Though the streets of Mt. Vernon offer a veritable cornucopia of dining options, the one thing the area has long lacked is a place students from nearby University of Baltimore and Maryland Institute College of Art could go grab a bite or check out the Orioles or Ravens and enjoy an ice cold brew.
Enter, Turp's Sports Bar and Restaurant, which replaced Neo Viccino at 1317 N. Charles Street. As Mount Vernon's newest and only sports bar, Turps offers a large menu of pub-style munchies and entrees, including burgers, subs, sandwiches, pasta, and pizza in a casual atmosphere.
"Right now, Turp's is just as a much a restaurant as it is a sports bar. It has delicious sports bar-type food, which we've labeled sports grub, but more importantly its abou the area. We have the University of Baltimore, which was a huge consideration for putting Turp's where it's at. There really wasn't a venue for students to go to hang out, see the game, hang out with friends in that type of sports oriented atmosphere," says Lee Morton, director of marketing and design at Jay's Restaurant Group
With Pennsylvania Station, just up Charles Street, unloading its trains packed with commuters and travelers as well as neighborhood residents eager for a bridge between the local carryout and more refined dining options, there was a gap for a sports bar in Mt. Vernon.
"We aren't some corner bar, but at the same time its casual. You don't have to worry about anything when you walk in," says Morton
One big draw for students and residents alike are Turp's 30 cent wing night.