Press Play on Local Stories: Voices of Annapolis is Live!
The CSQ Collective Newsletter, Edition #4, August 2025
New Podcast Alert:
Voices of Annapolis Takes the Mic
Check out our new podcast, Voices of Annapolis! We are showcasing the entrepreneurs and community leaders who make our city exceptional. Through these candid conversations, you'll hear directly from the innovators building businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening our local community.
We're serving up equal parts hustle, laughs, and heart, because building something meaningful should be engaging, not exhausting. From tactical advice to those "you won't believe what happened next" stories, every episode reminds us that entrepreneurship is serious work that doesn't have to take itself too seriously.
Location Update: Our Search for the Perfect Harbor
We're excited to share an important update on our journey to bring The Culinary Square to life. After careful consideration, we've made a strategic pivot from looking for a lease to pursuing the purchase of a building or land. This decision reflects our commitment to ensuring The Culinary Square remains a stable, long-term safe harbor for food entrepreneurs—by owning our space, we can guarantee sustainability, invest in purpose-built facilities, and create a lasting foundation for our culinary community to grow and thrive.
We're incredibly grateful to Oliver Fryer and Bryan Herr at MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate for their dedication to pursuing both listed and unlisted commercial opportunities that fit our unique needs and budget. While we haven't found our perfect location yet, finding our home remains our top priority. Every property we visit brings us closer to opening the doors of Maryland's capital region's first commercial-grade shared kitchen, designed from the ground up for culinary incubation.
Know of a potential property? We'd love to hear from you—reach out to info@theculinarysquare.com with any leads!
Chamber Champions: Building Community Support
Today marked an important milestone as we gathered with leaders from four Anne Arundel County area Chambers of Commerce to share The Culinary Square vision. The response was overwhelmingly positive—these community champions immediately understood how our shared kitchen incubator will strengthen the local food economy and support entrepreneurship throughout the region.
The chamber leaders not only embraced our mission but promised several important new connections to help accelerate our progress. We asked them to spread the word about our project far and wide to generate community support and potential investment opportunities, and to keep their eyes peeled for properties that could become our new home. It's incredibly energizing to have such strong advocates in our corner as we work to bring this transformative project to life!
Take some time to get to know your local Chamber of Commerce:
We’re Taking the Stage
We are thrilled to announce that The Culinary Square has been selected as a 2025 Panel Speaker at the Shared Kitchen Summit in Cleveland, Ohio! What we'll be sharing in Cleveland:
📊 How market research shaped our entire business model
🎯 Why community-first beats facility-first every time
💡 Real insights from AA County's food entrepreneurs
🚀 How to use data to build what people actually need
This isn't just recognition for us - it's validation for our entire approach: Build with your community, not for them. We can't wait to share our journey with shared kitchen operators from across the country and bring back even more insights to strengthen our local food ecosystem!
