By the Baltimore Sun’s Lorraine Mirabella (TNS)
Kenny Purnell said he was taken aback by the public’s reaction to the name of his new restaurant, Block 10, which he and a partner created based on an idea and a logo, less than two weeks before he hopes to launch it in Hampden.
According to Purnell, “when you typed in Block 10, this Nazi stuff came up, which we weren’t even aware of at first.” We are two proprietors who are African American. We are not operating a concentration camp.
However, several neighborhood members were taken aback by the moniker. In the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp barracks known as Block 10, Nazi physicians conducted experiments on both men and women.
“Why would he name this after something so horrific that occurred with the Nazis?” was one of the many concerns I received from locals, according to Baltimore Councilwoman Odette Ramos, whose district includes Hampden. We have made it very clear that antisemitism is not tolerated in our city or area and that it is a highly sensitive topic.
The Block 10 was first created by Purnell and Wayne Laing, who both owned 13.5% Wine Bar in Hampden, to characterize a shape and a 10-dining room arrangement of converted former brick garages on Falls Road, according to Purnell.
The owners renamed it Block X, adopting the Roman numeral 10, in response to complaints from Ramos and others. Community members, however, contend that’s not any less disrespectful and are calling for yet another adjustment.
Purnell defended his view on Monday, saying it was novel and wildly misunderstood. Additionally, he stated that he might be open to changing the restaurant’s name, perhaps to Block Eight.
“If it offends people that much, I’m willing to change it to Block Eight,” he remarked.
According to Purnell, the name debate started after individuals heard it and looked up information about the business online.
He stated that we have no intention of offending any community. We provide food for everyone on our menu, regardless of where they are from. Our goal is to improve this community and contribute to the existing activities in the Hampden region.
The restaurateurs claimed that a section of Falls Road behind Red Fish Liquors had become unsightly and that they had spent months of labor and almost $1 million to transform it. According to Purnell, the garages were now dilapidated and overflowing with trash.
According to Purnell, this is improving the neighborhood’s appearance over its previous state.
The partners are currently completing a project that revolves around an outdoor courtyard and consists of eight private dining rooms, each seating six people, a freshly constructed commercial kitchen, and a main dining area. The original moniker came from the fact that there were ten distinct garages.
Diners will be able to control music and shows on flat-screen TVs in private, themed rooms of their choosing, like the Orioles or Ravens rooms. The proprietors guarantee a menu with something for everyone and intend to offer breakfast, lunch, and supper.
According to him, those who wish to work during meals, watch sports, get together with family more secretly, or deal with less distractions when dining out are demanding the dining privacy option.
According to Ramos, the history surrounding the proposed redevelopment of the land might have exacerbated existing tensions. Zoning permits restaurant use, she added.
However, in 2022, the owner applied for city authority to renovate the space into a Korean restaurant with a karaoke bar and live entertainment. After neighbors complained about parking noise, city zoning officials rejected the entertainment element.
In addition to negotiating some of the commercial terms with locals, the restaurateurs have applied for a liquor license.
As a show of good faith, hopefully he would change the name, Ramos added. I’m in favor of small businesses. Everyone has simply found the situation to be annoying.
Do you have any news? Lorraine Mirabella may be reached at [email protected], (410) 332-6672, and @lmirabella on X.
Baltimore Sun, 2024. www.baltimoresun.com. Tribune Content Agency, LLC is the distributor.
More Life & Culture news
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!