Development News

An eco-friendly home goods retailer has chosen Baltimore over several other cities as its corporate headquarters.

Bambeco moved its staff to the Brooklyn neighborhood in South Baltimore, to what is known as the old Lucky's Warehouse. The building is located at 3432 2nd St.

The one-year-old company sells furniture, rugs, pillows, and kitchen and entertaining supplies made from recycled materials.

CEO Susan Aplin says she selected Baltimore over Philadelphia, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. Baltimore has an "underrated" work force that can aid the retail, technology, and marketing industries. By next year the company will have 24 employees and will add another 25 in 2012.

Since some of Bambeco's products come from overseas, Aplin likes being in a port city.

Aplin is also moving Bambeco's warehouse from West Virginia and is on the hunt for 10,000 square feet of space. The headquarters is 5,900 square feet.

Qualified for a LEED Gold rating, the renovated Lucky's building contains solar panels and a geothermal heat pump that heats the water when solar power isn't available. That seems fitting for a company that sells recycled products. Aplin also liked the fact that the building is close to Interstates 895, 695, and 95. It is also close to the Federal Hill neighborhood, where staff can get lunch.

Most of the products Bambeco sells are made by the company itself. As of now, everything is sold on its Web site, Bambeco.com. Next year, it will begin selling in department and specialty stores, says Aplin, who declined to name the stores.  

Aplin declined to disclose sales.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Susan Aplin, Bambeco

There's a new sweet spot in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood. Midnite Confection's Cupcakery, brainchild of mother and son team Sandra and Aaron McNeil, opened its doors in October.

After finding her son busily baking one night just before the witching hour, attempting to satisfy his sweet tooth, mother and son teamed up to create several original recipes. They let their family and friends try them and were surprised when orders started coming in. The pair had been selling their cupcakes from their Prince George's County home before relocating their ovens to Baltimore.

"We were looking for an area to open our business that would be best for us. A friend of mine who lives in Federal Hill suggested the area. We came up looked at available properties. We kept our eye on the area to see if it was going in a positive direction. Everything looked good to us, we found a spot we thought was perfect and opened the shop," says Aaron McNeil who adds that he's planning on moving to Baltimore in the near future.

McNeil says the shop offers a variety of non-traditional cupcake flavors which will set it apart from other local cupcake retailers.

"We have six signature flavors and two specialty flavors every day. Other flavors can be pre-ordered. Our signature dozen includes vanilla, chocolate, carrot, lemon, and black velvet. Our vanilla cupcake is made with vanilla bean in the cake and icing. Our chocolate cupcake has a cream cheese and chocolate chip filling. We keep it basic for people who are no frills but like quality," he says.

The bakery also offers a line of "After Hours" cupcakes inspired by popular cocktails including, Mojitos, Fuzzy Navels, Pina Coladas and Kahluha and Cream.


Source: Aaron McNeil
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Devotees of Baltimore's Corned Beef Row will soon have a new reason to go to the Inner Harbor. Lenny's Delicatessen will open in the Pratt Street Pavilion of Harborplace, according to General Growth Properties, owners of Harborplace and The Gallery. The delicatessen will occupy approximately 3,100 sq. ft. It's scheduled to open Spring 2011. 

The Lenny's Deli Harborplace location will offer breakfast all day along with a full array of deli meats, fried chicken, wraps, salads, and baked goods for dining in, catering, and carry out. Owner Alan Smith and his father, Lenny Smith, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Lenny's in Owings Mills. The second location, on Baltimore's famed Corned Beef Row, opened in 1991. The Harborplace location will be the third in the Baltimore area.

"We felt the Inner Harbor area needed a place where tourists and business people could go for a good corned beef sandwich," says Alan Smith. "We are excited to be opening at Harborplace, where all visitors to Baltimore make sure to stop during their trip here. We look forward to serving the Baltimore business community and those who stop on their way to Orioles and Ravens games."

General Properties also revealed that Francesca's Collection, a boutique specializing in fashion forward women's clothing, accessories and gifts, will join the lineup of stores for spring 2011. The new store will be approximately 800 sq. ft. and will be located on the first floor of The Gallery. It will be the first Francesca's in the Baltimore area.

Source:General Growth Properties
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Federal Capital Partners (FCP), a Washington, DC-based real estate investment company, has purchased The Munsey, an 18-story high-rise apartment building in Baltimore's Central Business District at 7 N. Calvert St., for a reported $13.75 million.

"We are actively seeking new investments throughout Baltimore as the fundamentals continue to improve," says Alex Marshall, FCP Managing Partner. "The Munsey fits well with FCP's investment strategy and will be an important part of our portfolio as it is recapitalized and remarketed."

