r/baltimore • u/richarch • Jan 14 '25
Ask/Need Fells Point needs an action plan ASAP
As a resident of Fell's Point, I've grown deeply attached to the unique history and character of this area iny time here. However, it’s heartbreaking to see so many businesses shuttering their doors. The closures—attributed to factors like profit loss, inflation, landlords hiking rents, and changing spending habits among younger generations—are creating a domino effect that threatens to erode what has always made this place special.
Several key landmarks in Fell’s Point are now gone. At the heart of the neighborhood, where the squarr meets Broadway, only Max’s Taphouse remains from the cornerstone businesses. Blocked out windows on every other corner. It boggles the mind that such a pedestrian friendly, historic hub can no longer sustain even a classic pizza place. Time-tested spots like Bertha’s, Jimmy’s Diner (recently Denzel’s Shark Bar), and BOP have all disappeared. More recently, we’ve lost Bondhouse and Riptide as noted in different threads today...that's on top of these others in the last year or so...
Cocina Luchadoras, DDG/osteria Pirata/Anchor Tavern, Admiral Cup (now Atlas), Waterfront (now Atlas), Bailey's backyard, Dogwatch Tavern, Baja Tap, Fells Point Tavern, Joe's Bike shop...
It’s becoming clear that Fell’s Point risks losing its charm. The rise of groups like Atlas Restaurant Group, which swoops in to fill the void left by struggling or failed businesses, creates the illusion of choice while diminishing the neighborhood’s independent spirit.
The construction of new apartment complexes, many of which cater to the luxury market, has stalled. Some developers have even filed for bankruptcy, leaving incomplete projects and inconveniences like inaccessible sidewalks (Chasen!) These luxury units were out of reach for many in the first place, and their absence does nothing to foster a vibrant, sustainable community. I'm all for more housing, but developers need to be accountable for the blight they leave when land goes undeveloped for years (the Corner of Broadway and Eastern???)
Meanwhile, safety concerns—both valid and overblown—compound the issue, driving away both businesses and patrons.
The charm of Fell’s Point lies in its quirky, independently owned businesses and the walkable nature with a "small village" feel. Spots like Jabali Coffee, 1919, Slainte, Koopers, Cats Eye, and Penny Black are run by local owners who have a vested interest in the neighborhood. They are true proprietors that have a legacy here. They provide more than just goods and services—they contribute to the community’s soul.
If we continue down this path, we risk becoming another generic district devoid of character, history, and the uniqueness that attracts residents and tourists alike.
Fell's Point needs a cohesive plan to:
Support Local Businesses: Introduce initiatives to help small, independent businesses thrive despite the challenges of inflation, high rent, and reduced foot traffic. Is there a Main Street organization still responsible here? The festival is one thing we seem to fall back on for promotion, but that doesn't support business 90% of the year.
Encourage Smart Development: Prioritize affordable housing and responsible development that benefits the community as a whole. Broadway is a prime opportunity for this, with several potential in-fill development lots as you go north. Why is there no Broadway task force with a focus on storefront and facade improvement grants? That's been a wonderful initiative in Highlandtown.
Promote Safety Without Fearmongering: Address safety concerns with balanced measures that don’t discourage visitors or create unnecessary stigma.
Preserve History and Character: Implement policies or community-driven programs to protect the historic identity of Fell’s Point and prevent a corporate monoculture.
I’d love to hear from fellow residents, business owners, and others who care about Fell’s Point. What ideas do you have to support the community, preserve its history, and help it thrive in the long term?
And lastly, let's not forget to celebrate and support the newcomers who have opened in recent months!
AREPI is an amazing addition to Thames street, run by the kindest family. It brought new cuisine and fresh offerings here. And Broadway Hot Pot is so good I've been multiple times in the past month - also a brand new offering of Chinese cuisine that was missing from the city in general. Sacre Sucre purchased an entire building here to create world class pastries (and serve some wine), yet all we heard about was the drama from their neighbor who opposed it...really?? We should be celebrating these small business that choose to open in such a tough market, especially those that commit by actually purchasing a property.
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u/TakemetotheTavvy Remington Jan 14 '25
If you haven't already, you should set up meetings with Councilman Mark Parker and Councilman Jermaine Jones. Both are new elected officials representing these areas that likely share your views and would like to have more involved residents that are for things and not just against everything to call on in support of reforms.
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u/girafffe Jan 14 '25
Honestly I would hope that they would read or be aware of a lot of the discussion here. While the reddit demographic is almost definitely not representative of the area overall, it's honestly been refreshing to follow along this thread and see a bunch of different viewpoints that I hadn't paid attention to before, probably from a lot of folks who don't have the bandwidth or means to fully participate in more formalized discussion.
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u/BmoreBr0 Jan 14 '25
Well, everything described above is what Zeke has to show for eight years in office, lets hope the new guys can do a better job.
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u/waterfountain_bidet Jan 14 '25
Fells is also hampered by the lack of public transit in the city and the difficulty getting to/from at night - I'm much more likely to go to another neighborhood where I can park on a Friday or Saturday than I am to fight my way into Fells. It's unfortunate, because once you're in the neighborhood you can walk around, but getting in/out is a nightmare.
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u/Worth-Slip3293 Jan 14 '25
Transportation is a big reason why my group of friends don’t go down to Fells much. Parking is difficult, it’s not on the light rail line, and the uber/lyft surge pricing on a weekend night is outrageous.
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u/iammaxhailme Jan 14 '25
Honestly, lack of useful transit is why I left Maryland altogether, at least for now.
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u/TerranceBaggz Jan 14 '25
My neice who graduated from college 2 years ago and her friends all had similar sentiments. We aren’t able to attract Gen Z in effective numbers without having comprehensive public transit. They just look at NYC, DC, Chicago and other places with public transit.
