Shareef’s Grill Coming to Light Street in Federal Hill

Shareef’s Grill is opening next month at 1538 Light St. in Federal Hill. Shareef’s Grill is taking over a retail space that was home to Pizza Palace before it closed in recent weeks.

Shareef’s Grill is owned by Ronnie Faulcon, who also goes by Shareef which is the Muslim name he was given. Faulcon owns three food trucks, two Shareef’s House of Wraps locations, and The Grille by Shareef. He also owns a barber shop, and is under construction on a bed and breakfast in Southwest Baltimore.

Faulcon’s food businesses, which got started in 2010, specialize in wraps and rotisserie chicken. His wraps include fresh-cut broccoli, green peppers, yellow rice, and Shareef’s Specials Sauce. Fillings include steak, grilled chicken, teriyaki chicken, ground turkey, grilled lamb, salmon, jumbo shrimp, jumbo lump crabmeat, and a shrimp and jumbo lump crabmeat combination.

Rotisserie chicken comes in quarter, half, and whole portions and includes sides such as vegetable rice pilaf, vegetables, mac-n-cheese, and maple Old Bay French fries.

All the food at Faulcon’s businesses is Halal.

Faulcon purchased the business from the former owners of Pizza Palace. As the carryout space has served pizza for many years under many different owners, Faulcon plans to keep this tradition going by offering a few pies. The Pizza Palace team taught him how to make pizzas and use the pizza oven.

When Faulcon saw Pizza Palace was for sale, he saw it as an opportunity to bring his brand to South Baltimore as he already has locations in East Baltimore, West Baltimore, and Randallstown. He said that he loves that the new location is in a historical neighborhood. He has also seen the success his cousin Derrick Faulcon, who owns Home Main, has had in running a Black-owned business in Federal Hill.

Faulcon is undertaking a renovation of the interior and exterior of the restaurant space. There will be some interior seating, but Shareef’s Grill will rely mostly on carryout.

Shareef’s Grill will be open most days from 11am to 9pm, but Faulcon may add later hours on the weekends.

 

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via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/05/17/shareefs-grill-coming-to-light-street-in-federal-hill/

Pizza Palace Closes in South Baltimore

Pizza Palace has closed at 1538 Light St. in South Baltimore. There is currently construction paper in the windows and renovations are taking place inside the carry-out restaurant space.

Pizza Palace opened in April 2019 and was one of many pizza and sub concepts in the space over the years. Former concepts at 1538 Light St. include Fornicolli’s, Federal Hill Carryout, Uncle Pete’s Grille, and J&P Carryout.

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via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/05/11/pizza-palace-closes-in-south-baltimore/

Today is the Last Day for Pop Tacos in Federal Hill

After 13 years in Federal Hill, toady is the last day of operation for Pop Tacos. Pop Tacos, which is located at at 17 E. Cross St., will be open until 630pm today serving its Mexican/Korean-fusion dishes.

Owners and husband and wife couple Jai and Jung Song will be retiring. Jai Song told SouthBMore.com the decision to retire was made in part due to COVID-19 and other matters.

A ‘for lease’ sign has been hanging on the storefront in recent months.

Pop Tacos got its start in Cross Street Market before moving across the street in 2016.

Pop Tacos serves Mexican favorites like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and bowls with a Korean twist. It uses Korean marinades on the meats, and also offers Korean rice and Korean dishes, such bibimbap and soups.

Pop Tacos was a runner-up in the ‘Best Tacos’ category of SouthBMore’s Best both years the online contest took place.

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Stalking Horse Under New Ownership, “Upscale Tavern” with Detroit-Style Pizza Planned

Andrew Carter and Jesse Selke from the Delia Foley’s Group, as well as industry veteran Jason Zink, are the new owners of Stalking Horse at 26 E. Cross St. in Federal Hill. The trio recently started renovations on the top two floors of the approximately 10,000 sq. ft. building, while the first floor remains open for bar business from Thursday to Sunday. A new “upscale tavern” with a yet-to-be finalized name will launch this summer with a focus on Detroit-style and thin-crust bar pizza, craft beer, and games.

Carter and Selke are the owners of Delia Foley’s Pub and AJ’s on Hanover St. in Federal Hill and Smaltimore in Canton. Carter was the manager of Stalking Horse from 2008 to 2014. Zink is the former owner of No Idea Tavern, Don’t Know Tavern, and Smaltimore, and is now a partner in the Abbey Burger Bistro locations in Fells Point, Mount Washington, and Havre de Grace.

