According to representatives from Outback Steakhouse, the much-anticipated opening of the new location at Ellsworth Place in Downtown Silver Spring is now slated for April.
This Australian-themed casual dining spot will occupy the former space of Not Your Average Joe’s at 8661 Colesville Rd. As soon as an exact opening date is announced, we’ll be sure to provide an update.
In related news, last month saw the closure of the chain’s Germantown location at 12609 Wisteria Dr. in the Germantown Square shopping center after more than three decades of operation. Outback Steakhouse maintains an additional Montgomery County presence at 13703 Georgia Ave in Aspen Hill.
Despite its international stature, Outback Steakhouse has a local connection worth noting. Chris T. Sullivan, one of the founders, has strong ties to the area. Sullivan, an alumnus of Blair High School, attended Takoma Park Middle School before that in the 1960s. Following his time in Maryland, he pursued studies in business and economics at the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1972.
Sullivan’s career in the restaurant industry took off when he became a restaurant manager at Steak & Ale. In 1988, he and his partners opened the first Outback Steakhouse, which eventually burgeoned into a global enterprise with over 900 restaurants worldwide, including Carrabba’s, Bonefish, and various other hospitality ventures. Sullivan has held esteemed positions such as CEO and president of OSI Restaurant Partners, the company he co-founded, and currently serves as a board member at Bloomin’ Brands.
Featured image courtesy of Outback Steakehouse
