development : Development News

The U.S. Census Bureau has opened two new offices, one in Catonsville and the other in Rockville. The new Catonsville office is located in the Beltway West Corporate Center on 5740 Executive Drive in Catonsville. The office will serve portions of Anne Arundel county, Baltimore county, Howard county and the cities of Beltsville, Greenbelt and Laurel in Prince George's county.  

The Rockville location will support all field operations in Montgomery County for the 2010 Census Survey, which will be conducted in March 2010. The field office is located at 2400 Research Blvd., Suite 100, Rockville. Each office will employ more than 1,000 people in various positions to support field operations in their given area.

Census data determines how more than $400 billion is allocated each year to local and state governments. The money is used for schools, roads, hospitals, senior centers and other social services in the community.

Census Day is April 1, 2010. Households will begin receiving their census questionnaire beginning March 15, 2010. The 2010 census form is one of the shortest forms in history, and asks for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. There are 10 questions, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. Individual responses are used for statistical purposes only and all responses remain confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share this information with anyone.

The Census Bureau is now recruiting for census taker positions, who will visit households that did not return a questionnaire. Interested applicants should call 1-866-861-2010 or go to www.2010census.gov.

 Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Writer: Walaika Haskins

New Age Dine and Dance (NADDS) is just what Mt. Vernon needed, according to Ron Singer, owner. "Mt. Vernon is a great cultural and entertainment district and the one thing it lacked was a stage. We now have a stage, instruments, a movie theater, the whole shebang."

He believes that if he builds it, they will come. "I have a complete stage. Musicians don't even have to bring their instruments, we already have them on the stage."

Singer sees NADDS, located at 227 W. Chase Street, as a neighborhood destination offering great food and nightly entertainment.
"Mondays we have draped figure drawing and artists can come in and do their sketching. Tuesday we do indie film. Wednesday is comedy night and spoken word. That's our busiest night so far. It's really doing well. Thursday are open mike music. Fridays are DJ night. Saturday we have live music and Sunday is jazz night. We start with a buffet brunch at 11 a.m. and we have a gentleman playing music during that and then it just goes into jazz all night long."

When it comes to food, Singer says he's trying to appeal to both neighborhood residents as well as attendess of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera House.

"We have a raw bar. We have a very heavy seafood menu and then we have a prime rib special and everything down to a veggie burger and pub grub. We have a 6-page menu because we want to be able to offer college kids who don't have the income to spend a lot of money as well as someone who wants a calamari appetizer or cavier bruschetta something," he says.

A buider by trade, as soon as Singer learned that building housing Tyson's Place and Leon's of Baltimore (located at 870 Park Avenue) was available he jumped at the chance. "I had been looking for some place in Charles Village, Mt. Vernon and Locust Point. When I heard that this building was available and I came and looked at it, I knew in 10 minutes what I was going to do."

The two businesses, formerly connected by a single hallway, are joined by an open lounge area. Singer plans to add a rooftop deck and a second floor to Leon's where patrons will be able to play pool.

"Leon's is the oldest continuous gay bar in the country. We are making small changes, updating the bathroom and opening up the second floor, adding a shuffle board, a dart board to give the guys something to do and a place to talk. I'm really into preserving Leon's," he says.

Though Singer acknowledges that he's taken a little bit of flack over the NADDS acronym, he asks potential clients to stop in and give the restaurant a try. "Tell us what you want. We're really open to ideas and I think people will be very surprised at how good our food is. People should give us a try to see if we're what they're looking for."


Source: Ron Singer, owner
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Fans of Nicholas Batey who shed a few tears when his South Baltimore restaurant, The Bicycle, closed its doors earlier this year now have a reason to rejoice. Batey is back in the kitchen. This time, however, he's left behind the global theme and instead has chosen to concentrate on his take on Italian cuisine.

Ullswater, located at 554 E. Fort Avenue, may not sound like the name of an Italian restuarant, says Saundra Batey, co-owner, and that's because it isn't.

