By Elise Shuey
In the midst of a busy, stressful fall semester, University of Maryland students can find a local pick-me-up at Shop Made in Maryland.
On the corner of Knox Road and Baltimore Avenue, students flood the cafe and retail store to study, socialize and shop throughout the semester. Shop Made in Maryland is a place where local small-business owners can find a platform to promote their artistry for College Park students and residents to enjoy.
“You’ll always run into someone, which is nice,” said Natalie Shin, a junior at the University of Maryland. “The environment is really conducive to studying as well.”
The business offers a wide variety of Maryland-made products like art, jewelry and stationery. It is a unique market entry opportunity for small local creators to amplify their own businesses and expose them to their surrounding communities.
Gabrielle Brinkhoff, the general manager for Shop Made in Maryland, said the shop in College Park is the only location to have a cafe within the store.
The cafe supports the local business initiative, receiving their fresh roasted coffee from A Toda Madre Roasters, bagels from Bullfrog Bagels and fresh, daily delivered pastries from The Sweet Lobby, all of which are local to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Shop Made in Maryland opened its very first location in downtown College Park on Dec. 7, 2023 in the City Hall building. Brinkhoff began working with the business in October of 2023, during which she assisted in opening the store and finding local makers to join the Shop Made community.
Brinkhoff came across the business through an online job listing. Having both cafe and reception work experience, she said she nailed her interview and immediately fell in love with the job.
“I love creating. I love making,” said Brinkhoff, “so it was just a very cool combination of both.”
Ken Ulman, president of the Terrapin Development Company, played a role in the opening of Shop Made in Maryland in downtown College Park. Brinkhoff said opening the store was seen as a way to make College Park a more vibrant, beautiful community.
“I think Shop Made has really brought a new energy to College Park that we didn’t have,” said Josie Coyne, a junior at UMD who frequently studies at Shop Made in Maryland.
Oct. 20 marked eight years since the Shop Made In Brand was founded by entrepreneurs Stacey Price and Michael Babin. Brinkhoff said the store started as a pop-up in Dupont Circle, Washington D.C. in 2017.
Once the business concept was proven successful by this pop-up, exclusive locations opened up in Washington D.C.. In 2022, Shop Made In VA was created, opening locations in both Alexandria and Richmond.
Featured Image: Shop Made In Maryland’s Cafe. Photo by Elise Shuey