Baby’s On Fire Cafe closing plans have triggered a labor dispute in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. The cafe and record store will serve customers for the final time on Sunday, July 19, the Baltimore Chronicle editorial team reports.
Owners cite significant revenue losses
Owners Shirlé Hale-Koslowski and David Koslowski blamed the closure on significant losses in revenue. They thanked customers, employees and the wider Baltimore community for supporting the business.
Baby’s On Fire opened at 1010 Morton Street on June 10, 2016. The shop combined all-day breakfast and coffee with new and used vinyl records.
The final announcement included several practical details:
- Last service date: July 19, 2026
- Location: Mount Vernon, Baltimore
- Business format: cafe and record store
- Stated reason: declining revenue
The owners invited customers to visit once more before the doors close. No alternative location or reopening plan was announced.
Union campaign preceded the closure announcement
Employees contacted the owners on June 22 and requested voluntary recognition of their union. The group planned to organize with UFCW Local 27.
Workers said they received no response during the following week. They then petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a formal union election.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| June 22 | Workers requested voluntary union recognition |
| Late June | Employees sought an NLRB election |
| July 10 | Closure became public |
| July 19 | Final day of service |
Employees offered to withdraw the election petition if management voluntarily recognized the union. The closure announcement arrived less than two weeks before the scheduled final service.
Workers allege union-busting
Employees said the decision left staff members facing sudden financial uncertainty. They accused the owners of refusing to operate in good faith.
UFCW Local 27 president Jason Chorpenning called the closure “union-busting 101.” He argued that management preferred closure over recognizing employees’ organizing rights. The owners’ statement did not publicly address that allegation.
Workers have launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover immediate living expenses. The dispute now centers on whether financial losses or union activity drove the decision.
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