BALTIMORE —
Marie Louise Bistro, a French restaurant in Mount Vernon, officially closed its doors on Sunday after 18 years, with the owner and customers expressing sadness over the loss.
“Oh, every Sunday for brunch. Years ago, we used to have dinner here all the time. I had parties here. It’s just been a really nice place,” the owner said.
The bistro, known for its French cuisine, was a neighborhood favorite.
“I think that it’s a great asset for the neighborhood,” a Mount Vernon resident told WBAL-TV 11 News. “It provides more character. Each of them that leave is a big, big, big loss.”
Marie Ransome, the restaurant’s owner, declined to speak on camera but shared that the business faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020.
She explained that the pandemic caused financial difficulties, forcing her to take out a loan for the first time. While business began to improve in 2023, customer numbers steadily declined, and this year has been “devastatingly slow.”
Jack Danna, president of the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association, commented on the closure and praised Ransome’s efforts.
“Marie was successful in running a business for 18 years. We give a lot of credit to Marie,” Danna said.
Danna also discussed the broader challenges facing local businesses, including inflation, rising food and labor costs, and other economic pressures.
“I don’t see the closing of the Mary Louise. I don’t see the closing of Brewer’s Art as a neighborhood in decline. What I do see are macro conditions that pull at these businesses,” he said. “Yes, this is a loss. No doubt it’s another vacant storefront, but it’s also a symptom of a larger trend nationally that is affecting urban commercial borders.”
The closure of Marie Louise Bistro follows the February shutdown of The Brewer’s Art, another well-known establishment located just a few blocks away.
Danna noted that two new businesses have opened in the area within the past two months.
Dining and Cooking