L&L Hawaiian Barbecue’s Towson experiment is over almost as fast as it began. The Honolulu-born plate-lunch chain has gone dark in Uptown Towson after roughly three months, leaving an abruptly empty storefront where locals were just starting to line up for katsu, loco moco, and combo plates.
Regulars who thought they had found a new go-to spot arrived this week to find the counter closed and the signs coming down, a quick curtain call for the short-lived outpost.
The shutdown was first reported on April 14, 2026, by the Baltimore Business Journal, which noted that the Towson shop closed after about three months in business. The report did not include any public explanation from the franchisee or from company officials.
Short run after a January opening
According to QSR Magazine, the Towson restaurant opened in mid January as L&L’s first greater Baltimore location, paired with a second Maryland site in Columbia. Both openings were led by franchisee Mike Wu, who has been rolling out the brand across the East Coast.
Company listing still shows “Now Open”
Online, the story has not quite caught up. The brand’s official location page still touts the Towson restaurant as “Now Open!” and lists hours and mobile ordering options, according to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. That disconnect, with a local business outlet reporting a closure while the corporate listing stays upbeat, leaves customers and the property’s landlord guessing about the restaurant’s true status.
Towson’s tough retail backdrop
The quick exit lands in the middle of a rough stretch for Towson’s retail and restaurant scene. The area has seen a series of departures in recent months, which has made life harder for any new concept trying to gain traction. Major retailers depart from Towson Town Center, and local coverage has pointed to economic pressures and safety concerns as key parts of that narrative.
What’s next for the space
What happens to the Uptown Towson space now is an open question. The Baltimore Business Journal report did not outline whether franchisee Mike Wu might try again in Towson or whether the landlord will move ahead with a new tenant, and it included no timeline for any next step…