Robin Godwin: New Retro Sign Goes Up at Cross Street Market, Most of the Market to Open by March

The Light St. entrance of the Cross Street Market now has a new look as a painted ‘Cross Street Market’ sign has been added to the brick facade. Cross Street Market is currently undergoing an $8-million redevelopment by Caves Valley Partners (CVP). Initial construction began in April and a second phase began in November.

The new sign is part of a retro 1950s look coming to Cross Street Market. The sign has black lettering, a white background, and an accent script that reads ‘ESTD 1846.’ The Light St. facade will also be getting a black and white ‘Cross Street Market ESTD 1846’ neon sign that will also indicate when the market is open and closed. Both signs were designed by Younts Design Inc.

The front entrance will also gain a new glass front door and enclosure. The front facade also recently had black framed windows installed.

The block-long, 31,800 sq. ft. market on E. Cross St. runs from Light St. to S. Charles St. The S. Charles St. facade, signage, and entrance will be identical to the design on Light St. Work has been under way on the S. Charles St. entrance. CVP and its contractor MacKenzie expects to finish work after Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood closes on January 7th.

The S. Charles St. entrance and Nick’s soon-to-be-former space in the market will not reopen until a new tenant opens in the space. Nick’s space will be gutted in January. CVP Partner Arsh Mirmiran told SouthBMore.com they will fill it with another seafood concept. Mirmiran said they are in “active negotiations” with a new tenant and that interest has been “strong.”

The market faces E. Cross St. on both sides. New framed windows have been installed and the cinderblock sides are being sandblasted to give them a gray look. When completed, the facade on E. Cross St. will feature painted signage for tenants, accent colors, awnings, and neon wayfinding signs. An outdoor seating area, planters, and a new sidewalk around the perimeter is also planned.

CVP expects to have all of the exterior improvements completed around mid-March. However, depending on the weather, the western end by Nick’s space may take a little bit longer.

The interior of Cross Street Market will likely open in January with longtime vendors Fenwick Meats and Steve’s Lunch being the first to return. New tenant Ceremony Coffee will likely open on the northeast corner of the market in February. Mirmiran said that a big group of tenants will open in late-March. Tenants already announced are Burger Bar from the team at Southside Diner, Vietnamese pho restaurant from Hanover Phubs, Korean concept Rice Crook, Cockeysville barbecue restaurant Smoke which hosted a pop-up at Cross Street Market earlier this year, and Haitian cuisine farmer’s market and event business Sobeachy.

Mirmiran said they were expecting to announce additional new tenants this week, but that they will wait until January as one business needed more time to come up with an official name. Cana Development is working with CVP to lease the stalls.

Cross Street Market will have one bar dedicated to craft beer with televisions, one bar dedicated to wine, and one bar dedicated to craft cocktails. Certain food vendors will also be allowed to sell alcohol.

The new interior design of Cross Street Market features a lot of new windows bringing in natural light, a polished concrete floor, black ceilings, a middle aisle, and six common seating areas.

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