< Back to News

March 2004

Look Out St. Patty's Day, Another 'Greene' Is Comin' To Town
By Annie Mondell

Excitement is building as word on the street regarding the former Finkelstein building becomes the talk of Towson! For years, the building sat vacant with only old memories of the Towson hip spot for back to school clothing and Frye boots! Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel...The Greene Turtle Restaurant is currently undergoing extensive renovations, both inside and out, to be completely refit for a restaurant at 408 York Road.   Thanks to a $150,000 loan from the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development's Architect on Call Program, competing restaurantors may soon be "Greene" with envy!

A Bit of History

The attraction of the Greene Turtle to the former Finkelstein building is a major step forward in the renaissance of Towson. The building was once home to the popular Finkelstein clothing store, which closed in the 1980s. For several years, the owner, Roy Finkelstein, tried to lease it for retail uses, but the building did not meet modern standards. It eventually was leased to a teenage nightclub, which eventually closed because of community issues with large unruly crowds outside the club. Ironically, the renovation costs for the Greene Turtle would have been too high had not the nightclub upgraded the sprinkler and part of the electrical system.

Towson Liquor License

The Green Turtle is the first restaurant to take advantage of the state legislation enacted in 2003 to allow certain liquor licenses to be transferred into the Towson area. This legislation was sponsored by Senator Brochin and supported by Councilman Gardina and the County Executive. With this legislation, The Greene Turtle was able to purchase a Class B full service liquor license from the Essex area. This proactive legislation was an extremely important revitalization incentive that enabled the attraction of this higher end restaurant.

The final application hearing for The Greene Turtle's liquor license will be in early March, and GTC along with the Greater Towson Community Council, which represents 15 community associations, unanimously endorsed the transfer.

Save The Date!

On April 28th, The Greater Towson Committee will hold it's   2nd Annual Golf Tournament at Greystone Golf Course. Foursomes are now forming, so reserve your space now. Call GTC at 410-825-2549 for more information.

< Back to News