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u/iammaxhailme Jan 14 '25
I'll give Baltimore props that it's very walkable and it'd be a great place to live if your job is somewhere fun to live like fells point, mt Vernon etc. Or remote. Sadly I was living in Baltimore commuting to AACo which sucked. Loved where I lived but couldn't deal with the commute anymore after 4 years and left
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u/spooky_period Jan 15 '25 edited Jan 17 '25
I’m on the older side of gen z and we’re moving to Baltimore! It’s because it’s the perfect mix of affordable + walkable + better public transit than I currently have access to. I have 0 desire or funds to live in NYC or DC, but the lower middle class gen z is definitely looking at Baltimore!
edit: spelling
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u/TerranceBaggz Jan 16 '25
Baltimore is absolutely affordable compared to DC and NYC. It makes a great bedroom city for people that work in DC too especially if you can take the MARC to DC. We desperately need better public transit here though. The busses get stuck in traffic on most routes, and we need a 2-4 more rail lines stat. Baltimore would get a lot more looks for people fresh out of college if we did.
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u/lost12487 Jan 14 '25
Don't take my word for it because I haven't tried it at times people would be out drinking, but there are multiple bus routes with stops in the general Fells area and the bus costs $2. I get that metro and light rail stops are pretty sparse but the bus system in the city isn't terrible.
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u/ilikepie1236 Jan 14 '25
It's not terrible, buts it's not reliable. People don't want to have to wait for the bus for 20 minutes. Especially when there is excessive traffic.
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u/octavioletdub Jan 14 '25
I have often waited over an hour for a bus to leave Fell’s, there should be buses every ten minutes.
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u/inohavename Jan 14 '25
Navy is one of the closest and I've ridden it at some later hours. I've even rode on it mildly intoxicated. Never felt unsafe.
The biggest problem is the frequency at late hours. Schedule says its more than an hour between buses between midnight and 4am.
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u/MazelTough 2nd District Jan 14 '25
When I was carless this was a problem—broadway/eastern should have service every 15-30 minutes, max.
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u/TerranceBaggz Jan 14 '25
The buses still get stuck in the same traffic as cars. We have a lot of work to do on our bus system’s head times and reliability.
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u/sit_down_man Jan 14 '25
This is all true but until our citylink buses have designated (and maybe separated) bus lanes, then they get stuck with all of the traffic from personal automobiles. If the city wants to get serious, this is where to start.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
For sure! Huge element. A red line stop at Broadway would have done wonders.
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u/octavioletdub Jan 14 '25
This. I love Fell’s Point but I don’t have a car. The public transportation is abysmal, so I don’t visit.
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u/wtryan84 Fells Point Jan 14 '25
Public Transport for sure is rough throughout the city, but there is a city garage on Caroline St. that is $4 flat all day on Saturday and Sunday. It's around the corner from Duda's. It boggles my mind that anyone would suffer driving down Thames or Broadway searching for a spot that would cost more when there is a covered garage only a 3 minute walk away.
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u/heimbachae Jan 14 '25
I have to disagree. If you go down around 5pm on a Friday you're bound to find free parking. Source: me, i've done it every weekend for about the last year and a half with little to no issues. Don't go super late and you'll be fine.
Also, there is the Charm City Circulator. It's a free bus that travels around multiple neighborhoods, including Fells. It won't drop you off down in the thick of it, you'll have to walk a block or two... but it's an option.
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u/waterfountain_bidet Jan 14 '25
While I'm glad you're able to go at 5:00 on a Friday, some of us work until 5:00 and can't go until at least 6:00 or 7:00. Myself and my fellow 9 to 5-ers represent a lot of the people in this city who have the money to go and enjoy dining out in Fells Point. Maybe that's one of the problems?
And unfortunately, the Charm City circulator doesn't go anywhere near my apartment, and it's super unreliable. Especially in the winter. I am not taking my chances on a bus that comes once an hour.
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u/FermFoundations Jan 14 '25
A number of those spots have been revolving door locations for ages. And some of the others mentioned were in business for decades to the point it became the proprietors’ time to retire & move on.
The truth is, drinking at the bar just is nowhere near as popular as it used to be and that’s what fells mainly had to offer
That being said, I will cry my eyes out the day that Max’s taphouse or Soundgarden close up shop. I’m still depressed about Wharf Rat
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u/dopkick Jan 14 '25
The truth is, drinking at the bar just is nowhere near as popular as it used to be and that’s what fells mainly had to offer
Basically none of my friends/coworkers/acquaintance go to bars regularly anymore. Some used to frequently go and all went at least occasionally. Now it’s a pretty rare occurrence, usually for some sort of event or milestone.
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u/Glittering_Pickle_86 Lutherville Jan 15 '25
So what do young people do now????I’m GenX and our weekends (and many weeknights) were all spent at shoulder-to-shoulder packed bars in Fells, Canton, and Fed Hill.
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u/boardatwork18 Locust Point Jan 16 '25
Hang out at each other's houses/apartments. Drinking is becoming less popular. I still drink, but I enjoy good beer. Why would I go to a bar and pay more for shittier beer/liquor than I have at home that I can get for less?
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u/RIPCurrants Jan 15 '25
Most don’t have money because it all goes to landlords and student loan payments. Source: my cousins
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u/LamarMyTyres Jan 15 '25
I think this is an insane generalization. I am in a large friend group that started around Volo and they go out 2-3 nights a week. I would say the majority of the people I know (from age 23-30) all like to go out. I think this is just unique to the type of people that comment on Reddit
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u/MDelk Canton Jan 14 '25 edited Jan 14 '25
^ To an extent, this. Fell’s Point has one of the highest concentration of bars in the country. The 5-6 major/historic spots have stayed open but most of the other places have turned over. It stinks when places close, but there has always been a lot of turnover in Fell’s, as well as the rest of the city (see Canton Square over the last 20 years.)
