Pasadena's Greene Turtle Breaks Ground

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By Darrell Mak
Ground was broken earlier this month to make way for a brand new Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille, which will be located next to the Big Vanilla Athletic Club in Pasadena. The restaurant, which has been in the planning stages for the past couple years, is expected to open by late summer according to District 3 County Councilman Derek Fink, a co-proprietor of the establishment.
“It’ll be a great place for families to come and enjoy the game,” assured Fink. “We need more places in Pasadena for people to meet and now local residents won’t have to go all the way to Ritchie Highway or Glen Burnie.”


Fink says the restaurant’s plans are to create a very enjoyable and relaxing environment for guests. In addition to having separate televisions in each booth, the restaurant will feature some extra-large, 110-inch screen TVs for customers to really enjoy watching those important games. There will also be a “wonderful outdoor patio” that will overlook the Big Vanilla swimming pool, as well as a private party room.
Fink envisioned the idea of starting a Greene Turtle restaurant to address what he considered a lack of selection in Pasadena.
“I grew up in Pasadena and I am very familiar with the fact Pasadena does not have a lot of places to eat,” said Fink. “The Greene Turtle was a natural fit. It’s a fun place to go with the whole family for dinner.”
Those with kids will enjoy the fact that not all the TVs will be showing sports games. “We’ll have Nickelodeon for the kids,” promised Fink.
Fink teamed together with several other prominent local businessmen, including Delegate Steve Schuh, former Delegate James King and Big Vanilla owner Larry Ray, to start the restaurant.
Calling itself part sports bar and part casual restaurant, The Greene Turtle combines the two into a different kind of neighborhood gathering place, where friends and family can gather to eat, watch a sports game, or just enjoy a drink in a lively atmosphere.
The restaurant features a long menu of hearty American pub food including its signature Certified Angus Beef Burgers, a selection of wings and sliders, and a full menu of reasonably priced meals in healthy portions.
Fink, a lifelong resident of Anne Arundel County, graduated from Chesapeake High School. After earning a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University, he worked in Governor Ehrlich's office in Annapolis and then served as Delegate Schuh's campaign manager. Fink won election to the County Council last year.
The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille restaurant chain opened its first location in Ocean City in 1976 and has expanded since. Today, it has 26 locations in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and D.C., including one near BWI Airport.
Although there is still much to be done to complete construction and get the restaurant ready for opening day, Fink is looking forward to the challenge. “We have a lot going on,” noted Fink. “But it will be worth it because the result will be a fun place to be for everyone in Pasadena.”




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