Recent comments in /f/baltimore

Dr_Midnight t1_iw4n3al wrote

Reply to Why can’t any restaurants survive here by aphid123

I'm going to speak to something with specific regard to Midtown-Mt. Vernon, and the unforeseen ramifications that can result from a change to neighborhood.

Particularly along the N. Charles Street corridor spanning the range of Mt. Vernon Place through Preston, there was nightlife there for years and restaurants that would also be open for varying times throughout the week.

Generally speaking, Maryland Liquor Laws limit establishments to staying open until 2AM, and most places on weekends would serve that time frame - save for after hour spots that would stay open longer. Those places attract people, and, in particular, attract foot traffic - especially in a place like Midtown-Mt. Vernon where parking is relatively very limited.

In the past decade, however, the area has seen the closure of Emma's, Eden's Lounge, Mansion, the Elephant, the Hippo, Grand Central, and a few more night spots that all closed for one reason or another. Part of this has been a result of owners moving on (The Hippo and Eden's Lounge). Some of it has been a result of owners screwing up (Mansion). Part of it has come from developers taking over spaces and then doing nothing with them for literally over a decade (Eden's Lounge). There are other reasons, but the net result is that Mt. Vernon's nightlife is all but dead. Where the streets used to be filled with people in the night hours on Fridays and Saturdays, they're all gone.

One of those reasons in particular is community pressure (which also applied to both Mansion and Elephant) - particularly in that persons moving into the neighborhood for some reason did not want the nightlife there. I'll need understand the concept behind moving into a neighborhood that has a certain culture and then demanding that it change, but that's what we have here.

The restaurants in that area thrived on that foot traffic. Never on Sunday used to be open until 3AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Not anymore. The Spot was previously open and busy until 4AM on the same days. Those days are gone. Even Viccino's used to stay open late. That's no more as well.

No amount of employees from Agora (sorry, but it's true) going to those places day after day are going to keep them continually afloat.

Then came COVID-19 and that destroyed several that were on the margins already. City Cafe is gone, just to give an example.

32

dopkick t1_iw4gk1y wrote

Reply to Plan the worst all-time date in Baltimore. by DfcukinLite

She tells you she's taking a job overseas that starts in a few months. And wants to get married so she can take you with. It's the first date BTW.

You do see it through to the end because of the morbid curiosity. And ask a lot of questions.

61

smoovgee t1_iw4e678 wrote

Reply to Why can’t any restaurants survive here by aphid123

Per SBA, 75% of all restaurants fail within 2 years. There's a reason why resturantuers get investors and not bank loans. Food costs and labor eats up all the money.

I remember reading an article about a 1 star Michelin chef owner who had to clean her own grease traps because she couldn't afford the $1000 cost.

There's a reason why Subway only gives you 2 napkins. Why McDonald's and Wendy's only give you ketchup if you ask for it.

All of it adds up.

Several of Gordon Ramsey's early restaurants failed.

48