The building that houses
the WindUp Space and
Cyclops among others in the
Station North Arts and Entertainment District will soon be ready for its close up.
The façade of the entire North Avenue Market building will undergo a $1 million renovation starting in April, says Carolyn E. Frenkil, co-owner of the space.
Used bookstore Cyclops will renovate to make way for a coffee shop. The market is also poised to add a new tenant within the next two months in a vacant gallery space. Frenkil expects the yet unnamed tenant to plan various events, shows, and exhibits to bring additional visibility to the market.
The North Avenue Market building, built in 1928, also houses
Liam Flynn's Ale House and
Baltimore Print Studios.
"You can't tell a book by its cover, but if it doesn't have an interesting cover, who's going to open it?" Frenkil says.
Some of the planned renovations include a new paint job, additional lighting for the building, and opening up long-covered exterior windows.
Cyclops' renovations are expected to begin when the façade renovations commence, Frenkil says.
The Reinvestment Fund, a Philadelphia-based developer, is working with the owners of the North Avenue Market to finance the renovations.
Frenkil hopes the facelift will help to generate business for all of the establishments in the Station North Arts District as part of the
resurgence in
development of an area has long been affected by crime, vacancies, and urban decay.
"When people drive up Charles and hit North Avenue the lights will be on and people will say 'Something is happening on North Ave'," Frenkil says.
Frenkil wants North Avenue to develop organically into a unique destination arts district where customers will find the products of the creative energy of Baltimore's residents.
"Why mimic someone when you have an opportunity to create something? We want to create a destination, not a drive-by. If we do what others do, what makes us different? Why come to North Ave.?" Frenkil says.
Writer: Allie Wilding
Source: Carolyn Frenkil, North Avenue Market