Kiddie Academy Opens at McHenry Row
Kiddie Academy opened a new 17,000 sq. ft. facility (10,000 sq. ft. indoors and a 7,000 sq. ft. playground) at McHenry Row in the former Phillips headquarters property. Kiddie Academy is owned by Nimita Sheth, who has a psychology background and previously worked at Kennedy Krieger, along with two business partners who own Kiddie Academy locations in New Jersey. Kiddie Academy hired nine teachers and a director and it expects to make additional hires as enrollment grows.
Sheth was looking for a location for more than two years before deciding on Locust Point earlier this year. Sheth likes that the new location is in a tight-knit, growing area with a lot of young families and has a need for an educational childcare center.
Kiddie Academy works with children from the age of 6 weeks to 12 years old.
Camden Crossing Starts Final Phase
The final phase has begun at Camden Crossing in Pigtown. This includes the construction of the last seven townhomes of the 150-townhome development that was first announced in 1999.
Homes are priced in the mid $300,000s.
Little League’s Tot Lot Undergoing Renovations
South Baltimore Little League’s Tot Lot, which is the field closest to the McHenry Row garage, is currently undergoing a facelift courtesy of McHenry Row Developer Mark Sapperstein and his company 28 Walker. The renovation includes new turf, backstops, dugouts, fencing, and landscaping around the perimeter, as well as a revised layout so that it can feature two fields.
Both the South Baltimore Little League and 28 Walker are hopeful to move forward with future renovations to the rest of the property which includes two additional baseball fields.
Aunt Daisy’s Opens at the BP on Russell Street
Aunt Daisy’s Caribbean Kitchen is now serving food at the BP gas station at 2000 Haines St. by Horseshoe Casino. From its social media description:
Serving up the freshest Jamaican foods using only authentic recipes and techniques.
Maman Pauline Kitchen Opens
Maman Pauline Kitchen opened in the former home of Cockey’s at 39 S. Arlington Ave. in Hollins Market. The menu includes American and African cuisine as well as “food from around the world,” including taro, coq au vin, grilled ribs, grilled chicken, friend chicken, and grilled fish.
B’more Betty Relocates to Fells Point
B’more Betty, which was previously open at 1316 Light St. in Federal Hill, announced it will be opening a new shop in Fells Point at 1500 Thames St. The shop closed after being looted during the riots in April. From an article in Baltimore Business Journal:
Owner Camille Edwards’ original Baltimore shop at 1316 Light St. closed this spring after three years in Federal Hill. Her store was hit hard during April’s riots — it was broken into five times in two days, she said.
At the same time, the first weekend in May, she was opening a second shop in National Harbor.
Shaken from the break-ins, Edwards said she waited to reopen in Baltimore until she mustered up the courage to do business in Baltimore again and found a new location in an area with more retail. She considered spaces further north in Federal Hill, and even in Towson, before settling on the Thames Street spot.
COR Relocates
Munir Bahar’s COR Health Fitness Center will be relocating from a city-owned property at 906 Washington Blvd. in Pigtown to 1200 N. Collington Ave. in Broadway East. From an article in The Baltimore Sun:
The city is soliciting bids for new tenants in the group’s current location at 906 Washington Boulevard, the site of a former public bath house.
“We’re pleased to help facilitate their move to a new location,” said Howard Libit, a spokesman for the mayor. “Munir and the 300 Men are doing a lot of good for the community. They are valuable partners.”
Cosi Opens Downtown
Cosi opened downtown in a previously vacant retail space at 100 S. Charles St. Cosi is a national chain that sells sandwiches, salads, soups, bowls, and flatbread pizzas.