OPEN
The Stoop: The former home of Zeke’s Coffee in Pigtown is now once again a destination for neighbors to get their caffeine fix. The Stoop soft launched earlier this month at 784 Washington Blvd., serving up coffees, teas, and local Bluebird Bakery pastries. Owner Paige Stamerro is a resident of the neighborhood and named the shop after a classic Baltimore pastime: hanging out on the front stoop.
“Part of the charm of Charm City is that, any night of the week, you can walk through a handful of neighborhoods, and you’ll find people out with their dog or sitting with their kids,” she says. “Stoop life is absolutely the inspiration behind what we’re doing here.”
Conveniently, the menu features Zeke’s coffee blends and many of the same beverages, but with tweaks, including different syrups and creamier milks. Patrons can also expect a variety of lattes like matcha, chai, and cereal milk. Stamerro says Italian sodas will be on the menu soon, after the team has “perfectly executed” the coffee and tea program.
She’s working with Bluebird—which also supplies the baked goods for Zeke’s in Lauraville—to provide savory and sweet pastries that pair well with the beverages. “I call him a punk-rock baker because there is no challenge he doesn’t accept,” she says with a laugh. “We’re really working as partners, more so than vendor-client.”
Stamerro adds that Zeke’s owner Thomas Rhodes was a big help in getting The Stoop started, and she’s proud that the shop is “fueled by Zeke’s.” Earlier this year, Pigtown Main Street cited “reorganization and downsizing” as the reason for Zeke’s closure.
“Zeke’s didn’t leave because this neighborhood can’t support a coffee shop,” Stamerro says. “This neighborhood, I can tell you in the last two weeks, has been starving for coffee and pastries.”
The Stoop will hold its official grand opening on Sept. 21.
COMING SOON
Ema’s Corner: After sitting vacant for the past eight months, the North Avenue building that previously housed Joe Squared will soon see a new tenant. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that Ema’s Corner will take over the Station North space in the coming weeks, serving pizza, salads, and eventually pastas. Joe Squared was an anchor in the neighborhood for two decades before it closed at the end of 2023. The beloved dive was best known for its signature square pizza, risottos, rum drinks, and live music lineup in its “Downsquares” performance space. So, will the concerts be revived at Ema’s Corner? Owner Mehmet Guclu tells the BBJ he “is open to hearing what the community wants.”
Kitschenette by Kitsch Cafe: Kitsch Cafe is on a roll. After debuting its second location inside R. House earlier this summer, the small-but-mighty egg sammy spot announced it will open an abbreviated version of its shop, called Kitschenette, inside Gilman Hall on the Johns Hopkins University undergrad campus in Charles Village. The 200-square-foot “micro stall” will serve up a “super simple sandwich menu with our full beverage program,” Kitsch shared on social media. Thankfully, the cafe is no stranger to small spaces. Its original location in Tuscany-Canterbury clocks in at less than 400 square feet. “Don’t let our size fool you,” the shop shared on Instagram. “What we lack in space, we make up for in service and smiles.”
Pono Taco: Belvedere Square will soon officially welcome this stall for tacos, nachos, open-faced quesadillas, and more Mexican fusion plates. Co-owner Scott Donnelly and his team have been hard at work transforming the former Ejji Ramen stall into the new concept, highlighting a refinished wood bar top, colorful light fixtures, and fresh coats of color on the walls. A soft opening is slated for this month.
NEWS
Community Rallies Behind Claddagh Pub After Owner’s Passing: The Canton neighborhood has been mourning the loss of Michael Clarke, the owner of Claddagh Pub on O’Donnell Square who sadly passed away on July 28 from a heart attack. A funeral mass was held Aug. 3 at Our Lady of Pompei Catholic Church. Clarke’s sister, Lori Pirisino, recently told The Baltimore Banner, “we’re just trying to put back the pieces. We’re going to keep this running for him.”
The Tilted Row Announces New Chef de Cuisine: Ahead of revealing upgrades and a fresh menu next month (the restaurant remains closed for service while the changes take place), this Bolton Hill favorite has added new blood to its kitchen staff. Culinary director Jacques Van Staden has appointed Derrick Reed as the restaurant’s new chef de cuisine. A Stratford University for the Culinary Arts grad, the native Baltimorean has recently returned home after spending a few years working in kitchens on the West Coast. He’s looking forward to fine-tuning the new Southern-inspired dishes and getting the kitchen ready for the grand reopening. “We’re thrilled to have Chef Reed on board and can’t wait for everyone to experience a whole new Tilted Row,” co-owner Ziad Maalouf said in a press release.
EPICUREAN EVENTS
8/24: Ekiben Night Market
Today might be your last chance to snag tickets to Ekiben’s epic food festival. For the first time, the Asian fusion restaurant is bringing together an incredible lineup of local restos for one evening, with participants including Blacksauce Kitchen, Nana, The Local Fry, Cafe Dear Leon, Pho Bac, Miss Carters Kitchen, Chef Rey Eugenio, and more. The event will set up in the parking lot across from Ekiben’s Hampden location. VIP tickets are sold out and general admission tickets (which include a free drink) are running low. Already planning to attend? Parking will be limited, so Ekiben is asking eventgoers to bike, walk, or use rideshare services.
8/22-8/25, 8/29-9/2, 9/5-9/8: Maryland State Fair
Big eats are in store at the Maryland State Fair, which opens for its first weekend today at 5 p.m. Every year, the Timonium Fairgrounds transform into the state’s annual country fair, featuring Midway rides, live animals, and (of course) fair food. Expect traditional faves like funnel cakes, candy apples, and cotton candy, plus new food vendors like Althea’s Almost Famous and the Get BAKED food trolley. The fair’s food competition, The Mallet, will take place Aug. 25 and award vendor dishes the title of Best Sweet, Best Savory, and Most Creative.