It’s getting a little chilly out for ice cream, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from showing up in support of Cajou Creamery earlier this month.
The vegan scoop shop is the latest to issue a rallying cry to customers amid challenging economic conditions. Owners Nicole Foster and Dwight Campbell say the turnout has inspired them to keep a brick-and-mortar presence in Baltimore — though maybe not on Howard Street, where they opened the plant-and-light-filled store three years ago.
I have updates from Cajou — including a recent appearance at a New York pitch competition — in this week’s column.
Down in South Baltimore, meanwhile, a local veterinarian and his childhood friend are getting ready to take over the old Blair’s on Hudson space. They envision opening a “corner bar done right.”
‘Let’s keep this dream alive together’
It’s been an eventful month for Cajou Creamery. On Nov. 6, the owners of the plant-based business were in Ithaca, New York, pitching their expansion plans for a chance at venture funding.
Ten days later, in Baltimore, they grappled with whether they would need to close the ice cream shop.
“This might be our last weekend,” Foster and Campbell posted to Cajou Creamery’s Instagram account on Nov. 16. “If you love what we do, now is the time to show your support. We need more than likes!”
“Let’s go out with a bang … or better yet, let’s keep this dream alive together.”
The next day, lines at the shop snaked around the block, proving to the couple that their dream is still very much alive. By the end of the day, they had sold out of all their stock, including merchandise. Some customers bought $250 worth of ice cream, Foster said.
“It was the most heart-filling experience I ever have experienced,” she said. “We witnessed this outpouring of love and community and it really reaffirmed what we do.”
The store’s location on Howard Street has been a challenge, Foster said. When it opened in 2021, Cajou joined “Healthy Howard Row,” a block of Black-owned, health-focused businesses that included Vegan Juiceology and Cuples Tea House. The business owners hoped to revitalize a neglected commercial stretch.
Though they heard enthusiasm for the vision, other hurdles plagued the block. Nearby construction was a disruption, and Cajou dealt with power outages and damage to its freezer that forced the store to shut down for several weeks.
In September, Vegan Juiceology moved out. The juice bar’s owner, Dominique Allen, plans to open a new cafe called All Good Things in the Reservoir Hill building that used to be home to Dovecote Cafe. “There was a shift, and everyone felt it,” Allen told me.
Foster said she and Campbell are “steadfast in our commitment to staying in Baltimore,” especially after the recent outpouring of support. But they’re considering moving.
“It’s a shame because it’s a beautiful block,” she said. “It really tested us.”
Meanwhile, Cajou Creamery’s distribution business is thriving, Foster said. The ice cream maker, which turns out pints in flavors like baklava, horchata and kulfi, has a presence in local Whole Foods stores and plans to expand throughout the Northeast, and eventually nationwide.
Foster and Campbell hoped a pitch competition at the Grow-NY Summit in Ithaca would help fuel growth plans. They were among the finalists eligible for monetary awards ranging from $250,000 to a $1 million grand prize.
Cajou Creamery didn’t end up taking home a check despite what Foster said was a pitch that featured a “compelling story” and “a really solid growth strategy.” She said the result was “disappointing,” particularly because her business was one of just a few Black-owned companies in the competition’s history invited to participate.
“I hope they’re able to diversify the judge panel and that they’re able to finally, eventually see the immense value that these amazing Black-owned businesses bring,” she said.
For now, she’s focusing on the love that Baltimore showed her. And, in turn, “we love being in Baltimore,” she said.
‘A bar where everyone’s welcome’
Drew Horne and Kip Imperato always joked about opening a bar together.
The childhood friends grew up in a small Pennsylvania town and have known each other for more than 30 years. Imperato made his way to Baltimore, where he owns the Canton veterinary practice You’ll Never Walk Alone. Horne, meanwhile, has built a career managing craft beer bars in New York and Philadelphia, including Barcade, a chain that combines beer and arcade games.
In the coming months, they’ll finally make good on their long-running joke with The Happy Jack, a new bar taking the place of Blair’s on Hudson at 2822 Hudson St. in Canton. They don’t have a firm opening date yet — St. Patrick’s Day would be ideal, says Horne, though the timeline could just as easily be pushed back to an April or May opening.
He’ll take the lead managing the bar, which will focus on “good American beer,” some English beers, cocktails and non-alcoholic offerings. Burgers, grilled cheese, some crab dishes and bar snacks will fill the food menu.
“It’ll be just a classic pub,” Horne said. “A place where you don’t feel bad about going there twice a week to eat dinner because it’s affordable.”
He takes inspiration from his parents, who owned their own bars for decades. He grew up watching sanitation workers, contractors and lawyers chatting together over a beer, and wants to cultivate a similar environment at The Happy Jack (the name was inspired by the fact that he and Imperato both have dogs named Jack).
“I want to be a bar where everyone’s welcome,” he said.
Have a news tip? Contact reporter Amanda Yeager at ayeager@baltsun.com, 443-790-1738 or @amandacyeager on X.