Zink has spent the past year working on his pizza recipes and traveled to Detroit to learn from the late Shawn Randazzo of Detroit Style Pizza Company. Randazzo, who passed away in December after a battle with brain cancer, was a two-time World Champion Pizza Maker of the Year.

Zink also hosted a Detroit-style pizza pop-up at SoBo Market in December.

Detroit-style pizza is a deep dish, focaccia pizza cooked in blue steel pans. This style is known for its burnt cheese edges and sauce drizzled across the top. The Stalking Horse concept will offer half and full pan pizzas.

It will also sell thin-crust bar pizzas that are a staple of the Boston area.

Carter, Selke, and Zink will use the pizza oven to also bake paninis, wings, and items in bread bowls.

The new concept will serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

The team is working with Chef Frank Campanella to put together a menu.

Carter said the goal of the new concept is to “change the nightclub atmosphere.” They are taking out one of the bars on the first floor and one of the bars on the second floor, as well as removing the slushy machines and DJ booth. They are refacing all the bars, redoing all the floors, and adding garage doors across the front of the first and second floors. They are also adding different arcade games, skee-ball, foosball, and more TVs.

The new owners will look to add a parklet dining space to the new pedestrian-only north side of the unit block of E. Cross St.

“I could still see it filling up at night, but there will be less dancing and people smooshed up in a corner,” said Carter. He noted they will play house music from the the late 2000s and early 2010s along with some country music.

There will be 20 draft beer lines with a focus on Baltimore City and Baltimore area craft beers.

Carter said he and Selke’s businesses have done “really well” during the pandemic outside of the dining shutdown in late 2020 and early 2021. He was interested in the opportunity at Stalking Horse because he saw its potential when he worked there.

Carter said they are also looking forward to the new activity on Cross St. with the opening of Atlas Restaurant Group’s Watershed, and a new concept coming soon at the former Ryleigh’s next door to Stalking Horse.

“The more the merrier,” he said. “It has been quiet on this street for a while.”

Photos from the pop-up at SoBo Market 

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via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/05/06/stalking-horse-under-new-ownership-upscale-tavern-with-detroit-style-pizza-planned/

South Baltimore Crime Updates

According to the Baltimore Police Department (BPD)  Crime Map, the following crimes were reported in the last 30 days.

Ridgely’s Delight

LARCENY, 600 WASHINGTON BLVD, THURSDAY, 4/7/2021, 12:00

LARENY FROM AUTO, 600 MELVIN DR, SUNDAY, 4/10/21, 20:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 500 S FREMONT AVE, WEDNESDAY, 4/20/21, 22:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 600 WASHINGTON BLVD, THURSDAY, 4/17/2021, 12:00

Stadium Area

NONE

Barre Circle

NONE

Otterbein

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 100 W LEE ST, FRIDAY, 4/22/2021, 15:00

AUTO THEFT, 500 S CHARLES ST, SATURDAY, 4/23/2021, 3:00

Sharp-Leadenhall

LARCENY, 1000 S HANOVER ST, SUNDAY, 4/10/2021, 9:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 100 W CROSS ST, 4/19/2021, 14:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 100 W CROSS ST, 4/19/2021, 16:00

Federal Hill

LARCENY, 1000 S HANOVER ST, SATURDAY, 4/9/2021, 14:00

LARCENY, 1000 PATAPSCO ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/15/2021, 15:00

LARCENY, 1000 PATAPSCO ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/27/2021, 13:00

LARCENY, 1100 S CHARLES ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/27/2021, 22:00

Federal Hill South/Riverside

LARCENY, 100 E WEST ST, FRIDAY, 4/8/2021, 1:00

AUTO THEFT, 1800 JOHNSON, FRIDAY, 4/8/2021, 22:00

LARCENY, 1100 LIGHT ST, MONDAY, 4/18/2021, 20:00

LARCENY, 1400 HENRY ST, TUESDAY, 4/19/2021, 19:00

LARCENY, 300 E RANDALL ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/20/2021, 18:00

ROBBERY – COMMERCIAL, 1100 LIGHT ST, MONDAY, 4/120/2021, 21:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 1800 JOHNSON, FRIDAY, 4/22/2021, 17:00

