By Kendall Floor
Baltimore’s food scene is welcoming some new exciting faces this year but the landscape is also significantly shifting with the loss of several long-standing staples near the harbor because of redevelopment and rising costs. Here are the latest openings and closing to keep track of what’s changing in your neighborhood.
New places to check out!
Smokin Chick
- Address: 800 Saint Paul St., Baltimore
- Hours: Closed Sunday-Tuesday; 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Friday-Saturday
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Smokin Chick offers smoked protein rice bowls with over 20 sweet and savory toppings to choose from. According to their website, they are all about good times, good bites and Baltimore energy, and have options everyone will love. If you aren’t a fan of rice bowls, they also offer sandwiches, desserts and alcoholic beverages.
Toasty Corner
- Address: 1001 S Charles St., Baltimore
- Hours: Closed Mondays; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Friday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays
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Toasty Corner is a family-owned grilled cheese spot in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood. The menu features a variety of melty sandwiches and additionally offers salads, soups, breakfast items and more.
The Fishmonger’s Daughter
- Address: 72 Fredrick Road, Baltimore
- Hours: Coming soon
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The Fishmonger’s Daughter is an expansion of John W. Fraidley’s Seafood, a fifth-generation family-owned institution, according to the Baltimore Sun. The brand has evolved into a word-renowned culinary destination celebrated for its jumbo lump crab cakes. It will offer the well-known crab cakes, table service, a raw bar and a catering facility. The restaurant doesn’t have a set opening date but it’s set to open in 2026.
Lib’s Grill
- Address: 210 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Baltimore
- Hours: Coming soon
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Lib’s Grill, a Baltimore-area seafood chain, is scheduled to open a new Towson location with a targeted opening date of late March or early April. The current menu at other locations include oysters, a raw bar and more.
Marta al Mare
- Address: 1307 Point St., Baltimore
- Hours: Coming soon
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Marta al Mare is expanding to Harbor Point and is set to open in summer 2026. The restaurant will serve American cuisine mixed with Italian, including Lobster Saltimbocca, Tori Arancini and more.
Saying our fond farewells
Food Depot
- Address: 2495 Frederick Road, Baltimore
Food Depot in North Baltimore did not renew their lease and closed their doors in late January. The CEO stated to WBAL that the business is no longer sustainable due to higher costs for utilities, security, energy, benefits, wages and bag and bottle taxes.
Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel
- Address: 300 S Charles St., Baltimore
The Sheraton closed its doors on New Year’s Eve and laid off 69 employees in the process, according to WBAL. The hotel was pivotal to the Baltimore Orioles as it was located a block away from Camden Yards.
City Cruises
- Address: 561 Light St., Baltimore
The cruise agency is planning to end its Baltimore operations in spring 2026 and move one of its ships to a port in Washington, DC. The company said it will work with crew, guests and the community to ensure the end of operations is smooth and not disruptive, according to CBS News.
The Cheesecake Factory
- Address: 201 E Pratt St., Baltimore
CBS News also reported that The Cheesecake factory closed in late January due to the impending Harborplace redevelopment project. Around 115 employees were impacted and the nationwide chain also operated in Towson, Hanover and Columbia.
Saks Fifth Avenue
- Address: 5555 Wisconsin Ave., Baltimore
Patch announced that Saks Fifth Avenue will close at the end of May. The parent company Saks Global has been shrinking its business since it filed for bankruptcy in January.