The Munsey is a landmark building that includes 146 apartments and 4,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail space along with 109 underground parking spaces. The property, located a few blocks north of the Inner Harbor, was constructed in 1911 by newspaper icon Frank Munsey as an office building and was, at the time, the tallest office building in Baltimore.

The building was converted to apartments in 2003 and was an instrumental part of the resurgence of Baltimore's downtown as a live-work-play environment. FCP plans moderate improvements to common areas and amenity space.

The sale was facilitated by the receiver, Gray & Associates, LLC and was brokered by CB Richard Ellis. Wells Fargo provided acquisition financing for FCP.

Source: Federal Captial Partners
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) has agreed to an Exclusive Negotiating Privilege (ENP) with Philadelphia-based Carmel Realty Associates for the redevelopment of properties in the 100 block of West Lexington Street (101, 103, 114, 116-120 and 124 N. Liberty Street) on Downtown Baltimore's west side. Carmel Realty, a current owner of properties on West Lexington Street, was the only respondent to a BDC Request for Proposals (RFP) for these three development sites, comprised of five vacant properties.

With the acquisition of the properties, Carmel Realty plans a mixed-use development of ground floor retail space with apartments on above floors.

"Carmel Realty Associates -- and particularly its CEO Jerald Goldfine -- has long been committed to the city's vision for the Westside revitalization," says BDC President M.J. "Jay" Brodie. "We look forward to our continued partnership as the improvement of the Westside moves ahead."

The development sites are part of the Market Center Urban Renewal Area:an area bounded by Madison Street to the north; Cathedral and Liberty Street to the east; Pratt Street to the south; and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the west.

Source: Baltimore Development Corporation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Federal Hill has gotten another interior design and home d�cor store.

Curiosity opened last month at 1033 S. Charles St. on the second floor of a rowhome. The shop sells art, antiques, home decorations and gift books. Owner Katie DeStefano sells treasures she finds at auctions and flea markets.

"If it's pretty and fun we have it here," DeStefano says.

The interior designer also sells sketches, photos, prints, and other art pieces she collects on her travels to New York, Los Angeles, and Savannah, Ga.

"Everywhere I go I look for something that catches my eye," DeStefano says. "Every time I get on an airplane something is coming back with me."

The business owner describes the store's style as "sophisticated and fun" with an eclectic mix of furnishings � from 19th century pieces to modern 1960s-style items.

Curiosity is the latest design store to call Federal Hill home. SoBo Design Loft also opened last month. The neighborhood also houses Shofer's Furniture and linen and bath store Phina's for the Home.

DeStefano says she chose Federal Hill because it's full of young, stylish people who will hopefully want to shop at her store.

"I love that people here are young and open to the idea of great design," she says. "A lot of places are not forward looking enough."

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Katie DeStefano, Curiosity

An All-American diner has taken a bite out of Little Italy.

Walter Webb, a longtime restaurant operator at Harborplace, spent $160,000 to open the Diner at 413 S. High St. this month. In early December, the restaurant will include a sports bar on the second floor.

Formerly the site of tapas restaurant Tapabar, the eatery seats 81 on the first floor and 100 on the second floor. The second floor addition will double the space, to 5,000 square feet.

Webb closed his barbecue joint Brown Sugar at the Harborplace food court so operators of the downtown mall could make way for department store H&M. He decided to move to Little Italy to capitalize on the new hotels, apartment complexes, and office workers in Harbor East and Eastern Avenue traffic.

"I love the area," Webb says. "It's an exceptionally great place to work and live. People are right here in walking distance."

The Diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, costing between $9 and $13. The restaurant services nine types of pancakes, New York strip steak, stuffed flounder, sweet potato fries, and peach cobbler.

German cooks Christa Seiler and Claudia Phillips are selling pies, cakes and pastries in the shop as well.

"The people are so friendly," Webb says of Little Italy residents.  "I just love it over here."

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Walter Webb, the Diner

It's been in the planning stages for 10 years. Now, it looks like this ship is almost ready to sail.

Baltimore City's Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel gave its final approval this month for a new Education and Heritage Center at the ship museum USS Constellation.

Now it just needs another $1.6 million in funding to open by spring 2012, Constellation Executive Director Christopher Rowsom says.  It's already gotten $2.6 million from federal, state and city government.

The new building will contain more extensive interpretative exhibits detailing what life was like on board the 19th century ship, Rowsom says.

Crafted by Museum Design Associates of Cambridge, Mass., the expanded exhibits will hopefully boost the city's cultural and heritage tourism promotions.

The exhibits will highlight the ship's role in fighting the African slave trade when it intercepted three slave ships from 1859 to 1861.

"Baltimore is a very historical place," Rowsom says. "We want to have everything interpreted and displayed properly."

