Canton Welcomes LA Smashburger Franchise With a Full Bar Twist

Melvin Daniels, co-owner of Federal Hill's Mug Shots bar, opened Wanna Smash last Friday at 3500 O'Donnell Street in Canton, planting an LA-born wagyu smashburger concept inside the 1,200-square-foot space where the Shipyard Pub once operated. The addition brings something the Los Angeles original does not have: a full bar.

Daniels drew the concept from a West Coast shop and pursued franchise ownership to bring it to Baltimore. The menu leans into wagyu beef and a sense of humor. The "Quickie" stacks a double patty with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles and smash sauce; the "Happy Ending" swaps in teriyaki and yum yum sauce. Patrons who want something other than a bun can order any burger as a lettuce wrap or have it chopped over fries. A vegan burger and a children's cheeseburger round out the options, alongside milkshakes.

The bar component is the clearest departure from the franchise template. Daniels positioned it as specific to the Baltimore location, giving Canton diners a reason to linger past a quick meal.

The address has history. The former Shipyard Pub occupied the O'Donnell Street corridor that connects Canton's residential blocks to its waterfront foot traffic, and the space's reuse fits a pattern of older retail footprints turning over as the neighborhood absorbs new concepts. Canton has drawn a steady stream of restaurant openings in recent years, with owners betting on strong pedestrian volume while navigating rising operating costs and dense competition along the strip.

Whether Wanna Smash sustains that traffic through colder months, when waterfront activity thins, will be the first real test of the franchise's Baltimore footing.