Robin Godwin: Negotiations “Actively Underway” For a New Seafood Concept at Cross Street Market

With this week’s departure of Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood at Cross Street Market, Caves Valley Partners (CVP) is in active negotiations with an “established restaurateur” to bring a new seafood concept to the S. Charles St. side of the market. CVP is undertaking an $8-million renovation of the block-long, 31,800 sq. ft. Federal Hill market that is now entirely closed for construction.

CVP Partner Arsh Mirmiran told SouthBMore.com there is not a signed letter of intent yet, but he feels confident it could get done this week. The designated space is about 5,000 sq. ft.

Mirmiran said the new concept would bring a fresh seafood dining option as well as provide a fresh fish stall for customers to purchase seafood to cook at home. He said the potential new restaurant has experience providing “high-quality” products.

Mirmiran also said a rooftop deck for outdoor dining is a possibility for this potential restaurant.

CVP will begin demolishing the interior of the former Nick’s space in the coming weeks. The team from Nick’s has been breaking down the space over the last couple of days and is moving all the equipment and fixtures to storage in hopes of opening another location in Federal Hill.

Phase One of Cross Street Market could open in the next couple of weeks at the Light St. entrance or it could be delayed until late-March. Mirmiran said returning longtime tenants Steve’s Lunch and Fenwick Meats will soon be ready to go, but CVP may decide to wait until late-March when about eight to ten new tenants will also be ready to open. This will include the return of The Sweet Shoppe which will add Taharka Brothers Ice Cream to its offerings; Ceremony Coffee; 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; a Haitian cuisine farmer’s market and event business Sobeachy; and several yet-to-be-announced businesses.

Mirmiran said another round of tenants will be announced in the next two weeks.

Cross Street Market will be book-ended on Light St. and S. Charles St. with larger restaurant concepts: the seafood concept will be on S. Charles St. side, and a 2,000 sq. ft. Ceremony Coffee and a 2,000 sq. ft. restaurant space will be on the Light St. side. Mirmiran said they have been holding out for a specific style of food for the currently-vacant space. The rest of the stalls in the market will be smaller.

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.

Cana Development is working with CVP to lease the stalls. MacKenzie is contractor and will also be the property manager.

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.

The Light St. and S. Charles St. entrances will have a retro 1950s look with large new windows and a painted and neon sign. The long sides of the market along E. Cross St. have been 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.

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

Nick’s former space