The Sweet Shoppe Reopens Tomorrow at Cross Street Market

Closed since October due to Cross Street Market construction, The Sweet Shoppe will reopen tomorrow in a brand new stall. Owner Pete Pittas has owned the stall in Cross Street Market since 1988. The Sweet Shoppe offers hand-scooped ice cream and a variety of chocolate and candies, including classic, old-fashioned, and seasonal treats.

The specialty shop sells a large range of Baltimore-made Naron Chocolates, from malted milk balls to nut clusters. Customers can purchase pre-packaged bags or combine candies and pay by the pound. Additional candies include gummies, jelly beans, tootsie rolls, root beer barrels, coconut strips, and sugar-free candy. Pittas will be offering Baltimore’s Taharka Brothers ice cream in cones, cups, sundaes, and milkshakes.

The new stall is located near the middle of the block-long market and adjacent to a common seating area, as well as future stalls Cans Filling Station and Ono Poké. The stall is white and black with tile accents. Display cases will showcase The Sweet Shoppe’s offerings.

Pittas closed The Sweet Shoppe in April 2018 as construction started in the portion of the market adjacent to Light St., but was able to relocate to a temporary stall closer to S. Charles St. from May to October of last year.

“I’m excited, I can’t wait to get started,” said Pittas. “It looks very nice in here and you hope it truly takes off and goes well.”

Pittas noted that business had really fallen off in recent years as there were a lot of empty stalls in Cross Street Market.

Pittas used his time off to be with his grandkids and aggravate his wife, he joked.

The Sweet Shoppe will join legacy tenants Fenwick’s Choice Meat and Steve’s Lunch as the vendors open so far in the redeveloped Cross Street Market. Both stalls opened last Thursday. Pittas has known Steve’s owner John Nichols and Fenwick’s owner Henry Reisinger since joining the market in 1988. He said he’s sad to see some of the other vendors from the Cross Street Market are not returning.

In the next couple of weeks, Annapolis-based Ceremony Coffee; Vietnamese pho restaurant from Hanover Phubs; Haitian cuisine farmer’s market and event business Sobeachy; and local Hawaiian-style concept Ono Poké will also open.

The market will have 22 stalls offering prepared and fresh foods. Most of the stalls will open throughout the summer.

The 31,800 sq. ft. Cross Street Market is being developed and leased by CSM Ventures, LLC, a partnership between developer CVP and CANAdev, with construction and property management by MacKenzie. The team plans on hosting a grand opening in September.

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

Pete Pittas

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/05/31/the-sweet-shoppe-reopens-tomorrow-at-cross-street-market/

Weekend Events Around Baltimore

This South Baltimore Weekend Events Around Baltimore is brought to you by Terrapin Taste Fest:

A New Festival is coming to Baltimore This Weekend!

Terrapin Taste Fest

June 2^nd I 11:00-2:00pm

American Visionary Arts Museum, Sculpture Barn (800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD)

On Sunday, June 2^nd, head to the American Visionary Arts Museum for the first ever Terrapin Taste Fest from 11:00-2:00pm! Hosted by the University of Maryland Alumni Association, all alumni, family, friends and the local community are invited to take part in the celebratory, and street festival style event.

The event highlights twenty different Terp owned food, beverage, activity and apparel companies in the DMV. Ticket purchases give attendees a number of taste tokens to try out at vendor pop ups throughout the festival. Vendors will have additional product on-site for purchase. There are a number of different activities for guests to take part in as well, including a photo booth, paint and pottery station, and a build your own floral arrangement bar.

Tickets bought in advance are encouraged, but they will be accepting on-site purchases Sunday. Make a day of it before heading to the Orioles game, or simply stay at AVAM and peek around the museum. All tickets include complimentary access to the museum all day on June 2^nd.

Head out and support the local community by tasting what Maryland is all about. More details can be found at go.umd.edu/terrapintaste.

