Garbanzo to Bring Mediterranean Flair to Downtown College Park

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, a Colorado-based eatery featuring Mediterranean-style cuisine, is set to open its doors Wednesday in the College Park Shopping Center (7316 Baltimore Ave.).

Customers can choose from three different entrées: a stuffed pita, a laffa (flat leavened bread), or a plate with pita on the side. They can also customize their meals by choosing from an assortment of proteins, salads, and sauces.

The restaurant will offer other options such as hummus, kabobs, soups, and salads, including Mediterranean lentil soup and Greek salad with steak, chicken, falafel or portabella mushrooms. Much of the menu offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free selections.

Beth Hardy, Garbanzo’s public relations and marketing manager, said a unique factor for the franchise is that founder Alon Mor grew up in the Mediterranean region.

“His recipes, which are now in our restaurant, were passed down from generation to generation within his family,” Hardy said. “They’re very fresh, healthy and authentic.”

The use of fresh and natural ingredients, without any trans fat oils, is a top priority for Garbanzo.

“We make all of our salads, sauces and pitas in-house daily from whole vegetables and whole grains,” Hardy said. “One of our sayings is, ‘If it was meant to come in a can, it would grow that way.”  

According to Hardy, College Park was an appealing location because of the large student population.

“Students are a great group to target because they are often open to eating different items,” she said. “Mediterranean food isn’t something that everyone is used to, and students are normally the groundbreakers when it comes to trying different things and spreading the word.”

Scott Black, Garbanzo’s director of operations, said the College Park community stood out because of its “fresh, energetic vibe.”

“I have worked and lived in and around the area for years, and it was quite evident our healthy and authentic food and fun brand would be welcomed among those who live, work and go to school in the vicinity,” Black said in a statement. “We are very happy to now be a part of the community and share the Garbanzo experience with even more.”

Garbanzo was founded in Denver and has continued to expand since opening in 2008. The College Park Garbanzo will be the third corporate-owned location outside of Colorado. Earlier this month, the company opened a restaurant Columbia, MD.

“With two Maryland locations opening and several more in the works, we are very excited about our expansion possibilities throughout the market,” Mor said in a statement. “We have our sights set on a few other retail locations in the area and hope to open at least three more restaurants before year’s end.”

Garbanzo is set to give away tote bags Wednesday to mark its grand opening and will hold several contests in the coming months. Prizes include a Garbanzo gift card, an electronic reader, an Amazon.com gift card, and an adult cruiser bike.

The restaurant is also holding a fundraiser dinner on Thursday, March 28 to benefit Relay for Life of University of Maryland. Members of the public are invited to attend from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for a $5.00 suggested donation.