Homeslyce Expanding to Former PJ’s Pub Space in Charles Village

Lauren Cohen — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:23:00 +0000

Six years after opening Turkish spot Cazbar in Mt. Vernon, local restaurateur Haluk Kantar was ready to start a new venture.

“I was getting antsy,” Kantar says. “I had developed enough staff that I didn’t need to put so much effort into Cazbar anymore—I figured I would do another project.”

The project became Homeslyce—a neighborhood pizza joint that debuted in Federal Hill back in 2012 and has since grown to include locations in Mt. Vernon, Canton, and Columbia. In the coming months, the chain’s footprint will continue to expand with an eatery opening in the former PJ’s Pub space in Charles Village, and multiple locations planned for Washington, D.C. in 2018.

Homeslyce puts a unique spin on a traditional slice. Instead of the typical triangle, Kantar’s signature “slices” are boat-shaped, inspired by classic Turkish pizza, known as pides.

“We had been doing it that way for years at Cazbar,” says Kantar. “It’s different from a traditional flatbread or a regular slice. It’s our own little twist.”

For years, Kantar had been looking to bring his pizzas to North Baltimore, and jumped at the opportunity to take over the former PJ’s property after the longtime Johns Hopkins hangout closed its doors last month, when owner Jerry Smith announced his retirement.

“I don’t think we can do what Jerry did,” Kantar says. “He’s been around for 30 years. If you went to a lacrosse game, Jerry was there. Nobody can fill his shoes, but we’re going to do whatever we can to fit in with Hopkins’ master plan for the community.”

Construction to add windows and outdoor seating to the subterranean property began last week, and is expected to wrap up by December—just in time for the beginning of Hopkins’ spring semester. Kantar says that the revamped interior will mimic Homeslyce’s Columbia location, which boasts chalkboard walls and industrial accents.

The brand’s first D.C. location, slated to open in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood by the end of October, will debut ahead of the Charles Village opening.

As the business continues to evolve, Kantar says that finding new ways to connect with customers remains a top priority. He recently joined pizza delivery app Slice—a New York-based technology that operates in more than 1,900 cities nationwide, and launched in Charm City last week.

Unlike other on-demand services like Grubhub and Uber Eats, Slice focuses exclusively on independent pizzerias, eliminating big-name behemoths like Pizza Hut and Papa John’s. Among the local spots listed on the app are Michaelangelo’s in Mt. Vernon, Mikie’s Pizza in Riverside, and Bella Roma Pizza in Pigtown.

“We’re focused on loyalty,” says Slice’s senior regional manager Jim Ashley. “Instead of being a discovery platform, we want you to be able to go back to your favorite local pizzeria every single time.”

As the local pie scene continues to flourish (new spot Charm City Pizza is expected to replace the old Joe Squared location in Power Plant Live later this month), Kantar is focused on adapting with the times.

“I never expected it to expand this quickly,” he says. “It started out as a hobby that I thought would just be a small local pizza bar. But we’re learning as we grow.”

Source

Open & Shut: Silver Queen Cafe Open; Bel Air Bakery and Breadbangers Close

Lauren Cohen — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 15:50:00 +0000

OPEN:

Abbey Fells: Known for its tasty pub grub and lengthy draft list, Abbey Burger Bistro has been a Federal Hill favorite for years. Now, Fells Point locals no longer need to cross the pond to satisfy cravings for loaded burgers and waffle-fry nachos because Abbey Burger has officially opened a spinoff location on the 800 block of South Broadway. The 100-seat space, which was most recently the former home of Willow lounge, features high ceilings, wooden accents, and plenty of television screens for sports fans. 811 S. Broadway

Dovecote Café: This cozy coffee corner made its debut in Reservoir Hill last month, featuring fresh baked bites such as spinach pies, corn muffins with raspberry jam, sticky buns, and peach upside-down cakes. Adorned with flowery wallpaper and vintage décor, the space also boasts its own mini produce stand and showcases paintings for sale by local artists. 2501 Madison Ave., 443-961-8677

HomeSlyce Pizza Bar: In keeping with the of-the-moment trend of city restaurants (such as Mother’s Grille and Nacho Mama’s) expanding into the suburbs, this downtown pizza bar launched a new location in Columbia last month. HomeSlyce, which operates three other spots in Federal Hill, Canton, and Mt. Vernon, is known for its salads, calzones, meatballs, and signature boat-shaped personal pies. 9400 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, 443-491-4000

Silver Queen Café: The Hamilton food scene saw a new addition last month with the opening of this homey restaurant that emphasizes regionally inspired comfort foods. Complete with rustic furniture and a kid’s play area with toys and games, the spot focuses on savory dishes including Gruyere crab dip, butternut squash pizza, Maryland fried chicken with roasted Brussels sprouts, and pan seared pork chops with butter poached apples. 5429 Harford Road, 443-345-2020

Tanner’s Pickles: Speaking of Hamilton, this all-natural pickle purveyor set up shop in new digs on Harford Road last month, selling everything from classic dills to pickled beets. Taking up residence in the former Tooloulou space, Tanner’s offers pickled varieties ranging from habanero bread and butter pickles and pickled rosemary chili beets to garlic dill green beans and spicy molé carrots. 4311 Harford Road

COMING SOON:

Wet City: Be on the lookout for this new concept that will soon take shape in the former home of Dougherty’s Pub—the decades-old Mt. Vernon staple that closed last month after its owners decided to retire. Brothers PJ and Josh Sullivan plan to transform the space into a modernized craft beer bar featuring 20 taps, small food and cocktail menus, and a mini brew system. The space, aptly named after Baltimore’s moniker during Prohibition, is slated to join the scene this spring.

SHUT:

Bel Air Bakery: Devoted customers formed a line that stretched around the block in hopes of ordering one last doughnut from this beloved bakery on Christmas Eve, which was its last day in business. After operating in downtown Bel Air for 60 years, husband-and-wife owners Jim and Rose Hamilton have decided to retire to spend time with family. The bakery was best known for its customized cakes, turnovers, and pies. 140 N. Bond St., Bel Air

Breadbangers: After serving up sandwiches for only six months, this corner spot in Riverside has shut its doors for good. SouthBmore.com reports that the shop, which was best known for its cleverly named paninis and wraps (like the “Portabella Some Sugar on Me”) that served as nods to ’80s and ’90s rock bands, closed after the building’s owner recently sold the property. No word yet on what will become of the space under new ownership. 554 E. Fort. Ave., 410-617-0443

Source

HomeSlyce – Baltimore Magazine

Homeslyce Expanding to Former PJ’s Pub Space in Charles Village

Open & Shut: Silver Queen Cafe Open; Bel Air Bakery and Breadbangers Close