The last remaining Romano’s Macaroni Grill in the DMV is expected to be replaced by Lazy Dog, according to a BizJournals report. The Macaroni Grill, located at 5925 Kingstowne Towne Center in Fairfax County, is still operational, and the closing date is currently unknown.
Lazy Dog, a California-based and Rocky Mountains-inspired chain, has reportedly filed plans to demolish the existing Macaroni Grill restaurant in the Kingstowne Towne Center. The intention is to replace it with a new 7,790 SF restaurant featuring an outdoor patio. This move follows a similar situation where a location in Gaithersburg, MD, was razed and replaced by YardHouse in 2018.
The report mentions that Romano’s Macaroni Grill will continue to operate in Fairfax County, with the lease set to expire in July of 2024. The chain, founded in the San Antonio area of Texas in 1988, grew to over 200 restaurants by 2007. However, changes in ownership and various transactions have marked its history. Brinker International sold 80% to Golden Gate Capital for $88 million in 2011, and the entire chain was later sold to the Ignite Restaurant Group for $55 million in 2013. RedRock Partners acquired the chain in 2015 for $8 million. As of November 2023, Macaroni Grill operates 33 locations in multiple states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Featured image courtesy of Google Maps
