Robin Godwin: Cross Street Market Approved for New Liquor License, First Renovated to Open in October

Last week Cross Street Market was approved for a new liquor license by the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners (BLLC). There was previously a moratorium on new liquor licenses in the Federal Hill Business District where there are currently 40 licenses. Given this, a state bill in the Maryland General Assembly was created last year so that the market’s new operator, Caves Valley Partners (CVP), could obtain the license for its redevelopment of the market.

The liquor license does not cover the portion of the market along Charles St. where Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood, which has its own 7-day beer and wine license, is currently located. CVP and Nick’s are currently in a lease dispute according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

The new license has an annual fee of $6,500 unless CVP buys and extinguishes an existing Federal Hill license, which would then drop the fee to $2,500/year. Arsh Mirmiran of CVP told SouthBMore.com that they are not actively pursuing this option. With the license, 65% of the sales from the remainder of the market must be from items other than alcoholic beverages and only 20% of the leasable sq. ft. can be used to sell alcohol. Users of this license are not permitted to participate in pub crawls and liquor drinks must be at least $5. Additionally, no stall that serves alcohol can exceed 1,000 sq. ft.

Alcohol can be served at the market from 1130am to 10pm on Monday to Thursday, from 1130am to 1130pm on Friday, from 9am to 1130pm on Saturday, and from 9am to 9pm on Sunday.

CVP is looking to allow approximately nine stalls to sell alcohol. Each stall must seek permission by the BLLC to serve and will be held accountable by the BLLC.

Representatives from Federal Hill Main Street, Federal Hill Business Association, Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, and South Baltimore Neighborhood Association testified in support of the license at the BLLC hearing last Thursday. It also had the support of City Council President Jack Young and District 11 Councilman Eric Costello.

The license received unanimous approval from the three BLLC commissioners.

A majority of the 31,800 sq. ft., block-long Cross Street Market that stretches from Light St. to Charles St. is currently closed for construction. A section remains open adjacent to Charles St. where vendors Nick’s, Pretzel Twist, Steve’s Lunch, The Sweet Shoppe, Lemontopia, and Nunnally Bros. Choice Meats continue to operate.

The market will be reopened in three phases. The first redeveloped section adjacent to the Light St. entrance is expected to open in October. This area will be the home of longtime tenants Steve’s Lunch, which will relocate within the market, and Fenwick Meats, which is currently closed during the renovation. It will also be the home of new tenant Ceremony Coffee and one other business that is yet to be determined.

The second phase is expected to open later this year and will cover the middle section of the market in between the new Light St. section and the Charles St. section.

The Charles St. section will be renovated last and is expected to be completed next year.

Arsh Mirmiran of CVP told SouthBMore.com that leasing has gone “better than expected” and that his leasing team at Cana Development is doing “a really great job.” He said that new tenant announcements would come in the near future.

The exterior of the market is being renovated to give Cross Street Market its “retro” look of the 1950s. It will have several outdoor seating areas on new sidewalks. The interior will have approximately 30 stalls and six common seating areas.

Since CVP took over Cross Street Market in 2017, there have been many tenant changes. Baltimore’s Best BBQ, Bruce Lee Wings, and Big Jim’s Deli closed after failing to reach a new deal with CVP. Kwon’s Produce closed, but has not ruled out a return to the new Cross Street Market. Cross Street Seafood, Mondawmin Chicken, and Tian’s Teriyaki also decided to close without seeking new leases.

Cross 10 Grocery relocated to 1039 S. Charles St., Cheese Galore & More relocated to 1125 S. Charles St., and The Flower Shop relocated to Carroll-Camden/Pigtown at 1206 Ridgely St.

“Pop-up” tenants that opened and closed include Cookie Dough & Co., Prescription Chicken and Gertie’s Yummy Yogurt Bowls, Smoke, and Sundays. Cookie Dough & Co. relocated to Mount Vernon Marketplace; Prescription Chicken and Gertie’s Yummy Yogurt Bowls relocated to Mount Vernon Marketplace, but is expected to return to Cross Street Market later this year; Smoke closed but is planning a return next year; and Sundays told SouthBMore.com in April that its return will depend on negotiations with Cana.

Read SouthBMore.com’s articles detailing the different aspects of the Cross Street Market redevelopment here.