South Baltimore Business Roundup

Punch to Close in Federal Hill 

After four years, Punch boutique will close at 1132 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill. The business also occupies the adjacent storefront at 1134 S. Charles St. Punch opened a store Washington D.C. last year and will move its focus to that store. From Punch’s Facebook page on July 1st:

We have a very bittersweet announcement to make! Our lease has come to an end in Federal Hill and we have made the difficult decision to close this location and move our operation to Washington, DC. We are so sad to move away but we are also so excited to share that we will be launching our own product line this Fall. We would have never been able to grow our business if it weren’t for you Baltimore so we are planning to do some amazing pop ups and continue to be involved in our community here long term. On a personal note I want to thank our truly amazing customers for supporting us since we opened our doors 4 years ago! We have loved getting to know you all and build relationships beyond just customer and boutique, we’ve loved watching your kids grow and seeing your puppies become dogs, you have become our Punch family and that has been the most rewarding part of this journey. That said, we will be starting an INCREDIBLE SALE this Saturday as we prepare our move forward. We will share all the details tomorrow at 10am and you know we don’t do anything small, you cannot miss this!!! Thank you so so so much again for all you have brought us, our company and our Punchie family Baltimore, you will always be home! Xoxo, Cydney

SIX2SIX Society Closes in Federal Hill 

SIX2SIX Society has closed at 912 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill. The 1,000 sq. ft. space was the original location for SIX2SIX Society, but a second location opened in Hampden in April and it remains open. SIX2SIX Society posted the following on Facebook on June 15th:

SIX2SIX Society’s closure in Federal Hill leaves three retail vacancies in a five-building stretch on the 900 block of S. Charles St. Additional vacancies include the former Irregular Exposure Showroom at 910 S. Charles St. which relocated to Los Angeles, and the former Metropolitan at 902 S. Charles St.

Union’s New Beer Honors AVAM

Union Craft Brewing’s newest beer pays homage to Federal Hill’s American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM). From a Union press release:

Union Craft Brewing Company is thrilled to announce the launch of Bling Universe IPL, a liquid tribute to Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum. The new beer is the 4th in the brewery’s Hoppy Seasonal Series, joining brands Foxy Red IPA (Fall), Rye Baby IPA (Winter), and Steady Eddie IPA (Spring). The new summer seasonal is crisp, hopped-up lager. A warm-weather brew that defies convention through a combination of patient lagering and copious amounts of Amarillo, Cascade & Grüngeist hops. The beer’s name, “Bling Universe” is taken from the AVAM’s concept of “adorning one’s world – transforming it into a place that defies convention, surprising and delighting, providing hope and wonder”. The label art is inspired by the mirrored Community Mosaic Wall that adorns the exterior of the museum.

“The museum is a gem in Baltimore and I’ve always felt that the city is fortunate to have such a unique institution,” says UNION Co-Founder & Creative Director, Jon Zerivitz. “We love to pay tribute to the things that make Baltimore and Maryland unique,” adds Zerivitz. “I am so excited that the AVAM graciously accepted our invitation to collaborate on this beer.”

“Come imbibe “BLING UNIVERSE” – the perfect cosmic brew! Sparkling and bright as our youth-made glittering walls, and created with heaps of love by the fine folks at Baltimore’s own Union Craft in tasty tribute to our American Visionary Art Museum’s first quarter-century of effervescent wonders!”- Rebecca Hoffberger, Founder/Director AVAM

Digital Harbor’s Gervonta Davis to Host a Title Fight in Baltimore 

Former Digital Harbor student and current WBA super-featherweight boxing champion will host a title fight against Ricardo Nunez on July 27th at Royal Farms Arena. The match will be broadcast on Showtime at 9pm. From The Baltimore Sun:

“Bringing a show to Baltimore for Gervonta to perform on a stage in front of his hometown fans has been a long-time ask from him and I’m glad it’s coming to fruition,” Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said in a statement. “The timing that his homecoming is taking place couldn’t be better with him having elevated his career to being the most exciting fighter in the sport and ready to give his hometown fans a treat this summer.”

