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Light Street store set for renovation
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Cousins Jimmy Powell, right, and Sergeant Rick Willard, right, are ready to begin renovations for their new upscale coffee shop, which is tentatively named “The Fed Coffee Lounge And... .”
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - An old five-and-dime store on Light Street that has stood vacant for years is getting a new lease on life.
Baltimore Police Sgt. Rick Willard and his cousin, Jimmy Powell, have leased the old McCrory’s building and plan to renovate the site into an upscale coffee bar and restaurant.
The 1960s-style façade will be removed and a wood, stucco and glass front that is “more coherent with the historic flavor of the neighborhood” will take its place, said Jack Chaffin, an architect and president of Federal Hill Main Street.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Chaffin, who also heads the design committee for the Federal Hill Main Street, a nonprofit program formed in 2000 to revitalize the Federal Hill business district.
Willard, who has been on the Baltimore Police force for 15 years, said he and Powell have been looking for a business venture for some time and decided to try an undertaking in Federal Hill.
While the name of the coffee shop and restaurant isn’t set in stone, Willard said he and Powell are leaning to the Fed Coffee Lounge And ... or the Federal Bean. It should open in the early spring 2007.
The menu, he said, will feature a variety of coffee, smoothies and soft drinks, but no alcohol, and sandwiches on fresh-baked breads, bagels and waffles, among other items.
What will set his venture apart, he said, will be the operating hours — from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and nonstop from 6 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m. Sunday.
Also, the size of the operation will be different than most other businesses in the neighborhood. At 4,300 square feet, it is several thousand square feet larger than other retail locations in the historic district.
With a 40-foot coffee bar, the interior will feature couches and comfortable sitting areas that can accommodate up to 150 customers. The business will employ 25, Willard said.
Dale Leand of Rhode Island, who owns the building with her husband, Edward, said she is excited to see the building going back into operation.
“I think it will be a real drawing point,” Leand said. “It will be a major asset to Light Street.”
Powell, currently a contractor, said the façade design should spur other business owners on the block to at least spruce up the front of their stores.
“I’m a craftsman,” he said. “When this façade is finished, the other people on the block are going to have to catch up.”
FRESH FACES
New to the Federal Hill business community are:
» Remember When on Cross Street
» Bottom Drawer on Charles Street
» Thina’s Linen Collective, coming next month to Charles Street
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:17 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 1, 2008 re: "Eastern Motors founder Bassam finds fortune with second-chance financing"
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2:02 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 24, 2008
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10:04 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 31, 2008
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10:19 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 19, 2007
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10:39 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 12, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
you forgot to mention that eastern motors was involved in money laundering.(dope money being used to buy expensive cars, how nice!! along with select auto imports, and eagle motors. so don't make it out to be a success story, when drug money is used.
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Examiner Reader said:
I work for Eastern motors myself and he has friends that work for him that are fake back stabbers they shake your hand but talk behind your back at the same time. I dont know Robert in person but Iwould hope that he is not this way but his friends that work for him are above the law meaning they can get a person fired any time they want even if they are wrong in a situation but that drives away hard workers maybe Robert should not have friends in top positions it can be mis leading and really not fair right is right wrong is wrong no matter if its Roberts friends or not.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
add to the list won,t pay his employees.he rude, he lies . he is a cheet and I know this because i worked for him. it seems like the rags.to riches store and it sounds good. but don,t be fooled
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
That guy Robert is a smart mofo. Everyone knows Eastern Motors and they are all over the place! Gotta love that jingle! Go Easterns!
13 agree | 12 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Conscientious observer - you are an idiot and deserve what happened to you.
14 agree | 13 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Are there flights out of MacArthur Airport on Long Island New York to Washington Dulles
125 agree | 108 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I understand that we should not choose a President based on his religious beliefs,but tell me---how can we support a President in defending our country when he doesn"t even believe in pledging allegiance to it!!!!?????
207 agree | 143 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Dewalt system is good for notification but the alarm only sounds for 20 seconds and shuts off. The alarm is not loud at all if it were in the middle of a large job site nobody would hear it.
157 agree | 144 disagree
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Makis said:
Nice!
202 agree | 205 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I can't believe Fort Monmouth has a bunch of whinos have they ever heard of commuting on the Acela from New Jersey every morning my guess is no.
211 agree | 228 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ed Hale is a real inspiration. He's the perfect model of the American dream. LL Detroit
336 agree | 292 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
fort monmouth should close down! it's a waste of tax payers money. (civilian employee's have 2 hour lunch breaks, there is so much infidelity going on there, sex in parking lot, etc) The come and go as they please, and we the tax payers pay for this. Put the money where it is needed, in defense!
554 agree | 431 disagree
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