In a food landscape where customization is king and fresh ingredients reign supreme, honeygrow continues to expand its wholesome fast-casual footprint across the Mid-Atlantic region. The Philadelphia-based brand known for its made-to-order stir-fry, salads, and signature honeybars has officially opened its doors in Glen Burnie, Maryland, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth strategy for 2025.
Maryland Expansion Continues with 13th Location
Located at 6653 Governor Ritchie Highway in Anne Arundel County, the new Glen Burnie restaurant becomes honeygrow's 13th Maryland location, joining a roster of over 60 restaurants across eight states. This strategic opening follows the recent launch of the Bowie restaurant and reinforces honeygrow's commitment to serving fresh, customizable meals to Maryland communities.
The Glen Burnie restaurant sits at the bustling intersection of Governor Ritchie Highway and I-895, positioning itself within the popular Governor's Plaza alongside retail neighbors including Dick's Sporting Goods, Aldi, Panera Bread, Petco, and the Hampton Inn. This prime location aims to attract busy shoppers and on-the-go diners seeking nutritious, quickly-served meals that don't compromise on quality or flavor.
"We are excited to open honeygrow in Glen Burnie, bringing our fresh, made-to-order meals to a new community," said Justin Rosenberg, Founder and CEO of honeygrow. "Summer in Maryland will always be special to us, since it's what inspired our delicious summer LTO, the Chesapeake Crab stir-fry. We're looking forward to celebrating the opening by featuring this dish, along with all varieties of honeygrow stir-fry, salads, and so much more here in Anne Arundel County."
Maryland-Inspired Menu Items Showcase Local Flavors
The Chesapeake Crab stir-fry, which Rosenberg referenced, has become something of a legend since its Maryland debut in 2018. This regional specialty features freshly made egg white noodles topped with Old Bay-seasoned crab meat, sautéed bell peppers, red onions, grape tomatoes, scallions, parsley, and seasoned breadcrumbs, all tossed in honeygrow's signature Old Bay sauce.
This dish exemplifies honeygrow's philosophy of creating regionally-inspired offerings that resonate with local palates while maintaining the brand's core promise of fresh, customizable dining. The connection to Maryland's famous crab culture has helped honeygrow establish authentic ties to the communities it serves, a strategic advantage in today's competitive fast-casual marketplace.
For summer 2025, honeygrow is also introducing a new seasonal dessert: the Strawberry Shortcake honey bar. This sweet treat features fresh strawberries, pound cake, and lemon mousse filling, topped with whipped cream and clover honey—the perfect complement to Maryland's summer strawberry season.
Customization: The Core of honeygrow's Appeal
In an era where personalization is paramount, honeygrow has built its business model around offering guests complete control over their dining experience. This approach aligns perfectly with current industry trends highlighted in our recent article on fast casual being the bright spot as consumers sour on fast food.
The brand's stir-fry and salad stations allow guests to craft meals exactly to their preferences, starting with a protein selection (steak, chicken, shrimp, tofu, or egg) paired with freshly made noodles, brown rice, or vegetable bases like curly kale or arugula. From there, diners can build their ideal dish by selecting from a variety of sauces, dressings, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and roasted garlic.
This level of customization addresses multiple consumer demands at once: dietary preferences, flavor exploration, portion control, and nutritional goals. The transparency of the build-your-own model also satisfies today's more ingredient-conscious diners who want to know exactly what's going into their meals.
Technology Meets Tradition
While honeygrow honors culinary traditions with dishes like the Chesapeake Crab stir-fry, the brand has also embraced technology to enhance the guest experience. This balance between innovation and food quality exemplifies the strategies outlined in our guide on essential tech strategies for restaurants in 2025 and beyond.
The brand's digital ordering system streamlines the customization process, allowing guests to build their perfect meal with just a few taps. This technology-forward approach not only improves operational efficiency but also collects valuable data on consumer preferences that helps honeygrow continuously refine its offerings.
For the Glen Burnie location, this means a seamless experience for first-time visitors and regulars alike, with intuitive interfaces guiding guests through the many possible combinations available to them.
Beyond Individual Dining: Catering to the Community
Understanding that food brings people together, honeygrow Glen Burnie also offers catering options designed for gatherings of all sizes. Their catering menu features stir-fry and salad platters, desserts, and beverages that can accommodate occasions from office lunches to graduation celebrations and summer parties.
This catering capability positions honeygrow as more than just a quick-service restaurant—it becomes a culinary partner for the Glen Burnie community, providing fresh, customizable options for shared experiences. For local businesses and organizations looking for healthier alternatives to traditional catering fare, honeygrow represents a welcome addition to the area's food service options.
A Growing Footprint in a Competitive Landscape
The opening of honeygrow's Glen Burnie location comes at a time when the fast-casual segment continues to evolve rapidly. With over 60 locations now spanning Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio, honeygrow has established itself as a serious player in the Northeast and Midwest markets.
This expansion reflects broader industry trends where concepts focused on fresh, customizable offerings are gaining market share from traditional fast food. As outlined in our industry analysis on how AI and machine learning are revolutionizing demand forecasting, brands like honeygrow are leveraging data-driven insights to identify promising markets and optimize their growth strategies.
The Glen Burnie opening represents a calculated addition to honeygrow's portfolio, filling a gap in the Anne Arundel County market for fresh, customizable dining options. Located in a high-traffic retail area, the restaurant is positioned to capture both planned visits and spontaneous dining decisions from shoppers and workers in the vicinity.
What This Means for the Local Dining Scene
For Glen Burnie residents and those who work in or visit the area, honeygrow's arrival brings several benefits:
- Increased healthy dining options in an area traditionally dominated by conventional fast food
- Local economic impact through new jobs and increased foot traffic to surrounding businesses
- Customizable meals that can accommodate various dietary preferences and restrictions
- Seasonal specials that highlight regional ingredients and flavors
- Catering options for local businesses and community events
The introduction of honeygrow also signals to other food service operators that Glen Burnie is a viable market for innovative dining concepts, potentially paving the way for further culinary diversity in the area.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Fast-Casual
As honeygrow settles into its new Glen Burnie home, the opening serves as a reminder of how the fast-casual segment continues to redefine expectations for quick-service dining. The emphasis on fresh ingredients, customization, regional flavor profiles, and technological integration represents the direction many successful brands are heading in 2025 and beyond.
For restaurant operators and food service professionals, honeygrow's expansion strategy offers valuable insights into effective growth models in today's competitive landscape. The brand's focus on consistent execution across locations while still maintaining connections to local food cultures demonstrates a balanced approach that resonates with today's consumers.
Whether you're a culinary professional looking for inspiration or a Glen Burnie resident excited about new dining options, honeygrow's arrival represents another step forward in the evolution of convenient, quality-focused dining experiences that prioritize both flavor and freshness.
Residents and visitors to Anne Arundel County can now experience honeygrow's customizable menu at 6653 Governor Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, adding another option to Maryland's increasingly diverse fast-casual landscape.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
