Help save a Baltimore institution
I'm wary of labeling restaurants "Baltimore institutions." Just because a place has been around for a decade or two doesn't mean it automatically gets that designation.
But Martick's Restaurant Francais (214 W. Mulberry St., 410-752-5155) is the real deal.
The thing about Baltimore institutions is that stuff happens like what's going on with Martick's, as Barry's e-mail explains: ...
Six of us had a marvelous meal (as usual) at Martick's last Saturday. We were thinking it would be nice if we could get you to put Morris on your radar. Believe it or not, the outside is even crummier than it ever was, although the inside is relatively unchanged. We got to talking with Rose the waitress (she's been there 18 months which I think is a record for there). She told us that the City is giving Morris a hard time about the exterior and has made some "threats" of what might happen if repairs are not made.
I think Morris is quite belligerent when it comes to things like zoning issues and repairs and refuses to spend the money. Therefore Rose is working on getting volunteers to repair the exterior. This isn't an appeal for volunteers, but an occasional mention of Martick's Restaurant Francais in your blog would be great to remind everybody what a great Baltimore institution Martick's is.
I have to say, given the location, unless the other buildings have been seriously upgraded in the past month or so since I drove past, it's hard to believe that Martick's isn't still the best kept-up exterior on the block.
This photo is perhaps a better indication of what Barry is talking about than the one above.
(David Hobby/Sun photographer)
Comments
I work nearby, so I walk around the neighbourhood a lot. The city first did a lot of zoning violations, and has started putting up big signs about facade improvements within a few blocks of Martick's. I haven't been on that block in a few weeks, but there seems to be a push to prettify the general area.
Posted by: anonymous | August 6, 2008 8:18 AM
Considering he stayed after the area had pretty much been abandoned I would think that the city could find a way to make this happen without expecting Mr. Martick to mortgage away his life.
An excellent point. EL
Posted by: Regina | August 6, 2008 11:45 AM
The city sponsors a "Main Street" program, financed largely with federal funds, that provides grants for neighborhood business districts to fix up facades, etc. There may be a dozen or more by now. The Howard Street area is not one of them, but I bet the city could find some bucks to help Morris fix up the front if it really wanted to. The Baltimore Development Corp. is very good at providing huge tax savings for major developers. It shouldn't be hard to help Morris, who really qualifies as a Baltimore institution.
Posted by: Federal Hill Jim | August 6, 2008 12:00 PM
The photograph shown almost makes that stretch of the road look like small-town america. sort of edward hopper-ish.
Posted by: Pigtown | August 6, 2008 12:21 PM
Pigtown--I was just about to say the exact same thing! I love the full moon and the shadow in the foreground against the urban scene. Great work, David Hobby!
Posted by: Dahlink | August 6, 2008 3:04 PM
Somebody que the Bob Seager for a little "Down on Main Street"
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | August 6, 2008 3:31 PM
Oh, gods, please, no Seger! There are reasons I left Detroit (another is named "Ted").
Posted by: Lissa | August 6, 2008 6:34 PM
Martick's building IS old, and starting to show it. Sure, the ol' dowager could use some make-up, but is it worth it? How long does Mr. Martick plan to keep on going? To put it nicely, he's up in years. Who knows how much longer he'll want to--or be able to--run his restaurant (pretty much) single-handed?
Posted by: Dottie | August 6, 2008 8:56 PM
Lissa,
So the "Nuge" was a bit much for you? Back in the day, I was a fan and saw him concert three times. But that was a long time ago and I'm over that.
Too bad he isn't.
Posted by: Rob in PCB FL | August 7, 2008 8:26 AM
Rob and Lissa, "Nuge" seems to have morphed into a composite of Charlton Heston, Davey Crockett, and Hugh Hefner in these last years.
Posted by: Joyce W. | August 7, 2008 10:46 AM
Any Anthony Bourdain fans out there? The Nuge was on the season premier of No Reservations Monday night.
Posted by: Betsy | August 7, 2008 2:41 PM
I REALLY like this picture. It is rather Hooper-esque.
Betsy, I wake up at 4 am, so I don't see Bourdain until re-runs. Did the Nuge cook elk or something?
Posted by: Joyce W. | August 7, 2008 3:54 PM
I am a bit Bourdain fan, but I watch his shows on the computer. Unfortunately, my computer has decided to self-destruct.
I'd rather see Bourdain go toe to toe with Patti Smith, even if she is vegetarian. She's tons cooler now (and then) than Ted Nugent ever was.
Posted by: Lissa | August 7, 2008 6:43 PM
I REALLY like this picture. It is rather Hooper-esque.
Yes, it makes the block look much nicer than it does in reality.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | August 7, 2008 7:13 PM
That "photo" can't be real. Where are the rats and trash? No sidewalk in town is that clean. I don't believe it. It looks more like a painting than a picture.
Posted by: LJ | August 7, 2008 10:43 PM
The "local lure" has it that Morris was actually born in that building....
It's was first a speakeasy, then a "coffee house". The area has a certain mystique, remember Abe Sherman and his bookstore, and the local "communist" haunt The New Era Bookstore that was the target of more than one firebomb? And what was the Chinese restaurant across Mulberry Street on the second floor?
Posted by: Hue | August 8, 2008 2:30 PM
Elizabeth remembers the Chinese restaurant across from Marticks!
Posted by: Pigtown | August 8, 2008 4:09 PM
I loved Martick's! So glad I made it there in April before it closed....
Posted by: The Baltimore Babe | August 19, 2008 1:22 PM
I love this picture so much I made it the computer background (which lasted all of one night til the 16 y.o. put up something else that he thought was edgier!)
Posted by: Joyce w. | August 19, 2008 2:47 PM