3-28-2025 4:35am

Mr. Costas Touched

Crab House Owner Dies, Remembered With Tributes: Reports

A crab house owner died at age 85 in Baltimore County, reports said. "Everybody that met him loved him," his son said.

Relatives and employees are mourning the death of a Baltimore County crab house owner who died this week.

Multiple news outlets reported that 85-year-old Costas Triantafilos, owner of Costas Inn in Dundalk, died Monday from elevated carbon monoxide levels at his Glen Arm home. The Greek immigrant opened his restaurant in 1971.

"Everybody that met him loved him. He made everyone feel so special. He loved people. He loved everyone," Pete Triantafilos, the restaurateur's son and business partner, told WBAL-TV.

The Baltimore County Fire Department said it was called for a cardiac arrest at a Glen Arm home around 7:37 a.m. Monday.

Firefighters said a vehicle left running in an attached garage caused dangerously high carbon monoxide levels. The fire department didn't publicly identify the victim.

"I feel like I lost my father all over again," server Jenny Marshall told WJZ, adding that "Even though we're not blood related, we pull together as a family and make it work, no matter what."

The death came as Costas Inn planned to open its second location this spring, expanding to Timonium at the Maryland State Fairgrounds' horse track grandstand.

"You pinch yourself to see if it's real and then you realize this is a nightmare you're not waking up from. It's not going to happen," bartender Christine Thamert told WMAR.

From Facebook:

Jennifer Lynn is at Costas Inn.

Costas is like family—that stood out in just about every comment and post I’ve read. Even before our loss, I would read reviews from customers, and even people who came in just once would say it feels like family when you walk in.His legacy of family, love, gratitude, generosity, faithfulness, and pride shined through all the sadness of the day. His family wasn’t just his wife, kids, grandkids, or blood relatives—it was anyone who walked through the doors of Costas Inn. When you sat at his bar, he made it known that he was thankful to have you there. When you worked in his restaurant, he made sure you knew he appreciated you. On those busy Friday nights, he wouldn’t hesitate to empty the trash, fill the ice, or give drinks to customers. This past Sunday, Mr. Costas bought my lunch. As he was leaving, I looked into his crystal clear blue eyes (sunday he had on the best blue color that made his eyes glow) I thanked him. He nodded and smiled. He was always smiling—genuinely grateful for each day he had and especially for his time with Mrs. Mary. I hope he knew the depth of my thank you…He was a proud man—proud of his wife and kids, and even more proud of his grandkids. But, he was humble, always saying it was his family and community that made Costas Inn what it is today. Costas isn’t Costas because of the crab cakes and crabs because that’s duplicated all over Maryland. It’s the feeling of family. It’s the feeling of Costas.London will be 18 on April 11th—she shares Mr. Costas’ birthday. I think back to my own 18th birthday, the day I was able to start working as a server. I’ve learned so much in the environment they created for me. I hope his legacy lives on through the generations that follow in his footsteps. He’s been a true leader.