Ritchie's Colombian Restaurant Closes on Route 1 for Terrapin House Development

Ritchie's Colombian Restaurant closed its doors at the Hartwick Road strip on Route 1 in College Park on February 22, 2026, ending its run at one of the corridor's most recognized dining spots as developers push forward with plans to build a 93-unit apartment complex on the site.

The Diamondback reported the closure on March 12, the day after Ritchie's final service. The restaurant occupied a parcel at the corner of Hartwick Road and Route 1 alongside Northwest Chinese Food and Jerk At Nite, two other businesses that remain on the property but are expected to vacate as the Terrapin House development advances. Tokoa Cheesesteaks and Kung Fu Tea, also fixtures of the same strip, had already left before Ritchie's closed.

Terrapin House, the apartment complex slated to replace the strip, will bring 93 multifamily dwelling units with 298 beds and commercial retail space to the corner. The project's footprint extends beyond the restaurant parcel: a house at the corner of Hartwick Road and Yale Avenue and the Yale House Apartments will both be demolished to make way for construction.

The project has been years in the making. Former College Park City Council member John Rigg said the development has been in the works for about five years and that the developers completed a detailed site plan two years ago. Rigg framed the project against a broader regional shortage of homes. "We are in a persistent housing crisis in this area, and that cuts across demographics," he said. "Anything that would bring more housing supply to the area is a net positive in my book, especially if it's housing near either transit or places where people need to be." He also noted the developers' history with commercial space: "They've shown that they have a track record of attracting some pretty great commercial tenants."

The identity of the development firm, the precise demolition schedule, and any relocation plans for the remaining businesses have not been publicly confirmed. What is clear is that a stretch of Route 1 that College Park regulars have eaten their way through for years is being steadily cleared, one closing at a time.