South Baltimore Business Roundup

Imperfection Wellness Spa Opens in Federal Hill 

Imperfection Wellness Spa opened at 1003 Light St. in Federal Hill. The retail space was the former home of Federal Hill Income Tax before the company moved to a larger space at 1118 Light St. Suite B.

Imperfection offers “customizable facial + body treatments, waxing and lash/brow tinting & application.” It is currently open every day for appointments.

Breaking Bread Relocates from Pigtown 

Restaurant Breaking Bread has moved from 771 Washington Blvd. in Pigtown and to a top-floor space at Hotel Revival at 101 W. Monument St. in Mount Vernon. Breaking Bread called it “the space of a lifetime” in a social media post.

Breaking Bread is currently open Sunday to Thursday from 8am to 3pm and Friday and Saturday from 8am to 8pm.

Breaking Bread’s former building is currently undergoing renovations and will be put on the market for sale by its owner.

Plantacea Relocates in Federal Hill 

Plantacea expanded late last year when it relocated from 910 S. Charles St. to a larger storefront at 828 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill. In an Instagram post, Plantacea said:

So, news flash…I am moving! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 In addition to outgrowing my current space, I have been stressing over customer lines, very limited number of people in the shop at a time and, even more so, worrying about how this would play out in cold and freezing weather. So excited to tell I am moving half a block north to the corner of Henrietta and Charles. The shop will accommodate several more of you, while maintaining social distancing, and the downstairs will serve as a waiting/private workshop space so that no one has to wait outside – yay! (The space is AMAZING!)

Plantacea’s former space is currently available for lease.

Abbey Burger Bistro Closes its Ocean City Location 

Abbey Burger Bistro, which started in Federal Hill and now has locations in Fell’s Point, Mount Washington, and soon Havre de Grace, has announced the closing of its Ocean City location. From its Facebook page:

To All Our Valued Guests & Friends, it is with great sadness that we announce the closing of The OC Abbey Burger. We want to thank all of our wonderful guests and employees for supporting us over these past 8 summers. We are extremely humbled that so many embraced our restaurant and that we were able to succeed as long as we had.

OC Abbey Burger could not withstand the struggles of a quarantine required for the Covid-19 pandemic, the disproportionate impact on the seasonal resort town sector of the food industry, and the overall downturn in the economy, the last of which may reverberate for years. All of the business partners that built the business at OC Abbey are also focused to keep their other restaurant locations open in areas in and around Baltimore. Please visit us at Abbey Burger Fells, Federal Hill and Mt Washington as well as Sullivan’s Cove in Severna Park and Sliders in Baltimore.

Thank you for creating all of the fun summer memories with us. We hope to continue this friendship in Baltimore and surrounding.

Abbey Burger Fells Point

Federal Hill and Mt Washington

Sullivan’s Cove

Sliders Baltimore

Please give a very warm welcome to the new tenants, Bourbon Street. We wish them all the best.

#OCMD #abbeyburgerbistro #ocmdclosing #covid #sadday #seeyousoon #abbeyfells #abbeyfed #abbymtwashington #barstoolfund saved Baltimore

Mi & Yu Noodle Bar Closes its Arlington, VA Location 

Mi & Yu Noodle Bar, which started in Federal His and now has locations in Mount Vernon and Hampden, has closed its location in Arlington, VA. From ARLnow:

The eatery was the first to open at Ballston Quarter’s “Quarter Market” food hall in March 2019. It was the establishment’s only location outside of Baltimore, Maryland.

The reason for the shuttering is simple, Kim (owner Ed Kim) says.

“Sales and COVID,” he tells ARLnow in a short phone call. “It’s pretty straight-forward.”

There are no plans to open any additional locations of the raman, noodle, and bao restaurant in Arlington, Kim said.

In general, the Ballston food hall has seen thinning crowds due to the pandemic. That hasn’t stopped a number of high profile openings in recent months, however.

The post South Baltimore Business Roundup first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/02/24/south-baltimore-business-roundup-178/

European Wine Importer ‘Wide Roots’ Launched in South Baltimore

Riverside resident Russ Lorber launched his wine import company Wide Roots late-last year. Wide Roots, which has an office at Spaces in Stadium Square and has a warehouse in Upper Marlboro, has a small portfolio of boutique Italian wines it is selling to restaurants and liquor stores around Maryland.

Lorber said he came up with the idea while sipping Chartreuse at Idle Hour. He worked for 25 years in the chemical manufacturing industry in operations and finance, but has been thinking about doing something entrepreneurial in the wine space for many years. Lorber loves to travel and said his richest experiences were his wine tours in Europe.

