Black Acres Roastery , an artisan coffee roaster located in Station North . Chopra and Morgan also sell wares by other local creatives , including porcelain and bamboo tableware along with marbled journals and other home decor .
“ The mission of Good Neighbor is to be that : a good neighbor . We really feel that Baltimore has a lot of amazing artists and makers ,” Chopra says , adding that visitors to their shop have connected with each other via conversations , playdates and more .
Lawhorn offers a similar perspective on connection . “ As implied by our name , Friends and Family are the most important aspect of our decisions ,” she explains .
The community-first business model extends beyond city limits for some
“
To invest in Baltimore is to invest in a city of diverse residents who support and respect small businesses and their contributions to their communities .”
– Ginny Lawhorn , Managing Partner of Friends and Family
restaurants . Last year , Ekiben owners and co-founders Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe drove to Vermont to cook a meal for a terminally ill customer . The Asian fusion restaurant has locations in Fell ’ s Point and Hampden , and the customer in Vermont was craving its tempura broccoli as one of her final meals . Her son-in-law emailed the owners and asked for the recipe so they could attempt to cook it themselves . Chu and Abebe didn ’ t hesitate and responded that they would travel the six hours to make it for her .
“ We ’ re just glad we could make her happy ,” Chu told The Baltimore Sun . “ I think that ’ s what hospitality is all about .”
These days , that kind of community appreciation extends to — and from — businesses across the region .
As Lawhorn explains : “ Baltimore is a beautiful city full of unique neighborhoods that each provide distinct character . To invest in Baltimore is to invest in a city of diverse residents who support and respect small businesses and their contributions to their communities .” VB
MERA KITCHEN COLLECTIVE
Centered around ideas of community , cooperation and ritual , Mera Kitchen Collective is a community-driven food business working toward a democratic collective format . The group focuses on empowering chefs from around the world to share their food and talent with diners . Supporting the community has always been in the mix — a nonprofit arm , MK Foundation , has supplied more than 160,000 free meals to Baltimore residents since the beginning of the pandemic . In the fall , Mera Kitchen Collective opened its first restaurant space to share its global culinary vision with the public . A robust catering menu of boxed and full-service items also highlights global cuisine ( think handmade tamales , spicy peanut stew and pistachio rosewater baklava ).
GROUNDWORK KITCHEN
Eating at Groundwork Kitchen means more than enjoying broiled crab balls or Maryland fried chicken ; when you enjoy a meal at this Pigtown eatery , you are actively contributing to the development of the next generation of chefs , restaurant managers and hospitality professionals .
Groundwork ’ s free culinary arts training program provides opportunities for students to learn culinary skills while having access to a stipend , childcare and bus fare to help them complete their education . The restaurant ’ s parent organization , Paul ’ s Place , has been providing residents of Southwest Baltimore with healthcare , education , housing and employment for 30 years , and designed Groundwork as a social enterprise to give back to and nourish the blossoming Pigtown neighborhood through access , care , and of course , great food .
THE CLASSIC CATERING PEOPLE
For over 40 years , Classic Catering — a certified Women ’ s Business Enterprise — has been driven by a passion for bringing people together through delicious food and community service . Every year , the business partners with educational , arts , health and environmental organizations such as United Way of Central Maryland , Baltimore School for the Arts and Sinai Hospital , and during the pandemic , Classic Catering assisted with food distributions that positively impacted more than two million individuals .
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