Downtown Baltimore Entrepreneurs Struggle to Fill Vacant Spaces

Hefty costs and lack of foot traffic plague small business owners in the city's core.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Downtown Baltimore entrepreneurs are facing significant hurdles in trying to open new businesses, including having to spend large sums of money to build out abandoned spaces and dealing with a lack of foot traffic in the area. Many are struggling to survive as they grapple with these challenges.

Why it matters

The struggles of downtown Baltimore entrepreneurs highlight the broader challenges facing small businesses in the city's urban core, where high commercial rents, property vacancies, and declining foot traffic have made it difficult for new ventures to get off the ground and thrive.

The details

Entrepreneurs opening new businesses in downtown Baltimore have reported having to spend tens of thousands of dollars to build out vacant spaces that were previously abandoned, putting a major financial strain on their operations. Additionally, they are dealing with a lack of foot traffic in the city's central business district, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the shift to remote work.

  • The article was published on February 14, 2026.

The players

Downtown Baltimore Entrepreneurs

Small business owners opening new ventures in the city's central business district.

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The takeaway

The challenges facing downtown Baltimore entrepreneurs underscore the need for greater support and investment in the city's small business community, particularly in its urban core, in order to revitalize commercial districts and foster economic growth.