While living in uptown College Park used to mean trekking to bars and restaurants, students living in the area’s high-rise apartments said a similar scene has developed just an elevator ride away.
Over the last six months, retail space under the Varsity and University View apartments filled with businesses, including Looney’s Pub, ChiDogO’s and Bobby’s Burger Palace. Only one of the new uptown businesses failed to stick – after opening in December, Austin Grill Express closed its doors March 18 due to “corporate changes,” according to College Park Economic Development Coordinator Michael Stiefvater, who said the closing was not related to lack of business.
Some students, such as freshman economics major Chris Cole, said that while downtown and the campus boast favorites such as Chipotle and Panda Express, nearby restaurants with similar offerings are able to satisfy those cravings instead.
“Shanghai Tokyo is like another version of Panda Express,” Cole said.
With the addition of those new businesses, as well as Sweetgreen and Pizza Autentica, several students said they rarely have to leave their block to eat.
“I find that the more they open up on this side of the street, the less I find myself crossing [Route 1],” freshmen communication major Ken Carrier said, adding that he no longer buys groceries. “I’ve been eating out for most of my meals just because they added like, 10, restaurants.”
However, Cole said he was disheartened Austin Grill Express shuttered, as it provided a much-needed Mexican option in the area.
“It was pretty much the same thing as Chipotle but a lot more convenient,” he said.
Stiefvater said the restaurant’s troubles were not isolated to its College Park location.
“It had mostly to do with them,” he said. “They closed down a few other Express stores.”
District 1 councilman Patrick Wojahn said he did not think the business took off because he never saw many customers inside.
“There never seemed to be anybody there – I walked by it a couple times and it always seemed empty,” Wojahn said. “It wasn’t quite as unique as some of the other places, but Shanghai Tokyo seems to be doing well, and there’s a lot of Asian places in the town.”
“Since California Tortilla closed, there aren’t really that many Mexican places,” he added.
Stiefvater said the other restaurants are thriving because the apartment buildings are a short walk away from the campus and the eateries can reach a broader range of customers.
“It’s just a short walk over the bridge, and it’s pretty easy to walk over there for students,” he said. “From what I understand, they’re all doing well.”
foley@umdbk.com