Rye on the River at Sagamore Pendry Baltimore: Thursday from 4pm-9pm

Deaf/Coda Tales: An ASL Storytelling Event at Charm City Meadworks: Thursday from 5pm-8pm

Food & Beverage Mass Hiring Event at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore: Thursday from 5pm-8pm

Beers for books at UNION Craft Brewing: Thursday from 6pm-8pm

Grassroots Townhall on the Central Maryland Transit Plan at Impact Hub Baltimore: Thursday from 630pm-830pm

Summer Sounds at Belvedere Square: Friday from 6pm-9pm

Bike Party: Prom Night at St. Mary’s Park and Lexington Market: Friday from 630pm-1130pm

MLB – San Francisco Giants vs. Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Friday at 7pm (54′ Retro Bird T-Shirt), Saturday at 4pm (Orioles Retro Sunglasses, Yoga at the Yard), Sunday at 1pm (Kids Run the Bases Every Sunday)

Now’s The Time Tour – Collective Soul And Gin Blossoms at MECU Pavilion: Friday at 730pm

Gamer Night Mario Kart Tournament at Checkerspot Brewing Company: Friday from 730pm-11pm

2019 Baltimore Ten Miler at Druid Hill Park: Saturday from 7am-1pm

Blockenstein 2019 at 3100 Bank Street: Saturday from 8am-1pm

National Trails Day Free Kayaking & Wetlands Tours at Living Classrooms Foundation: Saturday from 930am-530pm

June Open House at Downtown Sailing Center: Saturday from 10am-1pm

Babes In The Brewery: W/ EBB & NOVA at Checkerspot Brewery: Saturday from 11am-1230pm

Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open House: Saturday from 11am-4pm

Frost: Hazy White IPA – Beer Release at Full Tilt Brewing: Saturday from 11am-12am

Greater Goods Market at R. House: Saturday from 11am-4pm

Capital Campaign OPEN HOUSE at Superintendent’s House in Patterson Park: Saturday from 12pm-2pm

Nothing is Real Release at Oliver Brewing Company: Saturday from 12pm-6pm

Italian Festival – Feast of Saint Anthony at Saint Leo’s Catholic Church: Saturday form 12pm-8pm, Sunday from 11am-7pm

Spurs Fans UEFA Champions League Finals Viewing Party at Ryleigh’s Oyster: Saturday from 12pm-6pm

TC40 Summerfest // 2019 at Diamondback Brewing Company: Saturday from 12pm-7pm

8th Annual Taste of 3 Cities at Patterson Park: Saturday from 12pm-9pm

BARCS Beach Bash at Sandlot: Saturday from 2pm-8pm

Ruckus Fest: Emo & Pop Punk Tribute Festival at POWER PLANT LIVE!: Saturday form 3pm-11pm

Baltimore Beach Volleyball’s Charity Challenge at Rash Field: Sunday from 10am-6pm

Stroller Safari at The Maryland Zoo: Sunday from 11am-1145am

Terrapin Taste Fest at AVAM: Sunday from 11am-2pm

2019 Charles Village Festival Garden Walk at Wyman Park Dell: Sunday from 11am-4pm

Paws on The Plaza – Pet Adoption Event at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore: Sunday from 12pm-3pm

Peaches Collaboration Release Party at Charm City Meadworks: Sunday from 12pm-4pm

Charity Challenge After-Party & Happy Hour for Beth’s New Heart at Little Havana: Sunday form 430pm-730pm

Coheed And Cambria & Mastodon: The Unheavenly Skye Tour at MECU Pavilion: Sunday at 630pm

Weekly Outdoor Fitness

Waterfront Wellness at West Shore Park – Weekdays: Line Dance to Fitness wiht Spirit Feet Monday at 6pm, Bootcamp by Federal HIll Fitness Tuesday at 6pm

Waterfront Wellness at West Shore Park – Saturday: Yoga with Brick Bodies at 7am, Bootcamp with XPF at 8am, Dance2Fitness at 9am

Locust Point Thursday Night Pub Runs at Charm City Run: Thursday at 630pm

Thursday Yoga at the Patterson Park Pagoda: Thursday at 630pm

Fitness in the Park at Downtown Partnership of Baltimore: Wednesday from 6pm-7pm and Saturday from 10am-11am

Wake up with Yoga at the Pagoda at Patterson Park: Saturday from 8am-9am

Free Play at Baltimore Beach: Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm

