$4 Million in Improvements Coming to Clyde's

Clyde's president Tom Meyer announced this week $4 million in improvements to the kitchen, bathrooms, decor and patio that would take place over four to six weeks starting in January.

Clyde's and The Tomato Palace will be closed during renovations, said Meyer. The Tomato Palace shares a kitchen with Clyde's.

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Meyer said the restrooms were in "dire need" of renovations, that the kitchen would be expanded, the interior would be completely gutted and re-done and the restaurant plans to install a pergola on the patio.

Meyer said two crews would work day and night shifts to finish the work as quickly as possible.

However, the bar would stay the same, said Meyer.

"The bar is pretty cool," said Meyer. "That's kind of the heart and soul of the place, so we're going to keep it."

Meyer said Clyde's would renovate the restaurant after signing a new 10-year lease extension on the location with Howard Hughes Corp.

Renovations to the restaurant were last done in 1985, according to Meyer.

Meyer said Howard Hughes and Clyde's would share the cost of renovations.

John DeWolf, senior vice president of Howard Hughes, said this is one of the many investments Howard Hughes Corp. is making in Columbia, specifically mentioning the entrance of Whole Foods into the former Rouse Company Headquarters.

DeWolf also said the company was thinking about placing second-floor retail in the Teacher's Building (where Clyde's is), which has street-level spaces on Wincopin Circle. He also said company officials are examining ways to add retail to the ground floor of the American Cities Building, which currently houses Enterprise Community Partners and Lakeside Cafe.

Enterprise announced earlier this year it would be relocating to 70 Corporate Center in March, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Local politicians such as County Executive Ken Ulman and County Council chairperson Mary Kay Sigaty were also on hand for the gathering.

Ulman, who said he used to work as a bus boy at Clyde's, said "This makes a statement into what downtown is now and what it's going to be in the future."

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