Dave Williams, Joe Becker and Anita Zeller Comstock are bringing fresh ideas to a familiar Towson gathering place, including more upscale dining options and even a dedicated sensory room.
We finally got the chance to speak with Dave Williams who spent 30 years in the insurance business and never imagined himself owning a bar and restaurant. Until his nephew brought him an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
Joe Becker had spent years managing Barley’s Backyard in Towson. When the longtime owners Jill and Bill Packo decided to move on, they looked internally to someone who already knew the business, its employees and its customers.
Becker approached his uncle Dave Williams about joining him. After looking at the opportunity, Williams along with his signficant other Anita Comstock were all in on taking the step into hospitality.
Together Anita Zeller Comstock, Williams and Becker became the restaurant’s three new owners. The sale was publicly announced in July 2026, with the buyers committing to a long-term lease at 408 York Road.
Familiar faces, fresh plans
For regulars, the transition has come with plenty of continuity.
According to the owners, approximately 95% of the staff stayed through the ownership change, including the management team. Barley’s employs 82 people, and chef Sanit Ramos has been with the restaurant for 12 years.
That experience gives Williams, Becker and Comstock a strong foundation as they develop their plans. Becker, especially, brings firsthand knowledge of the restaurant’s daily operations and the relationships built over years behind the scenes.
Williams said he looks forward to working with Chef Ramos to offer even more upscale food options for local businesspeople and Baltimore County residents looking for great food and atmosphere.
That means giving customers more reasons to think of Barley’s for a business lunch, dinner with friends or a celebration. College students remain an important part of its audience, but the owners want more residents to discover the restaurant’s broader appeal.
The roof deck is a particular point of pride, and a space the team wants people to consider for parties and gatherings throughout the year, including winter. The staff can also build up Barley’s being recognized as the winner of the first-ever Best Bar in Baltimore Tournament, sponsored by Barstool Baltimore.
Adding some quiet space to make all feel welcome
One of the team’s planned improvements goes beyond the menu.
Williams said the owners are building out a dedicated sensory room for children and other guests who may be sensitive to loud noises and crowds.
The room is intended to offer a quieter place to step away from the activity of a busy restaurant, helping more guests and families feel comfortable visiting Barley’s.
Baltimore roots, Towson connections
Williams grew up in Hampden and played football at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and is planning an upcoming celebration of his 30th year reunion along with teammates who won a few MSA titles with Poly.
Football remains part of the picture. Barley’s partnership with Towson University includes a “Backyard in the End Zone” presence with Adirondack chairs, bringing a little backyard atmosphere to game day.
The restaurant’s York Road address has its own history. The building once housed Finkelstein’s, and Ray Finkelstein remains its owner, according to the new operators. Many longtime customers will also remember the restaurant as The Greene Turtle before its rebranding as Barley’s Backyard.
Now Williams, Becker and Comstock are writing the next chapter, with familiar employees, new dining ambitions and plans to make room for more of the community.
Visit Barley’s Backyard for menus, hours and private-event information.
