Several new retailers and restaurants entered the College Park business scene this semester, with others expected to open later this year. 

Here’s a look by location at what’s recently opened and what’s coming to the city soon.

Union on Knox

The Union on Knox apartment complex, which houses Shake Shack, Insomnia Cookies and Chopt Creative Salad Company, will add Duck Donuts, Pho Thom, BOHO Nails and Berries & Bowls in the coming months. 

Chopt Creative Salad Company, a salad chain with more than 90 locations across 10 states and Washington, D.C., opened in the complex on March 26

Duck Donuts and Pho Thom will open this summer, Terrapin Development Company vice president Tom Parker said. Pho Thom is relocating to the complex from its previous location on Route 1. 

[Little Blue Menu to temporarily close for renovations, lay off 91 employees]

Berries & Bowls, a smoothie restaurant based in Montgomery County, and BOHO Nails will open later this year, Parker said.

Route 1

PrimeTime, a sports-themed bar and restaurant opened in the Cambria Hotel on March 27. The restaurant offers steaks, burgers, salads and more, according to a news release from the restaurant. 

The retail space under The Varsity apartment complex will house Maryland Tandoor, an Indian bistro. The restaurant will open sometime between the end of May and mid-June, chef and owner Neel Kamal told The Diamondback.

The restaurant will be tailored to college students, with affordable meals such as kebabs and curry, and job opportunities for University of Maryland students, Kamal said.

Taqueria Habanero, a restaurant that specializes in Mexican cuisine, is set to open Friday next to Marathon Deli, according to Michael Williams, the city’s economic development director. 

The restaurant will offer discounts and giveaways at the opening, Williams said. Taqueria Habanero was previously located in Campus Village Shoppes before the shopping center was shut down in 2023.

[New upscale, sports-themed restaurant PrimeTime opens in College Park]

Raising Canes is still in the process of construction and obtaining permits, but the company’s goal is to open in late August, Williams said.

City Hall Plaza 

Li Chun Cafe, which offers Chinese cuisine such as cucumber salad and fried rice, opened in City Hall Plaza in March. It is run by the same owners as Northwest Chinese, another restaurant on Route 1.

College Avenue

Vegan, plant–based cookie shop MidnighTreats opened in the building that used to house Insomnia Cookies in February, according to Jordan Rutland, the store’s owner.

Aster apartment complex

Arepa Zone, a Venezuelan restaurant, will open in the Aster apartment complex this summer, according to Parker. Construction is in its final stages, Parker added, and Arepa Zone is likely to be open by the fall.

Closures 

Little Blue Menu closed on May 1, which led to the mass layoff of 91 employees, The Diamondback reported in April. The restaurant plans to renovate and add a dining room for customers before reopening later this year, according to Williams. 

Roots Natural Kitchen, located on Calvert Road, closed on April 30, according to general manager Richard Cunningham. The chain, which offers salads and grain bowls, chose to shut down the College Park location because it was too far from the University of Maryland campus, and failed to negotiate a reduced lease price, Cunningham said.