Waterfront Wellness at West Shore Park – Saturday: Vinyasa All Levels Yoga with Yogaworks at 8am, Family Yoga with Yogaworks at 9am, Family Friendly Bootcamp with Federal Hill Fitness at 10am

Inner Harbor Kayak Tours: Sunday from 9am-4pm

Summer Sunday Yoga with Pop Up Yoga Baltimore at Canton Waterfront Park: Sunday from 930am-1030am

Oliver beer release. Baltimore 10 miler, stroller safari, kayak and wetland tours

Weekly Farmers’ Markets

Pratt Street Market: Thursday from 11am-2pm

Fells Point Farmers Market at Broadway Square: Saturday from 730am-1230pm

32nd Street Farmers’ Market in Waverly:  Saturday from 7am-12pm

Cross Street Farmers’ Market in Federal Hill: Saturday from 8am-12pm

Baltimore Museum of Industry Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9am-1pm

Whitelock Community Farm Market Stand:  Saturday from 10am-1pm

Baltimore Farmer’ Market & Bazaar Beneath the JFX: Sunday from 7am-12pm

Have a GREAT weekend!

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/05/30/weekend-events-around-baltimore-64/

Mid-Week Listing: Hip & Historic Three-Bedroom Federal Hill Home with Two-Car Parking

Sponsored Post from Key Group at Cummings & Co. Realtors:

Welcome to Mid-Week Listing! Each week SouthBMore.com will showcase a home on the market listed between $250,000 and $500,000.

118 West Ostend Street
Federal Hill            
Price: $325,000
Tax: $7,948
1,660 sq. ft.
3 BD/1.5 BA
Off-Street Parking: Yes- 2-car parking pad

Hip & Historic – 14 ft Wide Federal Hill townhome featuring a massive 143 ft deep lot with easy 2 car parking! This 1600+ sqft, character-filled home has been updated with a brand-new kitchen and bathroom while retaining lots of original details including pocket shutters, pocket doors, mantels, and transoms. The main level offers a traditional layout with the formal living room at the front. A family room, dining room, and powder room are located in the middle of the home, with the kitchen situated at the back. The kitchen was just remodeled from top to bottom with white soft-close cabinetry, granite counter tops, new stainless steel appliances, and under cabinet lighting. Off the kitchen you will find an incredible deck for entertaining that offers privacy and shade. Past the deck you will find an over-sized 2 car parking pad. Upstairs you will find 3 private bedrooms with the master bedroom located at the front of the home. The master bedroom is drenched in natural light thanks to the 3 large windows and tall ceilings. The new full bathroom is easy to share as it is located in the hallway between the bedrooms. The roof comes with a 10-year warranty. Home is located adjacent to the new Stadium Square development and within walking distance to the new Cross Street Market, Checkerspot Brewing Company, and the Stadiums! Move right in and start enjoying the City in the Summer!

For more information or to schedule a showing, contact:

Jim Gunsiorowski – Team Leader of Key Group
Cummings & Company Realtors
Phone: 410-675-1550
Mobile: 410-404-1049
Email: Jim@KeyGroupMD.com
Website: www.KeyGroupMD.com
Address: 201 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/05/29/mid-week-listing-hip-historic-three-bedroom-federal-hill-home-with-two-car-parking/

Royal Farms Opening a Fried Chicken Stall at Cross Street Market

Baltimore-staple Royal Farms is opening a new concept for the redeveloped Cross Street Market in Federal Hill. The Royal Farms’ stall will just focus on the convenience store and gas station’s “world famous chicken,” which will include fried chicken, chicken tenders, chicken salad, chicken sandwiches, and sides.

Cross Street Market is being developed and leased by CSM Ventures, LLC, a partnership between developer CVP and CANAdev, with construction and property management by MacKenzie.

CVP Partner Arsh Mirmiran told SouthBMore.com that the idea for a Royal Farms at Cross Street Market was discussed a couple of years ago, but he nixed it because he thought people would overreact because Royal Farms, while Baltimore-based, is “perceived as a chain.” But, after luring and announcing other local businesses for Cross Street Market, some of which are opening their first brick-and-mortar location, he revisited the idea when the team was looking to get a fried chicken stall.

