Photo by Robert Sobus.
By Robert Sobus
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Nestled in the iconic Baltimore neighborhood that is Hampden sits Baltimore in a Box, a shop that brings the spirit of Baltimore to the community, even during a pandemic.
Baltimore in a Box sells Baltimore themed gift boxes and ships them anywhere in the country.
Ross Nochumowitz, the company’s founder and owner, has been keeping pace with demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Surprisingly the pandemic has helped our business,” Nochumowitz said. “Our online and corporate orders have increased since many people are working from home and employers are sending gift packages to help lift their spirits.”
People in the neighborhood take notice to the Hampden residency.
“It’s really cool to see the Maryland flag façade when traveling down 36th street,” Hampden resident Kelly Stachowoski said. “This is the kind of spirit we need in Baltimore.”
Nochumowitz closed the retail location in March and did not reopen until August. Closing the doors for five months allowed Nochumowitz to focus on the influx of orders that were coming in.
“It wasn’t a bad thing,” Nochumowitz said. “The entire retail store space was used to process the increase in online orders we were receiving.”
The business has started selling apparel that send messages during the pandemic. A T-shirt with Baltimore author/poet Edgar Allan Poe could be seen with the words “stay home” across the middle.
Shoppers can also grab face masks with designs on them like the Maryland flag, Old Bay Seasoning, Mr. Trash Wheel, UTZ and Natty Boh.
Nochumowitz has partnered with local businesses during the pandemic. Baltimore in a Box has teamed up with Cream Cruiser, an online ice cream shop to create Baltimore themed flavored ice cream.
Current flavors to choose from include UTZ Crab Chip vanilla ice cream, smores ice cream with Otterbein’s chocolate chip cookies, caramel Fisher’s Popcorn, egg custard with marshmallow and orange creamsicle with chocolate chip cookies.
Geresbeck’s Food Market, a grocery chain located in Baltimore, contacted Nochumowitz after the ice cream debuted.
“We got a huge order from a local market, Geresbeck’s, for 180 pints for each of their stores – so it’s a 540-pint order,” Nochumowitz said. “What better way to get the name out about your gift box business during this pandemic.”
People from all over like what Baltimore in a Box is doing while the country is in a pandemic.
“I am from Boston, but like the idea of having a business support their city,” visitor Ryan Schwartz said. “People should take pride in where they are from.”
Nochumowitz will not allow the pandemic to slow him down.
“I’m an entrepreneur at heart and started many other businesses,” Nochumowitz said. “I started the business in my basement running around to Royal Farms and 7-Eleven picking up these items.
For more information on Baltimore in a Box, click here.