I've been to Five, which is a part of Christopher Daniel. The food is wonderful and the martinis are large and awesome. Hopefully they will do ok. I worry because they are in a shopping center. Not the best location. Usually chain restaurants do well in shopping centers, not independently owned restaurants.

Having eaten at what is now Christopher Daniels when it was both Rothwells and Courtney's, I can tell you that the two current owners (Christopher and Daniel, of course) have hit upon a winning formula that will likely allow them to remain a great success in that location.

The food is now far superior to the previous restaurants, and the atmosphere is "just right." (For me, anyway; upscale without being fussy, and great jazz playing in the background. Plus a terrific service staff.)

554 E. Fort Ave. - currently empty.

Soigne closed because the owner of the building wanted to open a pub, which he did, the Sly Fox. The Sly Fox moved down the street about three blocks. I believe they wanted a larger place. Soigne was very busy there for years.

Lynn's on the other hand, didn't do to well, but that place had crazy hours, kind of like Spoons on cross street.

Tabrizi's is subpar. [I'm going to eliminate this sentence just so we don't both get sued. Sorry, Zaskar, Rule No. 1. EL] Also the food there seems like it's processed, like they pull it out of a bag and reheat it.

Awesome list. Very thorough.

nestee is back! EL

I have visited Shahrazad's on Washington Blvd a number of times. I understand it was a Coffeehouse and the Yabba Pot was there for a while, but I think they are there to stay! Their crab stuffed Baltimore wings are the most addictive things on the planet!

Most of the 600 block of South Broadway is boarded up... I haven't been in the area long, so I really don't understand why nothing is moving in there when the 700 block and cross streets are so hoppin'...? Though there is a new crab place opening on Thames near the Waterfront.

Please tell us more. I have only heard rumors. EL

I'd add 15 W. Eager St. in Mt. Vernon, which is currently Eden's Lounge, and before that was Paloma's (which started as a restaurant before becoming a club), and had other incarnations before that.

Overall, a good list. but I really think the one that should definitely be on there is the storefront on W. Pennsylvania Avenue in Towson. I remember it being American Cafe at one point back in the early 1990's. But it has also been a numbe rof other places as someone else pointe dout on the original thread. It was Hooligans (late 70's if I remember correctly), Brass Rail, Schaefer's (I think in the 80's) Saguaro's (mid-to late 90's), and more recently Jade East and Olive & Sesame.

To me, that one should top the list, even more so than the current Christopher Daniel's location.

But hey, I'm just happy to have finally been recognized for one of my suggestions! :-) LOL.

That is a good one. I don't know how I overlooked it when I went back to the original post. EL

I remember having been to the old Country Fare Inn many many years ago but don't recognize that it was in the same location as the current North Star Tavern. Even the physical building is different. Have the roads and routes changed that much?

Here's what I wrote in Table Talk in 1997:
"In a couple of weeks the Country Fare Inn should reopen as the North Star (808 Westminster Pike, Reisterstown, 410-833-3994). Partners Guy Davidson and Marc Walbridge are planning to serve traditional Maryland cuisine with an emphasis on seafood and steak." EL

1200 n. charles st......the owner of helmand and b bought the space and opened tampico, hired a guy who was a maintenance manager to be the GM, and the floor manager ended up being sued for sexual harassment and left the country...they turned into limoges before selling it to the current owner who opened sammys

I hadn't heard that, but I think it was a Karzai brother, wasn't it, not the Helmand and b owners who opened it? EL

The 606 S. Broadway, Fells Point location is part of a developer plan to fix-up Broadway Market. I think part of Crabby Dick's has already been knocked down. Here is a link to the developer's plan for the area.

http://www.marketplaceatfellspoint.com/

554 E Fort Ave is for sale. The owners of Soigne and Sly Fox did not own the building. Sly Fox relocated a few blocks east on Fort. Soigne is long gone, but the owner opened Iggy's pizza.

what about the place in Greenspring Station? 2 year turnaround.

PIV's also used to be located in the space that houses Christopher Daniel, before they moved to their current location at 9811 York Road...which is another "success challenged" location in itself. It used to be Bare Bones Grill & Brewery and before that was a Greek place (can't recall the name).

Not to name names, but I was in a certain Canton Restaurant and Bar ( which has a sister location in White Marsh) on Friday Night and we were the only couple eating in the dining room. At 8 p.m!

This soon could join the list. Or just maybe become a business office.

There was a "This American Life" episode a few years ago that had a story about a seemingly prime location in DC where a series of restaurants and other businesses failed over a period of years. I think the last business to move in was a Starbucks, and it seemed to be hanging on. I can't find the episode in the TAL archives, however...

I miss the old Sly Fox. The only similarity to the new one is the name.

Greg -- the Greek place in that York Road location was Kosmako's for many years. PIV's is disappointing, I'm sorry Bare Bones didn't work out. I'm not a huge chain fan, but at least the food was consistent.

I think you can split this list into two subgroups: Locations that fail for reasons beyond me, and locations that fail for obvious reasons.