“Once you get all the local concepts, to have the area’s best chicken would be a huge plus,” said Mirmiran. “If you are looking at a list of five to ten foods to eat while in Baltimore, Royal Farms is probably one of them. If you are in town, you are probably not going to go to a convenience store or random gas station, you’ll go to a market.”

Royal Farms will be going for more of a vintage look and will be using its cartoon chicken logo for signage. “People very easily could come to the conclusion five to ten years from now that Royal Farms Chicken was probably started in the market and grew out from there,” said Mirmiran. “Time will tell how it works, but my level of confidence is just as high with the Royal Farms store as anything else we are putting in there.”

The stall will sell Royal Farms chicken boxes, different chicken sandwiches, western fries, dipping sauces, and sides including mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, biscuits, and rolls. It will also serve fountain sodas and iced tea.

Royal Farms will have a window for curbside service.

Mirmiran wanted to make it clear that this will not be a convenience store and will not sell many of the items in a typical Royal Farms store.

The Royal Farms is already under construction and is expected to open around August 1st.

Already in business at Cross Street Market, which reopened last week after being closed for construction since January, are legacy tenants butcher shop Fenwick’s Choice Meats and Steve’s Lunch with its diner-style menu. The Sweet Shoppe, which offers candies and Taharka Bros. ice cream and milkshakes, will open this week. In the next couple of weeks, Annapolis-based Ceremony Coffee; Vietnamese pho restaurant from Hanover Phubs; Haitian cuisine farmer’s market and event business Sobeachy; and local Hawaiian-style concept Ono Poké will also open.

Opening throughout the summer will be Annoula’s Kitchen, a modern Mediterranean soup and sandwich place from Anna Leventis, owner of SoBo Market and SoBo Café; Cans Filling Station, a craft beer concept from Will Glass of Taps Fill Station, which has locations at Mt. Vernon Marketplace and The Bourse in Philadelphia; Taco Love Grill, a family-run taqueria based in White Marsh; Burger Bar from the team at Southside Diner; Korean concept Rice Crook; Pizza di Joey which will take its NY-Style pizza food truck into a brick-and-mortar location in the market under the direction of Riverside resident Joey Vanoni; Old Line Cocktail and Wine Bar which will be run by Highlandtown distillery Old Line Spirits; and Gangster Vegan Organics which is bringing its plant-based concept from Pennsylvania to Federal Hill.

The vendor has not been announced yet, but Cross Street Market will also have a “market within a market” stall which will sell farm-fresh items like produce, flowers, sauces, nuts, beef jerky, honey, breads, cheese, dairy, pastas, home goods, prepared foods, and more.

Also planned for Cross Street Market is a 5,000 sq. ft. crab house, seafood tavern, and seafood market from Alex Smith’s Atlas Restaurant Group. It will take the former space of Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood at the S. Charles St. entrance which is expected to open in Spring 2020.

Cross Street Market, which will have 22 vendors, currently has four spaces still available. Mirmiran said the team has letters of intent for two of the spaces and several other concept have been proposed. A pit beef concept is one the businesses with a letter of intent. Mirmiran said one of the stalls will likely be a bakery focused on desserts.

In regards to fresh food and criticism that Cross Street Market would become a food court, Mirmiran said, “With Henry (from Fenwick’s) doing his butcher shop, Atlas doing a fresh seafood market, and all the products at the “market within the market” concept, our offerings will be head and shoulders above the old market.”

This story was first reported in the Baltimore Business Journal

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

Photo courtesy of Royal Farms’ Facebook page 

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/05/29/royal-farms-opening-a-fried-chicken-stall-at-cross-street-market/

South Baltimore Crime Updates

From Baltimore Police Department:

Southern District
Robbery Arrest

On May 25, 2019, officers were called to investigate two robberies and one attempted robbery in South Baltimore.

At approximately 3:30pm, a 19-year old man was in the 700 block of Battery Avenue when a vehicle stopped in the block and two unknown suspects exited. One of the suspects was armed with a gun and demanded the victim’s cell phone. The suspects took the victims phone and then left the location.

At approximately 4:00pm, a 43-year old woman was in the 1200 block of Riverside Avenue when she was approached by several suspects who attempted to take her vehicle. One of the suspects assaulted the victim with a BB gun before leaving the location. The victim was transported to an area hospital to be treated for the injuries she sustained during the assault.

