A Baltimore purveyor of British scones and egg sandwiches is expanding to make room for more customers.
The Corner Pantry on 6080 Falls Road started construction on a 1,200-foot space inside the Lake Falls Village, a mixed-use shopping center North of Mount Washington, as part of a plan to widen their kitchen and dining area, said Rachel Maw, the eatery’s director of operations. Work on the additional space — the former home of Mason-Mayes boutique — is expected to be completed by early November.
Mason-Mayes, which sells handbags, jewelry and clothing, moved across the development’s courtyard one year ago.
The Corner Pantry intends on building an open concept pastry kitchen and a French cooking suite, fitted with ovens and high-end appliances . The goal is to keep the pantry’s beloved Saturday brunches rolling through the week, alongside some “more elevated dishes” for an all-day menu, Maw said.
The Corner Pantry is known for a mix of hearty sandwiches, salads, pastries and coffees. Their current menu serves breakfast from Monday through Friday starting at 7 to 11 a.m., with lunch items ranging from falafel pitas to chicken salad sandwiches until 3 p.m. They open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The new specials will help the business highlight their locally grown, seasonal produce, which owners Emily and Neill Howell believe to be the cornerstone of the British-inspired pantry. More options and a larger venue are critical adjustments needed to cater to the eatery’s rising demand, according to Maw, who added that the space will also be a boost for their catering business.
“Customers are going to get the same British cafe flair,” she said of the pantry in anticipation of their 16-week construction project. Monday’s ground breaking comes after two years of planning for the Howells.
Last month, the eatery added an outdoor patio to offer more customer seating, according to Olivia Ferrell, assistant cafe manager. She described the expansion as a thrilling installment that could also lead to more space for evening events and small parties.
The new eatery may have to close for a period of time and lean on takeout orders as construction continues, since the former boutique space abuts the current corner pantry. But Ferrell said the business is not worried. The community’s offered tremendous support, she said, and there’s definitely a demand and excitement for the expansion.
The headline of this story was corrected to reflect the Corner Pantry is not in North Baltimore.
