AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
“Bites, brews and ballgames…” proclaims the marquis along the front of soon-to-open JB’s, Severna Park and that’s just what the new sports bar and grill is all about. Slated to happen before the end of May, the long-awaited debut of JB’s is being anticipated by locals with great excitement.
From the moment the 206 Restaurant Group took over ownership of the former Bill Bateman’s Bistro at the beginning of 2020, plans moved ahead for a complete renovation and transformation of the building which is located at 566 Ritchie Highway, Park Plaza. By mid-January of 2020, construction crews were already at work gutting the interior and reconstructing the exterior.
Greg Keating, managing partner of the 206 Restaurant Group which owns Oliver Brewing Company and four other restaurants including Park Tavern, said construction and renovation work was put on hold shortly after Governor Larry Hogan’s Stay at Home order of March 23rd.
“In addition to pausing the renovation of JB’s, we decided to close two of our Baltimore restaurants to concentrate on keeping Park Tavern, The Ale House Columbia, Donnelly’s Dockside and our brewing company operating,” Keating noted. We adapted as pandemic guidelines changed.”
Even so, plans and menus for JB’s continued to be worked on and refined.
“People have been curious to know why we decided to open JB’s directly across the Park Plaza parking lot from Park Tavern,” Keating said. “When you look at Park Tavern, however, you will see that the restaurants have entirely different concepts.”
He describes Park Tavern as a casual but sophisticated dining establishment suitable for a date night, business lunch or a Saturday or Sunday brunch. JB’s, on the other hand, is designed to be even more casual, lively and sports-oriented with 44 TV screens. (Park Tavern has just six screens.)
“JB’s also will be very child-friendly – a place you can bring your kids after soccer practice with the cleats still on,” observed Keating.
Artists’s drawings capture what the interior will look like.
An entrance area…… 
….leading to a sports bar and booths.
A well-designed entrance area will open onto a bar and a series of booths curving around the bar toward a bank of windows where there will be additional seating. There are also plans for an outdoor dining space.
Menus are being created to appeal to families as well – fun, simple, bar-driven foods like smash burgers, boneless wings, and regular or sweet potato fries. The bar will offer twenty draft beers but will not be as craft-oriented is Park Tavern is. Diners will find a combination of domestic beers like Bud Light or Coors mixed with a few craft beers from Oliver Brewing.
With construction and work back in full swing, the renovation project is entering its final phase. As can be seen from the photo above and the one immediately below, all of the exterior siding, signage and painting is complete.
The red, white and blue themed interior is still a work in progress though construction of the attractive bar has been completed. Elsewhere, there are still sawhorses and tools occupying part of the floor as the petitions for the booths are being built.
Keating reports that 206 Restaurant Group is already hiring for JB’s and has launched three social media sites for the restaurant including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @JB’s,SevernaPark. (The eatery has already gotten over 3,000 likes.)
“We’ve just reopened our Pratt Street Ale House in Baltimore, followed by the Five and Dime Ale House, also in Baltimore, and JB’s in turn,” said Keating. “We’re planning a couple of soft openings for friends and family in early May before our official opening day which hasn’t yet been chosen. We’ll also be having a grand opening at a later date.
Keep posted by visiting JB’s, Severna Park | Facebook.
Sun Trustdeconstructed – Popeye’s on the way
Right next to JB’s, at 566B Ritchie Higjway, the old Sun Trust Bank is being torn down to be replaced by a Popeye’s according to Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League. (The Sun Trust banks merged with BB&T last year to become a single entity renamed Trust). The tear-down at the site is nearly complete so it appears that JB’s will have a new neighbor soon.
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Grand Marshall announced for Severna Park Independence Day Parade
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce was pleased to announce on April 12 that Eddie Conway, owner of Garry’s Grill has been chosen as Grand Marshall for this year’s Independence Day Parade. A great supporter of the community who has donated both his time and raised funds for many local charities, Conway has also entered floats in the Severna Park Parade. He’s usually been seen at the forefront of the floats – a standout in his stars and stripes coat, tie and trousers. This year the parade will take place on July 5 (since July 4 falls on a Sunday). For times and details visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com).