I'm not sure why the Biddle and Charles street locations has issues. Places like XS and the Brewer's Art are just steps away, and both of those places do well.

Now, on the other hand, you have the restaurants located at Antique Row or Howard Street. It is easy to see how the combination of antique stores that close at 5 pm, the crazy Howard Street traffic configuations and the overall unsafe vibe of that street all keep restaurants from sticking around.

PIV's also used to be located in the space that houses Christopher Daniel, before they moved to their current location at 9811 York Road...which is another "success challenged" location in itself. It used to be Bare Bones Grill & Brewery and before that was a Greek place (can't recall the name).

Actually, PIV's and Courtney's are the same thing. The restaurant was called Courtney's and the bar was called PIV's. Much like how the restaurant is now called Christopher Daniel, and the bar is called Five. We live in the area and eat at Five frequently. The food is absolutely top notch (which I worry about putting out there since it is already too crowded, but will share with my fellow foodies). The burgers are delicious, the Salmon BLT is one of my favorites, and my husband is addicted to the Andouille Sausage flatbread. Oh, and the salad with tenderloin, crispy onions, blue cheese, and a balsamic vinegarette is just wonderful. Plus, they have Smithwick's on tap, which is a major bonus in my world!

The Greek place that was where Courtney's is now located was called Kosmakos, and was actually Kosmakos for many years.

In Ellicott City there is an old building on Rt 40 (Baltimore National Pike) near Rt 29 that in the past 15 years has been: Sir Walter Raleigh (old local chain), Chinese restaurant (can't remember name), Hunter's Lodge, Blue Point Grille (and Stone Cellar), and now is being redecorated as Chun-Churum korean restaurant.

Elizabeth - I know exactly the spot on West Street in Annapolis that Susan Reimer's talking about. When I lived there, it was the Crab Cake Factory for a while and also something southwestern - I can't remember the name, though. I also think it may have originally been a Dough Roller (but I might just think that because it looks like one from the outside).

At any rate, I'm pretty sure that part of the reason that location hasn't done well is that the restaurant was built right on a busy and not very nice section of West Street. There are some offices around (I used to work in one), but it's mostly car dealerships and light industrial. There are just too many other options in the area that just have better atmosphere.

the Greek place in that York Road location was Kosmako's for many years.

Back in the 1970s that location was a Pappy's Pizza Parlor. I can't remember if it was anything else in between Pappy's and Kosmako's.

Wasn't it a Spanish place for awhile? EL

The Blue Point Grill shut down in Ellicott City??? I'll be darned. I can see why though. I thought it was way over priced for what they were offerring and the portions.

I'm surprised as heck that the Crab Shanty is still open. Their crabs are unbelievably expensive for the size they try to pawn off on you ($70 per dozen for a so-called "jumbo" that was actually smaller than the "medium" you'd get at Bill's Terrace Inn for 40/doz.).

The Crab Shanty also had the absolutely WORST crab cake I have ever had in my entire life. And I've had some bad ones.

I guess peopel in Howard County aren't in tune with what to expect from real Baltimore seafood.

Wasn't the Greenspring Station once a chinese restaurant, or am I thinking of somehting completely differrent? I want to say Joey Chu's. At least I think that's what it was. haven;t been up that way in years though.

That's a different restaurant in the same shopping center. It's still there. EL

* 554 E. Fort Ave. Currently ? (Sly Fox Pub, Soigne, Lynn's, Cup of Gold Cafe)

Rumor has it that the owners of The Bicycle will be opening up a 2nd restaurant in that location.

Sir Walter Raleigh was in a building now torn down and replaced by an auto showroom.

Belair Road @ Overlea Avenue: Currently (and very recently became) Overlea Station. WAS: Chuckles, Two Guinnies, Stingers and Della Roses.

Dionysus had a series of restaurants in that space before it. City Lights (?), Yours Mine and Ours and a couple others that I can't remember.

There's also the place that was The Buttery, on the corner of Charles and Centre, which was empty for awhile then opened as something else (terrible), closed, unsuccessfully tried to remodel and has been for sale for months.

Then there's the perpetually vacant Cheseapeake, next to the Charles Theater and Tapas Teatro.

How about 2112 Fleet Street, the original location of the National Brewing Company? For many years, it was known as the Brewery, and there never seemed to be anyone in there. Six or seven years ago, it became Josephine's (an Italian restaurant), then it became the Moroccan restaurant Fatima's (which I still miss), and now it is under its second ownership incarnation as Tyson's Tavern. An interesting history to the building, too:

My wife and I go to Five, or "V", usually every Friday night. It's especially pleasant since the no smoking law went into effect. The food is awesome. The bartenders attentive. The decor needs an upgrade.

the original country fare inn was on reisterstown road. it was part of the same restaurant group as fiori, brass elephant, city lights and kings contrivance. they moved it to the location that housed fiori, before turning it into enricos

Thanks. EL

The spot at 1803 West St. has a long list of failed/closed restaurants. During my many years in Annapolis I can remember "The Library", "The Rustic Inn", "Back Fins", "Crabcake Factory", "BF Biggins", "Lime/The Whiskey 1803", and as of this past December the current incarnation is "The Whiskey".

