Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz likely worked on a full stomach Wednesday afternoon after celebrating the openings of two Catonsville food businesses earlier that day.
The Breadery and Ken's Old Fashioned Candy Shop welcomed Kamenetz and other local representatives, such as Councilman Tom Quirk and Dels. James Malone and Steve DeBoy Oct. 26 to celebrate the businesses' transformation of community buildings.
Instead of a traditional ribbon, Michael Lanasa, owner of The Breadery, and the county executive cut a loaf of bread just after 10 a.m. outside the bakery in Oella.
"The building has really been restored to something that blends in well with the historic theme of Oella," Kamenetz said after the ceremony. "I think it will create some momentum for other business opportunities here as well."
The Breadery's site at 418 Oella Ave. went from roller skates to rolling dough when the commercial bakery and store front opened at the location along the No. 9 Trolley Line two months ago.
"We converted all that space that was basically industrial space," said Lanasa, noting it took about 2.5 years to get the permits and renovate the building. "We've got a lot of green features in there."
The building's ceiling is made of 80-year-old reclaimed wood and other environmentally friendly features include geo-thermal heating and cooling and a recycled cork and rubber tire flooring, Lanasa said.
Immediately following the bread cutting, Kamenetz, Quirk, Malone and DeBoy headed to 819 Frederick Road for a ribbon cutting in front of Ken's Old Fashioned Candy Shop.
Mary Chizmadia and her son Kenney used local tradesmen to transform the building at the corner of Frederick Road and Mellor Avenue into a candy shop.
The store front was formerly the site of Shop Catonsville, a store run by the Comet Booster Club of Catonsville High School.
"Before the Beltway, before we really made use of the automobile, Baltimore County was comprised of small towns like Catonsville," Kamenetz said at the event. "Catonsville has understood to keep that charm. That's something very special."