Marathon Deli has been a lifesaver for many a hungover college student. The restaurant, which serves up Greek food, burgers, pizza and sandwiches, has been an institution in College Park for over 30 years.
Soon, Montgomery County residents will be able to try this legendary eatery’s offerings for themselves when Marathon Deli opens its second location at the Crossroads at Kensington.
Plans for this expansion were first announced in June 2023 on Marathon Deli’s Facebook page, with construction reported to have begun earlier that year. More recently, the restaurant received a permit to start construction on its interior. The Kensington location’s opening date has not yet been decided, but Marathon Deli has its opening slated for 2025.
Marathon Deli is owned by George Soldatos, who has also been its chef since its opening in 1972. Soldatos and his family are from Lefkada, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. He, his wife Maria and their son Peter all run the restaurant together, and it’s stayed within the family since it first opened.
The deli’s website claims that it has been voted the “Best Gyro in Maryland” and “Top 10 Places to Eat in College Park.” It will be joining 32 other restaurants that call Kensington Crossing home, including BabyCat Brewery, Korean restaurant Buns ‘n Rice and gastropub The Dish and Dram, along with several popular chain eateries.
