Hoping to tap into the revitalization of East Baltimore?s waterfront, the owners of longtime Baltimore restaurant Della Rose?s Avenue Tavern in White Marsh are opening a second location in Canton Crossing.
Joe Della Rose, the eatery?s co-owner, said that this is the first time in restaurant?s 62-year history that it will operate two locations. The new restaurant will be located on the ground floor of the of Edwin F. Hale Sr.?s 1st Mariner Bank Building.
Della Rosa said the family-owned business will spend about $1 million to open the new location.
“The area down there is ready to really catch fire, and it was good point in our business, where we are at right now to look for a second location,” said Della Rose. “There is going to be plenty of opportunity down there, and we feel we?ll be able to go down there and do a nice lunch trade and a nice happy-hour trade. It?s just an up-and-coming area.”
And it shouldn?t be too difficult to attract business, considering the number of people who will be headquartered directly in the office building once it is completed.
“We?re going to have 4,000 people in the building and their ability to be able to go down to lunch on the first floor of our building will be great for those employees,” said Hale, owner of Hale Properties LLC and chairman of 1st Mariner Bank. “Having a Baltimore company fit in with my Baltimore company is a good thing.”
The new location is the first time the restaurant has operated from two areas, but it is not the first time the restaurant has been located in East Baltimore. Della Rose said when the company first opened in 1944, it was located at Ashland Avenue and Glover Street, about two miles from the Canton Crossing.
The restaurant moved to Overlea in 1961, and took over its current space at the Avenue in White Marsh in 1998.
Della Rose said that he expects the restaurant to open between January and March 2007 and that it will offer “comfort food” fare similar to its White Marsh location.
Licia Spinelli, director of marketing and special events at the Restaurant Association of Maryland, said that the location should prove beneficial for the company.
“With the city?s exciting resurgence in terms of new people coming in to take advantage of the great attractions and hospitality offerings, the stage is ripe for new operators and operators with tradition to continue to capitalize on the market,” Spinelli said.
