Business

On the cusp of a new baseball season, the 524-room Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel steps from Oriole Park at Camden Yards appears to have changed hands. The 10-story property at 110 E. Eutaw St. was listed as sold via online auction last week with a price of $18.3 million — nearly $12 million less than the last time it traded. The auction took place during a two-day bidding window on TenX, the online real estate sales website.

Montgomery County, Maryland’s need to compete has prompted the introduction of a $20 million package designed to give businesses incentives to come to and stay in the county while attracting employees to high-paying jobs. At a news conference Monday before leaders with nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce and small business owners, County Council President Andrew Friedson joked if all the area leaders were in the room, “Who’s running the economy in Montgomery County right now?”

A leading maker of electric vehicle charging devices has formally established its global headquarters in Bowie following the grand opening of a new 30,000-square-foot manufacturing site located within Melford Town Center. At a Monday morning event attended by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and federal officials, Blink Charging Co. President and CEO Brendan Jones said the facility and the company’s nearby 15,000-square-foot corporate office condenses all of Blink’s operations to two locations going forward, down from the five sites it conducts business in throughout the country.

A former Under Armour Inc. executive is looking to take a locally founded clothing brand into resorts and country clubs across the country. Christine Maly, an apparel industry veteran, bought Spunkwear in 2021 after returning from four years working for Under Armour in Amsterdam. Spunkwear, a women’s apparel company, was founded by a lacrosse mom who sold the clothing at her children’s tournaments, but Maly has taken the brand to the next level by leaning into wholesale.

As the thoroughbred horse racing industry struggles with waning interest and grave economic challenges, its Maryland stakeholders are seeking to chart a path forward amid strong headwinds. But to complete that mission, advocates and legislators will soon need to introduce and pass a bill — and quickly, before the General Assembly session ends next month. Equipped with $400 million in state funds approved by the legislature in 2020 and a new proposal — one that would eventually consolidate racing at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, close Anne Arundel County’s Laurel Park and build a training track elsewhere in the state — the newly formed Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority hopes this is the year the industry has a feasible plan.

Phillips Foods and Seafood Restaurants Inc. will head north for its latest expansion outside Maryland. The Halethorpe-based company acquired or will soon acquire a facility, several plants and holding tanks in Canada, Phillips announced Friday. The acquisitions will expand the family-owned company’s seafood offerings in its restaurants, like Phillips Seafood at the Inner Harbor, and retail, as well as add to its global portfolio that already includes a presence in Asia.

Usually at weekend markets, the sound of conversations reverberates throughout the room as attendees speak to each other or with vendors about their products. But during the Deaf Artisan Market Day at Olde Mother Brewing on Saturday, instead of using their voices, artisans and attendees mainly communicated through American Sign Language and facial expressions. Dozens of people came out to the market to see the art, talent and products of local small businesses owned by people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and Comcast reached a carriage deal for the regional sports network to remain on Xfinity’s cable packages, but subscribers will need to pay more to watch Orioles and Nationals games. The agreement, announced Friday, will see MASN and MASN2 elevate from the basic package to the Ultimate TV package. The change will go into effect Tuesday, and Comcast will contact customers by then to communicate the change. For customers who already subscribe to the Ultimate TV package, there will be no change in pricing. For any Popular TV customers who do not want to continue with MASN, there will be a reduced RSN fee each month.