Hello, Neighbor: Hollins Market

LIVE
Named for its recently refreshed, Italianate-style market house dating back to 1838, Hollins Market is a shining example of the Baltimore rowhouse lifestyle, with tight-knit blocks, cozy and distinctive alley streets, and an alluring mix of walkability and a Main-Street feel. Low-scale rowhomes that were constructed densely for workers at nearby rail yards in the 19th century now house a diverse mix of residents spanning the generations, from legacy homeowners to young professionals and newer families.

SHOP
For snacks and quick essentials, small delis and convenience stores dot West Baltimore Street along the neighborhood’s northern edge. Just several blocks south of Hollins Market, the welcome arrival of Jumbo Fresh Supermarket at Mount Clare Junction this summer filled a void left by Price Rite’s departure in late 2022. The forthcoming grocery stall at the renovated market will only boost the fresh options available in the neighborhood.

DINE
Citywide-beloved spots in this enclave include Zella’s Pizzeria, a mainstay since 2007; Neopol Smokery, which arrived in the Lion Brothers Building on Hollins Street in 2021; and Rooted Rotisserie, a buzzing French-inspired eatery (the recent recipient of major TikTok acclaim) that debuted across from the market building in September 2023. Soon-to-be-completed stall renovations at the market will add options to the mix.

PLAY
Parks large and small offer choices for a quick stroll or a whole day outside, from Little Lithuania Park to the regal Union Square Park. Sprawling Carroll Park—with basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, a skatepark, and nine-hole golf course—is just a little southwest of the neighborhood.

ARTS/CULTURE
Black Cherry Puppet Theater has been hosting live puppet shows and performances since 1980. Check out Carlton Street Stables on Sunday afternoons to learn about arabbers, the horsedrawn carriage vendors who sell fresh produce across the city. Families and train enthusiasts often flock to the historic B&O Railroad Museum on Pratt Street. Lithuanian heritage is also represented here, with Lithuanian Hall on Hollins Street providing gathering space for its community and hosting lively, late-night dance parties for all on the first Friday of every month.

NEIGHBOR SPOTLIGHT
Howard Hughes, 53, is a 25-year resident of Hollins Market and the vice president of the Hollins Roundhouse Neighborhood Association.

“I moved here to be closer to where I worked downtown at an investment banking firm. The house that I chose is something I fell in love with as soon as I walked in. It has the all-natural wainscoting and brick-face walls on one side and open-air stairs—it was a Baltimore house. And it was a great location where I felt right at home. You’re a 20-minute walk to everything: downtown, Lexington Market, the Inner Harbor, both stadiums.

I love my area, my neighbors, the houses. I’m a DMV guy—I’m from Prince George’s County—and when I came here looking at houses, I saw each block had its own different identity, and that’s what makes Baltimore and Hollins Market really great. It’s been my home for 25 years and I wouldn’t change it.”

NEIGHBORHOOD STATS
Population: 1,716. Occupancy Rate: 76 percent. Owner/Renter Split: 20 percent/80 percent. Median Home Purchase Price: $195,000. Estimated Monthly Mortgage: $1,685. Estimated Rent: $1,309. Walk Score: 91. Bike Score: 80. Transit Score: 91

Sources: Baltimore City Department of Planning, Live Baltimore