Mexican Restaurant Closing Towson, Canton Locations After 30 Years

TOWSON, MD — After 30 years in business, a popular Mexican restaurant is shuttering its two Baltimore-area locations next month.

Nacho Mama's announced Tuesday that its eateries in Towson, at 2 W. Pennsylvania Ave., and Canton, at 2907 O'Donnell St., will close on Jan. 12, 2025. The Mama's on the Half Shell sister restaurants will remain open in Canton and Owings Mills.

"We are thankful to our guests who have been coming to see us over the years, as well as our dedicated staff, who have been the fabric of this iconic institution that we feel lucky to have been a part of," Jackie, Darby and Finn McCusker wrote Tuesday on Facebook. "Thank you, Baltimore, for giving us the ride of a lifetime. It has been our honor to serve you."

Patrick "Scunny" McCusker decided to open a Mexican restaurant in 1994. The young man only had enough money to open a pizza shop, so he first launched the Pizza and Wing Factory. Overflow customers sat on picnic tables and brought their own beer to the space next door, which would soon become Nacho Mama's.

The Nacho Mama's slogan was "Where East Bawmer meets Mexico."

"When my late husband and partner decided to open Nacho Mama's, he liked to blame his decision on this witty phrase: 'An Irishman decides to open a Mexican restaurant in a Polish neighborhood...' and the rest is history," the farewell post said. "We hope that you will visit us one last time for our famous hubcap margarita or a Natty Boh or to share a meal from our special Maryland-Mex menu."

Scunny McCusker died in a bicycle accident in Ocean City in August 2012. The Cockeysville resident was 49.

"We will hear the jokes forever echo in our minds that our founding father, Scunny McCusker, could not help himself but to tell endlessly behind our bar," the closure announcement said. "As we ride off into the sunset with a smile and a wink to the sky, we say, 'Thank You, Thank You Very Much.'"

Customers fondly remember their time at Nacho Mama's.

"Met my wife there on our first date. 18 years and two kids later, we're still together. Will miss you," Baltimore native Jason Helton commented on the Towson closure notice.

Baltimore resident Gigi Causey was at the Nacho Mama's opening night in Canton.

"Nacho Mama's holds such a special place in our hearts," Causey wrote on Facebook. "Such fantastic memories."

Other customers lauded the birria quesadilla, yard bird wings, garlic shrimp and "non-traditional crab dip."

Baltimore resident Jennifer Michelle, 43, still remembers working as a Nacho Mama's hostess when she was 16.

"When I moved to Canton in 1998 I think I was in Nacho Mamas at least once a week," Glen Burnie resident Erin Manor said on Facebook. "You will be greatly missed. Thank you for the great food and even better memories. Best wishes and much success."