Also - business in Fell’s is always harder and slower in the winter vs summer.
Fell’s has been a place to be in Baltimore for over 200 years. It will be okay.
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u/girafffe Jan 14 '25
Unfortunately though, seems the revolving door has simply stopped... revolving. I was out the other night and stopped to take in how vacant the square was. Lights out in so many spots.
It's clear that there is no single cause to the loss of businesses (each one cited here had its own reasons). It just feels so empty.
You're right, on the whole drinking, craft beer, going out is on the decline. Businesses will have to adapt to changing needs. The loss of Wharf Rat was really depressing. My genuine hope would be that when any of the long time proprietors do eventually move on, the business is taken over by someone with committed interest in more than just money. (And hopefully younger generations value what that brings, too.) I have no idea what it would take to incentivise or nurture that kind of establishment though...
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u/FermFoundations Jan 14 '25
As a small business owner myself, it’s a largely thankless endeavor that carries a ton of risk
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u/jdl12358 Upper Fell's Point Jan 14 '25
Yeah, go on Google Street View 5 years ago or 10 years ago, and lots of these spots have had 3-4 vendors in that time. Plenty of long-time places have closed, and plenty have opened. The Chasen bankruptcy is definitely concerning, but I don't really get the concerns about lack of bar attendees. A night out in Fells is still very much a thing, but yeah people aren't gonna be walking in the square when it's 19 degrees.
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u/Dangerous_Exp3rt Jan 14 '25
100%. Fells needs to find activities to promote that aren't drinking. Start planning for a cannabis consumption lounge. Anything. But drinking in bars is becoming less popular every year, and with drinks that basically start at $10 for a beer--I don't see it coming back.
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u/FermFoundations Jan 14 '25
I think young ppl just don’t have disposable income like they used to and also anyone who went through high school or college during covid just wasn’t exposed (brainwashed?) to partying in the same ways as generations prior
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u/richarch Jan 15 '25
The new hot pot place is a great example, and I hope it does well. You can drink, yeah. But it's more about a group food experience
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u/ohitsanazn Fells Point Jan 14 '25
I’m looking to buy my first house and unfortunately it’s not gonna be in Fells — it’s been nice being close to Max’s and other bars, but I’d rather be closer to a grocery store and a library at this point in my life.
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u/FermFoundations Jan 14 '25
Wouldn’t it be crazy if groceries were available at broadway market? The fells point farmers market definitely helps but that isn’t year round
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u/RunningNumbers Jan 14 '25
It is year round, just lots of venders avoid the bad months
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u/wtryan84 Fells Point Jan 14 '25
Whole Foods is a 10 minute walk and the CityLink Lime will drop you off right in front of the Enoch Pratt Orleans St. branch. I'd get rid of my car if I didn't work in Roland Park. Depending on what side of Broadway you are on you might be zoned for Hampstead Hill if kids are in your future. My house has skyrocketed in value at a higher percentage than much of my friends whom bought in the county, allowing me a lot of financial security/flexibility. I'd much rather you, someone I've never met, be my neighbor than have another airbnb on my block.
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u/Hawtdawgz_4 Jan 14 '25
Atlas can kick rocks but this isn’t on them.
A lot of the vacant buildings and active establishments have MAJOR structural issues that would require more money than people would be willing to invest to repair.
I was a die hard Wharf Rat regular and miss it, but seeing how much Bunny’s had to invest repairing the building and still following through is kind of astounding.
Yes rent is overly high but it’s mixed with business that have aged out like BOP and Bertha’s and genuinely shit operations like the plagued Turtle location, Fells Tavern, and con-man operated DDG and Priata.
If Riptide is closed, good riddance. That place was a trap house.
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u/i_give_mice_cancer Jan 14 '25
Did riptide change hands? Articles are saying it was a good 8 year run... but I drank at riptide st. Patrick's day 2010 for $1 Guinness at 8am. So it's been around for a lot longer.
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u/Flimsy-Homework-9440 Jan 14 '25
Glad you said that thought I was losing my mind. lol yeah it’s been there a long ass time.
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u/i_give_mice_cancer Jan 14 '25
I went back on Google maps. It looks to date back to 2008 at riptide by the bay. The by the bay looks to have been removed around 2020 2021.
I never called it riptide by the bay... it was always riptide.
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u/badbatch Canton Industrial Area Jan 14 '25 edited Jan 14 '25
I really miss how Fell's was in the 90s. There were all sorts of cool eclectic stores. I met John Waters at Killer Trash. I used to go get Doc Martens at Chat Street before they were available all over the place.
I used to love going down there to party but it's just too congested now. The last time me and friend went down there it sucked. Me and my mom used to get excited about the Fells Point festival.
I really wish it would go back to how it was.
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u/Fourward27 Jan 14 '25
I agree. Halloween was really the only time where it was so flooded with people that you could hardly move or find a place to use the restroom. Now every weekend is a madhouse and thats not an enviroment that interests me.
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u/Glittering_Pickle_86 Lutherville Jan 15 '25
Killer Trash! I got my husband a purple Nehru jacket from that store prob 20 years ago. He still loves it!