"Ullswater is a place in England. You'll see paintings of it around the restaurant. When [Nicholas] was at culinary school, looking at the picture calmed him. He was all alone and could only afford that one painting. He'd go and stare at it when he was lonely. So, he decided that Ullswater was a unique name. We know it doesn't sound Italian," she explains.

The former site of the Sly Fox bar, Batey says she, her partners Monique, Mary and Michael Faulkner, and her husband chose the location because they wanted to create a neighborhood restaurant that was affordable. "We've always loved the area. When we went looking for a restaurant we wanted to keep it in the neighborhood. We noticed that this building was empty and when we walked in it was perfect."

The Bateys and Faulkners completely renovated the two-floor restaurant. "We tore out the back part of the building and redid that, added crown molding. We changed everything. It's basically a brand new restaurant with a brand new bar. The bar is the main attraction."

Ullswater, which opened officially on Nov. 16, will seat up to 100 people. "We didn't want to make it overwhelming and chose to kept it small and intimate," Batey notes.

The restaurant is geared towards families and offers family-style dining for parties. The menu is what anyone familiar with Nicholas Batey might expect. "It's his take on Italian food. One favorite, so far, has been Batey's mozzarella sticks. Forget the frozen and breaded nightmares that are a bar mainstay. These are made with mozzarella, prosciutto, basil, wrapped in phyllo dough and served with a pomodoro sauce.

Another hit is Ullswater's Shrimp Trio. Shrimp prepared three ways, wrapped in pancetta, fried and chilled, served with a sundried tomato cocktail sauce.

"His meatballs in bolognese sauce are very popular and his green bean salad," Batey says.

The menu is changing a bit as the restaurant gears up to begin serving lunch. "We're starting to serve burgers and paninis and will be open for lunch starting next week."

For those who lament the the loss of Bicycle, the Batey's plan to add some of their loyal customers' favorite dishes to the menu. "They aren't Italian but we want to cater to our Bicycle clientele."

Source: Saundra Batey, co-owner
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Drive around Baltimore's Seton Hill and you'll see plenty of businesses, a few hairdressers, and of course Maryland General Hospital. What you won't find are many -- read: any -- non-fast food restaurants where residents and area workers can get a bite to eat and hangout for a while.

So, when Coconuts bit the dust earlier this year, Lisa Markiewicz, who owns the building, figured it was her chance to fill a vital gap in the neighborhood. "That area is surrounded by some great neighborhoods, but that particular spot there isn't anything within walking distance that offers decent food, an inexpensive wine list, a nice variety of flavored beers in a casual loungey setting. I think that it's long overdue for that area."

Markiewicz says she's always liked the area because of its arts and culture and that now she's adding to the neighborhood by offering affordable food for all comers - the Maryland General crowd, State Office Building employees and area residents. "I'm excited to cater to the neighborhood. I really am."

Waterstone Bar & Grille, located at 311 W. Madison Street, will officially open "by the end of the week." The restaurant, open at 3 p.m., will feature a small plate menu that will include lamb chops, seared Ahi Tuna, stuffed grape leaves, mini burgers, vegetarian dishes and salads. "We'll have a nice variety because we want to cater to all crowds," Markiewicz explains.

The restaurant, styled along the lines of a European bistro, will seat about 50 people. According to Markiewicz, Waterstone will have weekly specials including $5 small menu items on Mondays, chef specials on Tuesdays, 1/2 price wine bottles on Wednesdays, $5 Martini Night on Thursdays, and daily "Happiness" happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with $3 beers, $4 wines and martinis and a $5 menu. The weekends will feature live entertainment.

"Our tag line is 'eat.drink.lounge.Waterstone." We want you to come in eat, drink and lounge. We even have a small lounge area. I envision people coming in have wine and our cheese and fruit trays and relax after their day," she says.

Source: Lisa Markiewicz, owner
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Baltimore Development Corporation recently released details on four proposals it has received for the historic Senator Theatre. Located in Northeast Baltimore, the theatre site is 20,517 square feet and the building measure 17,868 square feet. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the single-screen theatre opened in 1939 and seats about 900.

