Café Dear Leon's Growing Restaurant Empire: Fact-Checking New Concepts and Ownership
By James H. Sterling
Rumors circulated throughout early 2025 that Café Dear Leon was hunting for an expansive kitchen in central Baltimore. The owners made it official in October when they revealed plans for La Maison, situated on the prominent corner of 2600 N Howard St in Remington. The announcement sparked intense debate over what the concept would actually serve, with initial social media chatter claiming everything from an upscale French bistro to a casual neighborhood slice shop.
La Maison will operate as an intentional day-to-night restaurant concept. During morning and midday hours, the kitchen will lean on the bakery's established strengths: artisan pastries, specialty espresso, and crusty sandwiches. In the late afternoon, the space shifts operations entirely. The focal point transforms into a dynamic pizza kitchen, spotlighting naturally fermented doughs, charred crusts, and creative seasonal toppings developed by Kim and his team.
Remington provides an ideal testing ground for this transition. The neighborhood sits adjacent to Johns Hopkins University and Charles Village, boasting a dining public accustomed to casual dining with high-end technique. By securing a brick-and-mortar storefront rather than an enclosed food hall stall, the team gains the space required for heavy floor-standing deck ovens and comfortable dining room service.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