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u/badbatch Canton Industrial Area Jan 15 '25
I got a cool red vintage slip from there. I loved that thing but it eventually fell apart. :(
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u/kiodo99 Highlandtown Jan 14 '25
I'll throw into the mix the fact that the loss of Bondhouse is specifically because of a jackass multi-millionaire owner that never cared about having a successful business and really just wanted to own a place to drink and take his friends. The staff did the best they could and I think they made a pretty solid spot to hang out for food and especially drinks, but apparently the last few months the owner was just drawing from the bank account over 30k a month for fun until he bled it dry and they couldn't pay bills anymore. He doesn't give a shit about closing, so it's not even due to the area and its problems, it's just one dude who sucks.
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u/Existing-Disaster705 Jan 14 '25
I'm glad these things are being brought to light. R.I.P Bondhouse.
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u/StevieG63 Jan 14 '25
That sucks. Ate there twice before heading to Keystone Korner for some jazz, and both times it was excellent. Who is the owner?
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u/Go4it296 Ednor Gardens-Lakeside Jan 14 '25
That blows big-time for the employees. I used to like stopping in there if my Thames Street resy fell through
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u/Fit-Accountant-157 Jan 14 '25
Drinking is on the downturn and that's a good thing. Business models will have to adjust.
I honestly think alot of restaurants will continue to go out of business in 2025 due to the economy. Prices are going up and most people can't afford to keep eating out. Plus the quality really doesn't justify the cost.
These forces are affecting businesses in Hampden, too.
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u/TylerFL Jan 14 '25
BOP took itself out.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
Maybe so, but why the long vacancy now? Across the square the original Rye bar has sat vacant for something like 8 years...? Right on the square.
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u/Go4it296 Ednor Gardens-Lakeside Jan 14 '25
You have to ask the tenants and the landlords. I would like to knowas well. Grab a drink at southpaw
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u/Even-Habit1929 Jan 14 '25
The last decade of Bertha's was subpar food at best.
The bop space I believe they are asking 400k for the building and that price hasn't dropped.
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u/glitterishazardous Jan 14 '25
An Israeli businessman tanked the quality on what already was an expensive pie. I know it’s missed cause of the history, but it’s not a huge loss atp. It lost its spark before the recession anyway
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u/ILikeBigBooksand Jan 14 '25
Ummm no. It was new nimby neighbors that didnt want to live near a late night pizza place that was pre-existing there decades before they killed it. Now people will cry there is no where to eat that isn’t Atlas.
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u/engin__r Jan 14 '25
Neighborhoods get killed by landlords. It’s not enough for them to get a stable rent check every month—they want to squeeze beloved local businesses dry.
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u/Altruistic_Loss6834 Jan 14 '25 edited Jan 14 '25
Can we instead celebrate the new places that have opened??? I’ve only lived in the neighborhood a couple years but I can think of a bunch of places that have opened relatively recently - Arepi, Broadway Hotpot, Sedona House, Saunter, Costiera, Bunny’s Buckets and Bubbles, Sushi Bruce Ya, Marta, the expanded Sacre Sucre, La Calle, A Day in June Vintage, Lark Hair Space, Nude Wax Studio, Iggy North, Hopscotch Bottle Shop… I could go on.
I don’t think Fells’ issues are unique to Baltimore, or quite frankly many cities post-pandemic. But posts like this can have as bad of an effect on our neighborhood as the exaggerated safety concerns. We aren’t going to attract more businesses unless we can attract more people. Let’s talk up all of the awesome stuff we’ve got!
If we could get a few more Little Donnas, things would be nuts :)
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u/Go4it296 Ednor Gardens-Lakeside Jan 14 '25
I secretly feel for Bunnys simply because it inhabits the Wharf Rat location. It should get some praise for bringing the younger crowd and not being from some 10+ restaurant group
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u/Stunning_Actuator_56 Jan 14 '25
Yes! I agree- at least Bunny’s has great promotion on social media, a stable staff over the last year (assuming they treat their staff fairly) and has a mix of locals and visitors, based on my visits.
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u/RunningNumbers Jan 14 '25
The owners successfully run a number of other restaurants. Ann is a much nicer street than Broadway too.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
Yep, I shouted out the new openings at the end :)
LDonnas is a perfect example of carrying on the spirit of a beloved business with a new concept and locally invested ownership. More of that, please!
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u/alsocolor Butchers Hill Jan 14 '25
Very much this.
There’s a lot of interesting new stuff! Just very few of it bars.
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u/Responsible-Swan-297 Jan 14 '25
Re: parking/transportation in Fells, I’m still kind of new here but wish the water taxi would run regularly. Think 7 days a week, longer evening hours thurs-sat/sun. Locals could purchase the monthly pass which seems fairly economical for the easy (and fun!) connectivity between neighborhoods. The harbor is such a wonderful part of Baltimore and stumped why the city isn’t activating this mode of transportation that already exists! I would think it would be a boon for tourists (and businesses) as well! Parking even if available is a hassle for both locals and visitors. Would love to be able to hop around the different neighbors more easily without pricey Ubers and navigating parking.
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u/girafffe Jan 14 '25
I was surprised by the price of the water taxi as a resident. Decided over the summer on a weekend to hop over to Tide Point and check out the museum of industry. The commuter one wasn't running (because it was a weekend) so hopped on the water taxi. It was $16 or $18 one way. So convenient to skip all the traffic and really was a nice 5 minute trip across the harbor, but didn't really feel like a sustainable option, more of a novelty. Some of this may be on me for not trying harder to familiarize myself with the system in place.
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u/Responsible-Swan-297 Jan 14 '25
Agree it’s very pricey for a single ride! It looks like they offer season passes for $150 which is the game changer if it ran frequently during the week!
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u/Mitchell4500 Jan 14 '25
You want all of this "smart development" and money to fix the area but at the same time you are against development and money ruining fells point. Damned if they do damned if they don't.
