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New and Notable


 

Last night we picked up dinner from the newly opened Hip Hop Fish and Chicken in Oakland Mills. Like many new restaurants it had fallen into the “long-awaited” category. We are not patient people in these parts. (I wrote about paying a visit to another one of their locations back in April.) From feedback I’ve seen online this area has plenty of Hip Hop fans. My take: the food is fresh, tasty, generous portions. It’s also not the kind of food I can eat all that often - - definitely of the rare treat variety.

More importantly, I hope this brings people to Oakland Mills who might not have been here before.

In a few weeks we’ll be celebrating the opening of another new business, a 7-11 with a gas station. At long last the empty lot at the corner of Stevens Forest and Robert Oliver Place will be filled. It’s been vacant as long as I have lived here.

It has been an uphill climb to find businesses willing to invest in my village. And we all know how the older village centers have been struggling to remain viable. The Oakland Mills Village Center has been particularly challenging because it is comprised of multiple plots of land owned by different owners. So, seeing new investment is pretty exciting to me. 

When potential residents come to OM looking at houses they’re also going to visit the Village Center. If they get a sense that it’s a functioning hub for the neighborhood, that’s a good thing.

Also in the category of the new and different: Ellicott City business Live Unusually has announced a product which will be released with the Live Unusal brand: hot sauce. 



I wrote about this business back in 2023, largely because I was charmed by this video. If you’re interested in trying the new hot sauce, pay them a visit. It will only be available at their store on Old Main Street. I wonder if they recommend it as a gelato topping?

One last thing: today’s your last opportunity to vote on your choice for the new Howard County flag. Don’t miss out. Whatever decision is made it will be better if you participated in it. That’s how this community thing works.




Have a good Sunday. Keep warm!


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