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 cuisines and affiliations with celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, but all meals are prepared in a central kitchen.

The new Glen Burnie location at 891 Cromwell Park Drive is set to open in July, according to Wonder’s website. A spokesperson for Wonder said the Glen Burnie location is scheduled to open July 9.

The business prioritizes mobile ordering, though some locations 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.

The Wonder in Glen Burnie is likely welcome news for Cromwell Business Park. Operated by St. John Properties, the mixed-use development has tens of thousands of square feet available for rent, according to the company’s website. In June, St. John Properties 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 Starbucks, Chipotle, 7-Eleven and a Big Screen Store.

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

Brett Foelber, a spokesperson for St. John Properties, said Wonder is going to have a soft opening from July 6-8, and a grand opening scheduled at 10:30 a.m. July 9.