The first proposal, dubbed The Lofts at the Senator Theatre, would turn the theatre into loft apartments. The proposal from JR Owens Corporation would create a mixed-use development that would include the renovation of the existing movie theatre along with the new construction of 24 two bedroom, two bath rental apartments on three floors as well as 27 secure parking spaces in the basement of the new construction and existing retail space.

James Cusack, Jr. and Kathleen C. Cusack, owners of the Charles Theatre, with architect Alex Castro, envision a Senator Theatre that would maintain the building as a single screen movie theatre, adding a restaurant and crepe shop. Two alternates would provide for a second screen and an arts education area in the approximate 2,000 square foot triangle to the south of the theatre and a sliding glass door system in the front of the restaurant.

Noch-Noch Productions' The Theatre Project PUPKIDS proposes turning the Senator into a mixture of live performances and cinemaplex attractions simulating a staged Vaudeville Revue to attract interest in puppetry and puppeteers.

Towson University's WTMD submitted the final proposal that would see the radio station relocated to the Senator Theatre. The University with Zigler/Snead Architects and Whiting-Turner contractors would undertake a "historically sensitive renovation" of the theatre's interior. The pland would also build a new addition to the south side of the building as well as an expansion of existing space on the north side of the theatre. The Senator will be home to WTMD's daily operations, as well as a schedule of films, educational activities, concerts and community events designed to reach people from all over the region. The station will connect and promote the events taking place in the theatre.

Source: Baltimore Development Corporation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

With the NFL season in full swing, Peope for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has released its annual ranking of teams doing the best job of satisfying their fans' growing hunger for healthy, humane, and Earth-friendly vegetarian options. With more delicious vegetarian food available at sporting events than ever before, the animal-friendly org has had to double its list of winners. Among the stadiums that made the cut - M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.

Ravens fans have their choice of many meat-, dairy-, and egg-free options (some of which are available only in premium or club seating areas), including meatless burgers, crudit�s, vegetable wraps, vegetable burritos, hummus, and fresh fruit.

"Ravens fans love defense, and there's no better way to defend animals from abuse while defending yourself from heart disease and obesity than to go vegan,"says PETA Director Dan Shannon. "The best way for people to sack potential health problems and hit pay dirt for animals and the environment is to choose vegan foods every chance they get."

Taking first place is Oakland�Alameda County Coliseum, home of the Oakland Raiders, whose spicy Tex-Mex burrito clinched the win. TheSan Francisco 49ers' Candlestick Park came in a close second.

Rounding out the top 10 are the Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Field, the University of Phoenix Stadium home to the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings' Metrodome, the Georgia Dome homefied for the Atlanta Falcons, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heinz Field, and Qualcomm Stadium home of the San Diego Chargers.

Source: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the American economy � including $396 billion in wages � over the next four years (2009-2013) despite the challenging economic outlook, according to a new study from the U.S. Green Building Council andBooz Allen Hamilton.

Researchers also found that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages. During the eight year period from 2000 to 2008, the economic impact of the total green construction market contributed $178 billion to U.S. gross domestic product; created or saved 2.4 million direct, indirect and induced jobs; and generated $123 billion in wages.

Researchers also looked at the U.S. Green Building Council's 19,000-plus member organizations and found that they generate $2.6 trillion in annual revenue, employ approximately 14 million people, come from 29 industry sectors and include 46 Fortune 100 companies.
The study was released at the USGBC's annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the industry's largest gathering of representatives from all sectors of the green building movement.

"Our goal is for the phrase 'green building' to become obsolete, by making all building and retrofits green � and transforming every job in our industry into a green job," says Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of USGBC. "This study validates the work that the 25,000 people gathered here at Greenbuild, and every member of our movement, do every day."

The study considered the total value of green buildings and the results include workers from the architects who design them to the construction laborers who pour their foundations to the truck drivers who deliver the materials, in recognition of the how extensive the impact of green building is.

"The study demonstrates that investing in green buildings contributes significantly to our nation's wealth while creating jobs in a range of occupations, from carpenters to cost estimators," says Gary Rahl, Officer, Global Government Market, Booz Allen Hamilton. "In many ways, green construction is becoming the standard for development. As a result, it is expected to support nearly 8 million jobs over the next five years, a number four times higher than the previous five years."

