By Sophia Naughton
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The road begins to slope upward as the red and gold sign comes into view overhead. You can hear the trickling of the Tiber River flowing by Main Street. It’s calm today, but the waterway once was the source of the city’s destruction. In 2016, the Tiber River flooded, resulting in two deaths and a devastated downtown.
Today, Ellicott City is coming out from under the double whammy of the flood and the COVID-19 pandemic, opening its charming shops and restaurants to a public starved for entertainment.
“Ellicott City,” the sign reads. “Est. 1772.” Passing under the bridge transports you into a time capsule. Main Street is lined with red brick sidewalks paving the way to the town’s many shops. The building’s facades range from the classic stone of Moorenko’s Ice Cream to the bright blue exterior of Maxine’s Antiques and Collectibles.
In the past few years, windows would display empty, abandoned businesses with dusty, water-damaged floors. What traces were left of the floods have now been disguised during repairs thanks to the city’s efforts.
“They’ve decorated their windows in the interim while they’re remodeling,” said Ellicott City resident Courtnaye Whiting. “You don’t see a lot of boarded-up windows. They’ve actually made efforts to make it look pretty while they’re trying to rebuild.”
Whiting has lived on the outskirts of Ellicott City for the past 24 years with her four children. She visits the city a few times a month, especially on the weekends for live music.
“I’ve talked to people who lived through both of them, you know, merchants, and just how devastating it was for them to lose so much, back-to-back,” said Whiting. “And some of the ones that returned could understand why some people didn’t bother trying to come back and open up a store again.”
Two years after the floods, just as they were beginning to reopen, COVID hit.
“I feel sad for the businesses because they had been remodeled and they had planned all their new menus and had hired their staff and their business plans were all worked out,” said Whiting. “They were all excited about opening their new restaurants, and then COVID shut them all down before they could have their grand opening. So, it was disappointing for them.”
Despite the hints of these past tragedies, locals and visitors meander up and down Main Street to find their favorite restaurants, new clothes and trinkets, and on select weekends, hear live music emanating from the courtyard on Hamilton Street in front of Little Market Cafe.
Whiting named the cafe as her favorite place to go in the city.
“It was one of the establishments that Gordon Ramsay remodeled when he did a big show in Ellicott City after the floods,” said Whiting, mentioning Ramsay’s “24 Hours to Hell and Back: Save Our Town” special in 2020. “It’s fun to go to a place that was in the news and on TV nationally.”
The Little Market Cafe is a particularly cozy spot in Ellicott City. Its menu provides options for everyone. They have vegan and vegetarian options such as vegan cream cheese, eggs, and plant-based tofurkey. Their sandwiches feature toppings such as the house-made pesto or caramelized peach butter. The shop radiates the scent of warm coffee beans and fresh, comforting bread.
Although she could not pick a favorite, Whiting recommends the Main Street sandwich from the cafe. It has warm rotisserie chicken breast, pesto, goat cheese, and fresh spring greens and tomato.
You can grab a sandwich, cup of coffee, or even pizza from the friendly staff at the walk-up window and sit down on a bench in the courtyard. Throughout the year, live music plays as customers enjoy their food. On Oct. 8-10, local bands such as Rusty Sal and Shee’s Unhinged are playing at Little Market Café’s Courtyard Concert. The event has first come first serve seating and is BYOB.
“It’s just kind of fun for everybody to be in a community and dancing and chatting, people bring their dogs and their children and it’s just a lot of fun,” said Whiting.
You can visit the Little Market Cafe on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During concerts they are open until 8 p.m.
Park Ridge Creamery, conveniently located near the Little Market Café, features decadent sundaes drizzled with chocolate syrup and indulgent flavors such as salty caramel and key lime pie.
“They have a variety of restaurants. You can get anything from Italian to Asian to pizza and subs,” said Whiting. “I like that it’s all within a quick walking distance from a large parking lot so it’s easy to get in and walk around and spend the day.”
Whiting said the city has a vast range of stores to check out from art galleries to kid’s stores and candy shops.
Sweet Elizabeth Jane features trendy clothes for every season as well as Knick-knacks like coasters and Maryland flag mugs, locals say.
One of the oldest standing attractions in Ellicott City is the Forget-Me-Not Factory. It reflects the eclectic flair of the city. Whether you buy something or not, just walking through is an experience.
The store has three floors jam-packed with all things magic. Little ceramic fairies are perched around every corner. Often, intricate fairy villages are set up on display throughout the shop. It will convince you that you suddenly have a need to construct a miniature fairy eutopia in your backyard.
Don’t be surprised if you suddenly become surrounded by bubbles floating through the air. The shop is known for its bubbles, fairy-scapes, and SnowBaby ornaments and collections.
“That place is a novelty. I don’t ever purchase anything from that store, but I like to take people in there who’ve never experienced something like that because it’s just overwhelming and bizarre,” said Whiting.
The city becomes a spooky place during the Halloween season. This month, events such as the Mt. Misery Ghost Walk on select Fridays and Trick or Treat on Main Street on Halloween are happening in town. The ghost walk begins at 8 p.m. at the Museum of Howard County History. Tickets are $15 and must be bought in advance. Attendees experience a walk-through of the city’s most haunted sights and alleged spooky legends.
Christmas is also festive with holiday decor and twinkling lights.
Whiting said there is a strong sense of community when she visits the city. The whole town has had to come together to rebuild what they lost during the pandemic and the flooding.
“They have made an investment and want to be welcoming to visitors, they’re just helpful,” said Whiting about the store owners.
For more information on what’s coming up in Ellicott City, visit www.visitoldellicottcity.com or call the Howard County Welcome Center at 410-313-1900.