Thirsty Turtle Fever
September 18th, 2006 | by Rob Goodspeed | Published in Businesses | 2 Comments
In the last few weeks, this website has received over a hundred hits from people searching for information about the Thirsty Turtle, a new bar opening on Route 1 in downtown College Park. Owner Alan Wanuck has not yet announced an opening date but we’ve noticed construction is ongoing at the bar, and the bottom level appears to be nearing completion. Wanuck told the Gazette newspaper last week he would like to open in the “very near future.” He also told the paper he hoped the new restaurant will also appeal to university faculty and College Park residents in addition to students. As soon as we hear we’ll post an opening date, and if you know anything more about the bar feel free to comment.
> Gazette: “The Thirsty Turtle quick to fill vacancy”
The logo is from another Thirsty Turtle — in Aurora, Indiana.
September 18th, 2006 at 7:17 pm (#)
Unlike the previous occupants of the old Terrapin Station building, it seems like Mr. Wanuck is keenly cognizant of what the College Park community desires.
However, as the market is already saturated with the typical pizza fare, it makes me wonder if the Thirsty Turtle will be successful. Parenthetically, an ‘upscale’ pizza joint is sorely missing from College Park, although, as a Jersey alumnus, I am suspecious of any College Park pie.
After all, I am sure that the liquor license carries a strict ratio of liquor to food sales.
I just hope that Mr. Wanuck’s market research–which must surely indicate that the typical pizza offerings is a proper fit for the site–is accurate.
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September 18th, 2006 at 7:33 pm (#)
Well, the food aside I am really excited to see a live music venue in that space. If he can get some good acts I think that alone could add quite a bit to the city.
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September 18th, 2006 at 9:46 pm (#)
I feel that this venue could be extremely successful. If for only the reason that there are so few selections in College Park. If the Turtle (to coin a new nickname) even pulls people who dont feel like dealing with crowds at Cornerstone, Bentleys and Santa Fe when they are normally overcrowded (which is often), then it is likely it will do fairly well. The fact that it would also provide some sort of convienient food item for patrons is also rather interesting, and I am interested to see if getting food at The Thirsty Turtle during peak bar hours is going to be the same as getting food during peak hours at Fe, or Cornerstone, that is to say, nearly impossible.
On a related note, I would not be suprised to see The Mark dissapear first, I do not think the swanky upscale concept can pull in enough customers in order to survive long, especially if drink prices are as high as I have heard. I don’t ever see myself buying a bottle of beer for $4 in College Park, unless my father is taking me out during Winter Break, when I could possibly get on the “exclusive list”.
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September 30th, 2006 at 12:28 am (#)
You’re out of your mind if you don’t think the Turtle is going to be successful. There are more than enough CP residents to fill another bar throughout the week. The people who don’t go to Cornerstone or Bentley’s because it’s too crowded will instead go to the Turtle. That too will become “too crowded” for some.
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November 29th, 2006 at 8:53 pm (#)
See Mike Silvestri’s article in the Diamonback about the problem with the fence in the alley. It blocks egress if there is a fire.
http://www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2006/11/29/News/Legal.Battle.Delays.Bar.Opening-2511761.shtml?norewrite200611291927&sourcedomain=www.diamondbackonline.com
The September 4 Gazette article has good info for those who haven’t seen it yet.
But I haven’t seen anything about if they’ll have MicroBrew beers on tap.
http://www.gazette.net/stories/091406/collnew181456_31948.shtml
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February 10th, 2007 at 4:33 pm (#)
Yes! Live music would be great.
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October 6th, 2007 at 4:40 pm (#)
The Thirsty Turtle will put all the other stale, crowded establisments to shame. With a premier venue for acts, a sports bar with tvs everywhere, and a restaurant, this place will be the hot spot!!!!!!!!!
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May 10th, 2009 at 4:28 pm (#)
My husband and I live in the area because it is relatively close to the military bases in Maryland. My husband has done two tours, and I am a physician in the army. We don’t ask to be treated any better than any one else who enters this establishment, but we were treated like a bum off the streets. The only thing they didn’t do was spit in our faces. They were rude, and charged us double what they charged everyone else, and they were more than willing to let us know it. The people at the door would have loved to be able to kick us in the face but all they could do was discriminate and treat us like the lowest beings on the face of the earth. I respect the right to disagree with the war but to be completely unsupportive to your country’s armed forces is not only unpatriotic but shameful. We tried to give them the benefit of the doubt but this has happened three times to us and our military friends. If treating the people that protect your country like scum is what you support then go ahead and come on in to the Thirsty Turtle. If you support the men and women that sacrifice everything to keep you safe then do not step a foot into this hole!
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May 11th, 2009 at 10:52 am (#)
I would suggest you contact the restaurant and lodge a complaint.
Here is link where you can provide feedback. http://www.thirstyturtlecp.com/id4.html
Hopefully this was an isolated incident and if not the management can change the practices of the place.
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