South Laurel

Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor

Qamaria’s beautiful décor greets you as you enter. (Photo: Diane Mezzanotte)

Talk of the Town: Qamaria Coffee Shop

I’ve covered several restaurant openings in South Laurel over the last few years. Unfortunately, a few of them have already come and gone. (RIP, Dirty Dough) But this latest opening, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co., feels like a real winner. Qamaria has enjoyed a steady flow of customers since opening in mid-May. I first visited in early June and spoke with Nazish, one of the location’s four co-owners. She said the staff has already come to know many “regulars,” some of whom stop by daily. “We had a busy opening day, and word spread quickly,” she said. “We’re thrilled to have this level of community support already.”

Qamaria was founded in 2020 with a goal of bringing authentic Yemeni coffee, tea, and pastries to the United States. The first location opened in Dearborn, Michigan, in 2021 and the company expanded quickly: there are now 38 Qamaria cafés in the United States, with multiple locations in Michigan, Illinois, California, and northern Virginia. The Laurel café is the first to open in Maryland; another one will open soon in Columbia.

Several types of Yemeni coffees are available: from light to medium roast, hot or iced, espresso, and lattes. Many feature cardamon, ginger, or cinnamon and are brewed in the traditional Yemeni way of boiling finely ground coffee beans unfiltered, then pouring off the liquid. For non-coffee drinkers, there is hot tea, chai lattes, hot cocoa, and even fruit smoothies. A pastry display features honey cake, croissants, savory meat pies, and more.

But it’s not just about the food. Nazish explains that the owners’ overall goal was “to build a culturally centered community space, a safe space for families and kids.” She notes that while the owners are Muslim and the restaurant includes a prayer space in the back, everyone is welcome. “We want all faiths to come and work or hang out in a beautiful community space.”

And beautiful it is! Arches, latticework, and geometric fabric patterns give a distinctly Middle Eastern feel. Booths and sofas sectioned off to form “cozy areas,” as Nazish calls them, provide semi-private seating. Customers can take advantage of free WiFi to work “from home,” and a conference room with a table, chairs, and a smart-TV hookup can be rented for $15 an hour.

Laurel-based groups are already making use of the spaces: a book club meets there, an embroidery club will soon begin using the space, and families often hang out late into the evening, The café is open until 11 pm Monday through Thursday, midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 10 pm on Sunday. “Our later hours were purposeful,” Nazish explains. “Often, families want to do something later—play games, chat, or just spend time together—and there haven’t been many other good options.”

At least one well-known area resident has already posted rave reviews on social media: Rabia Chaudry, a Howard County attorney and author made famous through the “Serial” and “Undisclosed” podcasts. In an Instagram video she shot during a soft-opening visit, Rabia lauded the delicious food and drinks and “an atmosphere that is gorgeous.”

I’m not a coffee drinker, but I have hung out in many coffee shops with friends over the years, and this is already my favorite for ambience. During our visit, my husband had a light, flaky butter croissant and I had a delicious Adeni Chai Latte and Sabaya, a Yemeni honey-and-flaky-pastry dessert that I thought about the rest of the day. (Yes, I had it for breakfast. Don’t judge.) I will definitely be returning to Qamaria, with friends in tow!

Qamaria is located at 7401 Van Dusen Road.

Housing Boom in Southern Laurel

Amid a severe housing shortage in the greater DC area, anyone who travels Laurel’s Contee/Van Dusen corridor can attest that strides are being taken to address the situation locally. At least three housing developments are under construction, leading some to praise the efforts and others to vilify the loss of green space and an assumed uptick in traffic. As someone who covers planning commission meetings, I think both sides have valid points.

Construction began last April on a 62-unit townhome community called Anderson’s Green, just off Contee Road between Van Dusen and Route 1. Built by Lennar Homes, the 2,200-square-foot residences have 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 2-car garage in a stacked, 3-level design. Listed in the $480,000 – 550,000 range, the homes began selling in Fall 2025. The development includes a playground.

Construction has begun on the Oaks at Laurel. (Photo: Diane Mezzanotte)

Not far away, tucked behind a daycare and medical offices between Park Center Drive and Westmeath Drive, construction recently began on a similar development by Stanley Martin Homes. Called the Oaks at Laurel, this community will consist of 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes, situated over 1- or 2-car garages and ranging from 1,600 to 2,600 square feet. The rows of homes will form a U-shaped formation, surrounding a playground and green space.

Lastly, long-time Laurelites may find it hard to believe, but the long-awaited Konterra development finally broke ground in May on its “downtown” district. About 220 townhomes built by Caruso Homes and called The Marais are expected to become available by Fall 2026 as part of Phase 1, which will also include retail spaces and green spaces. Eventually, Konterra will cover roughly 2000 acres between I-95 and the Intercounty Connector (toll road 200).

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Diane Mezzanotte is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for The Laurel History Boys. In addition to covering Laurel city municipal news, she also reports on all things from South Laurel.