Maryland Business

What’s so great about Wegmans Food Markets? According to a recent report by Fortune magazine, the mega-grocer and specialty foods store has never laid off an employee.

That’s good news for Marylanders, who are awaiting the opening of a Wegmans in Columbia in June, with additional plans for a store in Owings Mills.

“When Wegmans Food Markets has to eliminate a position, they make sure they find the displaced employee another job that they will be passionate about within the company,” the report said.

“When their Britton Road store in Rochester, N.Y. closed last summer, they offered all of the store’s employees a job at another location in the same city. Within two weeks, all 250 employees from the Britton Road store knew exactly what they were going to be doing.”

The Rochester, N.Y.-based chain opened a store in Hunt Valley in 2005 and another in Abingdon in mid-September. There are also locations in Lanham and Frederick.

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In an effort to cut costs and maintain the right level of staffing during busy hours,  Walmart has removed greeters from its 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. Over the past six months, the company has been reassigning these people to other positions, such as stocking shelves and manning cash registers.

The majority were able to find positions within the same store or another one close by, said company spokeswoman Ashley Hardie.

“Same-store sales at Walmart’s namesake U.S. locations declined for nine straight quarters before snapping the streak with a 1.3 percent gain for the quarter ended in October,” according to a report by Bloomberg.

Greeters have been a 32-year tradition at Walmart. The superstore chain has more than 3,000 locations nationwide and 45 stores in Maryland, including 16 Supercenters, which are typically open 24/7.

What do you think — will you miss someone standing at the door when you come in for a midnight snack?

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A $759,000 federal community development grant was given to officials of the city’s Howard Park community Monday to help build a new grocery store there.

The grant was made as part of a national Healthy Food Financing Initiative and is one of 12 nationally. The initiative aims to eliminate “food deserts” in low-income and rural communities by helping to construct supermarkets and small grocery stores that offer fresh, healthy foods.

The award was made as part of the city’s first Food Day. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and city agency heads, representatives of the United Way of Central Maryland, urban farmers and healthy food advocates gathered at City Hall to commemorate the event that is part of a national movement to raise awareness for improved food policies.

The Food Day focuses on six principles that include expanded access to food, reduction of  diet-related diseases, promotion of health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids and greater support for sustainable farming.

The Baltimore Food Policy Initiative has received national recognition for its efforts to improve access to healthy, affordable foods in food deserts – areas where residents lack access to healthy food options.

“For preventing heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions, having access to healthy foods is nearly, if not equally, important as having access to quality health care,” said Baltimore Commissioner of Health Dr. Oxiris Barbot.

The federal grant to help fund a new grocery in Howard Park will help with that, city officials said.

“These federal funds will not only help build a new grocery store, but also support the development of a commercial kitchen, and revitalize farmers markets in the area,” said Department of Planning Director Thomas J. Stosur. “This is a great example of how a grocery store can increase a community’s access to healthy foods and spur job creation.”

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When you think of Baltimore, you don’t necessarily think “fashion destination” along the lines of New York, Paris, Milan, etc.

But apparently someone wants to try to change that. On Sept. 8, a “Fashion’s Night Out” celebration of sorts will be held in Baltimore, along with 100 other cities in 17 countries participating in the same extravaganza.

The event celebrates the industry with a combination of shopping, entertainment, special events, extended business hours and other types of festivities around a city.

The concept was developed by Anna Wintour of Vogue Magazine fame in 2008, to boost the industry and support retailers. Baltimore’s event is sponsored by the Baltimore Fashion Alliance, a nonprofit created earlier this year.

Retailers and boutiques in Mt. Vernon, Hampden, Clipper Mill, Kenilworth, Greenspring Station, Harbor East and other areas will be extending business hours into the evening and planning in-store events.

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Embrace your inner 4-year-old and climb up into the padded seat of a big truck cab. Or a police car.

This Saturday, the Baltimore Museum of Industry has its big truck day event, which should draw in kids from all ages like the Pied Piper.

The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with lots more outdoor entertainment and half-price admission to the museum itself.

And while you’re around town, catch some lunch or an early dinner on Charles Street during its “Let’s Eat Charles Street” promotion Saturday.  The 300 block of  N. Charles Street will be closed to traffic for an event that features local restaurants, retailers, kids’ activities and live music. Food and drink prices will vary, but admission to the event itself is free. Participating vendors are listed on the event’s website.

And draw on your pencil mustache! John Waters will be visiting Atomic Books on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Baltimore-native film director will be there to sign copies of “Role Models,” available in softcover.

