Towson Square’s Challenges Explained: Separating Fact from Fiction on Restaurant Closures

Recent coverage by Maria Morales of WMAR-2 News in Baltimore spotlighted the wave of restaurant closures at Towson Square, the entertainment complex anchored by Cinemark theaters. In her report, Morales walked viewers through the empty parking lot, describing Towson Square as a “virtual ghost town,” with only the movie theater and one restaurant—Nando’s—remaining open, and even that slated to close soon.

The story, like many recent media reports, quickly fueled online speculation that rising crime is to blame for the decline. Social media comments on platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor echoed this narrative, despite a lack of supporting evidence. While Morales did include perspectives from local leaders this time, the coverage and its headline continue to fuel the false narrative that crime is the root cause of Towson Square’s troubles.

What the Headlines Miss

Fact #1: Crime Has Not Significantly Increased in Uptown Towson

Contrary to popular belief, crime in Uptown Towson (21204) has not surged over the past two and a half years. In fact, crime dropped slightly in 2024 and is only projected to rise marginally in 2025, based on data from the NIBRS Crime Dashboard. The area remains relatively stable in terms of public safety.

Fact #2: The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on Restaurants

Nationally, about 15% of all restaurants have closed permanently since the onset of COVID-19—over 110,000 establishments. The restaurant industry continues to struggle with the aftershocks of the pandemic, including labor shortages, rising costs, and changing consumer habits.

Fact #3: Changing Consumer Preferences

The way people dine out has fundamentally changed. Digital ordering and off-premise sales (takeout and delivery) are projected to make up as much as 70% of restaurant sales in 2025, up from 40% in 2023. Restaurants that can’t adapt to these shifts are at a disadvantage.

Fact #4: Declining Movie Theater Attendance

Moviegoing in the U.S. is down about 35% since the pandemic, with nearly one in five Americans saying they haven’t returned to theaters at all. Since Towson Square was designed as an entertainment hub centered around the Cinemark theater, this drop in foot traffic has had a direct impact on nearby restaurants.

The Broader Picture: Restaurant Closures at Towson Square 

A closer look at the restaurants that have closed at Towson Square reveals that many were national chains facing broader industry challenges:

Bobby’s Burger Palace closed after just two years; the chain has shrunk from 19 locations to only two nationwide.

BJ’s Restaurant closed after nine years; the company shuttered five locations nationwide in 2023, the most in its history.

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina closed after 11 years, part of a wave of more than 70 closures nationwide following a bankruptcy filing.

World of Beer closed after nine years; the chain has shut down more than half its locations since the pandemic.

Nando’s Peri-Peri, the last remaining restaurant, will close in July 2025 after more than a decade in Towson Square.

These closures mirror national trends and have less to do with local crime than with industry-wide shifts and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

Local Adaptation and Opportunity

Despite the vacancies at Towson Square, the broader Towson area remains vibrant. There are 92 restaurants within a mile of the shopping center, and more than 30 have opened in the last four years. Local, independent restaurants have generally fared better by adapting to new customer preferences and economic realities.

Baltimore County officials and the Towson Chamber of Commerce are actively working with the property owner to attract new tenants, offering incentives and considering a wider range of uses for the vacant spaces. There is optimism that with thoughtful redevelopment, Towson Square can find new life.

The decline of Towson Square is not simply a story of rising crime. It is the result of national industry challenges, changing consumer habits, and a dramatic shift in entertainment preferences since the pandemic. As the community looks ahead, solutions will require adaptation and a willingness to embrace new ideas for this once-bustling space. By focusing on the facts and understanding the real causes, Towson can move forward and create new opportunities for growth and revitalization.

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