Also from the article:

Though the undefeated Davis (21-0 with 20 knockouts) has yet to be matched with a marquee opponent, Showtime has invested heavily in the 24-year-old Baltimorean because of his exciting style.

Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza called Davis, “already one of the biggest stars in boxing, and his drawing power continues to grow with each performance.”

Pho Viet Opens Second Downtown Location

Vietnamese restaurant Pho Viet has opened a second location Downtown. From Baltimore Business Journal on April 1oth:

The restaurant debuted this week on the ground floor of the Delta Hotel at 1 E. Redwood St., in a 1,000-square-foot space previously home to Zeke’s Cafe.

It’s the fourth location overall for Pho Viet, which also has two restaurants in Washington, D.C., said operator Katie Dang. The original Pho Viet opened in 2015 at 104 St. Paul St.

Dang said the restaurant chose the Delta Hotel space for its heavy foot traffic and proximity to local businesses. She hopes it will become a lunch spot for business district workers, as the St. Paul Street location has been for nearby courthouse employees and jurors.

Spark Baltimore Expands Again at Power Plant Live!

Co-working space Spark Baltimore has expanded again at Power Plant Live! From Technical.ly Baltimore:

Following a recent expansion to space on a floor below where it started, Spark Baltimore is now on all six floors of 8 Market Place.

The Cordish Companies-owned coworking space has been expanding steadily since formally opening in January 2016 in a building that’s part of Inner Harbor’s Power Plant Live! It initially had two floors, then doubled in size in 2017.

Also in the article:

Spark Baltimore represents one of the largest concentrations of entrepreneurs and young companies on that list. In all, more than 130 companies and a total of 400 people now use the space, Cherry (Shervonne Cherry, Spark’s director of community and partnerships) said. Spark’s leaders look to build a diverse group of community-minded companies, and while there is an application process, they don’t limit membership based on what field a company is in. That’s already on view on the first floor, with a mix of cybersecurity, mentoring and a wellness consultancy, among others.

Harbor Hospital Joins Safe Streets 

MedStar Harbor Hospital has joined the Safe Streets initiative. From a press release:

MedStar Harbor Hospital has joined Baltimore’s Safe Streets initiative, an evidence-based violence interruption and prevention program, as part of a larger effort to serve its community. Two responders are installed in the hospital’s emergency department to intervene with victims of violent crime.

Safe Streets is a Baltimore health department initiative that funds community-based organizations to employ “street smart” community members whose own experience with violence gives them a personal connection to victims.

The two responders at MedStar Harbor Hospital will deescalate and mediate disputes that could otherwise lead to violence and work to prevent retaliation. The responders will also serve as positive role models and help connect victims and perpetrators with jobs, education and other resources to help them live better lives.

“Violence is a public health crisis and we at MedStar Harbor Hospital want to do our part to try to reduce it,” said Ryan Moran, MedStar Health Director of Community Health – Baltimore City. “Safe Streets is an established, evidence-based program that has been proven to be effective. This is another tool for us to improve the health of our community.”

MedStar Harbor Hospital has hired one full-time responder and one part-time responder who will work out of the emergency department on evenings and weekends. The hospital’s program launched in March and is connected to an established program in the nearby Cherry Hill community.

The initiative follows other recent efforts by MedStar Harbor Hospital to provide holistic, wrap-around services to its community. In the last three years, MedStar Harbor Hospital has started a program to connect patients to substance abuse treatment, installed community health advocates to work directly with vulnerable patients and help them navigate social services, offered free trainings in the overdose prevention drug Narcan, and provided weeks of home-delivered, healthy food.

“Instead of simply treating patients and sending them home, MedStar Harbor Hospital is a true community resource and a positive force for good,” Moran said. “The community should feel that this hospital isn’t just a good place to go when they’re sick – but a hub and anchor where they can access resources to help them live better lives.”

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/07/10/south-baltimore-business-roundup-161/