Award-Winning Chef Concept and Eclectic Ice Creamery Join Burgeoning Food Scene in the Merriweather District and Central District
The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE: HHC) announced the signing of The Food Market to Central District and The Charmery to Merriweather District® in Downtown Columbia, Maryland. These two food concepts from Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood underscore the development’s strategy to bring the best of Baltimore and Washington,DC to the redevelopment.
“As we look to the future of the city that has, throughout its history, uniquely fused the cultures of Baltimore and Washington, we are thrilled to welcome two of Baltimore’s most beloved local food concepts to Downtown Columbia,” said Greg Fitchitt, President, Columbia, The Howard Hughes Corporation. “This city is thriving by attracting not only some of the most innovative tech companies in the world, but by also supporting the growth of community-based businesses, and both The Charmery and The Food Market are known for their deep roots and loyalty to the communities they serve.”
THE FOOD MARKET - 10480 Little Patuxent Parkway
Award-winning Chef Chad Gauss will bring the next iteration of his wildly-popular concept, The Food Market, to the Central District. Combining recognizable ingredients with unparalleled technique, the 5,000-square-foot location will feature indoor and outdoor dining, and will bring its approachable yet innovative spin on comfort food through its value-driven menu. The restaurant will also feature a chef-inspired menu and coffee program to service daytime office customers in the Corporate Row office buildings. The Food Market in Downtown Columbia will offer lunch, dinner and their award-winning brunch menus. The brand has a long history of showcasing local artwork and creating opportunities and events to support the local community. The Food Market is opening in late 2020.
“We have a long-standing clientele from Columbia that has been traveling to Baltimore since we opened,” said Chad Gauss, Owner/Chef of The Food Market. “We look forward to opening our doors and being an integral part of the Columbia community.”
THE CHARMERY – 6000 Merriweather Drive (Juniper Apartments)
The Charmery will open a 1,390-square-foot space marking the imaginative ice cream shop’s fifth location and first foray outside of the Baltimore area. The Merriweather District location will feature many of the nationally recognized, signature flavors including Maryland Mud and Old Bay Caramel, in addition to special flavors inspired by the businesses and wide variety of musical talent the Merriweather District attracts. The Charmery is slated to open in Summer 2020.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring the life and spirit of what we’ve cultivated in the Baltimore community to Columbia,” said Laura Alima, Co-Owner, The Charmery. “I grew up in Columbia and still have family in the area, so this expansion truly feels like a natural progression into an area that we already know and love.”
Anchored by the newly renovated Merriweather Post Pavilion, The Merriweather District is the only ground-up neighborhood within Downtown Columbia, and will make up 4.9 million square feet of the total mixed-use development at full buildout. Set within 35 acres of compact, smart-growth development, the neighborhood will be surrounded by 60 acres of forests, streams and restored wetlands.
Anchored by The Mall of Columbia, Central District is the commercial core of Downtown Columbia, located within walking distance of Merriweather Post Pavilion and Lake Kittamaqundi, with over 1 million square feet of office space and amenity-rich apartments connected to 100 miles of walking paths and parkland.
The two dining concepts are bringing the best of the region to the Downtown Columbia area, joining other regional businesses including Busboys and Poets’ new 10,700-square-foot location, DC-based Matchbox, and Dok Khao Thai Eatery, the newest dining concept from Virginia’s acclaimed Sense of Thai St.
Said Fitchitt, “We have already begun transforming the Downtown Columbia food scene, and this marks yet another significant milestone as the Merriweather District and Central District continue to become dynamic culinary and cultural destinations in the region.”
About The Howard Hughes Corporation®
The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country's preeminent portfolio of master planned cities and communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including: the Seaport District in New York; Columbia, Maryland; The Woodlands®, The Woodlands Hills, and Bridgeland® in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin®, Las Vegas; and Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawai?i. The Howard Hughes Corporation's portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative placemaking, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC. For additional information visit www.howardhughes.com.
About Downtown Columbia®
A development of The Howard Hughes Corporation®, Downtown Columbia is located at the center of Columbia, MD, one of the first master planned communities in the U.S. founded by legendary developer James W. Rouse in 1967. Conveniently located between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Columbia is comprised of 14,000 acres including ten completed residential villages and a deep pipeline of commercial development opportunities within its Downtown. At full buildout, the redeveloped 391 acres of Downtown Columbia will include three new and reconfigured neighborhoods – the Merriweather District®, Lakefront District and Central District—featuring more than 14 million square feet of residential, office, hotel, retail, cultural, and public uses including public parks, trails and more.
