After working in the food service industry for nearly four decades, Larry Schwartz craved a chance to be his own boss.
So when he saw a classified ad for a diner on Craigslist, he jumped on the opportunity.
"It was time and I wanted to do something for myself," said Schwartz, a Pikesville resident. "I don't want my creativity to be stifled. I want to live and die on the decisions I make."
Larry's 1332 opened at 1332 Sulphur Spring Road May 31.
"I didn't want just anybody coming in there," said Connie Neiman, who sold The Lunchbox Café to Schwartz. "I was looking for a good legacy person, someone who would continue trying to offer the same type of food and menu in the same environment to the same customer base."
Schwartz, 59, didn't have the chance to flex his creative muscles during the 36 years he worked with caterers in Baltimore and for large, national corporations.
Now, the small diner, which primarily offers soups, sandwiches and cakes, is his and his alone.
"The challenge is keeping customers interested in coming back," said Schwartz, just before 3 p.m. on June 15 when he had about 20 people in his restaurant. "My feeling is, it's all about the food."
So far the most popular item on the menu is the formaggio, a sandwich of crab, carmelized onions, sundried tomato and mozzarella cheese on grilled vienna bread.
For now, Larry's 1332 offers much of the same food as the restaurant it replaced, The Lunchbox Café.
"I plan to add to it by offering more services and more menu items," Schwartz said. "I hope to be doing some more interesting salads and sandwiches, continuing to make homemade soups, and adding a lot of new hot lunch specials."
Soon, Schwartz plans to launch his crab hash, a main course with roasted potatoes, sautéed onions, bacon, seasoning and crab.
While cautious about moving too quickly, he has plans to expand into breakfast and eventually be open for dinners several nights a week.
"I hope to expand our off-premise catering," said Schwartz, whose wife of three years, Fran Berger, is a party planner. "We have all the bases covered. We can do as much or as little as someone wants."
Less than a month old, the restaurant is still coming into its own.
The restaurant has only a plastic sign hanging in the window and its white walls are bare.
But Schwartz said a sign is coming soon and excitedly spoke about hanging framed photographs to give his restaurant a contemporary feel.
His customers already appreciate a convenience not previously available at The Lunchbox Café.
Schwartz had a bathroom constructed off the dining area.
Previously customers had to walk through the kitchen to reach the bathroom.
One of his regulars is Carroll County resident Ed Lott, an insurance investigator who works on East Drive and frequented the diner when it was The Lunchbox Cafe.
Lott, who had just finished eating a chilled cantaloupe soup and fruit bowl, said he eats at the restaurant three to five times a week.
He also sometimes orders something to take home for dinner.
"He makes a great gazpacho. He puts just the right amount of garlic," Lott said about his favorite dish. "It's kind of like my mother used to make it."
As Schwartz said, his business is all about the food.
Despite a slow start when he assumes people didn't know he was open, business has picked up.
Now it's up to him.