Interior design firm Crosby Jenkins Associates to leave Mt. Vernon

The exodus of businesses from Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood continues.

Crosby Jenkins Associates, an award-winning interior design firm, announced on social media on Wednesday that it plans to move from its longtime home in Mount Vernon to a building it plans to renovate on Falls Road in Baltimore County.

The interior design firm has been based at 24 W. Chase Street for decades. Its owners announced that they’re moving their headquarters to the former Princeton Sports property at 6239 Falls Road in the county’s Bare Hills area. The sporting goods store closed earlier this year after its owners decided to retire. A timetable for the move was not disclosed.

“After 40 incredible years in Mt. Vernon, we’re embarking on a new chapter by relocating our headquarters to this prominent location,” the company said on Facebook. “Our vision is to restore this historic space into a dynamic, design-forward hub that reflects our commitment to innovation and community engagement. Stay tuned as we breathe new life into this landmark, blending our rich history with a fresh, modern perspective.”

Crosby Jenkins Associates was started in 1972 by Alexander Baer and known for many years as Alexander Baer Associates. Baer launched the company when many of his clients lived in Baltimore City, in The Warrington building and other posh locations, and so did he. Now it’s owned by Katherine Crosby, and many of its clients live outside the city limits.

The design firm’s headquarters has always been one of the most attractive and well-maintained buildings on the block. Along with the Baltimore chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) across the street for many years, it was a prestigious, design-oriented business for Mount Vernon, and it brought well-heeled clients to the area.

Crosby Jenkins is the latest of several businesses and organizations to leave Mount Vernon in recent years, starting during the advent of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The AIA chapter, the Baltimore Architecture Foundation and Baltimore Heritage moved from 11 ½ W. Chase Street to One Charles Center in early 2020. Other departures include City Café at 1001 Cathedral Street; City Cafe’s successor on Cathedral Street, Eat, Drink, Relax (EDR); Eddie’s of Mount Vernon grocery store at 7-11 West Eager St.; Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing at 1009 Cathedral St., and Odorite of Baltimore at 1111 Maryland Ave.

The Agora publishing company has put several of its Mount Vernon properties up for sale, including 819 N. Charles St., but still has its headquarters at 14 W. Mount Vernon Place. Interior designer Rita St. Clair downsized her business at 1009 N. Charles St. in 2017 and sold two buildings on the block, 1009 and 1011 N. Charles St., in January.

City Café closed in May of 2020, shortly after celebrating its 25th anniversary. Owners Gino Cardinale and Bruce Bodie told customers at the time that they wanted to focus on a restaurant they have in Baltimore County, Tark’s Grill at Green Spring Station. EDR closed last winter after three years of operation and the space is currently empty.

The Odorite building is on the same block as the Crosby Jenkins offices and has been vacant and covered with graffiti for more than two years. Odorite was acquired by another firm, Viking Chemical Co., and moved its employees to Viking’s location at 2325 Banger St.

The Plaza store was purchased by the owner and occupant of an adjacent building, David Wiesand of McLain Wiesand Design at 1013 Cathedral St. Weisand has been using the property as overflow space for his business and has space available for other tenants. Plaza’s next closest art supply store is at 519 York Road in Towson.

A new operator has emerged for the shuttered Eddie’s grocery store property, which is undergoing renovation and expected to reopen this summer.

Related