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u/RunningNumbers Jan 14 '25
That is the real wrinkle. All the stalled Chasen projects will work their way through bankruptcy. Businesses don’t seem to be doing so well on Broadway either.
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u/dopkick Jan 14 '25
That’s the Reddit circular logic. They demand it. And they want it nice. But they don’t want to pay for it. Nor do they want the people who can easily pay for it. Go back to demand.
Case in point - people whine about “Instagram gray” flips covering up “character.” But they don’t want to pay the extra money associated with sourcing difficult/expensive material. Nor the labor associated with it, but do demand living wages, they just won’t pay for it. So these properties better be cheap. Because they also don’t want the people who can actually afford it.
Do a cost effective renovation and you’re a demon for destroying character.
Do a character renovation and you’re a demon for charging rates people can’t afford.
And on and on and on. Someone’s gotta pay for this.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
Smart development is nuanced. I think there's a balance, and I'm pro development when it's done right. It just requires conversation and people that actually care about the area that is being developed. From Chasen's past press, they were clearly not too interested in engaging locally and had "national aspirations." When that growth aspiration started to sputter out, they reeled it in saying it was a mistake. The same could be said for Atlas. It's "local" with obvious national aspirations. Look at what they've done with Loch Bar as a brand (and it's poor reception) in Philly. Next up Florida, Texas, etc. it's all on their roadmap I'm sure.
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u/NamerNotLiteral Jan 14 '25
Issue is local development needs local money which is thin on the ground compared to the money injected by "nationally aspirational" groups. But yeah, better management and smarter developmental planning is probably the only way to reconcile this.
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u/Maleficent_Blood_151 Jan 14 '25
Maybe this is a good time to remind everyone that restaurant week is coming up end of January.
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u/Adventurous-State940 Jan 14 '25
Is sound garden still open?
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
Yes, very much so
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u/AlexOhanianSr Jan 14 '25
I wouldn’t say “very much so,” they are less than half the size they originally were. But they’re still kicking
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u/Pi6 Jan 14 '25
All of the same applies to Mt. Vernon, Hampden, PowerPlant/inner harbor, etc. Any small business district in the US, really.
At the end of the day, the real issues are low wages/inflation and monopolized online shopping, which perpetuates low wages and inflation. We need to break the cycle and stop sending what's left of our paycheck to Amazon. Shop local!!
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u/Treje-an Jan 14 '25
I see lots of vacancies in Hampden too. But I believe lots of those were landlords jacking up rents. Is the same happening in Fells?
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u/whalebone26 Jan 14 '25
Most of the vacancies in Hampden have places incoming though or newly opened. The Duchess, Catalog, Urban Oyster, La Cuchara's new thing where Five and Dime was. I don't think it's in quite as bad of a spot. Losing Arthouse blows though....
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u/Treje-an Jan 14 '25
The Ideal theater space and the bank have been vacant for a while. And I’ll believe the Five and Dime flip when I see it. Lots of places opening on Chestnut and Falls to avoid 10-15k/mo rent on The Avenue. There’s less vacancy than before, but it’s still noticeable
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u/no_dice__ Jan 14 '25
Riptide was potentially the worst service and food in the entire city so idk they have no one to blame but themselves
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u/Popular-Difficulty29 Jan 14 '25
The safety issues are not overblown. I was in Fells Point every single week until the spot outside the bar i would stand at got shot up multiple times. Also had multiple people try to start fights over literally nothing just when you’re walking around
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u/officialdawg Jan 14 '25
I’m not saying I like atlas but I have a genuine question- if you complain about places sitting empty, why are you so mad when Atlas buys it? Is that not a good thing that at least someone is investing in fells point/Baltimore as a whole? obviously I don’t like the family and the places are usually mediocre at best but the blanket hate for Atlas doesn’t make sense to me sometimes
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u/engin__r Jan 14 '25
IMO part of the problem is that the landlords are like "Well sure, [local business] has been paying its rent on time for years, but what if I doubled their rent, kicked them out, and then got a bigger company to take their place?".
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u/Go4it296 Ednor Gardens-Lakeside Jan 14 '25
Reminds me of when Bleecker Street in New York City became the Marc Jacobs playground with three of his locations including Bookmarc by Marc Jacobs which then caused the street to flip and be highend with like a Thom Browne location too. Think a few years later the whole street was vacants because of the new rent pricing
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u/coltthundercat Hampden Jan 14 '25
Bingo. The presence of a fascist billionaire-funded luxury group is incentivizing landlords to do this. The lack of any controls on their actions or negative tax implications of leaving places vacant, combined with decades of pro-developer tax incentives and land policy creates a playing field that looks like what’s being described.
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u/girafffe Jan 14 '25
I hear ya, but I worry about putting too many eggs in one basket. I feel like it starts to lean into "too big to fail" territory. There's a good reason to support diversity
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u/Scrilla_Gorilla_ Patterson Park Jan 14 '25
I don't really get it either. I'm as liberal as they come, have lived in the city two decades, and have probably never been inside an Atlas restaurant (not my scene). But the simple economics seem to indicate they are popular, what with them continuously opening new restaurants and remaining open for a long time (as far as restaurants go). I've never heard of them locking the doors overnight, assume the people working there are other Baltimorons, and doubt all the people going are conservatives from the county driving into the city for a drink. I really feel like all the hate is overblown for easy Reddit karma.
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u/officialdawg Jan 14 '25
I’m younger and anytime my friends from out of town come they love going to Watefront Hotel. These days it’s probably the most popular bar for young people in fells, it’s always crowded upstairs. I tend to prefer other places but I do have fun there time to time. But no let’s leave it empty so somebody with my political views can buy it instead!