Designed by W Architecture & Landscape Architecture of New York, the new wood-and-glass structure will be modern looking, Rowsom says.

At 12-feet high, the new visitors' center will be half the height of the current structure and won't block the view of other ships at the Inner Harbor, Rowsom says.

"It's not a very nice piece of architecture and it blocks the views of the ship," he says of the current education center.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Christopher Rowsom, USS Constellation

Baltimore City officials have created a new task force that will address the $2.8 billion shortfall for school construction and renovation projects.

The task force will explore alternative financing options, possible new legislation, and successful models used in other areas to come up with ways to raise money for construction. Appointed by Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Baltimore City Schools CEO Andres Alonso, the 10-person task force will make its recommendations by February.

The task force members are as follows:

• Sophie Dagenais, the mayor's chief of staff;
• Arlene Friner, CEO of Philadelphia financial consulting firm Vantage Point Associates;
• Mike Frist, chief financial officer of Baltimore City Public Schools;
• Edward Gallagher, Baltimore City finance director;
• Valerie Greene, associate general counsel of Baltimore City Public Schools;
• David Lever, executive director of the Public School Construction Program for the Maryland State Department of Education;
• George Nilson, Baltimore City solicitor;
• J. Keith Scroggins, chief operating officer, Baltimore City Public Schools;
• Thomas Stosur, Baltimore City planning director; and,
• Sabrina Sutton, the city's special assistant for youth and education.

The city says it needs to raise $1.5 billion for basic facilities maintenance and another $1.3 billion for major renovations and new school construction.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Baltimore City

A home health provider, orthopedic surgeons, and a radiology group are slated for a new medical office condo building in Carroll County.
HomeCall Inc. will open a 3,513-square-foot office in the building at 844 Washington Rd. The company is relocating from 15 E. Main St. during the first quarter of next year.

The newly constructed 50,000-square-foot building by Green Development LLC will house Greater Chesapeake Orthopaedic Associates LLC, says Michele Kornbluth, a commercial real estate broker with NAI KLNB LLC. At 16,000 square feet, it's the building's largest tenant and will open after Jan. 1.

A physical therapy group affiliated with Greater Chesapeake Orthopaedic Associates will open a 6,000-square-foot office as well, Kornbluth says. Allergist Dr. Prasad Nataraj will also take a 2,500-square-foot space at the site during the first quarter of next year.

The broker is also talking to a radiology group and a lab. That leaves about 4,000 square feet remaining to fill, Kornbluth says.

While getting financing is tough for many businesses these days, it's a bit easier for doctors, Kornbluth says. That's because they typically have steady cash flow and sign up for long-term leases.

Less than a mile from Carroll County Hospital, the building is located in a growing area. The county has gained about 25,000 new residents in the last decade, according to county information.

The residential growth, combined with great highway access, has driven the demand for more services in the county, Kornbluth says.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Michele Kornbluth, KLNB

A restaurant serving coal-fired pizza and burgers will open in the former Daily Grind site in Baltimore.

Run by restaurant industry veteran Mark Hofmann, Earth Wood & Fire will open in March.

Hofmann says he and his three partners will invest $500,000 to open the new restaurant.

The 3,000-square-foot restaurant will look "funky and edgy" and feature fresh, local ingredients, says Hofmann. The partners haven't determined the prices or the exact menu items yet.

Hofmann says he hopes to draw everyone from the college kids at Towson University and Loyola College to residents in neighboring areas. He also hopes to attract the 1,000 workers in the Bare Hills Corporate Center, where the restaurant will be located. The restaurant will be located in a new retail building currently under construction.

Close to Interstate 83, the restaurant is easy to get to for residents in the affluent areas of Homeland, Towson, Lutherville, and Pikesville, Hofmann says. "It's a densely populated area," Hofmann says.

Trained as a chef at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Hofmann is the former general manager of Tark's Grill in Lutherville. He also helped open the Grille at Peerce's, at the former Peerce's Plantation spot. Hofmann was also a chef at Linwoods in Owings Mills and the former Polo Grill.

Hofmann says Earth Wood & Fire is a concept he has had in his head for four years now. If it succeeds in the corporate park, he hopes to open another one in Canton, Federal Hill, or downtown Baltimore.

"Gotta make this one work first," Hofmann says.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Mark Hofmann, Earth Wood & Fire

The former Daily Grind warehouse and retail building is getting new life.

Continental Realty Corp. has begun demolition of 1407 Clarkview Rd. and, after extensive renovations, plans to reopen it as a retail center by the second quarter of 2011. Located at the Bare Hills Corporate Center in Baltimore, the building will get new awnings and a brick and stone exterior, Continental Partner Lawrence Rief says. The site will feature new parking, landscaping, and lighting.
 
