Devotees of Baltimore's Corned Beef Row will soon have a new reason to go to the Inner Harbor. Lenny's Delicatessen will open in the Pratt Street Pavilion of Harborplace, according to General Growth Properties, owners of Harborplace and The Gallery. The delicatessen will occupy approximately 3,100 sq. ft. It's scheduled to open Spring 2011. 

The Lenny's Deli Harborplace location will offer breakfast all day along with a full array of deli meats, fried chicken, wraps, salads, and baked goods for dining in, catering, and carry out. Owner Alan Smith and his father, Lenny Smith, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Lenny's in Owings Mills. The second location, on Baltimore's famed Corned Beef Row, opened in 1991. The Harborplace location will be the third in the Baltimore area.

"We felt the Inner Harbor area needed a place where tourists and business people could go for a good corned beef sandwich," says Alan Smith. "We are excited to be opening at Harborplace, where all visitors to Baltimore make sure to stop during their trip here. We look forward to serving the Baltimore business community and those who stop on their way to Orioles and Ravens games."

General Properties also revealed that Francesca's Collection, a boutique specializing in fashion forward women's clothing, accessories and gifts, will join the lineup of stores for spring 2011. The new store will be approximately 800 sq. ft. and will be located on the first floor of The Gallery. It will be the first Francesca's in the Baltimore area.

Source:General Growth Properties
Writer: Walaika Haskins

An All-American diner has taken a bite out of Little Italy.

Walter Webb, a longtime restaurant operator at Harborplace, spent $160,000 to open the Diner at 413 S. High St. this month. In early December, the restaurant will include a sports bar on the second floor.

Formerly the site of tapas restaurant Tapabar, the eatery seats 81 on the first floor and 100 on the second floor. The second floor addition will double the space, to 5,000 square feet.

Webb closed his barbecue joint Brown Sugar at the Harborplace food court so operators of the downtown mall could make way for department store H&M. He decided to move to Little Italy to capitalize on the new hotels, apartment complexes, and office workers in Harbor East and Eastern Avenue traffic.

"I love the area," Webb says. "It's an exceptionally great place to work and live. People are right here in walking distance."

The Diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, costing between $9 and $13. The restaurant services nine types of pancakes, New York strip steak, stuffed flounder, sweet potato fries, and peach cobbler.

German cooks Christa Seiler and Claudia Phillips are selling pies, cakes and pastries in the shop as well.

"The people are so friendly," Webb says of Little Italy residents.  "I just love it over here."

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Walter Webb, the Diner

A restaurant serving coal-fired pizza and burgers will open in the former Daily Grind site in Baltimore.

Run by restaurant industry veteran Mark Hofmann, Earth Wood & Fire will open in March.

Hofmann says he and his three partners will invest $500,000 to open the new restaurant.

The 3,000-square-foot restaurant will look "funky and edgy" and feature fresh, local ingredients, says Hofmann. The partners haven't determined the prices or the exact menu items yet.

Hofmann says he hopes to draw everyone from the college kids at Towson University and Loyola College to residents in neighboring areas. He also hopes to attract the 1,000 workers in the Bare Hills Corporate Center, where the restaurant will be located. The restaurant will be located in a new retail building currently under construction.

Close to Interstate 83, the restaurant is easy to get to for residents in the affluent areas of Homeland, Towson, Lutherville, and Pikesville, Hofmann says. "It's a densely populated area," Hofmann says.

Trained as a chef at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Hofmann is the former general manager of Tark's Grill in Lutherville. He also helped open the Grille at Peerce's, at the former Peerce's Plantation spot. Hofmann was also a chef at Linwoods in Owings Mills and the former Polo Grill.

Hofmann says Earth Wood & Fire is a concept he has had in his head for four years now. If it succeeds in the corporate park, he hopes to open another one in Canton, Federal Hill, or downtown Baltimore.

"Gotta make this one work first," Hofmann says.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Mark Hofmann, Earth Wood & Fire

A fast-casual salad chain is counting on Maryland's appetite for healthful eating.

