We’ve seen a recent trend of business owners closing their Baltimore restaurants while blaming the city’s image for their troubles. But Clyde’s Restaurant Group is betting big that people will show up in force.
The Washington, D.C., company owned by the Graham family — yes, that Graham family — has taken over South Baltimore’s Rye Street Tavern, which opens July 15. Able to serve about 1,200 covers a night with seating for almost 500 in the combined indoor and outdoor spaces, it just may be the largest restaurant in the city. I couldn’t think of a larger one, and neither could the president of the Restaurant Association of Maryland.
Is that a gamble? Bart Farrell, vice president of development for Clyde’s, doesn’t think so.
“This area is growing,” Farrell said, referring to the surrounding development of Baltimore Peninsula, formerly called Port Covington, which will soon include a Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan, a Ben & Jerry’s, and BK Lobster, all set to open later this year. A new coffee shop, Little Wing, just opened across the street.
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