Looney's Pub facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Looney's Pub |
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Looney's Pub, Canton, Baltimore, Maryland
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1993 |
| Current owner(s) | Bill Larney and Steve Litrenta |
| Food type | American, Irish cuisine |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Rating | Yelp:    Tripadvisor: 4 out of 5 (Food) |
| Street address | 2900 O'Donnell Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21224 |
| State | Maryland |
| Postal/ZIP code | 21224 |
| Seating capacity | 500+ |
| Reservations | Yes |
| Other locations | Bel Air, MD – Baltimore, MD – Maple Lawn, MD – College Park, MD |
Looney's Pub is a popular chain of Irish-themed sports bars located in Maryland. It has four different locations across the state. Looney's is well-known for its fresh crab dishes, like crab pretzels, crab dip, and delicious crab cakes. It's a great place to gather with friends and family.
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Looney's Pub: A Maryland Story
Looney's Pub has a cool history, with its first location opening in 1993. The very first Looney's Pub was in Canton, Baltimore. It was started by two friends, Bill Larney and Steve Litrenta. This makes Looney's one of the oldest bars in the Canton area.
Growing Across Maryland
Over the years, Looney's Pub has grown to include more locations. In 2002, a new Looney's Pub opened in downtown Bel Air, Maryland. This location is quite special because a long time ago, in 1912, even President William Howard Taft visited the building when it was a different inn!
Later, in 2009, Looney's expanded to the Maple Lawn area in southern Howard County, Maryland. The newest Looney's Pub opened in September 2011 in College Park, Maryland. This location is right next to the main campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. It took two years of planning and four months of building to create this spot.
What's on the Menu?
Looney's Pub offers a big menu with many tasty options. They are famous for their Maryland cuisine, especially dishes made with fresh Chesapeake blue crab.
Delicious Food Options
You can find many crab-themed items like crab pretzels, crab dip, and crab cakes. They also have fries seasoned with Old Bay Seasoning, which is a local favorite in Baltimore. Besides crab, Looney's serves classic American food. This includes juicy New York strip steaks, fresh salads, hamburgers, and spicy Buffalo wings.
Drinks and Refreshments
The Looney's Pub in Canton has many different beers on tap, and the College Park location also offers a wide selection. Some of these change regularly, featuring local breweries.
Sports and Fun
Looney's Pub is a very popular place for sports fans. People love to come here to watch games, especially for the Ravens (football) and Orioles (baseball) teams.
Game Day Excitement
On game days, especially when both the Ravens and Orioles are playing, it gets very busy! This is sometimes called the "Battle of the Beltways" or the Beltway Series. Fans from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., gather at the Maple Lawn and College Park locations to cheer on their teams. Other popular teams to watch include the Redskins, Nationals, Capitals, and the Maryland Terrapins college teams. Looney's is also a favorite spot to watch the exciting NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.
Music and Live Shows
Looney's Pub is known for supporting local artists and musicians. Each location has a stage and a patio where live music is often played. You can enjoy singers, bands, and DJs almost every day. Some musicians who have performed at Looney's include the Amish Outlaws, Kristin and the Noise, and Grace Davina.
St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
St. Patrick's Day is the busiest day of the year for Looney's Pub. They call it Looney's Patty Party Weekend! The celebrations include live bands, special food like pit beef, and even a free breakfast buffet. There are also special offers and giveaways. Many locations get special permits to serve outside because so many people come to celebrate.
Helping the Community
Looney's Pub is also involved in helping the community and raising money for good causes.
Supporting Charities
In 2012, Looney's hosted a fundraiser at all four locations for the Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation. They donated a part of all their sales to this charity, honoring a local restaurant founder who had passed away.
In 2016, the Bel Air Looney's Pub held a big benefit concert to help the families of two Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies who had passed away. Many bands volunteered to perform, and the event raised a lot of money for the Sheriff's Office Benevolent Fund through entrance fees, auctions, and raffles.
In 2017, Looney's Pub in Canton joined with other Maryland restaurants to raise money for the Brigance Brigade Foundation's "ALS Bites!" campaign. This campaign helps people living with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Looney's donated money from certain food and drink purchases to this cause.
Looney's Pub in Maple Lawn also hosts fundraisers for local schools in the Howard County Public School System, especially Atholton and Reservoir High Schools.
In November 2017, actor Josh Kelly helped host a fundraising event at Looney's Pub in Maple Lawn for the Casey Cares Foundation. They raised money from ticket sales and an auction that included cool sports items.
Awards and Recognitions
Looney's Pub has received several awards and honors over the years for its food, atmosphere, and contributions to the community:
- 2011: Nominated for "Favorite New Restaurant" by The Restaurant Association of Maryland.
- 2013: Received the Harford Award for its contributions to the economy and community life in Harford County.
- 2014: Voted 2nd place for "Irish Pub" in the Reader's Choice: Best of East Baltimore.
- 2014: Named "Best Sports Bar" by Howard Magazine.
- 2015: Won "Best Bar Food" from Harford Magazine.
- 2016: Won "Best Bar Food" from Harford Magazine again.
- 2016: Named "Best Sports Bar" by Howard Magazine again.
- 2017: Won "Best Bar Food" from Harford Magazine for the third time.