AUTO THEFT, 600 E RANDALL ST, FRIDAY, 4/29/2021, 18:00

South Baltimore Neighborhood

LARCENY, 1400 PATAPSCO, THURDAY, 4/7/2021, 13:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, SUNDAY, 4/10/2021, 22:00

LARCENY, 1600 CLARKSON ST, SATURDAY, 4/16/2021, 16:00

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, 1700 S. CHARLES, MONDAY, 4/18/2021, 23:00

Key Highway/HarborView

ROBBERY – STREET, 100 HARBORVIEW DR, SATURDAY, 4/23/2021, 2:00

Inner Harbor

LARCENY, 500 E PRATT ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/8/2021, 17:00

LARCENY, 400 E PRATT ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/13/2021, 15:00

ROBBERY – STREET, 100 E PRATT ST, THURSDAY, 4/14/2021, 21:00

LARCENY, 400 E PRATT ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/15/2021, 17:00

LARCENY, 400 E PRATT ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/17/2021, 23:00

Port Covington

ROBBERY – STREET, 2400 HANOVER ST, FRIDAY, 4/8/2021, 4:00

Locust Point

LARCENY, 1100 KEY HWY E, WEDNESDAY, 4/6/2021, 8:00

Pigtown

LARCENY, 1300 GLYNDON AVE, WEDNESDAY, 4/6/2021, 16:00

LARCENY, 1100 W HAMBURG ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/8/2021, 17:00

BURGLARY, 700 WASHINGTON BLVD, SUNDAY, 4/10/2021, 3:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 1100 CARROLL ST, SUNDAY, 4/10/2021, 23:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 400 SCOTT ST, TUESDAY, 4/12/2021, 0:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 1200 GLYNDON AVE, THURSDAY, 4/14/2021, 19:00

LARCENY, 600 SCOTT ST, SUNDAY, 4/17/2021, 18:00

BURGLARY, 1200 GLYNDON AVE, MONDAY, 4/18/2021, 16:00

ROBBERY – CARJACKING, 700 CARROLL ST, MONDAY, 4/18/2021, 22:00

AUTO THEFT, 900 W OSTEND ST, TUESDAY, 4/19/2021, 16:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 1100 W HAMBURG ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/20/2021

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, 1300 W OSTEND ST, THURSDAY, 4/21/2021, 13:00

BURGLARY, 800 RYAN ST, FRIDAY, 4/22/2021, 0:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 200 ROUNDHOUSE CT, SATURDAY, 4/23/2021, 11:00

Carroll – Camden Industrial Area

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 1300 WESTERN AVE, WEDNESDAY, 4/6/2021, 8:00

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, 1600 WICOMICO ST, FRIDAY, 4/8/2021, 13:00

ROBBERY – COMMERCIAL, 1800 WASHINGTON BLVD, MONDAY, 4/12/2021, 1:00

ROBBERY – STREET, 1500 RUSSELL ST, THURSDAY, 4/14/2021, 6:00

LARCENY, 1500 RUSSELL ST, SUNDAY, 4/17/2021, 10:00

ROBBERY – COMMERCIAL, 1800 WASHINGTON BLVD, TUESDAY, 4/19/2021, 3:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 1000 RUSSELL ST, TUESDAY, 4/19/2021, 22:00

ROBBERY – COMMERCIAL, 1700 WASHINGTON BLVD, THURSDAY, 4/21/2021, 3:00

Hollins Market

ROBBERY – STREET, 1100 W PRATT ST, SUNDAY, 4/10/2021, 18:00

ROBBERY – STREET, 1100 W PRATT ST, SUNDAY, 4/10/2021, 18:00

LARCENY, 1100 W PRATT ST, TUESDAY, 4/12/2021, 10:00

ROBBERY – STREET, 800 HOLLIN ST, THURSDAY, 4/14/2021, 12:00

ROBBERY – STREET, 100 SCOTT STREET (REAR), FRIDAY, 4/15/2021, 14:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 100 S POPPLETON ST, FRIDAY, 4/15/2021, 14:00

BURGLARY, 0 S ARLINGTON AVE, SATURDAY, 4/16/2021, 12:00

LARCENY, 900 LEMMON ST, TUESDAY, 4/19/2021, 11:00

ROBBERY – STREET, 0 S ARLINGTON AVE, THURSDAY, 4/21/2021, 12:00

BURGLARY, 0 S CARROLLTON AVE, SATURDAY, 4/24/2021, 7:00

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, S MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD & W LOMBARD ST, MONDAY, 4/25/2021, 21:00

