Local business spotlight blog
Hi everyone! I hope all is well. I’m here on behalf of The Williams Home Team of Long & Foster. We’re a local Maryland real estate company. Recently we started a weekly blog to highlight some of our great local businesses, I thought this would be a good place to post it. We’ll be posting this blog once a week and each time we will pick 5 local Annapolis/Baltimore area businesses to highlight. We’re always open to suggestions for some great local businesses! Please take a minute and check out our post and let me know what you think. Thanks! Have a great rest of your day :)
There are many reasons why it’s a good idea to shop locally whenever you have a chance. Especially now, the pandemic has been hard for everyone but small business owners have been hit harder than usual. It’s hard to keep track of exactly how many businesses have closed since the beginning of the pandemic but an educated guess is as many as 40,000–50,000, according to Professor Diriker at University of Maryland. Some of these businesses may have the opportunity to reopen but many of them will not be able to, it’s a sad but true aspect of our current situation. Sadly, there isn’t much any of us can do to fix the problem. However, what we can do is support our local businesses as best as we can. As a member of our communities, we can help and support those vital local businesses around us and make sure to give them the much needed support in these difficult times. I know it can be confusing to determine where to shop locally. The best ways to find the businesses in your local area are to check out some local blogs (such as Patch) or even just search on google for local businesses. Also, in this post I’ll go ahead and include the name of a few local Annapolis/Baltimore area businesses so that way you can get an idea of what to look for and you can even support them if you choose to do. I’m sure any local business would be more than happy to have your support now! Your business could even be the reason that they can keep their doors open on more day, just something to think about next time you’re looking for a place to buy something.
In this next section, I’ll name a few local businesses and briefly describe them, feel free to give them a call or look them up if you’re interested in supporting them or want to learn more about them.
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern is our first local place that I’m going to list. They are one of my personal favorites. They specialize in BBQ and other pub foods. They are a family business and have been in downtown Annapolis for over 10 years. They’re famous for their delicious ribs & wide selection of craft beers to choose from. On tap are a lot of locally brewed beers, that’s another way you could support local businesses and have a good time while you do it. This business has won multiple awards for their amazing tasting BBQ, The Capital 2013 Reader’s Choice award & What’s up Annapolis Best of 2013 Award. Feel free to give them a call to find out more or stop by and find out why so many locals love this place.
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern : 410–571–5073
107 Hillsmere Drive Annapolis, MD 21403
Blue Rooster Café is the next place on our list. In 2013 after 13 years as an Executive Chef in Washington, D.C., Dave Pow landed and set up roost at the Blue Rooster Café in the heart of Cape St. Claire. A little bit Memphis (where he used to live), a little bit Annapolis (where he now lives) and a little bit New Orleans (where he’s always wanted to live), the Blue Rooster combines fresh local ingredients with the down home cooking styles of these great American cities. This Café is known around Maryland for having some of the best breakfast you can find. In 2016 they won the Best Weekday Breakfast in Annapolis award. It’s definitely a place you want to check out next time you’re in the area!
Blue Rooster Café : 410–757–5232
1372 Cape St Clair Rd Annapolis, MD 21409
Castlebay Irish Pub is another great local Annapolis place that should definitely be on your list of places to stop by this summer. Established in 1998 by native Dubliner, Vincent Quinlan, Castlebay has become a second home to many in the nearly 20 years since they opened. They are a true Irish pub dedicated to bringing a taste of Ireland to Annapolis with great food and drink, friendly service, and good ole Irish hospitality. Feel the authenticity of a Dublin pub with the open floor design, dark mahogany tables and moss green wall. Offering a mix of American and Irish traditional favorites and a full premium bar. A great place to stop by and try some Irish comfort food or a good pint of Irish beers, which they have a large selection.
Castlebay Irish Pub: 410–626–0165
193A Main St Annapolis, MD 21409
Mother’s Bar & Grill is another outstanding restaurant on our list. With locations in both Fed Hill & Severna Park, they have built a true reputation for their delicious crab cakes and for having some of the best hospitality around. Mother’s Federal Hill has fed over 500,000 meals to hungry guests. Mother’s has won many awards including Top Sports Bar in the country by Sporting News, Ultimate Burger in Maryland by the Food Network, multiple Best of Baltimore awards including Best Bar Food and is home to the world famous Purple Patio. Mother’s Peninsula Grille or MPG as it’s also known opened on Ritchie Highway in the Severna Park-Arnold area in 2013. It has been hugely successful resulting in long time GM Marc Boyd being brought on as a partner. They continue to grow their brand south of the city by winning multiple best of Severna Park awards. They truly do have award winning service and amazing food to go along with it! Without a doubt this place is a true gem and a must visit place , be sure to stop by this summer and find out why so many locals are crazy about Mother’s.
Mother’s Bar & Grill: 410–975–5950
969 Ritchie Highway Arnold, MD 21012
Ophiuroidea “The O” is the final place on our list for this week, it is located in the Town of St. Michaels, Maryland and the Kent Narrows in Grasonville. Unlike the rest of the places on our list, this local store is a coastal inspired boutique offering clothing, unique and handcrafted coastal items, mermaid art, sea glass jewelry, coastal furniture & home decor and one of a kind finds. They are truly unique in the amazing art they create. If you’re looking for an original gift for someone or just something to decorate your home, a work of art from this place will make any room or home stand out from the crowd. You can tell that the owners of this business truly enjoy their work and it shows in the amazing art that’s crafted! It’s made with love and care and you’ll be sure to spot the difference. High quality craftsmanship all around. Put this place on your list and stop by for a few minutes next time you’re in the area!
Ophiuroidea: 410–304–2049
110 Channel Marker Way Suite 100 Grasonville, MD 21638
