Houlihan?s Restaurants target ‘sophisticated’ diners

“With all of the shows and information out there on food, the casual diner knows a lot more about food and has real distinct tastes,” Hartnett said.

Houlihan?s newest location opened on Sept. 17 in the Gateway Overlook shopping center in Columbia. The Howard County restaurant is the first of six Houlihan?s scheduled to open in Maryland in the next five years.

“Maryland is just a dynamic market,” Hartnett said. “We opened a location in Inner Harbor about a year ago, and it?s doing very well.”

With the “sophisticated” consumer in mind, Houlihan?s has revamped its restaurants? menu and decor, allowing customers dine on entrees such as white fish tacos, Thai chili, or calamari salad in an upscale dining atmosphere.

Houlihan?s is working with SMS Venture Partners LLC, a Maryland LLC comprised of three groups, including two from Maryland.

Julie and Dan Stevens, of Clarksville, own JDS Partners LLC, part of SMS Venture Partners.

Dan Stevens and his wife became interested in getting involved with Houlihan?s a couple years ago. Stevens previously worked for ahotel management company that oversaw operations of 24 hotels and food outlets in the hotels, including Houlihan?s.

“We?ve had people waiting to be seated every night since we opened,” said Stevens.

According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurant sales in Maryland are predicted to total about $8.1 billion in 2007.

The new 7,000-square-foot restaurant is located just off Interstate 95 in Columbia. The location supports a staff of about 135 people and can serve as many as 250 customers at capacity.

Stevens said SMS Venture Partners has signed a deal to develop the next restaurant in Edgewater, and there are negotiations in the works for a location in Anne Arundel.

Houlihan?s, based near Kansas City, Kan., totals 94 restaurants across the country and expects to open 30 new locations in the next two years.

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