At approximately 4:24pm, the same suspects are believed to have been involved in a carjacking in the 100 block of E. Wells Street. During this incident, the suspects used a handgun to steal a Jeep Patriot.

Working with members of the community, officers were able to arrest two suspects at Randall and S. Hanover Street.

A short time later, officers stopped the stolen Jeep Patriot in the 2300 block of W. Baltimore Street. A third suspect was arrested inside of this vehicle.

16-year old Aaron Scott, 20-year old Jaquante Lide, and 16-year old Troy Barnes were transported to the Central Booking and Intake Facility. They are charged with armed carjacking, attempted carjacking, theft, and various assault charges.

Detectives from the Citywide Robbery Unit are continuing to investigate these incidents. Any witnesses are asked to call 410-366-6341.

From Councilman Eric T. Costello:

On Saturday, May 25, at approximately 6:30pm, there were 400+ kids in the Inner Harbor. At least one person was assaulted, several reports of destruction of property, and video footage of kids running across E Pratt St on top of the hoods of cars. Baltimore Police Department- Central District already had a significant deployment in place in anticipation of this evening and additional resources were deployed in response, from across the City. Approximately 5-10 individuals were arrested in relation to the above. Most of the crowds were dispersed by approximately 9:30pm. All of the above is per my conversations with the Major and Captain from the Central District.

According to BPD, six juveniles were arrested.

According to the Baltimore Police Department Crime Map, the following crimes were reported from 5/18/19 – 5/24/19:

Ridgely’s Delight

LARCENY- FROM AUTO FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 21:45 3XX S FREMONT AVE STREET

Stadium Area

NONE

Barre Circle

NONE

Otterbein

AGG. ASSLT.- OTH. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2019 02:50 7XX LIGHT ST STREET

Sharp-Leadenhall

LARCENY- OTHER MONDAY, MAY 20, 2019 12:45 10XX S HANOVER ST CONVENIENC

Federal Hill

STOLEN VEH./OTHER THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 02:00 12XX S HANOVER ST STREET

Federal Hill South/Riverside

BURGLARY (FORCE) TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019 05:45 1XX E CLEMENT ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

BURGLARY (FORCE) TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019 10:00 4XX E RANDALL ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

STOLEN AUTO WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 23:30 15XX HENRY ST STREET

South Baltimore Neighborhood

BURGLARY (NO FORCE) THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 10:00 XX E BARNEY ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

BURGLARY (ATT. FORCE) WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 01:00 13XX S CHARLES ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

Key Highway/HarborView

NONE

Inner Harbor

AGG. ASSLT.- HAND FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 22:38 2XX LIGHT ST STREET

BURGLARY (FORCE) FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 01:32 3XX LIGHT ST RESTAURANT/BAR

LARCENY- FROM AUTO FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 09:13 1XX HOPKINS PL PRIVATE GARAGE

LARCENY- OTHER THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 12:00 4XX E PRATT ST RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT

Port Covington

NONE

Locust Point

NONE

Pigtown

ROBBERY – STRONG ARM MONDAY, MAY 20, 2019 21:15 10XX W CROSS ST STREET

BURGLARY (FORCE) FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 09:15 12XX SARGEANT ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

LARCENY- OTHER FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 17:50 12XX W PRATT ST BARBER/BEAUTY SHOP

LARCENY- FROM AUTO FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 22:00 11XX WICOMICO ST RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT

LARCENY- FROM AUTO THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 18:30 8XX W BARRE ST STREET

LARCENY- FROM AUTO MONDAY, MAY 20, 2019 21:00 8XX MCHENRY ST STREET

LARCENY- FROM AUTO SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019 16:00 13XX HERKIMER ST STREET

STOLEN AUTO SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019 15:00 11XX W HAMBURG ST STREET

Carroll – Camden Industrial Area

AGG. ASSLT.- HAND SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2019 02:16 15XX RUSSELL ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

BURGLARY (FORCE) SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019 06:57 15XX RUSSELL ST OTHER-INSIDE

LARCENY- OTHER FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 01:02 15XX RUSSELL ST CONVENIENCE

