I commend Rosalind Ellis for her letter to the editor about the Baltimore City Council's waste of time and effort trying to hurt small business ("Bad legislation worse than missed votes," April 7). We moved our business back downtown nine weeks ago after a 10 year hiatus, and we are happily overwhelmed with customers. Why can't the City Council work on a commission to bring small retail back downtown rather then worry us to death over impractical issues?
People are living, working, shopping and eating downtown, but downtown needs more shopable retail. Make available these closed store fronts on Charles Street and elsewhere for living breathing retail stores!
We are embraced every day by the Mount Vernon community for coming back, but we need more neighbors. Please work with us, City Council, on how to encourage landlords to give young business owners a chance to make it, like Bill Struever did with us almost 30 years ago on North Charles Street. Help give downtown what it needs. Brick and mortar retail stores, plain and simple.
Steve Appel, Baltimore
The writer is owner of Nouveau Home and Interior Design.