Annapolis officials are inching closer and closer to solidifying plans for the Market House – paving the way toward adding more Annapolis restaurants into the mix while ruling out some possible avenues for revenue.
Some things are or will be: It looks like the City will be installing some geothermal wells as well as promising to maintain the City Dock building’s roof and HVAC plus paying off the building’s debt.
But beer and liquor sales are out. The idea forming is that the Market House is less a bawdy roadhouse and more of a family-oriented destination. To that end the City is adding a nearby park and landscaping ideas into the plan, which paves the way for an outdoor café and perhaps some kiosks. This could bring more foot traffic into the City Dock area – a goal of many people for a long time.
They are also looking to expand parking and performing arts capacities for the site, and removing a planter that is obstructing the view of the bay. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it’s probably the Inner Harbor.
The current tenants, due to move to greener pastures come January are Chick and Ruth’s Delly Express, Wimsey Cove historic maps and art, Jerrie’s on the Shore burgers and curly fries, Maryland Table groceries, b.b. Bistro, Pit Boys Oyster and Raw Bar, Myra’s Popcorn Kitchen, Firenze’s Coffee and Gelato, and Wok Your Way.
The current structure limits the food oriented among them to use only very low heat. The aforementioned geothermal wells would allow new tenants at the Market House to offer more Annapolis restaurant fare. But that takes both construction and time. It’s been reported that the current crop of tenants are parting ways with the Market House when their six-month contracts end come January, and that’s when the renovations are slated to begin. Once completed, this new restaurant-capable facility will reopen its doors with a host of new options for consumers as well as prospective businesses.
The city has the option to solicit new tenants but is apparently holding off on that option until all of its ducks are neatly arranged into rows. It’s probably a smart move as sometimes construction issue crop up or some perfectly good monkey wrench ends up in all of those gears.
The plans for the next five years’ worth of Market House happenings are starting to take shape, with the expansion into a nearby plaza and the elimination of alcohol sales having been pretty much settled. The crop of current tenants leases are up come January and then an expansive construction project will begin. There are some inherent risks to the plan, but there have been some openings left for a change if it should become necessary.
What is the address of the Market house?
25 Market Street, Annapolis, MD 21401