I have hope for the "The Whiskey" though, it has two things working for it: management and new development.

The owner is a sharp individual with varied management experience in the restaurant/bar business and banking.

Also, with the construction of 1901 West apartments one block away "The Whiskey" has a nearby source of foot traffic as there currently are not a lot of other places to go that are walking distance from 1901 West.
Outer West St. should improve over the next few years as the main link between Annapolis Towne Centre and Downtown/Uptown areas on Inner West St.

Good Luck "The Whiskey"

Opening a rest. no matter how well done, Geat food, comfy atmosphere, charismatic staff, stunning location etc.ends up being at the whim of a magical formula that, if I could bottle it, I'd be still helping my staff prep 4 tomorrow.

Not to be snarky, but 802 N. Charles was also known as Donna's Restaurant for 2 years. This was before it became the Ruby Lounge. The address at that time was 800 N. Charles, for that specific restaurant. I'm surprised you don't remember EL, as you were there quite frequently during those days. Late 1993-fall 1995. Stark white, slate floors, black marble top tables, ring a bell?

I didn't remember it was just a Donna's before it became Donna's Ruby Lounge. (Not that that was its name, just to differentiate it from the next Ruby Lounge.) Don't be surprised. I've been to a lot of restaurants in a lot of different incarnations over the years. EL

As I recall the two Donna operated restaurants were across from each other in the same building. The Donna's was on the left hand side as you entered the building from Charles Street and the Ruby Lounge on the right. At that time I do not know that Donna operated the Ruby Lounge; I think that happened later and the name became Donna's Ruby Lounge.

OK, I have a call in to Donna Crivello asking her to clear this up. You're right that Donna's the coffeehouse was separate from the Ruby Lounge, and is still there. The question, I think, is whether when the fine dining restaurant across the hall was opened, it was called Donna's at first or the Ruby Lounge from the beginning. I do know that she and her partner opened it, and later sold it. EL

Back in the 1970s that location was a Pappy's Pizza Parlor. I can't remember if it was anything else in between Pappy's and Kosmako's.

Holy moley, I totally forgot that was a Pappy's in the 70's. Reaching back into my childhood now. Although, I have to admit that, back then, if I had my choice between Pappy's and Shakey's, it was Shakey's all the way. I still miss Shakey's pizza to this day, and we often reminisce about having our childhood birthday parties there with the sing-alongs to the old roller piano.

Just for the record
Country Fare started out at the location on Rte 140 where North Star now sits.same building but the roads have changed. Country Fare eventually moved to Painters Mill Road in a location that had housed The Samuel Owings Inn(that house has been razed much to the chagrin of many)Fiori's then opened where Country Fare vacated and the rotating restaurants began.

You're right. I think I'll get rid of that one and move the bonus one up. EL

E.L. RE 600 Broadway formerly Crabby Dick's only the storefront remains if you peer through certain openings (or go around back on Bethel) you can see the majority of the block has been demolished. Development plans seem to be stalled. Artist renderings are displayed in vacant store fronts on both north and southbound sides. RE "new Thames st. crab house" it's going to be called "Riptide" located between Waterfront Hotel and Cats Eye. They were denied 2nd floor occupancy because of city water pressure issues(for the sprinkler) Beautiful newly renovated space previously retail. They're trying to open 1st floor within 30 days.The crabs may be on hold though.

"In some cases, I don't know why the current restaurant is doing well where others didn't; if you have any insights -- or even guesses -- please post below."

The recipe for success neither hard nor secretive. In a medium size to a large good restaurant venture you need to have a barrel of good business plan, few buckets of very good product to sell, authentic as possible, a prime location or an attractive pile of real estate. Add to that few pounds of good service, gallons of smiles, fresh innovations and originality (not from the bag-or reheated as some might suggest in this forum), 17 lbs. of $100 bills (1 Mil. to make the recipe easier for you), endless sleepless nights in menu development, food chemistry combinations and tons of love, persistence, and dedication.

Combine the above, have it served at any temperature by employees who are honest and love what they do, watch your food and labor cost, and stick to the master plan. Absentee owners tend to fail more than working ones since they don’t have their fingers on the pulse of the business, but rather on the vault dials.

Oh, and don’t forget, failure is not an option

Great restaurant! Its give delicious food and their locations are very nice.

I was just in THE WHISKEY. The above posts are correct. Nothing is round it, hence why the upstairs bar could rock the night away and no one cared. I was told by the bartender that the four owners were bought out by one and he changed/enhanced/added TV's wanted a sports bar theme downstairs. It ain't gonna happen. There were more staff then people watching football games. Plus the manager...was drinking more then any one else in the joint. My bored girlfriend was enchanted by the amount and types of drinks he had. Several irish car bombs, tic-tacs, ta-kill-ya shots, beer beer and beer. When I got my receipt, it still had the old restaurant printed on the top. How hard is it to change your computer so it doesn't print out, "Thanks for coming to Lime." I won't go back for football or the food but I hear good things about the bands. maybe I'll go back.