Touring Checkerspot Brewing Company’s New Two-Story Addition

Checkerspot Brewing Company is a lot bigger now that the second phase of construction is now complete at the South Baltimore brewery. Checkerspot, located at 175 West Ostend St., will host the grand opening of its new two-story addition on May 4th.

Checkerspot, named after the official Maryland butterfly, is the creation of husband and wife Rob and Judy Neff, as well as their business partner Steve Marsh.

Checkerspot opened the first phase of its brewery and taproom on June 30th of last year. Checkerspot began brewing beer and opened a small first-floor taproom. Construction began soon after on the second phase of the facility which is a two-story addition on the front of the building along Sharp St. This addition greatly expanded the first-floor taproom and added a large taproom, kitchen, and event space on the second floor.

The facility will soon have a capacity of 276. The second-story, which has a capacity of 157, will be used for busy days such as Ravens home games. The Checkerspot team will also look to fill the space with a lot of private events.

Checkerspot will be adding some outdoor tables on the front sidewalk this spring and summer.

Checkerspot’s taprooms have exposed ceiling joists, three sides of windows that bring in a lot of natural light, windows looking into the 15-barrel brewing system, and accents that pay tribute to the local farming industry. The first floor has concrete floors and the second floor has vinyl floors. Both levels have bar seating, as well as low- and high-top tables. Checkerspot has televisions and a large selection of board games including a checkerboard table.

Checkerspot currently serves house-made prepared foods from including Cornish game hen, beef jerky, smoked salmon, charcuterie, pickles, cheese and crackers, dips, and additional snacks. Marsh said they plan to gradually add to the menu and look forward to hosting spaghetti nights. The kitchen can also be used by caterers during events.

The tap rooms offer more than a dozen Checkerspot beers. This includes stouts, saisons, IPAs, pale ales, and beers using local fruit and honey. It will offer beers made entirely from Maryland ingredients, and offers beers in casks, in kilderkins, and nitro pours. Cans, growlers, and crowlers can be taken to go.

Checkerspot is also distributing its beers. Judy Neff told SouthBMore.com their beers are in 80 places including some South Baltimore bars and restaurants. She said about half the beer brewed at Checkerspot leaves the facility for distribution. She noted the brewery was built with room to grow its production.

Checkerspot is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4pm to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 11pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm. It is closed on Tuesdays.

Checkerspot now has five full-time employees and eight part-time employees.

Checkerspot is part of the 60,000 sq. ft. Spring Garden Business Park complex managed by Himmelrich Associates. The building is currently being redeveloped by Himmelrich and will have 45,000 sq. ft. of office space added. Himmelrich is hoping to lure retail for many of the renovated first-floor spaces.

First Floor

The production brewery 

The second floor 

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/04/19/touring-checkerspot-brewing-companys-new-two-story-addition/

Weekend Events Around Baltimore:

This South Baltimore Weekend Events Around Baltimore is brought to you by Diamondback Brewing Company’s GREENER FEST:

GREENER FEST at Diamondback Brewing Company: Saturday from 12pm-10pm

GREENER FEST // is a moment to celebrate the sincere curious enjoyment that goes into crafting flavorful and simply enjoyable brew. Featuring some collaborators, neighbors and fellow Baltimore creators charting their own path in music, food, community stewardship, and craftsmanship!

Beer releases, an extensive beer list, food pop-ups, over six hours of live music, and with proceeds from the event benefitting Baltimore Tree Trust!

Admission to Greener Fest is free and takes place on APRIL 20TH, 2019 from 12PM – 10PM. Simply sit-back and enjoy some brews!

THE BEER RELEASES
Two beers make their yearly return for the festival: Greener Machine and Cold Taxi. Complimentary temporary cold storage is available for cans purchased during the festival! Here are the details about the beers below:

Greener Machine // Imperial IPA (9.4%)($16 per four-pack)
Cold Taxi // Zwickelbier (5.5%) ($14 per four-pack)

THE FOOD POP-UPS
Local food pop-ups are taking place on the patio from 1PM – 7PM, courtesy of some of our friends. Here are our buddies hanging below:

Masarap Bmore // Filipino inspired cuisine by Chef Rey Eugenio
Clark Burger // fresh burgers, fries, and poutine
Vagrant Coffee // mobile specialty coffee out of a Mini-Cooper
Avenue Kitchen & Bar // truck tacos by Chef Audiel Vera

THE LIVE MUSIC
Over six hours of live music from The DBC Patio stage across from our taproom. Here are the bands and when they are playing:

Pressing Strings ->> (1PM – 2:30PM)
Old Eastern ->> (3PM – 4:30PM)
City Dirt Trio ->> (5PM – 7PM)
Skribe ->> (7:30PM – 9PM)