LARCENY- OTHER THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 18:30 14XX BAYARD ST YARD, BUSINESS

Hollins Market

BURGLARY (FORCE) SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019 19:27 XX S CAREY ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

LARCENY- FROM AUTO SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019 19:00 XX S CAREY ST STREET

LARCENY- OTHER WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 15:00 12XX W BALTIMORE ST LIQUOR STORE

LARCENY- FROM AUTO SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2019 07:00 12XX W LOMBARD ST STREET

Union Square

NONE

Offense definitions from the FBI

South Baltimore Peninsula Neighborhoods Map

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/05/28/south-baltimore-crime-updates-136/

Terrapin Taste Fest on Sunday to Showcase University of Maryland Alumni-Owned Businesses

Sponsored Post from Terrapin Taste Fest:

A New Festival is coming to Baltimore This Weekend!

Terrapin Taste Fest

June 2^nd 11:00-2:00pm

American Visionary Arts Museum, Sculpture Barn (800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD)

The University of Maryland Alumni Association is hosting its first ever Terrapin Taste Festival this weekend in Baltimore. And you don’t need to be an alumnus to go! On Sunday, June 2^nd, alumni, family, friends, and the local community are invited to take part in a celebratory street festival style event featuring some of the best Terp owned food, beverage, activity and apparel companies in the DMV. 

Come explore vendors like Pure Raw Juice, Route One Apparel, Midnite Confections, Crow Vineyards, Tenth Ward Distillery, and so much more! Guests will purchase tickets for a number of tokens to use at vendor booths, where you can sample and try an assortment of items from each. Some vendors will have additional product for sale to take home and enjoy! 

There will be plenty of activities for guests to take part in as well, including a DJ, photobooth, paint and pottery bar, and floral arrangement making for Alumni Association members. 

The event will be held at the American Visionary Arts Museum in their part indoor/part outdoor Sculpture Barn, so it’s rain or shine! All festival guests receive complimentary access to the museum with their purchase of a festival ticket, along with a festival tote bag. Make a day of it by exploring AVAM before or after some festival fun. If you’re heading to the Orioles game that afternoon, stop by beforehand!

Cost: 

Tickets are available for purchase that commensurate with the number of taste tokens to be had:
VIP tickets: $35 for 10 taste tokens, a branded festival bag, and commemorative tumbler
General Admission: $20 for 5 taste tokens and a branded festival bag
Children’s Ticket (kids 12 and under): $10 for 3 taste tokens

All attendees of the festival will receive an additional UMD Alumni Association 30th Anniversary and Taste Fest party favor when they leave!

We encourage guests to pre-purchase tickets, but we will be accepting on-site ticket purchases for the festival. To purchase tickets and see more information and a full list of vendors, go to: go.umd.edu/terrapintaste

You won’t want to miss it!

  

 

 

 

 

 

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/05/28/terrapin-taste-fest-on-sunday-to-showcase-university-of-maryland-alumni-owned-businesses/

2 teens, 20-year-old charged in string of armed robberies in Federal Hill Saturday

A 20-year-old and two teenagers were charged as adults in a string of armed robberies and an attempted robbery in Federal Hill on Saturday, police announced.

Jaquante Lide, 20, Aaron Scott, 16, and Troy Barnes, 16, face armed carjacking, attempted carjacking, theft and assault charges in at least...

via http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-federal-hill-robberies-20190526-story.html

Cross Street Market to Reopen Thursday with Fenwick’s Choice Meats and Steve’s Lunch

The renovated Cross Street Market will reopen on Thursday morning with legacy vendors Fenwick’s Choice Meats and Steve’s Lunch. Legacy tenant The Sweet Shoppe, as well as new tenant Ceremony Coffee Roaster, is expected to open soon after followed by many additional tenants in the coming months.

The reopening of Cross Street Market, which first opened in 1846, has been a long-time coming amid years of planning, uncertainty, and construction. Baltimore Public Markets Corporation (BPMC) released an RFP in January 2015 for development proposals, a deal was finalized with Caves Valley Partners (CVP) in November 2016, planning started, and construction then began in April 2018 on the $8.5-million renovation of the 31,800 sq. ft. building. The market has been completely closed since January.

