Category: Business Matters

Pinland Bowling to Hold WAVFC Fundraiser in Final Days


A fundraiser will be held this Saturday, June 12 at Pinland Bowling Lanes in Dundalk. The fundraiser will be held for the Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company from 7 to 10 p.m.”

“This station is run on volunteers and a love of helping their community!   So please come show them your appreciation. $15 a person for 3 hours of bowling and shoe rental is included,” said a statement on Pinland’s Facebook page.

“There will be a 50/50, raffle baskets, and baked goods for sale during the event.  No groupons will be honored during this event.”

The Wise Avenue VFC promoted the event on its Facebook page, but it also revealed that Pinland was on the verge of closing.

“Please Come Say “GOODBYE” To a Dundalk Landmark and Business!! Yes. Pinland Bowling Alley is closing it’s doors. Help Support the Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company and Give Pinland a Great “Thanks For The Memories” send off!,” said a statement from WAVFC.

“Thank You Pinland Bowling Alley for your CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT for so many decades.”

Pinland is located at 10 N Dundalk Avenue and has been in operation for over 60 years. The bowling alley has held toy drives for the holidays, a food drive for Thanksgiving and held other charitably events for the community.

Pinland has still been hosting fundraisers as the bowling alley had an event to raise funds for Watersedge baseball/softball on June 2.

When EastBaltCo News asked about the future of Pinland, their social media coordinator said that the Pinland will be put on “pause”.

“At the conclusion of the firehall’s fundraiser Pinland and the Duckpond’s operations will be put on pause until the owner has his business plan set up to move forward.”

GreenDrop to Open Site at White Marsh Mall


Councilwoman Cathy Bevins announced the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new GreenDrop site at White Marsh Mall on Friday, June 18 at 10 a.m.

The GreenDrop bin will be located in the mall parking lot behind the Burger King.

“This was a collaborative effort between a vital nonprofit in GreenDrop, a wonderful private business in White Marsh Mall, and local government, and I could not be more thrilled to see this come to fruition after working on this for the better part of a year, ” Bevins said.

According to Bevins, donations to GreenDrop benefit charities like the American Red Cross, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the National Federation of the Blind. Clothing and household items are accepted at GreenDrop sites, as long as they are in decent condition, and then resold, with funds from resale go to the aforementioned charities.

There have been complaints in communities over Baltimore County that donation boxes have been the source of dumping.

Bevins added that GreenDrop has staffers onsite for their donations.

“Not only is this a fantastic partnership, it will also go a long way toward keeping our communities clean by reducing dumping. These are manned bins, so there should not be any issue with piles of goods accumulating near the bins, and the workers manning the bins will be able to tell you if your potential donation is something they can accept,” Bevins said.

“I would like to thank GreenDrop and White Marsh Mall for seeing the potential in this collaboration and working so diligently with me to get this project off the ground. I would also like to thank my colleagues on the Baltimore County Council for supporting this effort, especially Councilman David Marks for expanding the program countywide.”

Marks thanked Bevins on her hard work to bring the GreenDrop site to the White Marsh Mall area.

“This type of business is far preferable to the unmanned boxes that accumulate piles of donations. With GreenDrop, each site is manned with workers. Hopefully, this type of operation will significantly cut down on dumping,” Mark said.

Al’s Seafood Opens Dundalk Carryout Site


Al’s Seafood is back but with a new location for now.

The Essex location at 1551 Eastern Blvd. caught on fire in October, where firefighters reported heavy smoke from the second floor in October. There were no reports of injuries during the fire.

Al’s has now reopened as a carryout location until the old Essex location reopens.

Al’s Seafood carryout is located in Dundalk at 7458 German Hill Road.

For more information, go to their website their Facebook page or call 443-503-6236.

Four Local Small Businesses Receive BGE Grant


This month, BGE awarded 88 small businesses located within BGE’s service area $20,000 grants through its Energizing Small Business Grants program. This program is part of BGE’s $15 million pledge to assist small businesses with COVID-19 relief and recovery and is a multi-year commitment expected to run through at least 2023.

Here is a full list of the four eastern Baltimore County Recipients

Chimax Medical Center
Chienyenwa Nwachinemere | Rosedale, MD

Maryland Maids
Ruby Cardwell | Middle River, MD

Skin Access Studios
Danielle Johnson | Parkville, MD

EHS Maryland
Nina Zunt | Dundalk, MD

“Small businesses are a vital part of Maryland’s economy, creating jobs throughout the state—and they unfortunately bore the brunt of COVID-19’s economic fallout. BGE’s Energizing Small Business Grants program is critical to helping stabilize local businesses and the communities we serve,” said BGE CEO Carim Khouzami. “These grants also complement our Customer Relief and Energy Infrastructure Investment Plan that freezes customer rates in 2021 and supports more than 26,000 jobs in Maryland. The pandemic has far-reaching impacts and this multi-layered approach to supporting our customers, businesses and communities will help our region recover and thrive.”

