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Visions for Vacancies: Marlin & Ray's

What would you like to see in this commercial vacancy in Bel Air?

 

Marlin & Rays permanently closed its doors in January, prompting speculation from the community about what would fill the vacancy.

The restaurant replaced Ruby Tuesday, but closed after less than four months in business.

The now-empty restaurant is located at 593 Baltimore Pike on a 31,636 square foot lot, according to online property records. It was first built in 1993, but recently underwent renovations.

What business do you think would be a good fit for this commercial property? Tell us in the comments.

Related Topics: Bel Air Business, February 2013 Week In Review, Marlin & Rays, Ruby Tuesday's, and Visions for Vacancies

Karl Schuub

12:47 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

A co-op for local produce and meats and other handmade goods. I know we have the farmer's market in summer but there are so many other ways we could promote locally made foods - locally baked breads, organic eggs and chickens, beef and lamb. Knitted sweaters, ceramics, etc...sort of a Harford Bizarre with a variety of quality items. The one single most important criteria being it is produced in Harford County.

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Sharon Kenney

9:12 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013

Great idea! Enough with the restaurants already!

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John Jacob Jingle

12:36 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013

Please move to Portlandia you dirty hippy.

Karl Schuub

2:20 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

My lord it's as if we've been programmed.

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Maureen

2:52 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

True. Last thing we need is another chain, blech. Although I don't hate the idea of Trader Joe's...

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Karl Schuub

3:06 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

Trader Joe's is OK. I've been in so many different towns and you can clearly see the difference in those communities that appreciate locally based retail vs. nationally corporatized retail and the difference is night and day. We are quickly becoming Towson and that's not a compliment.

Dowman

2:58 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

RUDY TUEDAY'S. NOW THAT'S FUNNY

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Michael Kemen

3:07 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

Move La Tolteca so they can seat more people and have a bar.

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Anthony Allen

3:15 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

How about a Golden Corral?! Seriously, anything but another chain restaurant. We need more upscale or diverse dining options in the area.

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YepYep

5:41 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

Ummm, Golden Corral is a chain.

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MIL

9:56 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

Since when has Golden Corrall been "upscale"? I'd hate to see what you think is low budget, in that case...

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Karl Schuub

3:38 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

A tree...a huge oak that will provide the only shade for blocks around in that otherwise aphalt wasteland.

Mark B

3:29 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

I really like the farmers market idea. Carrabas would be nice as well. I think my favorite idea would be a PF Changs though.

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Michelle Watters

4:59 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

DellaRoses in White Marsh. They have awesome hamburgers. We need a great burger place.

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SNAKE DR.

5:18 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

An indoor Airsoft facility for the kids to have another place to spend time out of trouble and away from drugs.

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Christine Czuma

5:39 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

I love your idea. We have enough food places, let's make it a place for our children. There are no places for them to go anymore.

Terry Correll

5:35 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

An upscale Bistro with 4 or 5 signature plates. Ar revolving seasonal menu utilizing local providers. Mid priced entree's along with small plates for sharing.
Some place like this;
www.redd-wood.com
NO MORE CHAINS, NO MORE BURGERS, NO MORE PIZZA, NO MORE MEXICAN

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jim ryan

11:33 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013

If you are looking for an up-scale bistro. Look at Pairings Bistro on 924 and Laurel bush rd.

LMGTFY

5:38 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

GUS'S DELI MART! ...oh wait...

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YepYep

5:42 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

How about a "Titty bar"? We don't have one of those in Harford county.

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Corrie

6:23 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

Yes! A place for children would be great!and not another bouncy place!!!! I do like an organic mart though!

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sandy

6:42 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

I would love to see a upscale soul food restaurant....

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RICHARD BLACKBURN

8:46 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

Stoney River Legendary Steak House

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avalanchemom

8:05 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013

No independent owned restaurant/whole foods market could sustain the cost of doing business in Bel Air..we've driven them all away

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Annabelle

2:25 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013

Avalanche Mom said it best. The 4% vacancy rate for commercial space in Harford County is the second lowest in the state of Maryland. When there are more tenant prospects in a market than there is available space, Landlord's up their asking rents. Why? Because they can. Supply and demand, folks. This space will most certainly be backfilled with another national restaurant chain for the following two reasons: National restaurant chains pay a boat load more in rent than traditional, soft-good retailers, and, people in Harford County, especially Bel Air, LOVE to eat out. Won't, and can't be, a grocery store/farmers market because I'm sure Mars has an exclusive on the use. Can't be pizza either, because of Slices Pizzeria. Will never be a soul food restaurant because demographics don't support it - and unless oak trees pay $200,000 a year in ground rent, keep dreaming.

singing gardener

9:11 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013

I like the idea of leveling the building and planting a huge oak tree. Maybe even a park bench or two. Someplace to sit outside and enjoy your take-out meal from McDonald's, Quizno's or Slices.

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Christine

11:42 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013

I'd love to see PF Chang's or Pei Wei. There is no really good Chinese food in Bel Air.

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Sherry Donahue

12:46 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013

Chopstix in Forrest Hill is great. I like the kid thing, kind of like an older Chuck E Cheese place for middle to high schoolers.

Christine

11:44 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013

Or Akbar - It's a delicious Indian restaurant in Columbia and on Charles Street downtown. And It's not a chain!

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figment

4:25 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013

I have only one piece of advice for all the Carrabas wishers: Learn to cook at home, it will be much better even if it says Ragu on the label!! there are enough ready to eat frozen italian food restaurant in the world!

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Bob

11:18 am on Sunday, February 10, 2013

Or On the Border....funny thing about chain restaurants. In spite of all the complaints about not having any more in Bel Air, people sure like them.

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Taverleigh

11:54 am on Sunday, February 10, 2013

Fractured Prune ! Much better than Dunkin Donuts...

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Nicholas Golden

5:49 am on Monday, February 11, 2013

Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory or PF Changs

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mbgd6

2:14 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013

Farmers market would be perfect!!!!!
If not Tader Joes or Whole Foods would be nice.

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Michael Gerst

11:45 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

We need a good 24 hour diner. Double t is too expensive and put limits on refills. One free refill on coffee! Are you kidding me?! If not a diner maybe a Denny's, still miss the fallston one.

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