Federal Hill Ace 'Shopsgiving' Sidewalk Sale and Blood Drive

In the spirit of the holidays, give back while you shop Black Friday deals during Federal Hill Ace Hardware's Shopsgiving event!

Saturday, November 30, from 10am - 3pm, Children National Medical Center will have their bloodmobile parked outside Ace, collecting donations to help kids in need. 

Your local hardware destination will also host a sidewalk sale starting at 11am, with most items under $1! This is a great opportunity to collect stocking stuffers and small, inexpensive gifts for those holiday parties and secret Santa exchanges!

They need at least 20 donors. Please sign up for an appointment time here: https://www.cnmcblooddonor.com/index.cfm?group=op&step=2&opid=2702

Ace Hardware of Federal Hill Joins 'Made in MD' Program

Beginning August 1st, Federal Hill Ace Hardware (1214 Light Street) will participate in the ‘Think Local First Initiative’ and ‘Made in MD’ programs, which collaborate with local entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their handmade products at brick and mortar stores.

Marc Friedman and Gina Schaefer, co-owners of A Few Cool Hardware Stores (nine privately owned, non-franchised Ace Hardware locations throughout Washington DC and Maryland), first partnered with Think Local first DC in spring 2013 in order to meet the customer demand for locally sourced products. Due to their success, they’ve decided to expand the program to their Maryland stores.

“The Made in DC program was so well received that we wanted to expand it to our Maryland stores,” says owner of Federal Hill Ace Hardware, Gina Schaefer. “We love the idea of sourcing products locally, and we know our customers do too. It is our responsibility as a local business to take action to provide those opportunities for the vendors and promote economic growth in their communities.”

Interested vendors who wish to display their merchandise in Federal Hill Ace Hardware can fill out an application on their website http://acehardwaredc.com/made-in-dc-and-maryland.html You must be a Maryland resident to qualify. Supplemental materials are required. Submit your completed application to info@acehardwaredc.com by 5pm on Friday, July 5th.


Briana Lopes, Intern

Family-Friendly Shopping in Federal Hill

Love shopping local and supporting your neighborhood? Want a shop that has gear for every age? Then look no further than Federal Hill! The following shops and boutiques offer family-friendly apparel and gifts to please anyone.

Pandora’s Box (50 E Cross Street) Offering unique items and the latest fashions, Pandora’s Box has home decor, jewelry, and handbags galore, but it also stocks colorful printed onesies as well as children’s hats and headbands and room decorations. See photo.

Cottage Kidz (1129 Light Street) With a huge selection of designer jeans, graphic tees, backpacks, raincoats, tutus, and boots, what’s not to love about this children’s boutique? In addition to clothes, the inventory will soon include educational toys, books, and puzzles.

Phina’s for the Home (919 South Charles Street) This linen, bath, and gift boutique has lovely blankets and towels that will keep any age warm and dry as well as paper dolls. Monogramming is also available, a great option when you want a personalized gift.

Morstein’s Jewelers (1114 Light Street) The oldest jewelry store in Baltimore City stocks baby bracelets and medals as well as rings, bracelets, and necklaces for older customers. They also offer custom designs including mementos like silver cups, frames, and spoons.

Ace Hardware (1214 Light Street) You may not think a hardware store would carry great gifts for the family, but Ace Hardware does! Seasonal items like sleds for the winter or nets, bubble wands, scooters, and deck furniture for summer will make any outdoor play fun. They even have some crafting supplies like googly eyes and mustaches.

Alliance Comics (904 Light Street) Alliance offers a myriad of comic books and graphic novels in addition to toys, t-shirts, posters, action figures, and more! This shop is perfect for the comic book lover in your life.

American Apparel (1125 Light Street) Known best for its huge variety of basics, American Apparel’s selection includes leggings, tank tops, dresses, and pants in addition to socks, gloves, hats, bedding, and accessories like jewelry and lip balm.

Brightside Boutique (1133 South Charles Street) With a bold collection including vintage pieces, Brightside is a great stop for anyone with a sophisticated, yet funky taste. In addition to clothing, the boutique also has jewelry and accessories for a polished and edgy look.

The Book Escape (805 Light Street) – Featuring new, used, and rare books, The Book Escape has a book for every reader of any age! They also buy books, so trade in your old books and get store credit toward a gift for an avid reader.

Afters Café (1001 South Charles Street) Serving up pastries and coffee in addition to a full self-service frozen yogurt bar, Afters is a delicious treat after you’ve hit up one of the many Federal Hill restaurants and bars. They sell gift certificates too, so you can give the gift of dessert to anyone you know!

Elizabeth Nelson, Intern