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