Throughout the past few years, the brick exterior of the shop stationed at the corner of West 34th Street and Chestnut Avenue in Hampden has boasted many different colorful murals. Locals might remember the red tricycle that graced the facade when it operated as kid-friendly Play Cafe, or the most recent funky wall design that welcomed neighbors into New York City-style bodega Prime Corner.

Now, the entrance is decorated with hand-painted trees and vines that represent the ethos of Treehouse Cafe and Juice Bar—a new holistic concept that features an entirely gluten-free menu of juices, smoothies, soups, salads, wraps, and pizzas.

“What we’ve seen more than anything else is how much the neighborhood wants something to succeed in the space,” says Kirsten LaPointe, a fitness instructor at Movement Lab in Remington who co-owns Treehouse with fellow yoga teacher Shariff Roberts. “Everyone has come by and been so kind and supportive. Even the people who came in and weren’t so sure they wanted only healthy choices were willing to roll with them.”

As a certified nutritionist, Roberts had always wanted to open his own juice bar. And LaPointe, who worked as an art teacher before joining the local fitness scene, had long envisioned opening a bed-and-breakfast where she grew her own ingredients. Together, they came up with a menu that fuses the two ideas while incorporating superfoods—including turmeric, flax seeds, cacao, and MCT oils—that are medicinal to the body.

“Both of us are coming from the same angle of nurturing people,” LaPointe says. “We want our customers to feel like they’re having a treat, even though it’s all healthy.”

A few of LaPointe’s favorite dishes include the gluten-free pizzas made with vegan cheese, savory hand pies that resemble empanadas, a vegan charcuterie board highlighting smoked hummus and caper berries, and a roasted root salad topped with orange and purple sweet potatoes.

After trying to make the concept work in another space for a number of months, the owners switched gears when they learned that the former Prime Corner store was available.

“Oddly enough, all of the equipment that I had collected for the other location fit into this space just like a puzzle,” LaPointe says. “I got it all in, and I couldn’t even stick a nickel in between two things.”

Once all of the equipment was in place, the team got to work decorating the 50-seat cafe with steel chairs, reclaimed furniture from Second Chance, and new countertops made with live wood collected by local arborists.

“That’s what makes it Treehouse,” LaPointe says, mentioning that she hopes to add ficus and fairy lights soon. “Our name originally came from the beautiful yard and tree at the first location we attempted, but I think it also works here because it hints at the story that everything is made of fruits and vegetables. We’re also using sustainable packaging.”

Though the space is currently operating in soft-opening mode, an official grand opening party is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30 from 5-9 p.m. The pre-Halloween bash will feature free wine and card readings by Bonnie Tarantino.

Overall, LaPointe says she’s looking forward to getting to know the neighborhood—especially those who might be skeptical about making a healthy lifestyle change.

“The joy I get is when someone feels better because of something that I served them,” she says. “What I’ve been saying is, ‘It’s our party and everyone is invited.’”

Christina Dudley is fairly certain that she and her Dudley Roan Home Team almost caused an accident on Chestnut Avenue in Hampden this week.

Amidst the recent negative discourse coming from the highest office in the country, she and her game-for-anything clients selling a row house at 3407 Chestnut Ave. decided to do something to bring a smile to people’s faces. As a result of their efforts, those driving by the nearby stop sign did a double take when an assorted cast of costumed characters appeared on the property’s front porch.

The real estate group has gained notoriety for adding a touch of cheekiness to its listings, featuring animals, superheroes, and other personalities in various backdrops. Front and center in this particular listing, a collaboration with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, is a costumed rat—a reference to the president’s recent comments.

Joining in are a mishmash of characters who have appeared in other Dudley Roan listings. The anthropomorphized animals can be seen holding a sign carrying what has become the rallying cry for the city, We Are Baltimore.

“We just wanted to have a little fun with it,” Dudley says. “Baltimore is a very diverse city and accepting of all, and we wanted to showcase it in a better light than the press it has been getting.”

Dudley says that the whole thing came together organically. It wasn’t originally the plan to have any animals appear in this particular listing, but the timing ended up being too good to pass up. Donning the costumes are employees of Dudley Roan, as well as a few of Dudley’s very gracious friends.

As for the house itself, it has four bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and a new porch and kitchen. Prospective home buyers have taken notice, too. Dudley says that in the 24 hours the listing has been up, they’ve already scheduled six showings. It’s a clear sign that the city is responding and noticing efforts big and small to bring something fun and light in what has been a tumultuous time.

“Everything has been really positive,” Dudley says. “This was a team effort. We wanted to get the message out that Baltimore is a great city.”

Though she spent years building her career in the tech world, living in big startup cities like San Francisco and Brooklyn, New York, Tess Russell always knew in the back of her mind that she wanted to open a neighborhood corner store.

“It’s funny that it’s so far from what I did before, but it still sparks the same curiosity in me,” says Russell, a Roland Park native who now lives in Hampden. “I’ve always had this interest in corner stores and talking to the people who run them about what’s in stock and what people need. It’s totally based on interactions.”

Now, Russell is making that longtime goal a reality with Prime Corner Baltimore—a grocery store and lunch counter in the former home of Play Cafe at 3400 Chestnut Avenue. Expected to open by the end of the summer, the renovated spot will offer grocery items and deli fare, as well as candies, flowers, coffee, vegan options, and old-school Baltimore snacks like lemon-peppermint sticks.

“I want to honor the neighborhood and have this be a grocery store that people can use in that way,” she says. “But I’m also very interested in food and beverage, and have tastes for odd items. The fun balance will be making it so that you can get milk and eggs, but also so you can discover new things like wild drinks, snacks, and other local products.”

Similar to many of the bodegas that she frequented in New York, Russell will offer shelves stacked with artisan goods that locals might not be able to find elsewhere in the neighborhood. When it comes to the prepared food, the menu will feature everything from a basic ham-and-cheese sandwich to fancier toasts inspired by places like The Mill in San Francisco—which makes a killer cinnamon-sugar toast, according to Russell.

“That was the place everyone would go and say, ‘I don’t get it, it’s just toast,’” she recalls. “But then you try it and you’re like, ‘No that’s the best toast I’ve ever had.’ So my goal there is to do something simple but very delicious and made with care.”

Russell has been putting just as much thought into the redesign of the space, which will boast a long, eight-seat lunch counter, table seating up front, and aisles loaded with pantry products near the back. She is also planning to offer al fresco seating, and commission a local artist to paint a colorful wall mural on the front of the building.

“As someone who lives on Chestnut, seeing all of the businesses put chairs out in the spring is really nice,” she says. “Walking down the sidewalk and seeing people hanging out gives it a really vibrant feel.”

To further the community focus, Russell is encouraging locals to reach out on social media and let her know which products they would like to see in the shop. She is also looking forward to partnering with other small businesses, whether that means seeking out artists to create merchandise for the store or offering food and drink mashups for visitors going to see the 34th Street lights during the holidays.

Thinking of ways to collaborate with other businesses, Russell says, is a skill she mastered while creating apps in the tech world.

“In Baltimore more than anywhere, everyone wants everyone else to succeed,” she says. “Every time a new business opens in Hampden, it benefits all of the other businesses. People are really supportive as long as there’s a good-faith effort to listen to the neighborhood.”