HoCoBiz

Inspired by interest in my local food pages, here I have gathered those small businesses local to me. They include services, retailers and individually owned restaurants in the area of central Maryland, where we live. A work in progress, although I finally did get all my links current.

Feel free to recommend new places in the comments below. This page includes places that I normally use, and that I can highly recommend. Not just for small business Saturday, or for holiday gifts. We support these vendors year round, so they can grow, prosper, and be here for future holidays.

We use them for anniversaries, birthdays, date nights, home services, instead of running out to a chain restaurant, or a big box store, or a national supplier. Many are owned by families, individuals, and many are multigenerational.

Also check out my other pages for links to Farms, CSAs and local food sources. This page, dynamic and expanding, is designed to assist those who want to know the owners where they do business.

SERVICES

Automotive – British American Now changed their name to BAAutoCare. We have been customers at this family owned repair shop for thirty-five of their forty years in business. Located in Columbia, on Berger Road, off of Snowden River Parkway.

Plumbing – Ken Griffin A neighbor, more or less, as they live down the road, and work out of a building on their property. They have fixed our well, repaired and replaced appliances, and came the same day we called after a pipe burst in January 2014 in that deep freeze.

Heating and AC – Environmental Systems Associates Another long time family owned business. They do all our heat pump maintenance, and installed the new ones right after we moved here twelve years ago. Absolutely wonderful people to work with. They replaced one of our heat pumps in 2017, again providing excellent service and follow up maintenance.

Roofing – S&K Roofing S&K is in Carroll County, off of Liberty Road but they are one of the larger businesses that services our area. They do roofing, siding, gutters, windows and doors. They did our roof in 2011, in the week between Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Including a day with no electrical power where they brought their own generator. Another family owned business with a long history.

Landscaping, Grounds Maintenance and more – Rhine We have used Rhine for spring cleanup and leaf removal. Family owned. They also do design and build projects. In 2016 they did a major drainage job for us, and they built us a new patio and sidewalk using pavers.

Auto Body Work – Chandler’s Collision Center, Columbia. Just up the road from British American. They have repaired damage to two of our cars, most recently my Toyota. Outstanding service. So popular that sometimes they turn away business. Right now, they will take you for insurance work only.

Upholstery – The Cover Uph Small, absolutely amazing place to have furniture re-upholstered. We first had them fix a rip in the material on one of our cars, and since then, have used them for other work. Including the dining room chairs.

RESTAURANTS

Iron Bridge Wine Company Our favorite local hangout. We are pole position card carrying members of Vince’s Iron Bridge University. We use to call it, Cheers met Friends. Again, small, family owned. Locally sourced. Very good wine by the glass list. Monday night is steak night. Tuesday, Crème Brulee Night. Thursday, No Corkage night.

Town Grill at Foster’s Country Store Where the BBQ sundae and the salmon BLT are our two favorite items. My husband goes there every month for a radio club luncheon. Or, we just like to stop and get pulled pork to bring home. Town Grill moved to Foster’s store in 2017, a new home in West Friendship. Give them much love as they fight through some issues about the total number of customers allowed due to septic field “limits”.

Elkridge Furnace Inn Historic. Classic. A place to go for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, engagement parties and other celebrations. Interesting historic dinners and luncheons.

Aida Bistro Where we meet friends who live in Columbia. We like their wine on tap offerings. Unique to the area.

Rudy’s Mediterranean Grill If you want pide or lahmacun, this is the place. After our visit to Turkey, this restaurant brings back memories in food.

Alexandra’s Turf Valley A great place for brunch. And, one of the best al fresco vistas, of the golf course. They also have really interesting special events.

The Turn House in Columbia’s Hobbits Glen. Used to be Coho. Under new local management, and using local farms. Beautifully done place, and the food is good, too.

Cured/18th and 21st A new venture in downtown Columbia. Owned by the owners of Iron Bridge, this is a site with two venues inside. One, a very nice bar and casual eatery, with a raw bar and charcuterie specialties. A good menu for brunch and upscale casual dining rounds it out. In the back, the “speakeasy”, with live music most nights. A separate fine dining area that isn’t in the main beam of the sound, but allows for pleasant background while dining. A nightclubby area where you can enjoy the various entertainers.

Food Plenty In the new Clarksville Commons. Large, inviting with indoor and outdoor seating. A nice sized bar area. Really good comfort food. My favorites. The shrimp and grits. The meat loaf. The catfish sandwich. Owned by the owners of Manor Hill Brewing and Victoria GastroPub.

RETAIL SHOPS & STORES, Food and Supplies

Boarman’s Market Our little “general” store. With a butcher, a deli, fresh produce, a limited grocery section, beer, wine, liquor and soda. If you want special cuts, like osso buco or rack of lamb or crown roast, this is the place to come. I also love their fresh sausage, their crab cakes, and they carry some locally produced breads and ice cream.

Atwater’s Bakery The Catonsville location, a favorite place for us to have lunch, and to pick up some outstanding bread. They also stock locally sourced cheeses and dairy.

Breezy Willow Farm Store Ellicott City. Newly opened at Frederick Rd and St John’s Lane. Open Thursday-Sunday. Besides the farm fresh goodness, they sell Zeke’s Coffee, Salazon Chocolates and Neat Nick Preserves.

Conscious Corner Roots et al. Organic grocery. Plus, they also run Bark, Nest, Great Sage and Red. Clustered together in Clarksville. Roots is also in Olney.

David’s Natural Market – Their new store is simply awesome. In the newly renovated part of Wilde Lake Village Center. Expanded options for ready made foods.

Today’s Catch The traditional site for very fresh seafood. We always head there to find out of the ordinary seafood choices. Located in Wilde Lake Village Center.

OTHER RETAIL

Books With a Past – Glenwood and now open in Savage Mill. The place to find rare books, and many bargains on older paperbacks. I greatly enjoy rummaging through their cookbook collection.

Mother Nature’s – Bird seed and much more. I love poking around the shop to see what they have discovered. My good Nikon binoculars came from here. They have a closeout sale, where you can pick up a bargain if you are lucky. This is also where I bought my thermostatically controlled heater for the bird bath.

Kendall Hardware Nothing better than your home town hardware store. Where the owners support the community in so many ways. Want keys? Need to rent something? Can’t find the right screw, bolt, fastener, pipe, etc. etc. This is my husband’s second home. Do you know about the popcorn machine?

Clark’s Hardware If it isn’t at Kendall, then Clark’s usually has it. Between the two, we almost never need to set foot in a big box store. Clark’s is the alternate site for me to get plants to fill in the gardens.

Zimmerman’s Hardware The place we take our many small engine tools and machines to get them fixed. You can’t beat them on price, and on schedule. They really get things fixed quickly.

Southern States Ellicott City Locally owned, and not part of the large franchise Southern States. Many things for those with horses. For us, we love getting some of our seeds here. I also buy my onion plugs here every spring.