Stevenson Village – Baltimore Magazine

Former Garage Owners Now Operate Chessie’s Food Works in Stevenson

Jane Marion — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 17:11:17 +0000

Owners Laura Duirk and Trae Fackler. —Photography by Scott Suchman

Just as the pandemic was hitting in early March of 2020, Trae Fackler III and Laura Duirk were preparing for retirement. They had sold their garage, Timonium Auto Specialists in Hunt Valley (the shop moved from Timonium to Hunt Valley and never changed its name), and were headed to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to begin their next chapter.

“We had a contract on our house and were literally boarding the plane at BWI to retirement when my cell phone rang,” recalls Duirk. “It was our real-estate attorney and he said, ‘Laura, you’d better sit down for this. The buyer of the business rescinded their offer.’ Then COVID really hit.”

While the pandemic worsened, the couple tried to figure out how to salvage their life plan. Back in Baltimore, Fackler came up with the idea of opening a food truck. At the time, Duirk was in something of a state of shock.

“It was Memorial Day, and we were sitting on our deck drinking some wine, when Trae came up with the idea of starting a food truck business,” recalls Duirk. “We’ve been through some journeys together, but when the food truck idea came about, at first, I was like ‘After 29 years, you want to think about another business in the middle of COVID?’ Then I thought, ‘Oh, what the hell—let’s just drink.’”

From his standpoint, Fackler calls the idea, “a matter of survival.”

“People stopped driving during COVID, which made garages obsolete, and we were determined not to be a statistic,” he says. “So, we sidestepped from one fire into another.”

Out of the fire into the proverbial frying pan, or in this case, into Chessie’s Food Works, a truck parked in the Stevenson Village parking lot. Though the couple had only a bit of experience, they became quick studies, buying a Workhorse truck, building it out to serve customers, and emblazoning the vehicle with the image of a wooden sculpture of a man they have in their house.

“It’s a statue made out of a wood log,” says Fackler, laughing. “We call him Cheech. We bought him on the side of the road in Rehoboth. I describe him as a 65-year-old man who lives on the beach and is a burnout and likes to eat good food and surf. Everyone thinks it’s me.”

Because they needed a commissary to prepare the food to comply with state laws, they took over the former Stone Mill Bakery Café space in Stevenson Village, where they now also do a brisk takeout business. They hired former executive chef from Pier 5 Hotel Robert Simon to do the cooking and menu planning and settled on a seafood concept including items like Maine lobster rolls, jumbo-lump crab cakes, and shrimp salad. Other inventive items include a surf and turf Lobster Smash (two beef patties topped by lobster on a brioche roll), as well as lighter fare such as yogurt parfaits and avocado toast.

“We thought the crab cakes would be our signature, but, boy, were we wrong,” says Fackler. “The lobster roll has taken off! We have people who come here who are from Maine and they say, ‘You know what? We found it! It’s as good as we get at home.’”

Source

Local Shopping & Fashion Events

Jess Mayhugh — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Fall Fashion Show at Cross Keys

Stop by The Village of Cross Keys Fall Fashion Show to enjoy in-store events, as well as Fall Fashion Forecasts (mini runways shows) presented by participating vendors (including Chezelle, Jean Pool, Jones & Jones, Octavia II, The Pied Piper, Ruth Shaw, and The Store Ltd).

Proceeds from the event will benefit The House of Ruth Maryland. Representatives from the organization, devoted to preventing violence against women and children, will be at the event to collect donations for its One Great Thing fundraiser at Ruth’s Closet (Thursday, October 23 through Sunday, October 26). (Be sure to check back for more information regarding the fundraiser).

If you would like to donate, bring your pieces (clothing, accessories, etc.) to either Jones & Jones or Ruth Shaw on the day of the event, this Saturday, September 20, from 12 to 4 p.m.

If you can’t make it to the show, or you forget your one great thing, you can still drop off donations at Ruth’s Closet between now and Thursday, October 9.

The BFA Presents Trendsitions: SHOP & Soiree at City-Wide Retailers

The Baltimore Fashion Alliance will put on the first annual Trendsitions event this Saturday, September 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. After a day of shopping the city-wide event—featuring in-store parties and discounts at shops in Downtown Baltimore, Federal Hill, Fells Point, Harbor East, and Mount Vernon—continue the fun at the after party!

The Charm City Circulator will provide easy transportation between locations.

Click the event’s Facebook page for a full list or participating retailers, announcements regarding the after part venue, and more.

Hampdenfest Fashion Show

Hampdenfest—the festival known for toilet bowl races, cook-offs, music performances, artists, and local merchants—is debuting a fashion show segment this year. Stop by the Avenue Stage (36th in front of Bank of America) at noon on Saturday, September 20 to see looks from various neighborhood boutiques.

Shop Around Saturdays at Stevenson Village

There’s still time to take advantage of Stevenson Village’s September Saturdays. Drop in this Saturday, September 20, or next Saturday, September 27 (between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.) to receive your very own eco-friendly gift bag, which participating vendors will continue to fill with goodies as you shop throughout the day.