The Cross Street Market was hoping to reopen last week, but Fenwick’s Choice Meats and Steve’s Lunch were unable to get their Use and Occupancy Permits and final inspections because of a ransomware attack on the City of Baltimore’s computer system.

Cross Street Market is being developed and leased by CSM Ventures, LLC, a partnership between developer CVP and CANAdev, with construction and property management by MacKenzie. Baltimore Public Markets Corporation (BPMC) still owns the building and contributed $2 million to the renovation to update the systems in the building. CVP has a lease agreement with BPMC for a term of up to 50 years.

Steve’s Lunch’s has been at the Cross Street Market for more than 50 years. It was started by Steve Nichols and has been owned by son John Nichols since 1970. Steve’s Lunch briefly shut down during construction in April, but was able to open a temporary location on the S. Charles St. side of the market until January. Steve’s Lunch specializes in breakfast sandwiches, gravy fries, subs, the steak fish sandwich, and house-made soups.

Steve’s Lunch’s new stall will be about a third the size of the stall it had for many years, but it will be adjacent to a common seating area, as opposed to having its own dedicated seating area at its former spot. The new stall features subway tile and a Steve’s Lunch neon sign behind a wood header.

Steve’s Lunch’s staff of five will be returning and the hours will be 630am to 7pm.

Nichols told SouthBMore.com that he is excited to get back to work and see his regulars. He said business has been good over the years.

Nichols said in his time off from the daily business of Steve’s Lunch since January he has been spending time with his grandkids as well as “getting on his wife’s nerves,” he added jokingly.

Fenwick’s Choice Meats closed in April 2018 for construction and has remained closed in anticipation of its new stall. Fenwick’s has been open since 1952 and under the ownership of Henry Reisinger for more than 3o years. Fenwick’s sells butcher’s cuts of meats, lunch meat, cheese, and eggs. It is recognizable by its large neon sign which will be making a return.

Reisinger took on a part-time job during the construction, but he’s ready to return to self-employment which he described as “the best high he’s ever had.” He is sad about the business he lost over the past year, especially around the holidays, but said it will be a good feeling to reopen.

Additional vendors that will open in the coming months at Cross Street Market include Annoula’s Kitchen, a modern Mediterranean soup and sandwich place from Anna Leventis, owner of SoBo Market and SoBo Café; Cans Filling Station, a craft beer concept from Will Glass of Taps Fill Station, which has locations at Mt. Vernon Marketplace and The Bourse in Philadelphia; Ono Poké, a poké and Hawaiian-style restaurant that has a location Downtown; Taco Love Grill, a family-run taqueria based in White Marsh; Burger Bar from the team at Southside Diner; Vietnamese pho restaurant from Hanover Phubs; Korean concept Rice Crook; Haitian cuisine farmer’s market and event business Sobeachy; Pizza di Joey which will take its NY-Style pizza food truck into a brick-and-mortar location in the market under the direction of Riverside resident Joey Vanoni; Old Line Cocktail and Wine Bar which will be run by Highlandtown distillery Old Line Spirits; and Gangster Vegan Organics which is bringing its plant-based concept from Pennsylvania to Federal Hill; and a fried chicken and sandwich stall from Baltimore-staple Royal Farms.

The vendor has not been announced yet, but Cross Street Market will also have a “market within a market” stall which will sell farm-fresh items like produce, sauces, breads, cheese, dairy, pastas, home goods, and more.

Merchants will open through the spring and summer.

Also planned for Cross Street Market is a 5,000 sq. ft. crab house, seafood tavern, and seafood market from Alex Smith’s Atlas Restaurant Group. It will take the former space of Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood at the S. Charles St. entrance which is expected to open in Spring 2020

The Cross Street Farmers’ Market, a partnership between CSM Ventures, LLC and Federal Hill Main Street, has been open on Saturday morning for the past three weeks.

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

John Nichols at his stall last month

Henry Reisinger at his stall last month

Common seating area next to Steve’s and Fenwick Meats

Current exterior pictures 

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/05/22/cross-street-market-to-reopen-thursday-with-fenwicks-choice-meats-and-steves-lunch/