Shame on me! I'm one of the fans of SoBo Cafe who talks about it more than I dine there.
I know of no place quite like it in South Baltimore with such a combination of home-style cooking and skill with the ingredients and preparation that rivals a "white table cloth" restaurant.
Brent is also one of the few restaurant owners in the Cross Street area who got a liquor license with the neighborhood association's support and lived up to his promises. That's probably one of his problems.

Sobo Cafe is great and the owner is one of the nicest guys in town. You always leave full and the food is terrific. I wish Sobo Cafe the best.

Never eaten there, but have heard good things.

A quick note, though: wouldn't the restaurant fair better if it's chef/owner showed up all the time? Just a thought.

Hope it pulls through.

I'm in the same boat as Federal Hill Jim. Love the spot, but don't eat there near enough. Hope it doesn't go under ... I'll try to make it over there soon.

This isn't the first time Sobo Cafe has been teetering on the brink. I did a piece with former Sun writer John Woestendiek in 2008 -- before the recession -- about how high gas prices were squeezing restaurants. Sobo Cafe was the lede and the closer:

A downtrodden Brent Ludtke stared at his nearly empty South Baltimore restaurant yesterday afternoon and lamented the recent drop in business.

A year ago, Ludtke would seat about a dozen tables for lunch. But at 1 p.m. yesterday, only one of the 12 tables in SoBo Cafe was occupied - a sour side effect of the economic recession."I'm shaking right now," he said. "I've been here 10 years and I could possibly lose my restaurant."

...

But the new $15 entree special at SoBo Cafe hasn't made a big difference for Ludtke. He thinks business will continue to slide until late summer or early fall. He hopes he can hold on that long.

"It's scary because every day it's what phone call am I getting today as far as bills," Ludtke said. "It's never been like this. ... Now it's almost like you have to get a fishing rod out there and try and snag them in."

SoBo is the best and was ahead of the curve on haute comfort food. Great staff and owner. Not to mention a dedication to local artists and they supported South Baltimore when that was still something that needed to be done (Federal Hill in 1996 was very different than it is today). SoBo cafe is a treasure and I hope the people come out to support them... I will be.

the place has not been the same since winston left........

Love SoBo Cafe...best food in Federal Hill in my opinion, I'll be crushed if they close. Definitely going to head there this week!

I live in the neighborhood and have been happy to bring guests to SoBo. However, I was sitting at Matsuri last night for their sushi happy hour, and I looked over at SoBo and thought I should get over there more often. I think it's just evidence that perhaps they should do more marketing in the immediate area. They're just off the beaten path enough that they become an afterthought. If I saw they had some sort of happy hour specials or smaller serving options, I'd probaby make it a point of visiting.

I agree, the place hasn't been the same since Winston left. Also, why doesn't the restaurant have a website? In my opinion, it's 2010 and every restaurant should have a website and post its menu and specials.

Sobo cafe is struggling from there own fault. If you are walking down Charles st and looked over at any given moment it already looks closed! that is unless you happen to catch someone walking in.

the owner like most people going under are in a panic now but what did they do to try and gain new business? this day and age when companies are going under who enjoyed bringing in the cash over the years but didnt do anything to add to there brand/establishment - shame on you! like the previous post stated where is the marketing? The signage outside looks like it hasnt been touched since its opening? city paper ads? baltimore magazine ads? participating in one of the 100 events in federal hill? bar specials? facebook advertising before it had to be beg for business?

I don't even frequent Mothers that much but I can tell you what each daily special is and what they have going on 24/7 because they know how to market there establishment.

from what i understand, sobo cafe is involved in the community; they have repeatedly donated food to churches for their events, asking for nothing in return. also, they have been a repeat vendor at some more low key festivals such as the Locust Point festival, again not really something done for a profit.

you have a great restaurant here, just trying to stir up some excitement about the place! i think it sounds like a fabulous idea and from what i understand, there will be music and lite fare. drinks need to be purchased. so not really a fundraiser in the sense that they are usually thought of.

what did we do before the days of technology when you just went out to eat? have you really become so reliable on the web to help you with your dining decisions?

also, having dined at sobo, the menu is always changing, but seems to include something for everyone and always having a vegetarian dish.

bottom line, the food is good and the owner seems like a humble enthusiatic guy who loves his restaurant and wants to keep it around. maybe just that warrants a visit.