The full report can be downloaded at www.usgbc.org/greeneconomy, where one can also find other research, resources, tools and information about green building and its role in the economic recoveries of professionals, businesses and the nation.

Baltimore-area visitors have a new housing option during their stay following the opening of the SpringHill Suites of Columbia hotel. Part of the Marriott group of hotels, SpringHill Suits is located in Minstrel Crossing - a 9.1 acre mixed use development near the corner of Snowden River and Broken Land Parkway.

The suites-only hotel offers 117 spacious studio suites, a 600 square foot meeting facility, wireless internet access, a state-of-the-art gym, and a host of other amenities. It adds to the breadth of affordable high-end Howard County hotels available for both business and pleasure.

This is the 235th hotel to open since Marriott started the all suite select service hotel brand in 1999. Owned and operated by OTO Development, it is the third hotel in the country to feature the all new SpringHill Suites interior design.

"OTO is thrilled to be a part of the community," says Johnetta Jordan, SpringHill Suites of Columbia's General Manager. "We have truly had a warm and friendly welcome from every person that we have come into contact with in the community."

All together, OTO Development will bring nearly 60 jobs to both the the 117-room SpringHill Suites hotel and a planned 124-room Hampton Inn Suites on 5.4 acres of the Minstrel Crossing properties. 

On the remaining two lots developer H&H Rock "plans to build a 9,800 square foot one-story retail building which it will retain," said Bradd M. Caplan, Vice President of Commercial Development and Project Manager, H&H Rock Companies. "H&H Rock will develop the site for an Arby's restaurant which will be leased under a ground lease agreement."

Source: Howard County Economic Development Authority
Writer: Walaika Haskins

St. Joseph Medical Center has broken ground for the Hackerman-Patz House, a guest house that will offer patients and their families from outside of the region a sanctuary in a temporary home. The two-story guest house will have 10 furnished suites, a fully equipped kitchen, great room, private study and also have Internet access.

The project is expected to be completed by the middle of September 2010. Named for its principal donors, Willard and Lillian Patz Hackerman, it is the third such guest house built in the Baltimore are thanks to a donation from Willard Hackerman, president of Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.

Source: St. Joseph's Hospital
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Children grow so quickly it leaves many parents facing a double dilemma -- how much to spend on their children's clothes and what to do with the clothes they've out grown. Well, two area moms, Portia Romond and Pintet Halasan, think they've found a solution with a new shop in Fells Point, Jack and Immy Children's Consignment.

"We're both moms with young families and we live in the neighborhood and wanted to start our own business. [Pintet] actually came up with the idea of chidren's consignment because its a business we were able to get up off the ground without taking out loans and having a huge financial burden. Also, we thought it was a good time right now with the economy being what it is and its an environmentally-friendly way to shop," explains Romond

The shop takes in brand name clothes from high-end chidren's gear for infants through size 12 from Ralph Lauren, Baby Phat, Nordstrom, Janey and Jack to Osh Kosh, The Gap and Old Navy, and offers a 50/50 deal. Once the clothing has sold, clients can either accept payment for their items via check or store credit.

"We're trying to be pretty high end and high quality. Not super high-end, but name brands and high quality and make sure there's nothing stained or has holes or anything like that. Most consignment shops only offer a 60/40 deal," Romond says.

Because they live in the neighborhood and know how much area moms want to spend, the pair are trying to keep their pricing very moderate. "It's a balance because you want to let the consigners make a little money as well."

The store, located at 2108 Fleet Street, is named after the women's two youngest children, Jack and Imogen and officially opened for business on Nov. 7. It has the feel of a boutique that will appeal to shoppers as well as a play area for children where they can color, read a book and play while their mother or father shops.

Jack and Immy's is open Tues. through Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 410-732-0195.

Become a fan of  Jack and Immy on Facebook.

Source: Portia Romond, Jack and Immy Children's Consignment
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Two new businesses opened their doors Monday on Water Street in Downtown Baltimore. The aptly named Water Street Tavern and the Crepe Seller, located at 102 and 104 Water Street are the latest ventures from a local family that has owned several eateries in the Baltimore-Washington area.

