Baltimore County & Towson Square Celebrate Ground Breaking, Announce First Three Premier Restaurants
TOWSON, MD (January 15, 2013) – Baltimore County, The Cordish Companies and Heritage Properties are excited to announce the ground breaking of Towson Square as well as the first three best-in-class restaurants joining leading motion picture exhibitor Cinemark Theatres at the development. The $85 million project will feature an eclectic mix of major operators including Nando’s Peri-Peri, La Tagliatella and On the Border Mexican Grill. Further, Towson Square will feature an enhanced plan for the Cinemark Theatre which has increased in size and will now include VIP screening areas. Five additional restaurants will be further announced, for a total of eight at the Towson Square development. This occasion marks the official ground breaking for the project with mobilization currently underway and construction commencement in a matter of days. Towson Square is an expansion of the highly successful Towson Circle development which currently features such world-class brands as Barnes & Noble, Trader Joe’s and Pier 1 Imports. Located on a 4.2 acre parcel on Joppa Road between Delaware and Virginia Avenues, Towson Square will include an 850-space parking garage to be operated by the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. The parking garage is expected to be completed by the fall, with the entire Towson Square project slated to open in 2014. Towson Square will create approximately 1,530 direct and indirect jobs, including 660 construction jobs and 870 jobs at the theatre and restaurants.
“’Dinner and a movie’ will soon have a whole new meaning in downtown Towson,” said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. “This $85 million investment adds new jobs, new entertainment choices, and renewed excitement to the center of Towson. The quality of the project will further solidify Towson as a regional destination in Baltimore County.”
The Cinemark location at Towson Square will house the latest technology, cutting-edge amenities and customer-preferred options all under one roof. Boasting 15 state-of-the-art screens and approximately 3,400 plush, stadium-style seats with 100% digital projection and enhanced sound systems, the Towson Square location will also have a 200-seat VIP level featuring bar service and food choices for patrons 21 and older. Additionally, the new theatre will contain the extremely popular Cinemark XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium, exhibiting the newest movies every week, including 2D and RealD 3D pictures.
"We are thrilled to introduce our new Cinemark NextGen movie theatre experience to guests in Towson," stated James Meredith, Cinemark's Head of Marketing & Communications. "The Towson Square development promises to be one of the premier developments in the country and our theatre will quickly become recognized as the best place to enjoy movies with family and friends".
Originating in 1987 in South Africa, Nando’s Peri-Peri restaurants (www.nandosperiperi.com) have spread to 27 countries and five continents. Nando’s is known worldwide for its succulent Peri-Peri chicken, marinated for 24 hours, flame-grilled to perfection, and basted to the customer’s preferred flavor and spice. Nando’s Peri-Peri made its USA debut in 2008 with the opening of its first location on 7th Street in Washington, DC’s Chinatown. Nando’s has since opened eight additional restaurants in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, including DuPont Circle, Silver Spring, Annapolis, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, National Harbor, Pentagon Row and Old Town, Alexandria. Nando’s world famous Peri-Peri chicken can be enjoyed in the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of their restaurants and now as an integral part of Towson Square.
La Tagliatella (www.latagliatella.us), a European-based Italian restaurant, will bring artfully crafted combinations of pasta and sauces to Towson, as well as more than 20 Napoletano-style pizzas made with key ingredients imported from the northern regions of Italy. Inspired by Italy’s rustic culinary traditions, eclectic flavors and the highest quality of ingredients, La Tagliatella has been serving loyal guests in Europe for over 20 years with more than 130 restaurants globally in Europe, Asia and now the United States in the Midtown and Emory Point areas of Atlanta, GA. La Tagliatella will debut its first Maryland location at Towson Square.
“We’re thrilled to introduce this popular Italian concept to Maryland. The thriving Towson neighborhood is an ideal location for our United States debut,” said Mike Muldoon, president of La Tagliatella, LLC. “Europeans have been enjoying the unique cuisine, warm hospitality and generosity of La Tagliatella for the past two decades; now Americans can enjoy them, too.”
On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina (www.ontheborder.com), originally based on sizzling fajitas, frosty margaritas, happy hour and a booming patio, has evolved over time to include a variety of craveable dishes inspired by the cuisines of South Texas and Mexico. On the Border opened their first restaurant in 1982 and has expanded to more than 160 restaurants throughout the United States and worldwide.
“On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina is proud to announce that we have partnered with The Cordish Companies and Heritage Properties to open a new restaurant in Towson Square,” stated Devin Keil, Senior Vice President of Development. “We are very excited to bring our unique “border style” restaurant, bar and patio experience to Towson. We believe Towson Square will immediately become the restaurant, nightlife and entertainment destination of choice in Towson. We look forward to firing up the mesquite grill, serving our authentic “border style” cuisine and hand crafting premium margaritas, swirls and mojitos for our guests.”
“This will be a classic Cordish-style entertainment and dining venue and a destination for people living around the region,” said Mike Batza, Chairman and CEO of Heritage Properties. “As we have promised, this partnership between The Cordish Companies and Heritage Properties will help fulfill Baltimore County’s goal of long-term revitalization of Towson. The combination of Cinemark and these high quality restaurants create a level of excitement that will make Towson Square a destination for people across the region.”
In addition to bringing over 1,500 jobs to the area, Towson Square is projected to generate $1.75 million in County taxes each year, including $840,000 from amusement taxes, plus an estimated $2.9 million each year in State sales taxes.
“We are excited to announce the Towson Square ground breaking as well as a terrific lineup of restaurants and entertainment,” said Blake Cordish, Vice President of The Cordish Companies. “We are committed to developing projects that are the best-in-class in every aspect and are thrilled to have three major restaurants highlight this project. Towson Square will be an outstanding addition to the area and we are pleased to further our investment in Baltimore County and the long-term revitalization of Towson.”
About Heritage Properties
Heritage Properties (www.HeritagePropertiesInc.com), a privately owned, second-generation family business, is a team of experienced and creative professionals dedicated to comprehensive Real Estate Development and Asset Management.
Heritage is committed to responsible Land and Commercial Property Development, Strategic Acquisition and Sound Management of the highest quality, in well-located suburban office properties, mixed used retail centers and industrial workplaces. Heritage’s corporate headquarters is located at Fairmount Place, a 330,000 square-foot Class A Suburban Office Complex in Baltimore County’s seat, Towson, Md.
About The Cordish Companies
The Cordish Companies (www.cordish.com), now in its fourth generation of family ownership, is an international conglomerate of businesses including one of the leading real estate development companies, entertainment and gaming companies in the United States. The Company has diverse development expertise with divisions focused on Entertainment & Mixed-Use, Gaming & Lodging, Sports Anchored Districts, Shopping & Lifestyle Retail, Office and Residential. The Cordish Companies also owns and manages a diverse group of operating businesses, ranging from gaming, restaurants/clubs to live music promotion and film/media distribution. The Company values itself on the quality of its operations, its long-term relationships, and high level of integrity in all of its endeavors.
The Cordish Companies is the largest and most successful developer of entertainment districts and concepts in the United States. In particular, the company has unparalleled experience in creating and revitalizing high-profile destinations in urban core locations. Many of The Cordish Companies’ projects involve public/private partnerships and are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. Prime examples are the company's prominent role in the redevelopment of Baltimore's world-famous Inner Harbor; Atlantic City, NJ; Hollywood, FL; Charleston, SC; Houston, TX; Louisville, KY; Tampa, FL, Kansas City, MO; and Towson, MD.
The Cordish Companies has received the highest possible national awards in its various areas of expertise. In real estate, The Cordish Companies has received an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards of Excellence.