Boston Market
Students hungry for American-style cuisine will have to search further than Route 1 with the recent closing of Boston Market, but a new business is already preparing to utilize the space.
Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill may open in the storefront by mid-February, according to Beth Hardy, Garbanzo’s public relations and marketing manager. Garbanzo may be an unfamiliar francise in this area but the 5-year-old business has more than a dozen locations in Colorado and is ready to expand, Hardy said.
“We are franchising nationwide,” said Hardy, referring to new locations in San Antonio and Oklahoma City, as well as College Park. “We were initially interested in opening a location in College Park because of the close proximity to the University of Maryland.”
Garbanzo offers a “healthy, authentic and fresh menu” that will appeal to college students, Hardy said — the business prides itself on the authenticity of its food and its fresh, nutritous ingredients. Rather than choosing between traditional steak or chicken schwarma and falafel, customers can order “falarma,” a combination of both in their sandwich or salad.
Beyond the grill, Garbanzo offers dolmas, or stuffed grape leaves, and soups, such as roasted eggplant and lemon, chicken and orzo.
“Students will probably gravitate toward our stuffed pita, laffa [which is like a wrap] or our kabobs. The pita and laffa can be easily eaten on the go and customized to meet any flavor profile,” she said.
A typical meal costs about $9, Hardy said, but can range from $5-11.
But some students view the opening with skepticism, as the area already boasts a variety of Mediterranean options, including Krazi Kabob close to the campus and Roti under the Varisty apartment building.
“I don’t really know how I feel about this new business,” said Erika Klatt, a freshman engineering major. “Roti, the other Mediterranean option that is extremely close to where I live, is delicious. I don’t really see the need for another one.”
The switch between food vendors came as somewhat of a shock to students, many of whom said Boston Market seemed like a permanent fixture in the College Park Shopping Center.
“As anyone will tell you, Boston Market’s macaroni and cheese was one of the greatest things ever, and it’s a bummer that it’s no longer an option,” said Rachel DeSantis, a freshman journalism major.
However, the closing led to a smooth transition between businesses, according to city economic development coordinator Michael Stiefvater.
“They had a tenant lined up before Boston Market even closed,” he said, referring to Garbanzo.
Shopping strips off the campus offer businesses prime locations and many thrive on student business, Stiefvater said.
“The university being here is a major draw for most of these places, especially for the downtown [businesses] whose primary customers are the students themselves,” he said. “There’s a lot of traffic up and down Route 1, which makes for a lot of visibility for these businesses.”
The diversity of the area’s population, from young students to faculty, staff and residents, also presents businesses with more clientele options and more room to experiment with unique foods and flavors, Hardy said.
“And the College Park area certainly seems to be into trying new restaurants,” she added.
However, other restaurants off the campus have shuttered within months of opening after failing to gain a following among the student crowd. To survive, Garbanzo will have to stand out from similar restaurants, students said.
But for students who are still acclimating themselves with College Park and Mediterranean cuisine, Garbanzo may be just the spot they embark on a culinary adventure.
“I’ve never heard of Garbanzo, but I’ll probably give it a try. I’ve never been a huge fan of Mediterranean grills,” DeSantis said. “I know Route 1 has another one, Roti, but I’ve always been hesitant to try it.”