"We've been in the restaurant business, combined with our family for over 50 years. It's a Mom and Pop and Son," says Vince Arosemena, owner.

While some may wonder why the Arosemenas opted to start a not one but two businesses given the current state of the economy, according to Arosemena "this is a great time to open something new."

"There's less competition, obviously and its more advantageous to get a good lease. The tavern business is what my family has always done and the with the Crepe Seller, we were looking for a new concept," he continues.

His parents found what they were looking for during a trip to a convention in Florida. While attending the event, the couple saw a food vendor with a huge line. "[My fahter] told my stepmother to 'go get me whatever they have, it must be good.' So, they fell in love with it and over the 3 days they were there, that's all they ate, three meals a day," says Arosemena.

The Crepe Seller, located on the bottom level at 104 Water Street is take-out only and offers a wide variety of savory and sweet crepes, including So Cal Chicken Crepe, with marinated chicken breast, roasted peppers, Gruyere cheese, pesto sauce, lettuce and tomato; a veggie crepe with artichoke hearts and hearts of palm, sauteed portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, alfalfa sprouts, baby leaf spinach, tomatos and smoked Gouda. There's a Chicken Cordon Bleu crepe as well as more standard wraps such as a Fajita Steak and Raspberry Chicken.

Dessert crepes take a more traditional tack filled with a variety of ingredients, including fresh fruit, Nutella, cinnamon, sugar. The Crepe Seller is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., however the kitchen remains open, serving diners at the Water Street Tavern.

The Tavern features a beautiful wooden bar and dining tables and offers a menu that includes crepes, panini and New York deli-style sandwiches.

Arosemana says the Tavern will have a third floor dining room that will open in a few weeks. That area will be available for private parties.

The family chose Water Street for their new businesses because they remember when the tiny little area was a central draw for people who came to Downtown.

"I'm from Bowie and I remember back into even the mid-90s this little area on Water Street was one of the premier places in the city to come. Itwas extremely well-known. My older sister would bring me to Water Street. And though it was little it was the place to be. Over the years, with Power Plant Live and other things that opened up in the city, things slowed down. We're sincerely trying to bring it back," he says.

Arosemana hopes to resurrect the Water Street block party next summer with neighbor Vellegio's Italian Restaurant.

"We're going to bring back that block party atmosphere," he says.

Source: Vince Arosemana, owner
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City's (HABC) has received $66 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. Included in the funds are $32.7 million awarded for capital improvements and an additional $33.4 million in grants under ARRA's highly competitive Capital Fund Recovery Competition (CFRC). The monies have been allocated use by public housing authorities across the country to redevelop distressed public housing and eliminate blight. HABC will use the stimulus funds to renovate some 240 dilapidated scattered sites and 30 conventional public housing units located around Baltimore.

"We are excited that the Obama Administration recognized Baltimore's need with these economic recovery dollars to renovate existing public housing stock," said Mayor Sheila Dixon. "Through these restoration efforts, we will be able to offer more affordable, quality housing to our residents in need."

The funds also will enable HABC to make a few environmentally friendly improvements energy consumption measures in these sites and in the public housing developments. The agency will be able to replace inefficient lighting with compact fluorescent lighting, replace existing flapper style toilets with low flow models and install flow limiting fixtures and devices in bathrooms and kitchens. The project also entails installing tenant metering to measure resident energy consumption as well as improving the local controls for heating within the individual units

Combined with investments for the Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD), the proposed renovations will serve to reinvigorate neighborhoods that have been neglected for many years and are anticipated to attract significant private interest. The ongoing investment is expected to create a vibrant mixed-income neighborhood that will provide households of all income levels, but particularly those of low and moderate income the chance to build wealth through improved employment, education and homeownership opportunities.

The scattered site units selected are long-term vacant units that will be fully renovated to meet both historical restoration guidelines, where applicable, and energy efficiency construction.

"Without the ARRA funds, these scattered site units, would remain dilapidated and unoccupied," Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano says. "The funds will greatly help HABC's endeavor to bring these units back into productive use, provide affordable housing to our residents, and reinvigorate distressed neighborhoods."

