BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The Cheesecake Factory, a staple of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for nearly three decades, will close its doors on Jan. 24, 2026, affecting about 115 jobs.
The restaurant filed a formal notice with the Maryland Department of Labor on Dec. 4, indicating it will be closing in the new year.
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The company announced the decision after “extensive review and analysis,” offering staff opportunities at other locations.
City Councilman Zac Blanchard, representing the district, remains optimistic about the area’s future despite the closure.
“The whole south side of the Inner Harbor is about to be developed into an awesome new park,” Blanchard said.
He highlighted ongoing investments, including a $500,000 project at Top of the World and the full-scale redevelopment of Harborplace.
However, Dr. Darius Irani, chief economist at the Regional Economics Studies Institute at Towson University, noted the area’s challenges, including crime and economic decline.
“Harborplace has been in decline, on life support for about ten years now,” Irani said, describing the closure as “inevitable.”
Blanchard acknowledged concerns about downtown’s retail vacancy and public safety, but emphasized positive developments at the Inner Harbor.
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“We have a lot of good things happening,” he said.
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