He accepted a buyout from his company last summer, and decided it was the right time to start his businesses.

He initially thought about opening a wine shop in South Baltimore, but after a missed opportunity to lease a retail space he was eying, he thought more about getting into the business of importing. He liked the idea of brining quality wines to the United States in the $15/bottle range, but also traveling, meeting wine makers, and providing education to make wine more approachable.

Lorber initially planned on importing wines from many different countries in Europe, but decided to focus mostly on Italy after a trade war between the United States and some European countries added a 25% tariff on products from countries such as France, Germany, and Spain. Lorber said that while Belgium is the top country for beer, he sees Italy as the best country for wine based on the quality, its history, and diversity of styles.

He noted that Europe was hit especially hard by COVID-19 lockdowns, causing a lot of struggle for wine makers, so he takes pride in providing a windfall for some of these businesses.

Lorber had a trip planned to Italy last year to meet wine makers and learn more about wine, but the COVID-19 pandemic put a wrench into those plans. He was able to meet some Italian wine makers last year at a road show in New York to start his initial portfolio. As soon as he can travel to Italy, Lorber will spend a month there to taste more wine and make more connections. He has been taking Italian classes to improve his communication with Italian wine makers.

Wide Roots currently sells three Italian white wines, and four Italian red wines. Lorber said a rosé is coming soon as well as a cava from Spain.

Wide Roots’ wine labels are currently available at Idle Hour and on the shelves at The Wine Source in Hampden. Lorber and his Wine Consultant Staci Daniels are selling the wines throughout Maryland and they are currently available at some liquor stores in Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County, and Montgomery County. Lorber noted that the current environment is stronger for liquor stores sales, but they are working the “long game” to get the wines into more restaurants. Lorber said the wines will likely sell between $8 and $14 a glass at restaurants.

Lorber said it’s a pretty great feeling to see his wine on the shelves at Idle Hour and to see his friend order a glass.

Wide Roots is currently only licensed to distribute in Maryland, but they are hoping to add Washington D.C., and Virginia in the near future. Lorber hopes to eventually distribute Wide Roots’s wine labels around the country.

Wide Roots next shipment of wine is arriving on a container to the Port of Baltimore.

Photos courtesy of Wide Roots

Russ Lorber

The post European Wine Importer ‘Wide Roots’ Launched in South Baltimore first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/02/24/european-wine-importer-wide-roots-launched-in-south-baltimore/

Federal Hill and Pigtown Main Streets Receive Grants for Small Businesses from the State of Maryland

Federal Hill Main Street and Pigtown Main Street are among the 41 main street programs across the state that will receive funding from the State of Maryland. Governor Larry Hogan today announced $7 million in awards for these programs.

Federal Hill Main Street, the largest recipient in the state, will receive $274,530 and Pigtown Main Street will receive $250,406. Federal Hill Main Street has 200 businesses and Pigtown Main Street has 62 businesses.

The funding is designed for the main street organizations to award grants to small businesses. Both Federal Hill Main Street and Pigtown Main Street have formed committees of volunteers who will decide the recipients of the grants. The organizations and their staff will facilitate the process, but will not be involved in the selection of the awardees. All interested businesses must apply, have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, and be in good standing with the State of Maryland.

After speaking with business owners and conducting a survey, Federal Hill Main Street learned the biggest needs are salary support, rent or mortgage support, and reimbursement of third party app delivery fees.

Federal Hill Main Street Executive Director Cathy Rosenbaum said the goal is to get the money out to businesses as quickly as they can. They are also looking to award a diverse representation of businesses.

“Maryland communities would not be the same without our vibrant, historic Main Streets,” said Governor Hogan in a press release. “We are proud to support local small businesses and help them recover from the economic toll brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The post Federal Hill and Pigtown Main Streets Receive Grants for Small Businesses from the State of Maryland first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/02/23/federal-hill-and-pigtown-main-streets-receive-grants-for-small-businesses-from-the-state-of-maryland/

Physical Therapy Practice Specializing in Pelvic Health Opens in Federal Hill

Joy Noble DPT opened a physical therapy practice in recent months at the Vision complex at 12 W. Montgomery St. in Federal Hill/Otterbein. Noble specializes in pelvic health, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, dry needling, orthopedic rehabilitation, and transgender care.

Noble says she can treat anything physical therapy related, but specializes in helping clients who are having pain or issues using the bathroom or during sex.

Noble started her business after moving from Florida with her husband who was relocating for a job. She said he was attracted to Vision because of the affordability of the co-working space and the mix of tenants which she thought would be ideal for networking.

