The Avenue Bakery Presented With 'Small Business Award'

BALTIMORE WJZ)--The Royal Theater, The Avenue Market, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and appearances by civil rights leaders---it's all part of the rich history of Baltimore's Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ron Matz reports on a major honor given today to one of the most popular business owners on the avenue in celebration of Black History Month.

They're on a roll at the Avenue Bakery--from delicious cakes and cookies to their famous homemade poppay rolls.

The market is a go to spot at Baker and Pennsylvania.

"The dinner rolls, they're just wonderful, the coffee is off the chain I love it," said Donovan Dorsey.

Today, Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet presented bakery owner Jim Hamlin with a Champion of Small Business Award.

"The award is fantastic, it gives me the opportunity to articulate the value of this great community. Hopefully this will trigger folks to come back and invest," said Jim Hamlin.

And the community is responding especially to those famous rolls you can only get here.

"People have been telling me for years, Jim you ought to sell these rolls. So I ended up putting together a business plan and getting funding through the SBA and Susquehanna Bank and we opened in 2011," Hamlin said.

After four years The Avenue Bakery continues to prosper helping to revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue.

"I love it. I stop here every chance I get. I teach part time at the University of Maryland Dental School and I stop and buy some bread and rolls and buy the pies for the holidays," said Kenny Hooper.

"Poppay" was the name given to Jim Hamlin by his grand-daughter.