Source: Housing Authority of Baltimore City
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Constellation Energy has donated $1 million to the Baltimore Community Foundation to establish the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) Heating System Fund, which will provide new, energy efficient furnaces to qualifying limited-income customers in Baltimore in need of a heating system replacement.

"Constellation Energy is pleased to expand our partnership with the city of Baltimore and the Baltimore Community Foundation by helping working families in Baltimore make substantial improvements to their home heating systems,"  Mayo A. Shattuck III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Constellation Energy says. "This program is designed to assist limited-income households that do not qualify for existing energy assistance programs but are nonetheless struggling to make ends meet during this severe economic downturn. For these families, a new, efficient furnace can mean lower bills during the winter heating season. We're proud to be working together with the city of Baltimore on a program that will make a real difference for limited-income families."

The BGE Heating System Fund, launched this month, provides furnace replacements to qualified households above income eligibility levels for state utility bill assistance grants. The eligible household income level will be set at the qualifying amount for the Maryland Weatherization Assistance Program.

"We know firsthand that old or inefficient heating systems are the single biggest contributor to excessive home energy usage and resulting high electric bills. We're grateful to Mayor Dixon and her administration's leadership, as well as the strong support of the Baltimore Community Foundation. Working together, we are confident that we'll have a real and meaningful impact on those who might otherwise not be able to avail themselves of safe and energy-efficient electricity use this coming heating season," Kenneth W. DeFontes Jr, president, BGE, says.

Source: Baltimore Community Foundation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Maryland Energy Administration launched the Mid-Sized Solar Energy Grant Program last week. The program provides incentives for businesses to install rooftop solar panels on their premises. The two environmentally-friendly technologies, solar photovoltaic used to converts sunlight into electricity, and solar water heating, that converts sunlight into heat energy that supplements traditional natural gas or electric water heating.

The Mid-Sized Solar Energy Grant Program is made possible by funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009(ARRA).  Up to $1.45 million will be used to help defray the cost to Maryland businesses and non-profits who intend to install appropriately sized solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems on their premises between now and the end of October, 2010.

The grant program will provide $500 per kW for the first 20 kilowatts of DC capacity, $250 per kW for kilowatts 21 to 50 and $150 per kW for kilowatts 51 to 100 for the solar photovoltaic. Systems must be between 20 and 100 kilowatts to be eligible; maximum grant amount is $25,000.

For solar hot water systems, the grants will cover 15 percent of the installed cost up to $25,000 maximum grant. The systems must be larger than 100 sq ft to be eligible.

Source: Maryland Energy Administration
Writer: Walaika Haskins

What's the best way to turn the masses on to the vegan lifestyle and show them how delicious food free of animal products can be? Open a vegan cafe and bakery. That just what Emily did. The new vegan eatery, located at 4901 Springarden Road in the Stone Mansion,just along the border of the Mt. Washington neighborhood, opened its doors Nov. 1.

"I'm a vegan and we have our dessert business, which is a 100 percent vegan. We really do it for animals and people's health and the environment it's just a much better way to live your life. The vegan lifestyle is great," says Emily.

The cafe features a menu filled with breakfast and lunch favorites as well as backed goods from Emily's line of vegan baked goods, heretofore only available at Wegman's, Whole Foods, Roots Market, the Health Concern and other local grocers.

"I try to have everything that a normal bakery would have, so that people aren't afraid to try it. That way its easier to convince people that veganism is tasty. I want people to think 'Oh! Veganism is an option,' because they've had something at our cafe."

Guests won't find a menu filled with tofu and other plant-based meat substitutes. "I think we have tofu written once, but most of the time we just say 'Bacon, egg and cheese,' because we want people to feel comfortable ordering," she says.

The kitchen is open from 6:30 am to 2 p.m., serving up breakfast and lunch specials that include a variety of sandwiches, and even a Philly Cheesesteak.

Emily hopes that the cafe will become a gathering place for vegetarians and vegans to meet one another as well as local community memers.

Source: Emily
Writer: Walaika Haskins