A new pizza restaurant will join Wegmans and the stores at Abingdon's Boulevard at Box Hill this fall, bringing more than 70 jobs to the area.
Boston's The Gourmet Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar, which features both a sports bar and a separate restaurant under one roof, will take up 6,665 square feet on a parcel by Wegmans and Spa on the Boulevard, Keith Asante, president and owner of Oasis Restaurant Group, said.
The restaurant is under construction and is expected to open in September, he said.
The Abingdon site will be the 30th location for the Dallas-based chain in the United States. A Canadian version of the restaurant, called Boston Pizza, has more than 350 locations.
Boston's has one other site in the state, in Southern Maryland.
Asante, a Ghana native and Perry Hall resident who also teaches at the University of Maryland, said Boston's will bring an upscale, casual environment that seats up to 260 people and will include outside seating.
"Everything is made from scratch with fresh ingredients," he said of the restaurant, noting the pizza will be a cross between traditional Italian and more Americanized pizza. "Customers have become very knowledgeable about what they want in their food."
According to Boston's corporate public relations, the restaurants feature "gourmet pizza, pasta and American dishes, such as wings and burgers."
"We are very excited to be able to provide quality food and impeccable customer service in a beautiful environment," Asante said. "It's a great area, it's a great location. Obviously, you can't beat being next to Wegmans. It's a growing area, it's not an area that is currently stagnant."
"I am also excited that we are going to have an opportunity to provide employment to the local community," he added.