AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Celebrating the opening of Sullivan’s Cove at Park Plaza on January 3, owners Eric Leatherman and Sean Martin felt their new restaurant’s future looked bright. That was just before COVID 19 hit…..and hit them hard.
Forced to close down on March 13, they struggled for a few months doing carry-out only. As summer approached and outdoor dining was permitted, they partnered with two other restaurants to rent an expensive tent to keep the business running and brought back most of their staff. In quick order, they lost one chef to illness and another to stress and, when an employee tested positive for the virus, were forced to shut down another couple weeks.
On edge, short-staffed, and suffering supply disruptions, they found it hard to be on their A game according to Leatherman.
“We’ve experienced sometimes long delays serving our customers. Though some were understanding, we’ve gotten bad reviews as a result. We’ve been deeply distressed by the problems but we’re not going anywhere,” Leatherman said. “My wife Franny explained our frustrations best in a Facebook post she sent out explaining the situation we find ourselves in.”
Franny’s post began with an eloquent poem by Morgan Harper Nichols titled “Empathy” and followed with an an explanation of what’s taken place during what she described as “the hardest weeks of their lives”. She also expressed thanks to the staff and management team, their families, and the supporters who continue to be there for Sullivan’s Cove.
Leatherman noted that they’ve been receiving some welcome support as a result of her post. Nevertheless, each day brings a new problem.
“Our latest frustration has to do with the tent which, though very expensive, allowed us to double our capacity,” said Leatherman. “Now it’s starting to get cold and County Executive Stuart Pittman won’t allow us to add sides to the tent to provide warmth and still be able to serve people outside. We can only serve 50% of customers inside to comply with social distancing. That puts restaurants like us in a tight spot. It’s hard to break even or make any profit. We’ve already been through the wringer and they need to let us make some money.”
He and partner Sean Martin would love to get back to what Sullivan’s Cove does best – serving comfort foods made from fresh, locally grown ingredients.
Check out Sullivan’s Cove at https://www.sullivanscovesp.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SullivansCoveSP/ .
Some small businesses and restaurants are fortunate to have survived and thrived and are doing their best to help families in need. We highlight two.
Diehl’s Produce helps families with gifts of fresh fruits and vegetables
Diehl’s Produce is one of the businesses doing well enough to reach out a helping hand to the community.
Jennifer Diehl and daughter Madeline came up with a practical way to help families that are struggling. As is their practice, Diehl’s Produce only takes cash or checks. For people that don’t want to accept change, they simply round up the total and donate the balance to families in need through gift certificates for fresh produce. Thus far, they’ve donated more than $3,000 in gift certificates with most, but not all, going to SPAN – an amazing accomplishment considering they’re operating under COVID-19 guidelines.
“This year has been highly stressful even if business was good,” Jennifer Diehl said. “Supply problems, being short handed after having to make employees quarantine for fear of exposure, and people being hostile when we ask them to wear their masks and not lick their fingers. Some people have been terrible to my staff. And some people have been absolutely wonderful. All in all,, we’ve been lucky. Donating the gift cards has been ‘the most rewarding thing’ this whole summer season.”
Delighted to be the recipient of their largess, SPAN, Inc’s development director Ellen Kinsella commented after Jennifer’s latest delivery of gift cards, that they were overwhelmed by the generosity of Diehl’s Produce.
“How wonderful to be able to give our clients the gift of fresh produce in addition to non-perishable food,” she said.
Garry’s Grill provides a helping hand through boxes of food
From the moment he became the owner of Garry’s Grill & Catering in 2008, Eddie Conway has been a positive force in the Severna Park community. Challenged by the effects of COVID-19 like other local businesses, he initiated a carry out and delivery policy, devised innovative grocery boxes and created an outdoor dining space when the weather warmed. Thanks to the many customers and friends that continued supporting the restaurant throughout the pandemic, he’s done well enough that he wanted to give back.
Celebrating his 12th anniversary as owner of Garry’s Grill, Eddie Conway is still giving back to the community. He was owner at 23……. 
and, at 27, was Young Entrepreneur of 2012, all the while supporting neighborhood charities.
Garry’s Grill’s latest giving back effort involved teaming with Baltimore Washington Medical Center in a “Hungry Harvest” initiative. The restaurant handed out meal boxes to nearly 200 families at Belle Grove Elementary School in Brooklyn Park. The effort made the local TV news.
“Luckily, we’ve had the backing of longtime customers and the whole Severna Park community to support us and help us get through this COVID situation” Conway said. “So, in my mind, it’s imperative to give back to those who need it because not everyone is as fortunate.”
In the beginning, Garry’s Grill would host “Give-Back Tuesdays” where 5% of total sales would be given to a specific community organization including the Severna Park Community Center, SPAN and Partners In Care. “We helped, too, by doing little things like $6 burger nights on Wednesdays when we’d ask people to guess the number of burgers sold that day and, whoever came out closest won $25.”
Conway has always loved helping people but he’s very humble and feels strange about publicizing the fact. He prefers to give credit to others – especially the community organizations that have operated throughout the pandemic like SPAN and ACAN.
Food pantries benefit from donations
In spite of the loss of their executive director Janet Pack, who died in May, the Asbury Church Assistance Network (ACAN) has been able to carry on. ACAN has continued distributing food, paper goods and other items through their Drive Up Pantry throughout the pandemic thanks to donors like Schmidt’s Bakery and a majority of area grocery stores. ACAN is located at 429 Asbury Drive in Severna Park. Visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ACANAssistance/
SPAN, Inc. has benefited from generous donations from individuals, neighborhoods, churches, high schools, and companies ranging from small businesses like Diehl’s Produce, The Big Bean and Side Street Framers to larger enterprises like the Bank of Glen Burnie, Chartwell Golf & Country Club, and Keller Williams Flagship of Maryland to name just a few.
The donations have allowed SPAN to continue its drive-through food pick-ups behind the SPAN house at 400 Benfield Road. SPAN volunteers also see clients for eviction, utility or medical expense assistance in an outdoor setting. For information, visit https://www.spanhelps.org/.
“Pieced Together” documentary premiers on MPT
Area quilters who attended the debut of filmaker Julianne Donofrio’s “Pieced Together” documentary about barn quilts at Kinder Farm Park will be interested to know the film will be making its Broadcast Premiere on Maryland Public Television on Saturday, October 10th at 7:00.
One of two barn quilts painted by Severna Park High School graduate Julia O’Mara on the barns at Kinder Farm Park is featured in the film. View a trailer for the film at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwokgoWGIFA&feature=youtu.be.
