The Mill on North: After years of anticipation, West Baltimore’s first food hall is finally here. The Mill on North officially debuted last week, bringing a 7,800-square-foot dining destination to Walbrook Mill at West North and Braddish avenues. Visitors can expect seven food and beverage vendors, including D&B Deli, Caribbean-style brunch from 3 Chefs, seafood specialist Dream Street Cuisine, burger joint Double Stack Burger, soul food purveyor Next Phaze Cafe, full-service bar Cocktails At The Mill, and Krazy Sweet Desserts.
The project—brought to life by development partners Coppin Heights Community Development Corporation, Timonium’s Osprey Property Co., and the nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services—has been in the works for nearly four years and is meant to serve what has been called a long-underinvested section of the western end of North Avenue. The food hall will also conveniently cater to students and staff at neighboring Coppin State University.
Developers were intentional about making this a space by the community, for the community. All seven vendors have a connection to the neighborhood, and the interior features a vibrant mural by self-taught Baltimore artist Reginald Lewis. (Yes, that’s really his name.)
“I’m looking forward to not just offering our food, but being part of something to improve the economic state of the community,” D&B Deli co-founder Tony Randall told Baltimore back in 2022. “This project offers that, and we’re just blessed to be a part of it.”
Cafè Luli: Speaking of highly anticipated spots—neighbors surrounding the Stevenson Village Shopping Center were excited to finally welcome this new European cafe last month. Still operating in soft open mode Tuesdays through Saturdays, the space—previously home to Stone Mill Bakery’s second location—is now a one-stop-shop for coffees, teas, and scratch-made treats with an Argentinian slant, paying homage to owner Sarah Miller’s maternal heritage. (Think: flaky medialunas, turkey and cheese croissants, banana bread, and chocolate chip cookies.)
“Thank you for your patience, excitement, and your belief in what we’re buiding,” Miller posted to social after the grand opening on April 19. “Cafè Luli isn’t just about coffee and medialunas, it’s about heart, heritage, and the sweet little rituals that make life feel beautiful.”
Owl’s Corner Café: After announcing its temporary closure in January, Owl’s Corner Cafe has relocated to 824 N. Calvert St. in Mt. Vernon. The Puerto Rican eatery had been a member of the Dundalk North Point Plaza flea market since 2021, but the new location now offers a larger footprint for serving up the eatery’s signature dishes, from mofongo to empanadas.
“For three years we heard you guys wishing we were in a bigger space with more hours, and we listened,” the cafe wrote on social media. “We never stopped looking for what, today, is our new home.”
According to The Baltimore Banner, part of the decision to relocate stemmed from the Key Bridge collapse. Owner Lilly Ordoñez told the outlet that the bridge was a major thoroughfare for people commuting from Anne Arundel County to Dundalk, and without it, sales dropped. The Banner also reports that one of the cafe’s employees is the wife of José Mynor López, who tragically passed away on that fateful day last March.
EPICUREAN EVENTS
5/16-5/17: Baltimore Fermentation Festival
This month, HEX Superette in Govans will host what it’s billing as Baltimore’s first-ever Fermentation Festival. On May 16, patrons can join renowned fermentation expert, author, and educator Sandor Katz for a Q&A complete with (of course) fermented cocktails and snacks. The second day will feature a marketplace with an array of vendors showcasing kimchi, mead, cider, sourdough, and more. Attendees browsing the market will also enjoy tastings, workshops, and a special demonstration from Katz. Get tickets here.
SHUT
Nana: Last week, James Beard-nominated chef Carlos Raba—best known as the chef and co-owner of Clavel in Remington—broke the news that his first solo restaurant, Nana, had closed in Towson. “This past year has been trying as a business and we’ve been pushing so hard through rotating menu items, restaurant collabs/partnerships, and promotions to be able to stay afloat and spread joy through Mexican cuisine for you all,” Raba wrote on social media. “We can no longer sustain Nana and have made the extremely heart-wrenching decision to shut Nana’s doors.”
Raba opened Nana, a concept honoring his great-grandmother, in January 2024. During its short-but-sweet run, the restaurant was known for its tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and dogos—Sinaloa-style, bacon-wrapped hot dogs with caramelized onions and avocado sauce. There’s no word yet on what will become of the historic, circa 1924 stone building on York Road, which originally housed a pharmacy.