June 15, 2023 – BALTIMORE – Caves Valley Partners announced today that it has signed a lease with a division of Baltimore-based The Cordish Companies to operate an upscale restaurant called Cece’s Roland Park in the Village of Cross Keys. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will also feature a curated outdoor patio in the Cross Keys east courtyard.
“We are thrilled to have Cece’s Roland Park as a key part of the dining scene we are creating at Cross Keys,” said Arsh Mirmiran, a partner at Caves Valley Partners and the lead developer of Cross Keys. “The Cordish Companies’ incredible hospitality expertise, coupled with the Cordish family’s deep community ties and knowledge of the Roland Park community, will come together and create a truly unique experience. This is a tremendous opportunity to add a new upscale dining option to North Baltimore and a magnificent new concept to Cross Keys.”
The comfortable yet stylish atmosphere will take advantage of the unique setting at Cross Keys by using both indoor and outdoor spaces. Led by Baltimore-based, internationally recognized design firm RD Jones + Associates, under the direction of Founder and Principal Rebecca Jones, the restaurant will feature a beautiful main interior dining space, signature bar and an adjacent relaxed Trattoria-inspired room highlighted by an open flame pizza oven perfect for both private parties and family dinners. An exquisite outdoor patio will include cocktail seating and heavily landscaped dining nooks, as well as multiple firepits, a built-in bar, and a stage and entertainment area that will be programmed with live music on a regular basis.
“I have fond memories of visiting Cross Keys while growing up in Baltimore and much of the Cordish family still lives in the surrounding neighborhood,” stated Reed Cordish, principal of The Cordish Companies. “We have always enjoyed working in our hometown including operating one of the premier restaurants in the region, The Prime Rib Steakhouse at Live! Hotel & Casino Maryland, and we could not be more excited to now launch Cece’s Roland Park. In marrying the redevelopment of Cross Keys with this elegant food & beverage experience, we are confident that Cece’s Roland Park will fill a unique niche and become a cornerstone in the community for years to come.”
Cece’s menu, led by James Beard Award Nominated Chef John Suley, will focus on coastal cuisine with many Mediterranean influenced dishes. Using the finest ingredients, the curated menu will offer guests elevated options that are simple, yet perfectly prepared for weekday lunches, dinner seven nights a week, as well as brunch and lunch on the weekends. A carefully created beverage menu will highlight options such as Cece’s Signature Martini and an exceptional collection of French and Italian wine.
Cece’s Roland Park will add to the growing roster at The Village Shops at Cross Keys. The recently opened Easy Like Sunday breakfast, brunch, and lunch café is bringing back customers and generating sales volumes not seen at Cross Keys for years. In addition to national concepts like Williams Sonoma, Talbots, and Yves Delorme and acclaimed local boutiques like Pied Piper and The Store Ltd., Cross Keys features upscale service providers like Corbin Salon (opening this week), Numa Aesthetics, and Ivchankova Studio, along with other longtime retailers. The office space at Village Square is effectively 100% leased, primarily with financial and professional services firms.
“We are being very strategic about the types of tenants we are bringing to Cross Keys,” said Mirmiran. “The vision for Cece’s exceeds our already high expectations for an American restaurant, as well as for the activation of the east courtyard. Cece’s will draw customers from throughout the Baltimore area and become a primary destination for business meetings, social outings, and celebrations for shoppers, residents, and office tenants alike.”
*Construction is underway with an expected opening in Spring 2024.
About the Village of Cross Keys
Cross Keys was originally developed in 1965 by Jim Rouse, the visionary founder of The Rouse Company. The property was acquired by Baltimore-based Caves Valley Partners in 2020 and is actively undergoing a comprehensive redevelopment, including the recently completed renovation of Village Square. The fully completed development will include the addition of nearly 350 apartments, as well as new retail and office buildings.
About The Cordish Companies
The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately-held, family ownership. During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Gaming; Commercial Real Estate; Entertainment Districts; Sports-Anchored Developments; Hotels; Residential Properties; Restaurants; Coworking Spaces; and Private Equity. One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. The Cordish Companies has developed and operates highly acclaimed dining, entertainment and hospitality destinations throughout the United States, many falling under The Cordish Companies’ Live! Brand, highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country. Welcoming over 55 million visitors per year, these developments are among the highest profile dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country. Over the generations, The Cordish Companies has remained true to the family’s core values of quality, entrepreneurial spirit, long-term personal relationships, and integrity. As a testimony to the long-term vision of its family leadership, The Cordish Companies still owns and manages virtually every business it has created. For more information visit www.cordish.com or follow us on Twitter.
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