Taphouse Sets Opening Date For 1st Anne Arundel County Location

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A taphouse and restaurant is opening its first Anne Arundel County location next month.

World of Beer, known for its plethora of draft brews, is slated to open Jan. 12 in the former Applebee's that has been closed since late 2020. That's located in the mall parking lot at 2141 Generals Highway.

This will be Maryland's fourth World of Beer. The others are in Bethesda, Owings Mills and Rockville. The chain has 26 locations overall, mostly situated along the East Coast.

The bar will have 24 brews on tap and over 100 more in bottles and cans. Options range from light beer classics to ciders, stouts and hefeweizens. Flights will be available. Cocktails, spirits and wine will also be in store.

The menu currently listed online features bar bites like a German pretzel, a birria quesadilla and crab rangoon dip.

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The Annapolis Mall has undergone some turnover recently as its new owner eyes entertainment options, luxury brands and dining.

In July 2024, real estate firm Centennial bought the mall for $160 million from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.

The mall is still constructing Dick's House of Sport, a sporting store with a rock climbing wall and golf simulators, and Dave & Busters, an arcade and sports bar. Both are expected to open sometime next year.

Luxury retailers are also on the way. Tesla is opening an electric car dealership by November 2026, and clothier Uniqlo anticipates a spring debut.

Shotted Specialty Coffee, a Saudi-inspired cafe, is nearing completion across from GameStop.

JCPenney closed this summer. Questions remain about a proposal to redevelop the former department store into several smaller storefronts. The mall owns the land beneath JCPenney, but a third party owns the building itself and could convert the space if desired.

New Village Academy broke ground last month after years of setbacks. The charter school is set to open in August 2026 above The Container Store.

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