Seventh Bobby's Burger Palace Opens in College Park

Bobby’s Burger Palace, a hamburger restaurant co-owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning.

Students, media and College Park officials were present at the 10 a.m. ceremony outside the new eatery, which is located on the bottom floor of the Varsity student apartment complex at 8150 Baltimore Ave.

“We are so excited to be part of the College Park area … and part of the University of Maryland community,” Flay said during the opening.

and cut the ribbon after a brief speech by Flay.

“I think Bobby’s Burger Palace adds a lot of value to the diversity of food options [in College Park]. It’s interesting enough that it will attract people from all over,” Fellows said.

The ceremony concluded with Flay and his staff serving crunchburgers to everyone in attendance. It’s the restaurant’s signature menu item, slicked with melted American cheese and stacked with potato chips.

on typical restaurant items, like potato chips on cheeseburgers, sweet potato French fries and spiked milkshakes.

At noon, the doors opened to the public, officially becoming the seventh Bobby’s Burger Palace, and the second to open near a college campus.

“We actually opened on campus in Philadelphia near the University of Penn, and it seemed like a really good concept for colleges and universities,” Flay said. “So when an opportunity in College Park opened up, it just made common sense.”

Although it was mainly city officials who were invited into the restaurant immediately after the ribbon cutting, a handful of students showed up for autographs and photos with Flay.

“We couldn’t wait for this place to open,” said Marissa Beirne, 18, and Maddie Funk, 21. “We love Bobby Flay.”