Saladworks will open at least three new stores in Anne Arundel, Howard, and Baltimore Counties within the next three years, franchisees Derek Morrell and Nicole Roudiez say. The first will open during the first half of 2011. Each store will employ between 15 and 30.
The exact locations have not yet been determined.

Saladworks franchisees spend anywhere between $247,000 and $475,000 to open each location. Stores average between 700 and 2,000 square feet.

The company touts the fact that it features an array of salads with fewer than 300 calories. The restaurant, which currently has one store in downtown Baltimore at Harborplace, also sells wraps, sandwiches, and soups.

Morrell says the targeted counties are an "untapped market" and there's "nothing like it" in Annapolis, where both he and Roudiez grew up.
The entrepreneurs are looking at mall food courts and retail strip centers along with other locations where there is good visibility and high traffic.

Saladworks operates over 100 franchise locations in 12 states. In addition to its existing stores, the chain currently has over 60 units in development across the country.

Based in Conshohocken, Pa., Saladworks recently signed deals in Delaware, Virginia, Texas and California, according to spokeswoman Erin Salvatore.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Sources: Derek Morrell and Nicole Roudiez, Saladworks; Erin Salvatore, Saladworks

Want a shot of espresso with your dozen roses?

Paula Maher is counting that you do. Last month the owner of the Dutch Connection, a flower shop in Harbor East, opened a caf� in the Bagby Building at 1008 Fleet St.

Called the Black Tulip, the caf� has boosted flower sales 10 percent as people come for the java and pick up a plant, Maher says.

"I always had a feeling that flowers and some coffee and food are a beautiful combination," Maher says. A native of the Netherlands, Maher
trained as a chef in Paris and moved to Baltimore with her husband in 1997.

"Now I have it all � flowers and a little bit of food."

The shop sells soups, quiches, pastries, and coffee drinks. The Black Tulip contains nine tables, plus outdoor seating, and takes up about half of the 1,700-square-foot store.

Maher likes the Harbor East neighborhood because she gets a mix of young residents and area office workers. She also likes that it is close to the waterfront.

A renovated former factory building, the Bagby's tenants include Bagby Pizza Co., Bikram Yoga, Vino Rosina, and PNC Bank.

"It's lively," Maher says of Harbor East. "I like the shops in the area. It's as close as we can come to New York. It's an interesting part of the city."

Maher also operates another Dutch Connection in Belvedere Square.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Paula Maher, Dutch Connection

Red Parrot Asian Bistro has signed a lease for its second location, a space in the upcoming Shoppes at McHenry Row, a mixed-use development in South Baltimore.

According to Jared Meier, retail strategist with Streetsense, the restaurant is one of two locally owned eateries included in the development. The 4140 sq. ft. space is part of a $117 million project being constructed at the former Chesapeake Paperboard Co. site at the intersection of Key Highway and Fort St. in Locust Point.

"We're excited to have them coming in. The addition of the Sushi, Thai, and Asian cuisines is a nice complement," says Meier. 

The site's 48,000 sq. ft. of main street retail space will include a Dunkin' Donuts, M&T Bank, PNC Bank, The Hair Cuttery, and The Green Turtle. It will also feature 80,000 square feet of office space, 250 rental apartments, and two parking garages.

"It'll be a mix of small shop boutiques, retail, and service users along with the restaurants," says Meier.

McHenry Row will also include a Harris Teeter grocery store. Meier expects the grocery store to help attract shoppers from around the area.

Source: Jared Meier, Streetsense
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Serendipity combined with a good reputation can lead to a very good thing. That's what got the ball rolling for the recently opened David & Dad's Express at 1 N. Charles St. David Cangialosi, owner, of the 17-year old breakfast and lunch spot at 334 N. Charles St. says that's how the new location came to be.

"The cafe at 1 N. Charles St. had closed. The building manager, a regular customer, approached us and asked us if we wanted to open something there. He knew all about us and liked what we did and felt comfortable having us there. I looked at it as a chance to open a new restaurant without a big investment because we didn't need to build something from scratch," says Cangialosi.

With just a $10,000 investment, the new location opened in mid-October. As with the original David & Dad's, the location offers freshly made breakfast and lunch items.