SWS Presents Mini Fall Fashion Show & Mixer at Gallery 788

Baltimore-based fashion blog, Strangers with Style (which recently re-launched), will host its first fashion show at Hampden’s G788 next Wednesday, September 24. In addition to the show (which will feature models decked out in pieces from local boutiques), attendees will enjoy shopping, music (by local musician Al Rogers Jr.), food, and drink.

The event is free to attend, but a $5 donation is encouraged. All donations will benefit the gallery.

Source

Valentine’s Day Events

Jess Mayhugh — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 12:00:00 +0000

Start celebrating the holiday early this year! This weekend, Urban Chic will host a Valentine’s Day Trunk Show featuring Kendra Phillip jewelry—an American-made collection
known for its contemporary twist on a more vintage, classic feel
(including tons of heart-shaped pieces just in time for next week).
Enjoy 10 percent off of any trunk show purchase, as well as the store’s
Valentine’s Day candy bar and champagne while you shop.

When: Saturday, February 8th

Where: 801 Aliceanna St.

Starting next week, The Shops at Stevenson Village
will host a three-day center-wide sale. With any $100 purchase (at any
Stevenson Village shop), receive $10 toward your next purchase at Morgan Truesdell or The Velvet Chocolatier—perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift!

Also next Wednesday, Lori K will be having a jewelry trunk show. Check the store’s Facebook page for more information to come.

When: Wednesday, February 12th through Friday, February 14th

Where: 10415 Stevenson Rd.

Take advantage of even more savings at The Village of Cross Keys‘ Sweetheart of a Sale, where some of your favorite shops will be offering up to 85 percent off of original prices.

When: Thursday, February 13th through Monday, February 17th

Where: 5100 Falls Rd.

And as the holiday nears, head over to Babe. (a boutique)
to prep for the big night, no matter how you’re spending it. Pick up an
outfit and treat yourself to salon services—all at a great price! At
the Babes and Blowouts Party, the boutique will be offering 20 percent off of all in-store tops and dresses, so you’ll be able to find the perfect piece for any occasion.

The event will also have specialists from Haute Blow Dry Bar, who will be offering exclusive deals on products and services. Enjoy a 20 percent discount on all Davines
hair products—an environmentally-friendly line that promotes
sustainable beauty. Leave the store with a $20 dry style (compared to
the usual $25), whether you want curls or straightened hair. Going
somewhere fancy? Opt for a different look with a $45 updo (compared to
the usual $70)! Either way, add a $5 braid (compared to the usual $10)
to complete your look!

As you’re shopping and getting pampered, be sure to enter the raffle for a chance to win one of the store’s Ballerina bags.

The shop will also be serving holiday cocktails and snacks throughout the night.

When: Thursday, February 13th from 5 to 8 p.m.

Where: 1716 Aliceanna St.

Source

End-of-Season Sales

Jess Mayhugh — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:00:00 +0000

With the end of every season comes great savings! Here’s a list of some local sales worth shopping.

Harbor East

There’s still time to take advantage of Warm-Up Week at Urban Chic.
Now through Sunday, escape the cold and enjoy complimentary food and
drink while shopping the store’s sale: 30 percent off sweaters, 20
percent off denim, and 10 percent off hats, scarves, boots and tights.

Hurry across the street to Handbags in the City.
The shop’s ongoing Friends & Family Sale will award you 20 percent
off all regularly-priced merchandise (excluding MCM). But don’t wait—the
savings end this Friday!

Owings Mills

Also ending this Friday is Fresh! Boutique’s
Winter Blues Snowball Sales. The sale—which started by saving you 30,
and then 40—will now save you 50 percent off select jewelry and
accessories.

Down the street, there’s another sale that keeps getting better. Treasure House Accessories
is offering 50 percent off select sweaters, jewelry and other
accessories, as well as 60 percent off select handbags and Ugg
accessories.

A Style Studio is also offering half off on select merchandise, including apparel, accessories, and cosmetics.

Stevenson Village

Head over to Lori K for the store’s winter blowout sale and save 75 percent off on select items.

And you don’t even have to leave the shopping center for more great deals—at Liza Byrd, enjoy a 70 percent discount on select items.

Green Spring Station

Need a gift for Valentine’s Day? At Bijoux, the entire store is on sale until the holiday. Each jewelry case is reduced, ranging from 10 to 50 percent off.

Trillium’s sale items are marked down anywhere between 50 to 75 percent off of items’ original prices.

At Matava Shoes, you’ll be delighted to find 30, 50, and 70 percent off sale sections.

Ruxton

The Little Shoebox is also offering a steal on shoes. Pick up a new pair—any of the store’s winter shoes or boots—for half the price.

Across the street, shop fall and holiday merchandise 50 to 75 percent off at JG Sassy’s Semi-Annual Sale.

The Village of Cross Keys

Take an additional 20 percent off of Jones and Jones sale items, which have already been reduced 50 to 75 percent off.

Source