Anyone who hasn't been to SoBo should ... I don't see how you could not enjoy your visit. Food is good, atmosphere is one of a kind.

I am not denying the place is good, nor should it close.

but facts are facts, if the place was great all the time it wouldnt need to beg for business. people go where they like, and obviously people dont like sobo cafe that much. you cant argue this. if they did it would be packed all the time and this page wouldnt be up right now.

I've never met a person who said "I don't like SoBo Cafe" ... so I could easily argue with your statement "obviously people dont like sobo cafe that much"

I think there are smart points you've made ... they don't advertise much it seems, they don't have an online presence (though they are on Restaurant.com for anyone who needs "specials" to go out to eat).

Screw the Website and the façade that looks closed. Sobo is Martick’s - it’s a bit of legit Baltimore that needs to remain hard to find. All of us know how to find it, so let’s go empty Brent’s kegs and his walk-in and keep this place to ourselves.

Anyone know details about the fundraiser? How much? Whats included? I want to rally people to join me- I LOVE Sobo Cafe!

Monica,

To my knowledge it's just a gathering of friends from 9pm-close. It doesn't cost anything. I am not sure if anything is included. It should be a great time, especially with Tony playing music. Best bet is to get there early if you want to eat.

I've been to the Sobo Cafe a few times. The food was always good and I got a lot for my money. Brent, the owner is my cousin. He's a really nice and generous guy. He is always willing to lend a helping hand.

As a restaurant operator myself, I can sympathize with Brent and his struggles. Although I've never been to SoBo, I have heard nothing but raves from friends who have. I don't think this is a case of people not "liking it that much" as one commenter suggested.

Sales are down across the board in the industry, and I think this is a major function of there simply being too many options out there for diners to choose from (and of course, the down economy). Just like most of you guys, I'm guilty of wanting to try everything that's out there, rather than sticking to places I know put out a quality product consistently. In cases like this, a place like SoBo that doesn't go balls to the wall with their marketing will suffer because they're not plastering themselves in front of the faces of their potential customers. Just look at the comments in this post- many who have enjoyed their experiences at SoBo have simply forgotten that it's a dining option. If SoBo were to hit these guests with periodic gentle reminders of what they have to offer (facebook, twitter, email blasts, advertising, signage, etc...), I'm sure that Federal Hill Jim, Anonymous, kmm, and whoever else enjoys it there would be back more often.

While positive word of mouth is certainly a major factor in getting people through the door, it simply isn't enough to survive any more. Sadly, we are at a point where what's on the plate isn't the single driving factor in determining a restaurant's popularity, and many old school restaurateurs are having some trouble adjusting.

I will definitely be making it out to SoBo over the next week and show my support for a fellow industry guy.

First off Sobo does have a facebook page so if your complaining they don't maybe you should find out for yourself and become a fan.

My question to all you marketing geniuses, why must SoBo conform to what all the other restaurants are doing in Fed HIll. Sobo isn't like ANY other restaurant in the neighborhood where you can get a burger and any other crap out of the fryer. Everything there is made from scratch and nothing is frozen everything is FRESH. There is no big screen TV's you actually have to disconnect and rely on good old fashion conversation to get through your meal. Maybe some people in this neighborhood are so bland and boring they can't handle the eclectic charm SoBo brings to are neighborhood. People tend to forget that most of the other joints in the hood make it and make it good because Friday & Saturday nights they have enough drunks flooding the place that they can afford to have cheap specials through the week. Oh and Sobo has Monday night $13 steak Wednesday night $14 all entrees and they are on Rest.com which they used as a marketing tool. As for the staff Brent and his two waitresses Lisa and Kristen couldn't be anymore down to earth. Go SUPPORT SOBO!