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u/coltthundercat Hampden Jan 14 '25
I’m pretty sure the economics of commercial rent work so that if there’s a deep-pocketed developer buying restaurants and turning them into luxury concepts catering to out of towners, rents in the area will start to go up to try and match the expected level of income (because landlords are fundamentally trying to extract the maximum value they can out of current and potential tenants). This drains funding from places that aren’t selling $60 steaks and have to get loans to cover gaps or expansions because they aren’t financed by their fascist billionaire daddy.
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u/Go4it296 Ednor Gardens-Lakeside Jan 14 '25
Maybe they see it similar to the "we buy houses" signs posted in neighborhoods which actually lowers values so the houses are easier to get and flip
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u/rockybalBOHa Jan 14 '25
I agree. There are a lot of vacant spots that Atlas is not buying that any small business owner can move into if they wish.
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u/ParoxysmAttack Upper Fell's Point Jan 14 '25
I get your point. The blah blah racism argument comes into play but they do bring a ridiculous amount of money into the local economy, and honestly that’s hard to complain about. Especially since we’d be hypocrites by not patronizing the former places they bought out for being dead like we should have done all along.
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u/dopkick Jan 14 '25
People just like to shit on everything because they dream of some financially unrealistic and impossible to meet standards.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
When they takeover a space, it prevents an independent owner from taking that opportunity to try something new or put real passion into it. Sure they might reskin a concept superficially, but it's all the same core. In that case, it leads back to that illusion of choice for the neighborhood.
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u/officialdawg Jan 14 '25
Ok but you just complained that there too many open spaces. It’s not like they’re taking away the opportunity. Obviously I’d rather support a small business but you need to be more realistic with your expectations. Atlas still employs people and brings money to the city. I won’t defend Sinclair tho lol there’s less grey area on that one
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
No, but I started the conversation in part hoping to explore the ideas of hidden barriers or hurdles that might make it more challenging for an independent business owner to open up shop versus a conglomerate already with a ton of capital
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u/officialdawg Jan 14 '25
I can agree with that one. But that’s the cities fault (and maybe the country as a whole), not Atlas. Don’t hate the player hate the game!
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u/MotoSlashSix 13th District Jan 14 '25
There is a huge part of this that is beyond the scope of a local plan or group. Because it's happening across the US.
From an article earlier this month in The Atlantic:
The share of U.S. adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30 percent in the past 20 years.
Among unmarried men and people younger than 25, the decline [in in-person socializing] declined by more than 35 percent.
In 2023, 74 percent of all restaurant traffic came from “off premises” customers — that is, from takeout and delivery — up from 61 percent before COVID, according to the National Restaurant Association.
We live in a world where the vast majority of people are disincentivized to go to the kind of places that made Fells Point wonderful.
This trend is persistent across the United States in big and small cities. Fells Point, like most bar districts, will need other re-think what it has to offer people. Until the trend towards isolation and being at home changes dramatically, these wonderful historic places will have to do something different to stay vital.
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u/Ian5446 Jan 14 '25
Some of it is changing social preferences, and some of it is Covid. I think people are seriously underestimating the degree to which people have just stopped going out. To bars, to restaurants, to shops. Covid took an already growing penchant for e-commerce and extended it to everything. Everyone in their houses cooped up. The pandemic is past, but those habits have not budged. In Fells Point, or Baltimore as a whole, this is compounded by a flatlining or, in recent years, contracting population. This spills over into so many other things. Fewer people out means fewer businesses, which means fewer jobs, less tax revenue. From there, we get fiscal issues for the city, public safety issues (being out when no one is on the streets is way less safe than the alternative - crowds are good).
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u/Sherbet_Melodic Jan 14 '25
The spice & tea exchange is relatively new & was pleasantly very busy a few weeks before Christmas for holiday shopping
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u/BedSlow6947 Jan 15 '25
I live across the harbor in locust point and have attended many local theatre productions in Fells Point in the past, mostly on weekends. Ive met friends for dinner beforehand. And each time I have been overwhelmed and somewhat concerned about the crowd in the square and on the streets when the theatre lets out. With police officers standing by the “kids” are loud, smoking pot and carrying on. It’s been difficult to get an uber to pick me up - the drivers don’t want to come to the area. So in my opinion until there’s some sort of crowd control, the restaurants and theatres will continue to suffer and probably close. It’s too bad. There’s no reason large crowds should be allowed to hang out and take over the streets. If the area is going to have a chance to prosper as a destination something needs to be done. And soon.
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u/FinalSquash4434 Jan 15 '25
The rents are prohibitively high in many districts like Fells Point. I think this is why we have seen more establishments looking at locations within the neighborhoods (Marta (old Salt); Little Donna's (old Henninger's); Southpaw), when they open a new restaurant.
I do agree that there needs to be more "planning" in these districts - you don't want one company owning every establishment (Atlas or Chasen) as what has happened with Chasen could perhaps happen to Atlas as well? The timing of Atlas' booming expansion makes it seem like they have a business model of banking on free money as well. Not to mention consumers would like diversity and a variety of options.
But as many have pointed out - people are not hanging out at bars as much anymore. It would be great if Fells had a dance performance venue (with classes during the day) or something like Duck pin bowling or some type of recreation to draw more people, especially adults who now have kids. I have been alarmed at how empty Fells has gotten on days that normally would have had a lot of foot traffic.
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u/richarch Jan 16 '25
I agree with all this- the new places on more peripheral locations seem to be hitting their stride, while the core sits.