"Everything is still made to order but with seating for only about 14 people, the business is mostly carry-out."

The new location is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 3pm. It employs five people.

Source: David Cangialosi, David & Dad's
Writer: Walaika Haskins

A new restaurant serving comfort food and crab cakes is coming to the Bel-Air Edison neighborhood.

Kodi's will open by the end of the year at 3539 Belair Rd. The menu will include a house seafood soup, stuffed broccoli with cheese, mozzarella sticks, and crab cakes, co-owner Jacqueline Rinehart says.

Rinehart, who will run the business with her husband and daughter, says she hopes to create a neighborhood joint where you're "guaranteed a nice family environment."

"It's needed in the neighborhood," Rinehart says of the restaurant. "There's nowhere in the neighborhood to sit down and relax." Rinehart has applied for a live entertainment license with the Baltimore City liquor board so she can feature live jazz.

The area is full of carryout spots but is lacking in full-service restaurants, says Mary Warlow, director of programs and marketing for Belair-Edison Neighborhoods.

"It would be nice to have some variety," Warlow says. "It will be a good addition to Main Street."

Rinehart and her partners remodeled the whole building and installed five 42-inch flat-screen TVs. Rinehart declined to say how much they
are spending to open the restaurant and renovate the building.

"We're always glad when business owners invest in the buildings," Warlow says. "The nicer it is the more likely they'll survive as a restaurant."

Writer: Julekha Dash
Sources: Jacqueline Rinehart, Kodi's; Mary Warlow, Bel-Air Edison Neighborhoods

The owners of Pikesville's popular Mexican restaurant Mari Luna are bringing their food to city residents.

Mari Luna Mexican Bistro will open at 1225 Cathedral St. in Mount Vernon by mid-January. Located across from the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the spot was formerly home to Robert Oliver Seafood and Spike & Charlie's.

The 200-seat restaurant will feature a guacamole bar and sangria bar, says Paul Bartlett, a restaurant consultant working with the Luna family on the opening. It will also focus on entertainment and culture, featuring a Mariachi band.

Featuring the food of central Mexico, Mari Luna will be less formal and less dependent on the symphony crowd that have opened there in the past.

"We're envisioning it as a community gathering place for musicians before and after their gigs," Bartlett says. "It's a beautiful, elegant space. We look forward to being there for quite a while."

Jaime Luna and his family, who own Mari Luna Mexican Grill and Mari Luna Latin Grille, are investing about $100,000 to open the new restaurant, Bartlett says. The restaurant consultant has worked on behalf of Caf� Hon, Donna's, and Phillips Seafood Restaurants.

Bartlett says he and the Luna family like the area because it has gotten some new developments, including the recently opened Fitzgerald apartments.

"I've always loved the restaurant" space, Bartlett says. "It's a social neighborhood and fun gathering place."

The restaurant will employ about 40.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source Paul Bartlett, restaurant consultant

A Federal Hill bar is hoping to make some dough with the aid of pepperoni and mozzarella.

Grumpies Pour House is expanding into the Cross St. building next door to its current location and putting in a coal-fired pizza oven, owner John Dolaway says.

Currently, the six-year-old bar at 25 Cross St. serves alcohol and no eats. But once the owners tear down the wall between that building and 23 Cross St., they will serve pizza, salads and maybe wings. Dolaway owns both buildings.

The extra space will allow it to seat another 40 customers, to a total of about 100.

Dolaway says he thought pizza was a good idea since there aren't too many pizza joints in Federal Hill. It could also bring in the family crowd earlier in the evening, Dolaway says.

Dolaway says it's "foolish" to run a bar without offering people something to eat � another avenue to earn money in the same space.

"I think we can make money doing this," Dolaway says. "I feel there is a need for something like this."

Dolaway says he likes Federal Hill because of the vibrant, city life, where people can walk to Cross Street Market and other locales.

"It's a fantastic place for young adults to congregate."

Dolaway says he does not know yet how much the expansion, which will take about six months, will cost.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: John Dolaway, Grumpies