Shortly after construction began on Hotel Ulysses, the colorful John Waters–inspired property designed and developed by Ash in Baltimore’s history-laden Mount Vernon neighborhood, the hospitality brand acquired the townhouse next door. “It’s a classic Baltimore building with great bones, though much of it had fallen into disrepair,” notes Xavier Donnelly, the firm’s creative director. The address once housed the Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon, a beloved local haunt prized for its no-frills comfort food and easygoing atmosphere. Ash initially imagined the site as an extension of the hotel’s programming but opted against operating a restaurant themselves, instead seeking a local partner who could carry the concept forward.
But what would that concept be? As he explored the property, Donnelly uncovered a…..