Wild things are about to happen in Towson.
Rainforest Cafe -- a jungle-themed restaurant with simulated thunderstorms, talking trees, animated crocodiles and live parrots -- is moving forward with plans to open its first location in Maryland at Towson Town Center.
The Minnesota-based chain, with 15 restaurants in the United States and three in other countries, joins other themed restaurants, such as Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe and ESPN Zone, that are making their way into the Baltimore area.
"I think this is really a comparable undertaking, except it's coming to Baltimore County," said Charles E. Brooks, a Towson attorney who represented Rainforest at a liquor board hearing this week.
The venture, which Brooks said would involve $7 million in improvements and animatronics by Rainforest at Towson Town Center, promises to bolster the county seat's positioning of itself as a destination location with movies, shopping and restaurants.
"It will continue the theme I have had, to bring more entertainment into Towson," said Douglas B. Riley, a Republican county councilman from Towson.
Susan DiLonardo, executive director of the Towson Business Association, said, "We are always excited when a new business is coming to Towson, and especially one that offers something a little different and unique."
For the past several years, Towson has been in the midst of a transformation as the suburban town seeks to re-invent itself.
The county and state have poured $4.3 million into a fancy streetscape project with brick sidewalks to attract visitors and a traffic roundabout for the more than 28,000 vehicles that slog through the area each day.
Also, the redevelopment of the former Hutzler's department store -- for years a derelict presence in Towson -- is progressing, with construction of a Barnes & Noble book and music store that is expected to open in about four months. Called Towson Circle, the $20 million project is a joint venture by Towson-based Heritage Properties Inc. and Cordish Co. of Baltimore.
David Rhodes, president of Heritage, who is seeking other tenants for the 110,000-square-foot building, welcomes the addition of a major restaurant at the nearby mall.
"I think it's a great theme restaurant," he said of Rainforest. "The more critical mass we get with diverse food offerings, the better for Towson as a whole."
Melting Pot on the way, too
