Most business owners wouldn't want to open their doors during a snowstorm. But James Butler was forced to do just that when a heavier-than-expected dose of the white stuff hit Baltimore Jan. 30 � opening day for Butler's new business, Perfecto Coffeehouse.
The snow didn't deter residents from showing their support for the newest Pigtown business. Nearly 100 people showed up at 784 Washington Boulevard, Butler says.
The Ohio native who currently resides in Washington, D.C., has spent $20,000 of his own money to open the 1,000-square-foot shop. He saw the Pigtown neighborhood as a good opportunity to get in on a neighborhood early on. Pigtown still hasn't reached its full potential, unlike other neighborhoods, such as Harbor East or Mount Vernon, Butler says.
"PIgtown is still in the revitalization stage," Butler says. "I want to get in when it's good."
Butler saw encouraging signs that the neighborhood is taking off. A wine shop and Caribbean restaurant are set to open in the coming months on the same block and a gallery and hair salon opened their doors in recent months. (
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Butler says he's wanted to open a coffee shop for five years but it never came to fruition until a friend told him about the space available in Pigtown. He hopes to soon call Baltimore home for himself and not just his business.
"I look at Baltimore as one of the few lasting gems on the East Coast," Butler says. "You can still get good residential and commercial property at a reasonable cost in nice areas. We couldn't do what we do in Manhattan or Philadelphia because the cost would be prohibitive."
The caf� is open seven days a week and sells coffee from Baltimore's Zeke's Coffee. The shop also sells baked goods, paninis, salads and, on the weekends, waffles.
Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: James Butler, Perfecto Coffeehouse