Maryland Food Truck Week: April 12th – April21st

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

Praise Over Baltimore Presents Rise Together at They Lyric: Thursday at 7pm

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: First and Third Cinema Series at Charm City Meadworks: Thursday from 7pm-9pm

Glow Egg Hunt at Center Plaza: Thursday from 7pm-8pm

Zoolander | Interactive Movie Night at Creative Alliance: Thursday from 7pm-1opm

Fair of the First Mile at B&O Railroad Museum: Friday from 10am-3pm

Mary Sue Candies’ Bunny BonanZOO at The Maryland Zoo: Friday-Sunday

MLB – Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Friday at 7pm (Student Night), Saturday at 7pm (Oriole Tote Bag), Sunday at 1pm (Kids Run the Bases Every Sunday)

Sisson Street Park Volunteer Day: Saturday from 10am-1pm

Federal Hill Park Egg Hunt 2019: Saturday from 10am-2pm

Earth Day Festival 2019 at Herring Run Nursery: Saturday from 10am-3pm

Charm City Smoke Fest in Station North: Saturday from 12pm-12am

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

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

NCAA Lacrosse – UMass Lowell at UMBC: Saturday at 12pm

Banditos Taco Wars 2019: Saturday from 12pm-4pm

GREENER FEST at Diamondback Brewing Company: Saturday from 12pm-10pm

Weekend Workers at Baltimore Museum of Industry: Saturday from 1230pm-330pm

THE HAMPDEN EXPO 2019, Celebrating Female Entrepreneurs! at Co-Balt Workspace: Saturday from10pm-7pm

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

Pigtown Flea Market at Housewerks: Sunday from 10am-4pm

Weekly Farmers’ Markets

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

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/2019/04/18/weekend-events-around-baltimore-59/

Facade Improvements Underway on Pigtown Main Street Using $100,000 State Grant

Facade improvements are underway on the 700 block of Washington Blvd. on Pigtown Main Street. This is being completed as part of $100,000 grant the organization received from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for enhancing Baltimore business districts.

The businesses at the shopping center at Washington Blvd. and Martin Luther King Blvd. are getting new goose neck lighting, signage, and awnings. This shopping center also has a Pigtown Main Street-centric mural on a large wall along Washington Blvd. that is visible to southbound traffic on Martin Luther King Blvd.

A total of nine storefronts along the rowhouse section of the block are getting improvements that include new paint jobs, power washing, awnings, and new signage. Businesses receiving these upgrades include This Little Piggy Foot Spa and Nails Etc. and The Chopping Block, which got new signs and paint; Washington Blvd. Injury Center, which is getting a new awning and sign; and Breaking Bread, Don Wireless, Cafe Jovial, Sunny Carry Out, and Pigtown Liquors, which all received new storefront paint jobs. All three stories of Don Wireless’s building are also being painted. Results 1 Realty and Definitive Title, which share an office, are getting their building power washed and getting a new sign and awning. The currently-vacant former Fraternity Federal/Hamilton Bank, which relocated within the block, will also have its facade power washed.

Recent changes to this block include the closing of convenience store Shop-n-Go Food at 789 Washington Blvd. This store will be replaced by a new convenience store. Pigtown Interim Executive Director Kim Lane told SouthBMore.com the landlord wanted to bring in a tenant that will improve the space. The new tenant will do improvements to the flooring, ceiling, and shelving and will sell some higher-quality products to go along with convenience store staples.

A new sneaker boutique, Royal by SVE, will be opening at 775 Washington Blvd. in the former home of 9/10 Condition Shoe Boutique, which relocated to Federal Hill.

7th Platinum Studio opened in a second-floor suite at 756 Washington Blvd. last year above the Washington Blvd. Injury Center.

Just around the corner from the 700 block of Washington Blvd., the long-vacant building at 919 Barre St. was renovated. The first floor commercial/retail space is available and an apartment was built on the second floor.

The Bath House Square redevelopment is wrapping up on the 800 block of Washington Blvd. Milk & Honey Market will open in the first-floor retail space. Lane said this cafe should open in May or June.

Also on the 800 block, the front facade of SPARC Women’s Center has been painted. The Enoch Pratt Free Library  is embarking on $150,000 worth of facade improvements, partially funded by a grant. This includes a new front door, a new fence, improved green space in the front of the building, and a new mural on the east-facing wall.

Breaking Bread

Don Wireless

Future home of Royal by SVE. The facade was painted, but this was not part of the grant. 

This Little Piggy Foot Spa and Nails Etc.

The Chopping Block Barbershop. This facade will also be painted. 

Cafe Jovial 

Pigtown Liquors

Sunny Carry Out. Facade will be repainted. 

Washington Blvd. Injury Center and 7th Platinum Studio. Facade will be updated. 