Vision is also the home to different real estate businesses, a barber shop, a salon, and Morning Mugs Coffee, which opened this month.

Photo from Joy Noble DPT 

The post Physical Therapy Practice Specializing in Pelvic Health Opens in Federal Hill first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/02/22/physical-therapy-practice-specializing-in-pelvic-health-opens-in-federal-hill/

Federal Hill Prep Hosting Virtual Trivia Night Fundraiser on Friday, February 26th

Federal Hill Prep press release: 

Federal Hill Prep Hosts Virtual Trivia Night Fundraiser on February 26

PREPwinterFest, Federal Hill Prep’s annual adults-only fundraiser, is getting a virtual—and competitive—makeover for 2021. Gather your friends for PREPwinterFest Virtual Trivia Night on Friday, February 26 and test your knowledge across a wide range of topics such as movies, music, history, sports, and more as you vie for the PREPwinterFest Trivia Crown. 

Registered players will also have exclusive access to carry-out food and drink specials from participating local restaurants on the night of. 

Tickets are $30 and all proceeds support the educational programming and technological needs of Federal Hill Prep, a public elementary school committed to serving the children of our diverse South Baltimore community.

PREPwinterFest Virtual Trivia Night Fundraiser

Friday, February 26 

8:30 – 10:00pm 

$30 to play

Learn more and register now at https://www.federalhillprep.org/prepwinterfest

The post Federal Hill Prep Hosting Virtual Trivia Night Fundraiser on Friday, February 26th first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/02/17/federal-hill-prep-hosting-virtual-trivia-night-fundraiser-on-friday-february-26th/

SOBO Strength and Performance to Open on Hull Street in Locust Point

A new gym called SOBO Strength and Performance will open at 1104 Hull St. in Locust Point. The 4,500 sq. ft., two-story brick building was previously the home of the International Longshoremen’s Association AFL-CIO which relocated to Dundalk. The building was purchased and is being renovated by Mitch Gold, owner of Gold and Company, and Jim Chivers, senior vice president of Gold and Company and Locust Point resident.

SOBO Strength and Performance is owned by James Rehak Jr., who has been a trainer in South Baltimore for the past 10 years. He is currently training clients at Latrobe Park as he waits to move into 1104 Hull St. on April 1st. He plans to open the gym to the public a few weeks after move in.

Rehak has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Salisbury University, where he helped trained athletes as an intern with the strength and conditioning coach. Rehak’s certifications include ACSM-HFS, NSPA-CPT, StrongFirst, FMS 2, EXOS Performance Specialist, and Original Strength Foundations.

Rehak spent recent months looking around Federal Hill, Otterbein, and Locust Point for his own studio space before selecting the Locust Point location. He loves the neighborhood and its residents and business owners. He’s excited about the easy parking in the area with street parking and a pay lot across the street, as well as the surrounding areas where he can take his workouts outdoors.

SOBO Strength and Performance will offer personal training sessions as well as small and large group training classes which will include kettlebell, boxing, and yoga. Tony Stritmatter, who has nine years of training experience in Baltimore, will join the team at SOBO Strength and Performance along with a few other trainers.

Rehak also hopes to make it a one-stop-shop for health needs as it will have an on-site physical therapist, masseuse, chiropractor, and nutritionist. It will also host monthly educational events focused on health and fitness.

“SOBO Strength and Performance will be at the leading edge of training in Baltimore because we focus so heavily on continuing education of our trainers and utilizing every science-based training, nutrition, and recovery modality in order to achieve that goal,” said Rehak.

“Our primary focus with the current state of the world is to provide a clean and safe environment for us and our clientele,” he added. “The gym will be cleaned and disinfected daily as well as have two UV light air purifiers on each floor. Mandatory masks and social distancing will also be utilized until they are no longer necessary.”

The post SOBO Strength and Performance to Open on Hull Street in Locust Point first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/02/15/sobo-strength-and-performance-to-open-on-hull-street-in-locust-point/

TWISB Podcast, Episode 10: Discussing the Restaurant Industry During COVID-19 with Dave Rather of Mother’s

On Episode 10 of This Week in South Baltimore, Nate and Kevin chat with Mother’s Federal Hill Grille owner Dave Rather about the 24-year history of his popular restaurant, how restaurants are handling COVID-19 and recent setbacks in the city, and his plans for the future.

The post TWISB Podcast, Episode 10: Discussing the Restaurant Industry During COVID-19 with Dave Rather of Mother’s first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/02/15/twisb-podcast-episode-10-discussing-the-restaurant-industry-during-covid-19-with-dave-rather-of-mothers/