A British invasion is eating into Howard County. Union Jack's, a British-style pub and restaurant, will open this month at the Mall in Columbia. Located at a pad site next to the mall, Union Jack's replaces That's Amore, which closed in the fall.
Union Jack's owners currently operate two other namesake eateries: Union Jack's British Pub of Bethesda and Union Jack's British Pub in Ballston, Va.
The 9,500-square-foot Columbia venue will focus more on the restaurant side of the business, versus the bar, compared with the other locations, co-owner Gary Ouellette says. Of course, Union Jack's will feature the standard British pub fare like fish and chips and bangers and mash. But it will also sell more "upscale" American fare, including filet mignon and seafood entrees, Oullette says.
Main dishes will cost between $12 and $20 while appetizers will cost around $8.
Located at 10400 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Union Jack's will employ 100 and cost about $750,000 to build, Ouellette says. He expects the mall location should draw affluent shoppers from around the county. Howard County has a median household income of $101,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
"It seemed like a logical pick for us to go to an area that has a strong economic pool," Ouellette says. "It seems to be an area where there is a lot of energy and a lot of momentum."
With each restaurant pulling in between $3 million and $5 million per year, Union Jack's restaurants have managed to keep the crowds coming in spite of a tough economy, Oullette says. The restaurants feature live music, billiards and shuffleboard.
Source: Gary Ouellette, Union Jack's
Writer: Julekha Dash