You could call David Shapiro a lawyer by day and falafel guru by night. The attorney recently opened Shapiro's Caf� at 7 W. Preston St. The 2,000-square-foot caf� features an eclectic menu, including falafel, schwarma, tuna and chicken salad, and corned beef sandwiches.
Shapiro is partial to the Mount Vernon neighborhood because that is where he operates his law practice. It is also the site of his alma mater, the University of Baltimore, where he attended law school. Shapiro expects to draw students from there, as well as Maryland Institute College of Art, to his restaurant.
By next month, when the caf� is open during the evening, Shapiro expects to draw patrons who attend performances at the Lyric Opera House and at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
Though the corned beef comes all the way from New York, Shaipro says that his goal is to get about half of his products from local sources. Already, he gets his coffee from Baltimore's Zeke's Coffee and Taharka Bros. Ice Cream.
Shapiro spent $90,000 to open the 2,000-square-foot store. Though he has practiced law for the last 22 years, Shapiro is no stranger to the food industry. He worked for a Jewish catering company when he was 14.
"That was my first experience working in a kitchen," Shapiro says.
And now, he says he is Mount Vernon to serve the neighborhood and people employed in the area. But he hasn't given up his day job.
Source: David Shapiro, Shapiro's Cafe
Writer: Julekha Dash