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, S MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD & W LOMBARD ST, MONDAY, 4/25/2021, 21:00

Union Square

SHOOTING, 1300 W PRATT ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/13/2021, 18:00

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, 1300 W PRATT ST, WEDNESDAY, 4/13/2021, 18:00

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 1500 HOLLINS ST, SUNDAY, 4/17/2021, 16:00

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, 1300 W PRATT ST, TUESDAY, 4/19/2021, 22:00

Offense definitions from the FBI

South Baltimore Peninsula Neighborhoods Map

The post South Baltimore Crime Updates first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/05/05/south-baltimore-crime-updates-205/

Hard Water Bar & Grill Opening This Week in Federal Hill

Hard Water Bar & Grill will open to the public this Wednesday at 902 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill. Hard Water fills a restaurant space that was most recently occupied by Metropolitan.

The Hard Water team is comprised of Dave Peel, who has been in the restaurant business for 30 years and was recently the general manager of Cheshire Crab in Pasadena, his stepdaughter Taylor Novak and his son-in-law Ray Novak. Taylor Novak was the former daytime manager of Midtown BBQ & Brew in Mount Vernon, and Ray Novak owns a flooring business and grew up in Locust Point.

Peel is childhood friends with the building’s owner, who convinced Peel to take a look at the space. The trio took over the space in February 2020 and have been renovating the space and working through the permitting and licensing process since that time.

Taylor Novak told SouthBMore.com that “everything was delayed besides the bills” when talking about trying to get a restaurant renovated and open during the COVID-19 pandemic,

Hard Water will have an upscale bar food menu with starters, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, and tacos. There will be nightly entrees that will rotate in as specials.

Starters include a crab pretzel, bourbon apple Brussels sprouts, tuna poke, wings, nachos, and the Shrimp-Cargo, which is shrimp scampi in a toasted bread bowl.

The flatbreads are made on wood-fired crust and include cheese, pepperoni, Margherita, clam and bacon, and BBQ chicken.

Sandwiches include a crab cake, shrimp salad, Cuban, cheesesteak, the Turkey Hot Brown, a salmon BLT, burgers, and buffalo chicken.

Tacos can be ordered with Ahi tuna, pork, shrimp, or grilled mahi mahi.

There will also be a variety of salads topped with seafood and chicken. And, entrees will likely includes steaks, fish, and pasta dishes.

Taylor Novak said she has “truly enjoyed” everything she has tasted on the menu, but mentioned the tuna poke, crab cake, and Turkey Hot Brown as some of her favorites.

The bar menu will have a large selection of local craft beers, a Deep Eddy crush menu, a mule menu, and Malibu rum buckets.

Hard Water will be open every day for lunch and dinner with the kitchen closing at 10pm. It will open Monday to Friday at 11am and on the weekends it will open at 10am with a brunch menu.

The bar is open every night until 2am.

Hard Water will eventually get DJs for weekend nights, including “Sunday in the Country” with country music playing on Sundays.

Hard Water will offer happy hour Monday to Friday from 2pm to 7pm with domestic and rail specials. It will also host trivia on Thursday nights.

With two floors of seating, Taylor Novak believes the current 50 percent seating capacity in Baltimore City can work to get things started. They are also looking to add parklet dining spaces in the near future.

Photo courtesy of Hard Water Bar & Grill 

The post Hard Water Bar & Grill Opening This Week in Federal Hill first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/05/03/hard-water-bar-grill-opening-this-week-in-federal-hill/

Blooming Deli Closes in Federal Hill

Blooming Deli closed in recent weeks at 1448 Light St. in Federal Hill. A ‘for lease’ sign currently hangs from the storefront of the deli, which was open for three years.

Blooming Deli was owned by married couple Cecilia Benalcazar and Kevin Perry. They also previously owned Liv2Eat, which was later rebranded as In Bloom, located next door to the deli.

Benalcazar told SouthBMore.com the closure was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an email, she added, “My husband, Kevin Perry, was the face of Blooming Deli being there every day we were open. As usual, he always opted for high-quality ingredients and took the extra steps to make from scratch products when possible. I think his passion as a chef was evident.”

“We will miss our regular customers and thank the Federal Hill community for supporting us in our culinary ventures,” said Benalcazar.

The post Blooming Deli Closes in Federal Hill first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2021/04/28/blooming-deli-closes-in-federal-hill/