BALTIMORE, MD.; June 4, 2019—On a long-vacant block on Pratt Street at the Inner Harbor, M&T Bank is bringing new excitement generated by six hometown entrepreneurs who will market their unique creations from a pop-up shop space.
The 300 block of East Pratt Street, once home to the printing plant of the Baltimore News American, has sat empty since the plant was razed in 1990. Redevelopment plans have sputtered, leaving a considerable gap along Baltimore’s waterfront skyline.
M&T Bank, which recently opened a new 27-story regional headquarters building on another formerly vacant lot at 1 Light Street in Baltimore, saw an opportunity to showcase some of its small business customers while bringing new energy to the Inner Harbor.
The M&T Spotlight Shop is a modern, 24 by 20 foot modular retail space with folding walls that provides a welcoming, engaging space for customers. Starting June 6 and continuing into September, six uniquely Baltimore businesses will rotate through in two-week segments.
The featured businesses, all of which are M&T customers, include:
◦The Dollhouse Boutique (Clothing)
◦Mouth Party Caramels (Packaged candy)
◦Zeke’s Coffee
◦Cake by Jason (Cakes, cupcakes)
◦Becket Hitch (Clothing, home décor)
◦The Charmery (Ice cream)
Media are invited to a special event with area business leaders and elected officials on Thursday, June 6 at 11:30 a.m. to launch the M&T Spotlight Shop.
"The Baltimore area is home to many exciting and creative entrepreneurs, and this Spotlight Shop is a unique way M&T can highlight and celebrate some of our successful small business customers in the community," said Augie Chiasera, M&T Bank Regional President. "As the leading bank and number one SBA lender in Baltimore, we are committed to helping small businesses grow."
"The M&T Spotlight Shop gives homegrown businesses a spot on Pratt Street, Baltimore’s busiest thoroughfare," said Downtown Partnership of Baltimore President Kirby Fowler. "The visibility and potential to sell to new customers will help these companies grow. We hope to see them back Downtown in a spot of their own sometime soon."
“As the #1 SBA lender in Baltimore for the past 11 years, the Spotlight Shop is a symbol of our unwavering support of small business owners,” said Eleni Monios, Business Banking Market Manager. “We strive to offer a range of lending solutions that help small businesses, which are the drivers of job creation and economic growth in our community.”
Owners of some of the featured businesses will be present at the launch event for interviews, including Natalie Karyl, owner of The Dollhouse Boutique, which will be the first business in the Spotlight Shop.
Karyl is a fashion designer and celebrity stylist who opened the store in 2004 in Mt. Vernon to showcase her brand, Ragdolls Couture, as well as the collections of other local designers. The Dollhouse Boutique is the 2018 winner of The Baltimore Sun's "Best Women's Boutique" award and a three-time Maryland Fashion Award winner for "Best Boutique in Maryland."
About M&T Bank
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.
©2019 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.
Media Contact:
Philip Hosmer
(410) 949-3042
phosmer@mtb.com