University of Maryland community members celebrated at The Greene Turtle this weekend for the grand opening of its College Park location.

The sports bar and grill, with 33 locations across the East Coast, opened its doors in the College Park Shopping Center on Wednesday. On Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant hosted special opening parties featuring a surprise appearance from American rapper Waka Flocka Flame and live music from the local DJ group PB&J Sounds.

“We’re so excited to be open,” said Kevin Curley, the restaurant’s culinary and beverage vice president. “It’s been a long time coming and we just wanted to get open as quickly as possible once we could.”

The Greene Turtle was slated to open earlier this fall, according to Curley. But construction and permitting delays led to a later opening date, Curley said.

The restaurant chain has been eyeing the College Park business scene for a while as a longtime supporter of this university’s athletics teams, Curley said.

District 3 city council member Stuart Adams told The Diamondback in October the connection between this university’s mascot, the terrapin, and The Greene Turtle makes the restaurant a “natural fit” for the area.

[UPDATED: Greene Turtle opens Wednesday in College Park Shopping Center]

Kirsten Reigrut, a graduate management student, attended Friday night’s opening party and stayed through the beginning of the DJ set, which began at 10 p.m.

The party was “really good” and not too crowded, Reigrut said.

Reigrut said she appreciated the restaurant’s cocktail specials and enjoyed the atmosphere. She and her friends were able to sit and enjoy their drinks, rather than feeling as if they were in a dance club, she added.

Waka Flocka Flame also surprised customers at Friday night’s celebration.

Senior psychology major Anna Itzkowitz said she was shocked at seeing the rapper and immediately asked to take a photo with him.

“It was just so unbelievable,” Itzkowitz said.

Waka Flocka Flame was “super nice” despite getting swarmed by people in the bar, she said.

Itzkowitz added that she is grateful to have a new nightlife location in the area in addition to the city’s existing bars, such as Cornerstone Grill and Loft and RJ Bentley’s.

Like Itzkowitz, Reigrut said The Greene Turtle will help reduce crowds and wait times at the other bars in the city.

“I am glad that there’s a new place opening that can take the 200 or so people,” Reigrut said.

[Shake Shack, Greene Turtle among 2024 College Park business additions]

Adams said The Greene Turtle’s addition to the area’s nightlife scene will be healthy competition.

“College Park definitely has the capacity and the interest to add additional spots,” Adams said. “There’s enough room for everyone.”

The Greene Turtle sets itself apart from other establishments through the restaurant’s brand awareness and expansive menu, Curley said. He highlighted the restaurant’s new menu launched in February that offers a wider variety of food items, including new bowl offerings.

The restaurant’s specials and promotions also separate it from other places, Curley added. The restaurant has “aggressive” happy hour deals and game day specials when this university’s football team plays, he said.

The restaurant will host a daytime grand opening party with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the next few weeks, according to Curley.

He hopes to establish the restaurant as a “true community hub” for both College Park residents and this university’s student population.

The Greene Turtle is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.