Fast-growing food hall chain Wonder coming to Glen Burnie

Driving down Interstate 97 past the large Cromwell Business Park, you may have noticed a new sign for “Wonder” and been, well, left wondering what it was.

Wonder is a food hall, at least in theory. Wonder locations boast dozens of styles of food, and affiliations with celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, but all meals are prepared out of a central kitchen.

The new Glen Burnie location, located at 891 Cromwell Park Drive, is set to open in July, according to Wonder’s website. It was not more specific, and a spokesperson could not be reached immediately for comment.

The business prioritizes mobile ordering, though some locations do have tiny dining rooms. The concept is appealing: A group of people who can’t agree on a type of cuisine for dinner could order Mexican, Thai and sushi all from the same place.

However, many reviewers have found the food lacking, and the concept has been widely mocked online.

A Wonder location opened late last year in Baltimore, and was panned by The Banner’s food writer Christina Tkacik.

Still, Wonder is fast-growing. An Annapolis location opened in January, and the company’s website says another location in Bowie is opening soon. There are restaurants already open in Bel Air, Bethesda and Frederick.

And the restaurant’s location in Glen Burnie is likely to be welcome news for Cromwell Business Park. Operated by St. John Properties, the mixed-use development has tens of thousands of square feet available to rent, according to its website. In June, the company said it had a roughly 85% occupancy rate.

Tenants already at the business park, which is between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and I-97 at Aviation Boulevard, include a Starbucks, Chipotle, 7-Eleven and a Big Screen Store.

Some other large tenants signed with St. John Properties in early June, according to the company. They include a a property restoration company, a wholesale sign distributor and an insulation company.

Representatives for St. John Properties did not respond immediately to a request for comment.