Banksy's Cafe to open where Glasz was
I wanted to link to Laura Vozzella's item today about Robert Banks, who will soon be opening Banksy's Cafe in Lake Falls Village, where Glasz Cafe was. I go into more detail about the food in next Wednesday's Table Talk; she talks more generally about him. Except for the Krispy Kreme-based ice cream sandwich, of course.
Banks told me he's hoping to open in June. I think I said something like "this summer" in the column.
Comments
Banksy's Cafe? Does that mean it will specialize in interesting graffiti?
Posted by: B'More Cat Lover | June 6, 2009 12:38 PM
I was walking down Broadway in Fell's Point today, and saw that Mr. Yogato is open.
I'm probably the last person to notice.
Man, there aren't many vendors left in Broadway Market. And since when is Faygo full price pop?
Posted by: Lissa | June 6, 2009 3:14 PM
Faygo? It's pronounced fah-YO
Posted by: Amanda C | June 6, 2009 4:53 PM
Broadway Market is indeed looking bleak. I still go to the fish stand and to Sophia's in the north building. I never go in the south building anymore.
I miss Eric's meat stand and the old cheese shop.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | June 6, 2009 5:06 PM
There was one stand in the south building.
Good one, Amanda C. But, it is, indeed, properly pronounced "Fay-Go". Or, "redpop."
Posted by: Lissa | June 6, 2009 6:08 PM
I can't remember the last time I was in Broadway Market, but I'm surprised it isn't doing better. Why do the locals think it is struggling?
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | June 6, 2009 6:33 PM
RoCK, I'm not sure what the Broadway Market story is, but part of it may be that a developer has been trying to get rid of the old tenants so he can put it a modern yuppy thing with lots of eat-in and prepared foods rather than stuff for people that actually cook like myself. Although I suspect this developer's plans may have been hurt by the current economy.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | June 6, 2009 6:49 PM
I know a lot of these kinds of neighborhood markets are having problems. The one in Annapolis has been in limbo for years. I'm not sure about the viability of the other ones in Baltimore, such as Hollins, Northeast and Avenue, but I would imagine it is tenuous at best. Cross Street seems to do well, but most of the activity is at Nick's as oppossed to throughout the market.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | June 6, 2009 7:55 PM
The City owns all six of the public markets. Five of them are managed for the City by the Baltimore Public Markets Corporation (which also has a "co-teaming" arrangement with Lexington Market). If some developer were angling to redevelop Broadway Market, I'd think the plans would be subject to a lot of public and media scrutiny, not to mention some kind of competitive bid process.
Posted by: hmpstd | June 7, 2009 6:44 AM
Hmpstd, google "Marketplace at Fells Point" for more info.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | June 7, 2009 8:55 AM
I know the market in Annapolis was going to get a Dean and Deluca, but it fell through. Apparently, the project has become somewhat of a morass for the city, and they're having a hardtime developing the property into something viable.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | June 7, 2009 9:27 AM
Thanks for the info, Hal. Looking at the press page on the Marketplace website, it sounds like the Broadway Market was having problems with tenant vacancies well before the developer's proposal surfaced. (That proposal appears to affect the historic north shed at Fleet Street more than the south shed below Eastern Avenue, so I can't figure out why the City and BPMC can't find tenants for the south shed.) Also, there's been no news since March 2008, when the developer cut the office space part of the project in an effect to obtain construction financing -- and that was before the credit crunch really kicked in. I wouldn't hold my breath on seeing the north shed revitalized any time soon.
RoCK, the Annapolis Market House has been a comedy of errors for the last few years, as noted in today's Sun.
Posted by: hmpstd | June 7, 2009 10:38 AM