The Mint Express, specializing in Indian-inspired cuisine, plans to open later this year in Giant Food-anchored shopping center owned and managed by Continental Realty Corporation
(Photo credit: Continental Realty Corporation)
The ownership group of The Mint Room, which operates three restaurants specializing in traditional delicacies from northern India, has chosen Columbia Palace Plaza in the Columbia section of Howard County as the site of its first quick-service restaurant (QSR) concept. The restaurant chain, owned by Prince Anand, has signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) for 2,500 square feet of space within the Giant Food-anchored center and plans to open later this year. CRC’s Dominique Threatt represented the landlord and Jon Stavrinos of Commercial Real Estate Services of Maryland represented the restaurant in this transaction.
Branded The Mint Express, the QSR will serve Indo-Chinese dishes such as Tandoori, Tikka, Thali, Korma and Butter Chicken, as well as an assortment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrées, including Aloo Gobi, Paneer Kadai, Murgh Seekh and Tangdi Kabab. The restaurant will also be outfitted with approximately 80 indoor seats for patrons who wish to dine in.
The Mint Express represents the group’s fourth restaurant location in Maryland, adding to those operating in Bel Air, Ellicott City and Hunt Valley.
This lease elevates Columbia Palace Plaza to 100 percent occupancy. Located at 8775 Centre Park Drive near MD Route 108, this nearly 90,000 square foot neighborhood shopping center features almost 20 tenants offering a mix of sit-down and fast-casual restaurants, as well as personal and business services. Popeyes and Royal Farms are situated on separate pad sites. More than 90,000 people reside within a three-mile radius of the center, including nearly 35,000 households with an average household income exceeding $125,000.Nearly 25,000 vehicles pass the shopping center daily.
“The Mint Express brings an exciting new restaurant concept to Columbia Palace Plaza, seamlessly complementing our quick-service options already at the center,” said Kristina O’Keefe, CRC’s VP of Commercial Division. “We’re excited about the entrepreneurial spirit behind the ownership group and think the restaurant will be a hit with the community.”
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of nearly eight million square feet of commercial space and over 9,000 apartment homes across 11 states, with a portfolio value exceeding $3.7 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com
