LA PLATA, Md.—Dash In has opened two locations in Clinton and Lanham, Md., according to a news release. Both stores feature Dash In’s neighborhood design store concept and Dash In’s Craveable Menu made fresh every day.

“We were very intentional about each of these locations,” said Julian B. (Blackie) Wills, III president and chief operating officer of the Wills Group, Dash In’s parent company. “For example, for the Clinton location, Dash In worked with the community to improve the intersection—that was really important to the local officials, and we think demonstrates Dash In’s commitment to being a meaningful community partner. Enhancing Outdoors Spaces is an important extension of Dash In’s intentions of working closely with all stakeholders across the communities we serve.”

Dash In paired the opening with more than $40,000 in grants being distributed to the Capital Area Food Bank, Clinton and Lanham high schools, and to Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The grants include $30,000 to help improve Tanglewood Park, an outdoor space near the Clinton Dash In location. The Tanglewood Park grant is part of Dash In’s expanded focus on working with communities where Dash In stores are located to help support outdoor spaces that are valued by the community and could benefit from renewal.

“At Dash In, we have taken time this past year to work with our parent company, the Wills Group, to address near-term needs during the pandemic with a big part of our commitment being more than $1.6 million in grants distributed to local food banks during the past 18 months,” said Wills. “We’re proud of that commitment, and we’re ready to do more. Outdoor spaces have emerged as an important resource for communities during the pandemic, and at Dash In we’re going to work with communities to celebrate and improve those spaces.”