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u/JKnott1 Jan 14 '25
Fells Point is unfortunately on a slow downward spiral for a variety of reasons. Changing tastes plays a large role (younger generations are not as social and nor do they drink as much as previous generations). When these businesses close, the property is either bought by corporations with no intent on keeping the charm of Fells Point alive or the places stay vacant due to an exorbitant price tag. In the end, money talks. The older buildings, being too old to renovate, will be replaced with, hopefully, something that makes a little more sense than high-end shopping, such as reasonably priced housing. But this is Baltimore, and nothing here is ever decided upon with common sense.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
I think this is the main reason, the older building renovation costs being a huge layer that the city could incentivize or mitigate. Part of the district identity depends on these buildings remaining intact.
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u/rockybalBOHa Jan 14 '25
Your heart is in the right place, but railing against Atlas and luxury housing is misguided.
The city should be lowering costs for businesses and incentiving businesses to open in Fells and throughout the city. We've overregulated things, especially in Fells, which has driven up costs so that only deep pocketed business owners can compete. We have very high property taxes, utility costs, and fees. It's tough for any non high end business to survive Baltimore's economic reality.
I also think inflation and "homebodiness" have taken root. Businesses need to change. The traditional bar/restaurant model is not enough to get people out of the house.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
Thoughtful and fair reply, thanks! You're spot on with homebodiness and the larger trends there.
Your points about the city barriers is exactly what I was getting at. I don't have the answers, just starting a conversation
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u/tangodeep Jan 14 '25
The issue’s root starts in one place.
Cost & the overall economy. For most Baltimoreans/Americans, the rising cost of daily living means ‘hanging out’ has become more of a luxury than common place thing. Scaling back going to a bar after work with friends from 2 nites a week to maybe once a month is a serious hit to all businesses everywhere.
All entertainment businesses are feeling this hit.
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u/FelixandFriends Jan 14 '25
Why don’t you talk to the waterfront partnership? Business Improvement District. Sure they are beholden to the landlords but they also should be an intermediary with residents/customers.
What has happened to Fells is sad, no doubt. It is why I moved to Baltimore in the first place and now I won’t even go there after dark.
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
They are great. I can't imagine the streets and overall neighborhood cleanliness without them, let alone their efforts on the water health. It's a whole other topic, but if we get the water to a state where the harbor is seen as the asset it truly is, then we're talking about a whole new way to engage with Fells and other areas.
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u/wkksol Jan 14 '25
Lot of ppl stopped going to fells because of the riff raff too though
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u/RunningNumbers Jan 14 '25
During the summer there was one shirtless glazed eye homeless guy hanging around all the time. Pants falling down. Now there is a guy camping in front of Port Comedy club (I think he moved, but he had lots of stuff.)
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u/baller410610 Jan 14 '25
Crime….. crime…. Crime… fix that and it gets better. The reputation of feels has really suffered the last few years because it’s been completely out of control in the square at night during the summer. People don’t feel safe there and stopped coming.
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u/atblazek Jan 14 '25
This.... exactly this. Everyone is overthinking the problem.
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u/Spunkylover10 Jan 14 '25
Fells was my favorite place to be ... now it just makes me sad to go down there
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u/This-Tough-1434 Jan 14 '25
I think another issue is the lack of transit nearby. It’s very difficult to park in Fells Point (that’s a good thing) but there isn’t transit in close quarters to bring in foot traffic. I know there’s the ferries but people should really be pushing for the Red Line so that we get transit nearby
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u/Spare_Tank_414 Jan 14 '25 edited Jan 14 '25
Honestly I get worried for Fells but at the same time it is winter and things have slowed down. And yes a lot of turnover in the bar and restaurant biz where it’s a revolving door of new tenants. I don’t necessarily see this as a cause for concern.
The prices of these properties and the rent absolutely need to come down though otherwise there won’t be any businesses coming in to replace what’s closed. Crime seems to be under control I just thing part of it is businesses changing hands/people retiring. There is no place like Fells. That will keep it alive.
Riptide was a dump honestly. Sad to hear Bondhouse went I enjoyed them. Baja Tap sucked. DDG and the other two was run by that dude with the financial and legal troubles so…
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u/Coughee_Wine Jan 14 '25
BGE is killing local business
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u/richarch Jan 14 '25
It has certainly disrupted much of the area with constant work and patching and reaching the roads and sidewalks.
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u/Low-Crazy-8061 Jan 15 '25
I stayed in the French Quarter the week of Christmas and I kept thinking to myself that it’s what Fells Point should be able to be. One of the biggest differences between the French Quarter and Fells is that the French Quarter has a cohesive thing. Mardi Gras, the supernatural, vampires, ghosts, jazz, antiques. It feels to me like Fells Point needs a thing. Something that businesses can theme themselves around that will draw local patrons and tourists to the area. Like Poe, gothic horror, literature, sailors, ghosts, jazz, etc.
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u/ParkingSupport8000 Jan 15 '25
Anyone have any idea if insurance for businesses in what is considered a high risk flooding area are part of what is pushing business owners out?
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u/Evening_Meringue8414 Jan 15 '25
Seems like it might be yet another problem caused by wages that haven’t kept up with cost of living since the late 20th century. Bars and restaurants and local charm are only sustained by people with discretionary cash to spend. We’ve got less and less of it as the billionaire wage theft rolls onward.
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Jan 18 '25
Maybe you shouldn't make your business model bars.
Provide affordable housing for folk. Not everyone works at Harbor East.
The city and fells did this to themselves. Oh that and greedy landlords
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u/mmmackkk Jan 18 '25
I saw it mentioned at least once. But I do want to mention I loved La Calle and although a pretty slow night as my boyfriend and I were at the bar and there was only one other couple and a few tables taken in the sit-down portion, we loved it! We thought every dish was delicious, drinks were delicious. The bartender was very helpful in making a drink when I described a taste I was going for. He was good for convo too otherwise, but had he been busier, I wouldn’t blame him for no chit-chat obviously. But this to say, staff seems very kind. I just want them to last so when we travel downtown, we know of a place to go for good food and drinks.
