J. Alexander’s Restaurant closes only location in Maryland

J. Alexander’s Restaurant, an upscale American dining chain, has closed its only Maryland location.

The restaurant in the Annapolis Town Center closed this week, eliminating 45 jobs, according to a notice it filed with the state labor department. J. Alexander’s sat alongside PF Chang’s, True Food Kitchen and Tatte Bakery & Cafe, as well as other restaurants and retail stores, in the Town Center.

The national chain, which is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, has 42 restaurants in 15 states, according to its website.

The restaurant opened the Annapolis location in 2023, replacing Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant. At the time, SPB Hospitality, a major restaurant operator based in Houston, owned both J. Alexander’s Restaurant and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant.

In a statement Wednesday, J. Alexander’s said the chain closed the Annapolis location to support the long-term success of the brand.

A spokesperson with Federal Realty Investment Trust⁠, the company that owns the Annapolis Town Center, said its management team is available for the staff affected by the closure.

“We will assist such staff in making connections for new employment opportunities when possible,” Brenda Pomar, the spokesperson for Federal Realty Investment Trust, said in an email. “We look forward to sharing new tenant announcements as soon as possible.”

The closure comes as another high-end chain is moving into Annapolis Town Center: Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The New Orleans restaurant is taking a 10,150-square-foot space in the mixed-use development by the end of 2026.

Wonder, a “lightning-fast” dining hall with a wide array of food options, opened across the street from Annapolis Town Center in January 2026.