Results 1 Realty and Definitive Title. Building will be power washed and a new sign and awning will be added. 

Former Fraternity Federal/Hamilton Bank. The facade will be power washed. 

Former Shop-n-Go Food. Will be replaced by a new convenience store. 

New mural on the shopping center

Facades at the shopping center that will be updated. 

Renovated commercial and residential building on Barre St. 

The Enoch Pratt Free Library

SPARC and the future home of Milk & Honey Market

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/04/18/facade-improvements-underway-on-pigtown-main-street-using-100000-state-grant/

Mid-Week Listing: Renovated End-of-Group Rowhome with High-End Finishes Near Riverside Park

Sponsored Post: 

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

1700 William Street
Federal Hill            
Price: $299,900
Tax: $6,964
2 BD/2.5 BA
1,560 sq. ft.
Off-Street Parking: Yes

Welcome home! This end of group townhome with great curb appeal has modern finishes, high end upgrades and almost 1600 sq feet of beautiful living. Stainless steel appliances, custom backsplash, granite countertops, and breakfast bar are just the beginning! The kitchen has a lovely built in banquet eating area with tray ceilings and to the sliding glass doors to a 1- small car parking pad. The upstairs has 2 beautiful bedrooms with hardwood flooring. The master bedroom en-suite bath is modern and upscale. The Master has a private entrance to your deck with city views. A must see!

For a showing or more info, contact:

Heather Comstock
Cummings & Co. Realtors
phone: 443-928-9613

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/04/17/mid-week-listing-renovated-end-of-group-rowhome-with-high-end-finishes-near-riverside-park/

Atlas Restaurant Group in Lease Negotiations for a Crab House, Seafood Tavern, and Seafood Market at Cross Street Market

Cross Street Market developer Caves Valley Partners (CVP) and its leasing team at CANAdev announced in February they had a letter of intent signed with an established restaurateur to take over the former Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood space with a new seafood concept. Alex Smith’s Atlas Restaurant Group has confirmed today it is in negotiations for that space.

Atlas owns Harbor East restaurants Ouzo Bay, Azumi, Loch Bar, The Elk Room, Italian Disco, Bygone, Harbor East Delicatessen, and The Lollipop. Maximón and Ouzo Beach are coming soon to Harbor East and The Choptank is taking over a space in the South Broadway Market in Fells Point. Atlas has additional restaurants outside of Baltimore.

Atlas released the following in a statement: “Atlas Restaurant Group is currently in lease negotiations with Cross Street Market for a full service Seafood Tavern / Crab House. In addition, we will open our first direct to consumer seafood market. Anticipated opening dates of these two concepts will be April 2020. The concepts will be two new brands, interior designs and will be unique to the city of Baltimore. We look forward to being a part of the Federal Hill community, and being the anchor tenant in the historic Cross Street Market.”

Atlas declined to comment further at this time.

CVP Partner Arsh Mirmiran told SouthBMore.com in an email, “I can confirm that we are finalizing lease negotiations with the Atlas Restaurant Group to open both an iconic local crab house and a fresh seafood market in the Cross Street Market.” He noted that the fresh seafood market will be located within the main portion of the market, along with other fresh and prepared food stalls.

The news first broke last night on Councilman Eric Costello’s social media accounts after he attended a meeting at Cross Street Market.

The space for Atlas is about 5,000 sq. ft. and has an entrance on S. Charles St. This space was recently gutted after Nick’s left in January. Preliminary work to update the systems, exterior, and entrances to the space has been underway. Mirmiran previously told SouthBMore.com that a rooftop deck for outdoor dining is a possibility for this space.

The block-long, 31,800 sq. ft. Cross Street Market is currently completely closed as renovation are underway. Phase One is expected to open in May with longtime vendors Steve’s Lunch, Fenwick Meats, and The Sweet Shoppe returning. It is expected that 10 to 12 additional tenants will also open in the spring and summer.

Vendors will include Ceremony Coffee Roasters, which is based in Annapolis; 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; and Haitian cuisine farmer’s market and event business Sobeachy.

Specific vendors have not been announced yet, but Cross Street Market will also have a wine bar and craft cocktail bar; a vegan stall; a pizza stall; a fried chicken stall; and a “market within a market” stall which will sell farm-fresh items like produce, sauces, breads, cheese, dairy, pastas, home goods, and more.

Renovations began in April 2018 and the entire market closed in January of this year. CVP is undertaking an $8-million renovation with contractor 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.

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

Renderings county of Atlas Restaurant Group of The Choptank that will open this year in South Broadway Market in Fells Point

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/04/17/atlas-restaurant-group-in-lease-negotiations-for-a-crab-house-seafood-tavern-and-seafood-market-at-cross-street-market/