As for the whole SoBo hasn't been the same since Winston left. Go support Clementine then if you haven't read the recent right up about them in City Paper he is struggling just as much as Brent.

Be nice everybody! Please go support SoBo Cafe, if not tonight, soon. It's a tough economy out there right now and let's just work together to get through this.

Hope to see everybody at the party tonight!

again fed hill girl and everyone else, i bring up the simple point that if the place was soooooooooooooooo great why are they in this situation?

50% of these posts are people saying "i love that place i do need to go more"

well why arent they? obviously something was missing. I've been and I thought the mac and cheese is the best ive ever had, but honestly everything else was just decent and the atmosphere was bland. you may argue thats my opinion , which it is, but that kept me from coming back.

point is something is missing, if it is so great as you and the few others claim again it wouldnt be in this situation. businesses dont tend to fail if they are good businesses, blame the economy all you want but the places that are great are still thriving, the places that were horrible (taps) are closed, and the places in the middle of that bubble are hurting because they have a few loyal patrons but for the most part struggle to find new business because they arent trying to find solutions.

"when all else fails.....fresh tactics" - caster troy

try some

maybe people dont like menus written on a chalk board? maybe they dont like feeling like they are in there own kitchen at home.....after all people go OUT to eat to get a good meal and enjoy something different. sobo feels like you are in your own house. idk im not trying to say burn the place down, i agree its a local business, its good for the town, but there needs to be something aside from a beg for business FB page to save the place.

I hit SoBo on a regular basis. The servers are friendly and efficient. The food hits the spot and there is always someone to strike up a conversation with at the bar. Due to minor surgery, I couldn't make it Thursday but will get there this weekend for sure.

First off, Facebook is a place to find old friends and network socially. It isnt for businesses to promote themselves and 'market'. I don't claim to be a marketing genius, but seriously? Facebook, lol? I'm sorry that you're too old to know what the Internet is all about, but that is the trend dear, that's what the current society conforms to. Thats why all the other places are busy and Sobo Cafe is posting this to beg for business. And further "fresh". . . Seriously? I know for a fact not everything is fresh. You wouldn't know fresh food if it bit you on the nose. The place USED to be good, but not since they lost their chef, they've lowered their standards. When restaurants are in trouble, they can't afford fresh, they revert to frozen. I do feel for the guy, but it appears that he's made a series of bad business decisions that have led to his current situation. I hope he finds the help he needs to turn the place around and find his place in the neighborhood once again.

Hey Anon, do you actually use Facebook? I only ask because there are literally THOUSANDS of restaurants, businesses, etc that have pages. In case you're too old to understand this series of tubes we call the interweberneterspace, Facebook, like ALL social networking sites, is frequently used to promote businesses and plan events. Just a few examples of Baltimore restaurant FB pages include Pazo, Petit Louis, Dionysus, The Helmand, and yes, Sobo Cafe. Those were just the few examples off the top of my head.

Fail. (That's another internet thing - look it up.)

I love SOBO, but have to agree with fedhill guy. They need to get out there and do some things for themselves.

I too am a business owner in the city and I can tell you that its hard out there. To quote Clint Eastwood in one of my favorite flicks, Heartbreak Ridge, 'you have to adapt, modify'. Nothing has changed there in years except for the menu.

How about cleaning up the front a little. Maybe open a little earlier in the evening and more consistently. I rode by the other day at 6:30 and it didn't look like they were open.

I 1000% support Brent and hope that they can stay open. He just needs to keep himself in peoples minds when thinking about where to eat.

I went to SoBo this weekend with my friend from out of town, and it was very good food. She was pleased, so I was happy with that choice. Goes to show what little marketing via blog will do!

Sadly, the place was practically empty. Where was everyone?