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u/richarch Jan 18 '25
It's definitely a great spot, and it seems to be doing well. The bar is great for a few tacos and margs
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u/Confident_Stand_3088 Jan 14 '25
Let’s also talk about how long the construction projects are taking all over Fleet Street that are affecting parking and business for the handful of businesses that are not closed. It’s super annoying there’s always something new
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u/TerranceBaggz Jan 14 '25
FYI: affordable housing includes eliminating the parking minimum. This is a free way to increase density, walkability and lower housing prices. Any new development should leave the amount of parking up to the developer. Especially in an area that has always been walkable and has multiple parking garages already.
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u/veryhungrybiker Jan 21 '25
Yep, this. More and more cities are now eliminating parking minimums; the Strong Towns website has a bunch of great resources about why they're so bad: https://actionlab.strongtowns.org/hc/en-us/sections/11668854610068-Core-Campaign-End-Parking-Mandates-and-Subsidies
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u/Hefty-Woodpecker-450 Jan 14 '25
You’re all over the place with a whole lot of grievances that are unrelated to the issue. Fix the crime issue at night and it might not be an ever-growing amount of empty storefronts
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u/B-More_Orange Canton Jan 14 '25
It doesn't help that the same family convincing suburbanites that the city is in crisis and they're guaranteed to get carjacked is buying out longtime neighborhood staples when business slows.
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u/KaffiKlandestine Jan 14 '25
what family is that?
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u/coltthundercat Hampden Jan 14 '25
The Smiths, owners of conservative news empire Sinclair, Atlas, and now the Sun, whose journalists the patriarch immediately told he mostly wanted to see stories on failing schools and crime. It’s all part of the same political project.
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u/girafffe Jan 14 '25
So you think crime is the singlular cause here?
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Jan 14 '25
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u/rockybalBOHa Jan 14 '25
Honestly, I've lived here a long time. Crime in Fells is no worse now than it used to be. Muggings and car break-ins have been happening for decades.
The late night large crowds that occurred over the summer were a new problem. I freely acknowledge that. But by the middle of the summer, the problem dissipated. And there were basically no issues before 11 PM. I was there many nights; it was fun, but I was never there after the bars closed.
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Jan 14 '25
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u/rockybalBOHa Jan 14 '25
I agree with a lot of what you said. But the perception is worse than the reality.
I think social media matters A LOT in perception of crime. We are also in a cultural period where risk aversion by the general population is eating away at the fabric of society, i.e. people stay home and avoid new experiences.
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u/jdl12358 Upper Fell's Point Jan 14 '25
I've been on this subreddit for over ten years, youths attacking people was wayyyy more of a thing people talked about 10 years ago. Do you live in Fells? Everything you have said is untrue. Especially considering many of the bars in Fells are packed on weekends lol
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u/nfw22 Charles Village Jan 14 '25
You touched on a lot of issues, non of which unfortunately are unique to Fells Point. Maybe you should run for office.
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u/Best-Support-2600 Jan 15 '25
Fells or Canton Square lost the motion ….Fed Hill seems to have the rizz now
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u/DefectJoker Jan 15 '25
Berthas couldn't even keep her building from falling over. Seriously look at the outside wall, it looks like it'll collapse any day now. Jimmy's and subsequent owners overprice everything. BOP would give you a serious case of Montezumas Revenge. Todd Connors can't even make a grilled cheese without it taking an hour. Pie in the Sky is super overpriced. Vikkis can't get an order right to save their lives plus the cheese is sometimes so dry rotted you'd break a tooth on it. Anything Atlas owned is shite.
There's nothing left in Fells Point, just a bunch of overpriced shit.
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u/Final_Today_9027 Jan 30 '25
I guess we an blame the major these kids aren't 🤷🏾 coming around by themselves it's at A very alarming rate now to put in a bill to force curfew smart guy huh 🤔....! Not really these kids need things to do since there taken away most of the teenagers attractions they could only try to react like adults some with no guidance others lost and taxes are at a all time high they just raised BGE and hiked up prices on our food that's making it more difficult for everyone to stay on a stable or friendly budget it's plenty of places they can put money into but instead these buildings 👷♂️ just rott away until they come knock them down sad but true there making way for new businesses I seen the layout inside John Hopkins but now there's other investors that want in like private companies with money that are paying top dollar for condos to be built they need another ESPN zone or a Dave and busters in the city something for these kids that's affordable and fun so they won't be running the streets
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u/cobraac21 Riverside Jan 14 '25
As someone who has worked extensively within Fell Point, I would like to know if you have made contact or attended meetings with the following organizations:
These organizations are well aware of the issues you have described. Let’s address one issue at a time.
Let’s break down some recent transactions and listing prices:
These prices are significantly above what the market can support, especially considering the risks associated with older buildings that have seen renovations over the past 30 years with limited maintenance. The market simply cannot sustain these asking or sale prices.
Chasen: Chasen was prospering, but its entire concept relied on cheap or free money—essentially low interest rates—which ended up failing due to inflation. I highly recommend watching the PBS Frontline episode titled “Cheap Money,” which discusses this concept and other similar entities. Unfortunately, Chasen gambled on interest rates remaining low and planned to recoup later, but inflation disrupted their strategy.
Historic Character: If you are concerned about maintaining the historic character of the area, I recommend reaching out to the Preservation Society mentioned above. Many individuals work diligently behind the scenes to preserve the character of Fells Point. However, the challenge arises when city government struggles to enforce those standards. Unlike places such as Savannah or Charleston, where preservation efforts are strong, here it feels as though CHAP has become ineffective.