"We're going to take an ugly duckling and make it into a beautiful building hopefully," Rief says.

Rief says he does not yet have a cost estimate for the renovation.

The 8,000-square-foot building will contain Earth Wood & Fire, a 3,000-square-foot restaurant serving coal-fired pizzas and burgers. Tenants in the business park are hungry for another restaurant as Atwater's is currently the sole eatery, Rief says. (Read more about Earth Wood & Fire here).

Continental is also looking for a dry cleaner and a coffee shop to replace the Daily Grind, which closed last year. Retail rates run about $40 per square foot, Rief says.

The Bare Hills Corporate Center houses 20 buildings, four of which are owned by Continental Realty. The office park houses 1,000 employees and its tenants include LifeBridge Health, Ilex Construction, and Velocity Sports Performance.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Lawrence Rief, Continental Realty

A fast-casual salad chain is counting on Maryland's appetite for healthful eating.

Saladworks will open at least three new stores in Anne Arundel, Howard, and Baltimore Counties within the next three years, franchisees Derek Morrell and Nicole Roudiez say. The first will open during the first half of 2011. Each store will employ between 15 and 30.
The exact locations have not yet been determined.

Saladworks franchisees spend anywhere between $247,000 and $475,000 to open each location. Stores average between 700 and 2,000 square feet.

The company touts the fact that it features an array of salads with fewer than 300 calories. The restaurant, which currently has one store in downtown Baltimore at Harborplace, also sells wraps, sandwiches, and soups.

Morrell says the targeted counties are an "untapped market" and there's "nothing like it" in Annapolis, where both he and Roudiez grew up.
The entrepreneurs are looking at mall food courts and retail strip centers along with other locations where there is good visibility and high traffic.

Saladworks operates over 100 franchise locations in 12 states. In addition to its existing stores, the chain currently has over 60 units in development across the country.

Based in Conshohocken, Pa., Saladworks recently signed deals in Delaware, Virginia, Texas and California, according to spokeswoman Erin Salvatore.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Sources: Derek Morrell and Nicole Roudiez, Saladworks; Erin Salvatore, Saladworks

Want a shot of espresso with your dozen roses?

Paula Maher is counting that you do. Last month the owner of the Dutch Connection, a flower shop in Harbor East, opened a caf� in the Bagby Building at 1008 Fleet St.

Called the Black Tulip, the caf� has boosted flower sales 10 percent as people come for the java and pick up a plant, Maher says.

"I always had a feeling that flowers and some coffee and food are a beautiful combination," Maher says. A native of the Netherlands, Maher
trained as a chef in Paris and moved to Baltimore with her husband in 1997.

"Now I have it all � flowers and a little bit of food."

The shop sells soups, quiches, pastries, and coffee drinks. The Black Tulip contains nine tables, plus outdoor seating, and takes up about half of the 1,700-square-foot store.

Maher likes the Harbor East neighborhood because she gets a mix of young residents and area office workers. She also likes that it is close to the waterfront.

A renovated former factory building, the Bagby's tenants include Bagby Pizza Co., Bikram Yoga, Vino Rosina, and PNC Bank.

"It's lively," Maher says of Harbor East. "I like the shops in the area. It's as close as we can come to New York. It's an interesting part of the city."

Maher also operates another Dutch Connection in Belvedere Square.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Paula Maher, Dutch Connection

An interior design company is expanding to downtown Baltimore.

RC Interiors LLC will open a 2,400-square-foot store Dec. 2 at 339 N. Charles St.

Called Market Centre Design, the retail shop will sell art and furniture and house a design studio, says Jayne Kelly, the store's director of marketing. The space once held lingerie store Bella Sorpresa.

Kelly says the store managers liked the building's soaring ceilings, big windows, and exposed beams.

"It's a really beautiful space," Kelly says. "It's great for a designer."

The Charm City Circulator, the free city shuttle that launched in January, will make it easier than before for folks to shop downtown.

"It's just a nice location," Kelly says. "It gives us some visibility."

The design firm signed a five-year lease at the location. RC Interiors also has an office at 414 Lyman Ave. in Baltimore's Homeland neighborhood. Commercial and residential clients who work in the city will hopefully find the downtown location convenient, Kelly says.

RC Interiors staff also like that the shop is close to Mount Vernon, an "artsy" area that is near the Maryland Institute College of Art.
The store sells a range of styles, from contemporary to antiques. It also carries many original pieces of art by local artists.

Jeremy Landsman of Baltimore's JBL Real Estate LLC brokered the deal on behalf of 339-341 N Charles LLC, an affiliate of WRH Property Holdings LLC.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Jayne Kelly, RC Interiors