Of the 88 recipients, 26% are in the food and beverage industry, 14% in healthcare and wellness, 12% in professional business services and 10% in beauty and self-care. A majority of the grants went to businesses owned by historically marginalized groups and a full 82% have fewer than 10 full-time employees.

“I am beyond pleased to be a recipient of the BGE Energizing Small Business Grant. It couldn’t come at a better time. I will be able to catch up on my deferred rent payments and keep my place of business. This grant will also make it possible for me to bring back some part time help,” said Elaine McCloud, grant recipient and president of Glen Burnie-based Ambrosia Caterers.

BGE partnered with Hello Alice, a free, multichannel platform that helps businesses launch and grow, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, a Washington, DC-based organization that supports entrepreneurs throughout the U.S. and around the world, to provide the grants. All applicants gain access to Hello Alice’s free COVID-19 Business Resource Center to ensure consistent support and mentorship to all business owners. Businesses will be able to apply for grants during two additional application periods: May 5 – June 16 and Sept. 1 – Oct. 13.

“The impact that the ongoing pandemic has had on small businesses has been well documented, as have the even more devastating impacts on minority and women entrepreneurs. In partnership with BGE, we are thrilled we were able to support this grant program for the 88 small businesses that are so well-deserving, 56% of which are woman-owned and 66% of which are minority-owned, groups that are historically underfunded and underserved,” said Elizabeth Gore, co-founder and president of Hello Alice.

In addition to small business grants, BGE’s comprehensive efforts to support Marylanders during the COVID-19 pandemic have included an additional $1.5 million contribution to the Fuel Fund of Maryland, $1 million in funding to county-administered business pandemic relief funds, expansion of BGE’s Workforce Collaborative infrastructure academy to train approximately 600 local residents for job placement over the next three years, and extending flexible payment arrangement plans to help qualifying customers to maintain their electric and gas service. BGE and the Exelon companies in Maryland directed $1.25 million to Maryland relief organizations, including the Maryland Food Bank, United Way of Central Maryland, PCs for People, and the Baltimore Community Foundation. The Energizing Small Business Grants program and all nonprofit contributions are made using shareholder dollars and are not reflected in customer bills.

Avenue at White Marsh to Host Job Fair


THE AVENUE at White Marsh is hosting a job fair on its campus Monday, May 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. The following Avenue at White Marsh stores are looking for employees at the job fair.

Akira Ramen and Izakaya -Apply online here: Waitress/Waiter – Nottingham, MD 21236 – Indeed.com or apply in person
Ando’s Market – Stop by and apply in person or email your resume to katie@redbrickstation.com
Brown Rice – Stop by and apply in person
Bandito’s Bar & Kitchen – Apply online here:https://bit.ly/3suCfS5
Bar Louie – Find info and apply online here:
Bar Louie Team Members Career Opportunities (prismhr-hire.com)
BurgerFi – Apply online here: https://indeedhi.re/32wctCs
Chili’s – Find info and apply online here: https://bit.ly/2RnrXGi
Coldstone – Apply online here: https://www.coldstonecreamery.com/jobs/applications/?store=22025&brand=14
LOFT – Find information for the sales associate position online and apply here: https://bit.ly/3tAEZyl
Find information for the sales lead position online and apply here: https://bit.ly/3gqVnxR
Red Brick Station – Stop by and apply in person or email your resume to paul@redbrickstation.com
SLICE on THE AVENUE – Stop by and apply in person
Spa on THE AVENUE – Apply online here: https://bit.ly/3enXxvI
Texas Roadhouse – Apply online here: https://bit.ly/32Baf4s
The Curious Oyster – Apply online here:https://bit.ly/3suCfS5
Wayward Smokehouse – Apply online here:https://bit.ly/3suCfS5
Yankee Candle Company – Stop by the store and apply in person

Baltimore County to Hold Spring Restaurant Week


In the latest effort to support Baltimore County’s restaurant and hospitality industry, County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced Baltimore County’s first Spring Restaurant Week will be held from April 16- May 2.

For the first time, Baltimore County Restaurant Week deals and special menu items at more than 50 participating establishments will expand to include dine-in, takeout, or curbside pick-up to provide flexible, safe options for residents.

“We are excited to partner with our local restaurants to bring back this beloved Baltimore County tradition in an innovative, new way,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “We’re encouraging the residents of Baltimore County and beyond to come out and support our hard-hit restaurant community—whether it’s trying something new or returning to an old favorite—and to take full advantage of these options to dine safely and comfortably.”

To continue to prioritize the recovery of our local restaurant partners, all registration fees required for participation in this year’s promotion have been waived.

Baltimore County Restaurant Week allows diners to discover new restaurants or old favorites at a discounted price. All Baltimore County restaurants must follow the County’s COVID-19 restrictions and CDC guidelines.

Participating restaurants, menus and special deals will be updated regularly on the Author eastbaltcoPosted on Categories Business Matters, NewsTags

Perry Hall Shopping Centers Getting Facelifts; New Stores


Councilman David Marks announced renovations to two local shopping centers in the Perry Hall area.