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It’s back again! The Maryland Film Festival is here for our viewing pleasure Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $10 for most screenings, so get them soon after checking out the great schedule.

John Waters will be presenting “Domaine,” while Animal Collective presents “Boxer’s Omen.” So, if nothing else, you’ll see some local celebrities there, and Harry Belafonte for the closing night special documentary. Speaking of movies, Belafonte’s very name always evokes this scene in my head.

Now, free comic books. Head to Atomic Books in Hampden to get free comics and to celebrate the debut of the third issue of Mutant. You can also jump over to the Collectors Corner in Parkville for free comics, free pizza, a trivia contest and appearances by comic creators and characters.

And it’s Flowermart this weekend! Both Friday and Saturday, the festival will go on from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Mt. Vernon’s parks near the Washington Monument. Check out dance performances, contests, music, parades, food and of course, flowers.

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As many Baltimoreans who have been trying to place phone calls on Monday would know, it is Passover eve. And many are taking off early to celebrate and to rid their homes of leavened bread for the next eight days.

Interestingly enough, Lenny’s Deli opened in Harborplace in the Pratt Street Pavilion last week, probably to capitalize on the crowd that can’t buy more bread right before the holiday, but still needs a sandwich fix. I bet lots of places have been getting pre-Passover business.

Owner Alan Smith and his father, Lenny Smith, opened the third location after recently celebrating the 25th anniversary of Lenny’s in Owings Mills. The 3,100-square foot space offers much of the corned beef and typical deli sandwich fare served at the other two locations.

So, if you’re not that excited for brisket or figuring out how to substitute matzah for a bowl of cereal, here’s a new alternative for your last leavened meal.

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The Masters — a tradition unlike any other — started Thursday. I’m a casual golf fan at best, but have been intrigued by all the chatter surrounding Tiger Woods in the run up to the first tee time.

Not just the “will he win?” questions, which are dominating the sports talk. I’m more interested in whether he’ll win given the reportedly radical reinvention of his game in recent months.

The world’s former No. 1 golfer, a fixture of major tournament leaderboards for 15 years, is overhauling his swing. He’s retained a new coach. He’s apparently even bought a new home (dubbed the “slickest bachelor pad in human history” in this somewhat breathless account), all in the wake, of course, of the highly publicized implosion of his marriage.

Whether or not Woods is finished as a dominant golfer is an open question, and this story at Slate makes the interesting statistical case that he’s not. As I write this, he’s even par for the tournament, 10 strokes back from leader Rory McIlroy.

What really intrigues me is Woods’ willingness to radically overhaul his game by revamping his swing. It’s a huge gamble. It reminds me of Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks.

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Photo from Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts website

It isn’t really feeling like spring yet. That’s unfortunate. Nonetheless, Baltimore’s spring-like events are moving forward, rain or shine.

The Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar is opening a month earlier this year, on Sunday. The day starts bright and early at 7 a.m. under the Jones Fall Expressway, and goes until about noon (although some vendors will stay there until they sell most of their produce or goods).

You’ll find all sorts of fruits, vegetables, meats, herbs, flowers, etc.  It was there I once got hooked on wasabi peas, and haven’t since been able to find their equal.

And if you’re too lazy to wake up this Sunday, the market will be there every Sunday until Dec. 18 this year.

For a slightly crazier, hog honkin’ time, the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival is this weekend too. Both Friday night and Saturday afternoon, the event at the Timonium Fairgrounds will have food, music, and unlimited beer and bourbon tastings, complete with food eating contests. Tickets are $25 to $55.

Atomic Books will hold its opening night for “Vinylmore” on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The annual art toy show is free and runs throughout April. Participating artists design, paint and add on sculptural pieces to customize vinyl art toys.

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Another blow has been dealt to Columbia’s village center concept with the closing of Michael’s Pub.

Last call is Tuesday.

Since opening in 1986, Michael’s Pub has carved out a reputation as something of an anomaly in suburbia: a neighborhood bar. I’ve seen this firsthand, having lived in Columbia’s King’s Contrivance village — where Michael’s is located — for more than 10 years. The close proximity to the bar’s cold beer and buffalo wings has served me well, though my waistline might beg to differ.

As first reported by Patch and then the Columbia Flier, owner Shane Curtis said he is closing his doors due to financial strain.

About two dozen employees will lose their jobs at a place regulars describe as similar to “Cheers,” the fictitious TV bar where everybody knows your name.

Michael’s Pub will become a business cautionary tale, about government regulation, ill-timed expansion, the Great Recession and any other factors that may have led to its demise.

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