THE TEAM

Peggy Binzel

OWNER & PROPRIETOR

Peggy is the principal owner of Pier450. A long-time love of and experience in refurbishing old houses — and a career as a lobbyist — collided to create the perfect opportunity here. The project has required virtually all of Peggy’s varied talents to, first, envision the property, then get us through all the permitting, variances and approvals for needed infrastructure improvements to a 70 year-old waterfront property that lies in the “critical area” of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. (She can tell you more about the myriad of community, county and state officials who have helped and supported us along the way!)

Peggy has been a hands-on developer on this project from day one, doggedly fighting to bring Pier450 to life. At the same time, her extraordinary (and slightly eccentric) design aesthetic and vision for restoration have ensured this place has become one of beauty and exceptionalism.

Peggy grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Baylor University in Texas, all before making her way to Washington, DC and, ultimately, Maryland. In her “day job,” she is Principal at Twenty-First Century Group and was formerly in executive positions at Cogent Strategies and Podesta Group, both government relations/lobbying firms in Washington, DC. She has also held senior positions at Turner Broadcasting and News Corp.

From Oklahoma to Ridge — and a little bit of everywhere in between. Peggy is now proprietor, restaurateur and visionary of and for all that is Pier450.

Cathy Austin

PARTNER, BRAND MARKETER, LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

Cathy signed on to Peggy’s Big Adventure in its very early stages as brand developer and marketer — to help bring the “brand” to life and build a receptive audience for it. (In her day job, she is President of Loop9 Marketing, a branding and marketing firm based just outside of Washington.) As with most any entrepreneurial project, Cathy’s role has expanded and evolved to now also include landscape design (a side hobby), overseeing front-of-the-house set up for the restaurant (harkening back to a much earlier career in the restaurant business) and various aspects of the property’s experiential and merchandising efforts. She is now a part owner of the project and all-in contributor.

Pier450 is a lucky convergence of many of Cathy’s professional experiences and personal interests. She and Peggy have worked (and played) together in various capacities for more than twenty years, making the partnership in Pier450 a logical extension of their business relationship and personal friendship.

Originally from North Carolina, Cathy moved to DC more than 30 years ago and today splits her time between her home in Falls Church, VA and the house right here on the property that she and Peggy share. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Carlos Gomez-Starnes

MASTER CHEF

Carlos is Master Chef at POV. He joined the project in late 2019, working with Peggy to design the kitchen and with the team as he crafted a menu that combines local flavors and favorites with his appreciate for world cuisines and influences. The menu was created with input from the local community and combines locally sourced seafood, meats, produce and more, with fun and sophisticated preparations for every palette.

Chef Carlos oversees our kitchen and will ultimately build Pier450’s catering operations. He is a lover of food who loves to make people happy…with food. His brand of hospitality is about warmth and community, equally at the core of the Pier450 experience.

Carlos is currently the Chef-in-Residence at Twenty-First Century Group in Washington, DC (yep, the same place Peggy works). He previously served as chef at the Mayflower and Hay-Adams Hotels, both in Washington. During his 30-year career, he has worked as a bistro chef in Boston and had his own catering operation. He was born and grew up in Colombia, South America.

Paul Haynes

CURATOR & DESIGNER

Paul has been working with Peggy for nearly a decade, curating and designing the interiors for the Scotland Yards properties and other projects. His keen eye and eclectic design aesthetic have proved instrumental in turning Pier450 into a both visually dynamic and relaxing atmosphere.

Paul’s talent is part innate artistry and partly curated, itself, from years of experience — as Principal of Harrison Norris, his interior design company, art gallery and home store; as a store designer for Crate & Barrel, the ubiquitous home retailer; and as a photographer for the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. One only has to look at the rooms at The Quarters at Pier450, at the POV Restaurant interiors, or any of the houses in the Scotland Yards portfolio to experience his unique style and commitment to comfort — and “wow.”

Paul also curates and runs The Chandlery boutique shop at Pier450, which features a surprising mix of “found finds,” artwork, jewelry, clothing, edibles, health & beauty items and branded merchandise.

Paul grew up in Tennessee. He studied at Middle Tennessee State University and at the University of Tennessee at Nashville.