Wooden structures were seen at the Silver Spring Shopping Center at the corner of Silver Spring & Belair Roads in Perry Hall as renovations started last week. This is the shopping center that added Lidl to take the spot of the old Mars Supermarket building.

“Our office worked with the Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals, and Inspections to have the permits reviewed. Everything was finalized on Sept. 10, and renovations started on Sept. 14,” Marks said.

“By the end of the year, the shopping center should have a nice facelift. Along with the Lidl that opened in January, this has been a good year for that area.”

The other facelift is a mile down the road at the Perry Hall Square Shopping Center at the corner of Ebenezer and Belair roads.

Marks released a schematic showing the new layout and stores scheduled at Perry Hall Square. Boardwalk Fries was reported to join the shopping center, but a Zips Dry Cleaning and a fitness center joins the shopping center. Those stores join Dollar Tree, Brunswick Bowling, Ace Hardware and many other stores.

“Very happy to see these changes. In 2012, the Council created a commercial revitalization district along Belair Road that has helped from this area down to the Silver Spring Shopping Center,” Mark added.

“If you don’t like the new businesses coming in, you have every right not to patronize them. My personal opinion is that occupancies are almost always better than vacancies.”

Boardwalk Fries Coming to East Baltimore County


Boardwalk Fries is coming to Eastern Baltimore County. Perry Hall to be exact. The opening is set for the late fall 2020.

The company announced on its website that a new Boardwalk Fries Burgers Shakes will open at the Perry Hall Square Shopping Center at intersection of Ebenezer Road and Belair Road.

According to their website, Boardwalk Fries has been in business since it started on the Boardwalk at Ocean City in 1980.

Perry Hall will have the fifth location in Maryland and the second Boardwalk Fries in Baltimore County (Halethorpe). There are also locations in California, Georgia, Virginia and Washington D.C.

For more information on menu offerings and locations visit www.boardwalkfries.com.

Maryland State Fair Officially Canceled


The cancelations for 2020 continue and this time COVID-19 claims a major event, the Maryland State Fair. The Fair was scheduled to take place at the Timonium Fairgrounds from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7. Representatives from the Fair announced that the 2020 version was canceled on Wednesday.

“Today, it is with heavy hearts that the Board of Directors, management and staff of the Maryland State Fair & Agricultural Society, Inc. announce the decision to cancel the 139th Maryland State Fair,” said Maryland State Fair Board Chairman Gerry L. Brewster said in a statement.

“Fortunately, we have received approval to allow youth and open class exhibitors from Maryland to show their animals in livestock shows following all proper protocols. Although this will not be open to the public, this will allow Maryland’s youth to showcase their hard work and will also allow the Maryland State Fair to fulfill its mission to educate and to showcase Maryland Agriculture.”

This is the second time in its 142-year history that The Maryland State Fair was cancelled. The other time was during World War II when the state fair property was used by the U.S. Army.

County Offers Grants to Chambers of Commerce


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski a $600,000 grant program designed to assist chambers of commerce and business associations in their missions to support businesses in their communities.

The grant program will fund initiatives that support local businesses by providing educational programming and marketing efforts to help sustain the viability of this important economic sector that has been hit especially hard by the pandemic.

“Our independent small businesses and our neighborhood business corridors are an important element of our local economy and they add to our overall sense of community,” said County Executive Olszewski. “These grant funds will quickly go where they are needed to provide critically-needed support to help our small businesses districts.”

The COVID-19 Business Corridor Sustainability Grant Program is narrowly focused on providing financial support to Baltimore County’s small business associations and chambers of commerce so that they can provide professional-level services to support member and nonmember businesses in their communities.

A total of $600,000 will be awarded to eligible applicants, capped at $20,000 per organization. Applicants will be required to submit a proposal that demonstrates how the organization plans to utilize these funds to support small businesses in Baltimore County by providing COVID-19 related services.

These grant funds will enable the County’s chambers and small business associations to pay staff or outside experts to conduct virtual educational programming on COVID-19 related recovery efforts such as accounting requirements for government assistance programs or negotiating forbearance agreements with landlords and financial institutions. Funds could also be used for marketing campaigns to help promote community patronage and support for local “Main Street” businesses.

Apply Now

Applications are open now and available.

Applicants must be a not-for-profit business association or chamber of commerce that:
•Serves businesses located in Baltimore County
•Has been in operation as of January 1, 2020
•Has at least one paid staff member, and provides an employee roster listing all employees as of January 31, 2020
•Is registered and in good standing with the State of Maryland, if required to do so by law
•Is not currently in default on any loans, or out of compliance with any grants from Baltimore County, or delinquent on any taxes owed to Baltimore County
•Submits a complete and acceptable application and proposal by 5 p.m. on Monday, August 31

Baltimore County staff will review the application to ensure proper completion, and an inter-agency committee will be responsible for reviewing each application submitted to determine eligibility.