Gourmet Toast And Juice Bar, Toastique, Coming To Park Plaza

As soon as this spring, a new fast-casual restaurant could be coming to the heart of Severna Park.

Toastique franchise owners Allyson and Mo Jishi, Chris Deli and John Brenner have selected Park Plaza as the site for the gourmet toast and juice bar’s second location serving the greater Anne Arundel County market, joining the inaugural site in Annapolis, which has been operational since 2024.

The ownership and operations team has signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) for 1,330 square feet of space, with intentions to begin operations at the nearly 185,000-square-foot shopping center located at 550 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park later this year.

Roseanne Holmes, leasing associate for the commercial division for CRC represented the landlord and John Rosso of Rosso Commercial represented the tenant in this transaction.

“The American consumer has become increasingly attuned to making healthier choices when cooking at home and dining out, and Toastique brings a compelling mission centered on fresh, nutritious offerings to Park Plaza and the surrounding Anne Arundel County community,” stated Kristina O’Keefe, vice president of the commercial division at Continental Realty Corporation. “The concept appeals to on-the-go individuals and families who are mindful of ingredients and preparation, and its addition will complement Park Plaza’s diverse restaurant mix while attracting new customers to the center.”

Toastique specializes in serving gourmet toasts, including avocado smash, smoked salmon, three cheese Italian, tomato burrata, peanut butter crunch, spicy crab, Tuscan tuna, roasted chicken salad, and other varieties.

The concept offers a complete menu of bowls – including original acai, mango tango, and cocolada – as well as smoothies, with flavors ranging from green machine to superfruit to orange crush. Rounding out the menu are energy and vitamin shots, freshly pressed juices, coffee, tea, protein waffles, and oat cups. Grab-and-go items include salmon power bowls, spicy noodles and yogurt parfaits.

Allyson Jishi, managing partner of the local Toastique franchise group, first discovered the restaurant concept in Washington, D.C., and immediately realized it aligned perfectly with her own convictions about the importance of eating healthy.

“During the pandemic, consumers started paying closer attention to the foods they consumed, bringing the healthy-eating movement in more prominent view, where it is now expanding rapidly,” she said.

She emphasized that Toastique uses only the freshest ingredients, which are sourced locally to assure optimum quality, and the hummus and berry jams are produced onsite daily. Juices, currently fresh pressed at the Annapolis restaurant, will be transported each day to the Park Plaza site.

Deli received food preparation training while attending culinary school in San Francisco and Allyson Jishi brings a marketing and operational background to the venture. The team is scouting sites for their third restaurant. Approximately 15 people will be employed at the restaurant.

“We love the walkability of Park Plaza, including the nearby trails, and leasing space at Park Plaza was always in our long-term expansion plans,” Allyson Jishi added. “In addition, the presence of MOM’s Organic Market attracts like-minded consumers to the center.”