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May 2008
Everything old is new again
by Elizabeth Brinkama
There are some new faces in those old familiar places on Carroll Avenue. Though perhaps not readily apparent, three established businesses—Fair Day’s Play, Pizza Roma (formerly Pizza Palace), and Savory Café—are reinventing themselves with much anticipated makeovers starting directly at the top.
With new ownership, changes have begun that are designed to keep the strong foundations of what came before while incorporating fresh ideas, as well as fresh paint, to keep customers coming back for more.
Begun in 2006 under the guidance and vision of Robert Pleasure, the mission of Fair Day’s Play was to offer children’s toys, games, puzzles and books that inspired the imagination, stimulated the mind and created a sense fun while being produced and manufactured using fair trade conditions.
Purchased this past April by former store manager Lisa Beth Ripkin, the Fair Day’s Play model will continue in this quest to find engaging play for children that are made from companies that focus on “fair pay for their employees, working conditions fair to the health and well being of those adults – no children – who make these products, materials that are fair to the health and well being of the children who play with them and corporate policies that are also fair to the environment.”
The store itself is being redesigned to make it more open and inviting. “I want a place where mom’s feel comfortable nursing their babies and parent’s can read to their children,” says Lisa. Customers will soon find a dedicated and peaceful space for both children and parents complete with comfy chairs and an enchanting mural on the walls.
There will also be room for store events, including arts & crafts classes, sing and dance-a-long mornings, product demonstrations, and games such as chess or checkers set up for all to play and while away an afternoon. For the older teen, bike maintenance instruction, workshops and other project classes will provide another outlet to encourage more interaction and less tech-dependent entertainment.
And while the current recession, real or perceived, may make the prospect of owning your own business rather daunting, Lisa sees the Fair Day’s Play idealism as an imperative. “While toys may not be a necessity like food, recreation is a necessity. Play is a necessity. Laughter and creativity with others are a necessity. Sports itself is more than just a ball. It calls for coordination of the body, mind, heart and a deep discipline. I want to offer a place that encourages play and innovative thought.”
Further down the street in the heart of Takoma Junction, the Pizza Palace is no longer empty. New owner Abdul Baig is expected to open his second Pizza Roma shop later this month. If you can’t wait (and when it comes to good pizza, who can?), Baig’s first location is on Rhode Island Avenue in College Park. What sets Pizza Roma apart from the rest of the pizza joints in our area? Baig, a native of Pakistan, offers a comprehensive halal menu. According to The Halal Journal, halal is an Arabic term meaning permitted and refers to foods and food preparation permitted to observant Jews and Muslims. “The way we prepare the food is much cleaner and safer. It’s better for everybody,” says Baig.
While you will find the usual staples featured at a pizza restaurant including hot and cold subs, pasta, calzones, and of course, pizza, you will find them prepared with halal turkey ham and bacon or halal beef pepperoni. It is “the authenticity of the ethnic food” that brings people in, regardless of religious or dietary needs, says Liora Dahan, owner of Pita Plus, a kosher-supervised restaurant and College Park business neighbor of Baig’s. It may cost more in time, labor and money to keep the menu halal, but keeping to one’s beliefs makes it worth the extra effort.
Meanwhile, moving back up Carroll Avenue, the faithful have seen many incarnations of Savory since Linda Pompa first opened the café in the early 90’s. This past February Savory Café in Old Takoma, not to be confused with Savory Metro in Takoma, D.C., was purchased by John and Peter Kim. Changes could be seen soon thereafter. Floor tiles and ceiling fans were replaced on the inside while the parking fences were repaired and flower boxes replanted on the outside. The menu is also receiving an update. Korean dishes featuring beef teriyaki, chicken & vegetable dumplings, fried rice and fried tofu are now featured with more additions on the way. Even the website has been spruced up.
John and Peter are bringing back a neighborhood vibe to the café that was missing in recent years. Along with resident favorites Takoma Zone, there will be more local bands playing on Thursday and Friday evenings as well as a more diverse range of local artists displaying and selling their work.
Perhaps the most obvious, immediate, and welcome change has been the increase in staff.
Sunday Brunch is approaching the crowd capacity it once had during its heyday when the café first opened. Lines may now be long, but the wait is not. Weekday hours find more than one staff person at the ready with a smile and great disposition. If you are a regular, more often than not, your order has already been started as soon as they see you approaching the front door.
Oh and, as an aside, you are neither drunk nor need your eyes checked. John and Peter are indeed identical twins.
So it’s time to revisit these establishments and remember that everything old is indeed new again.
Fair Day’s Play
7050 Carroll Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-270-4999
Pizza Roma
7322 Carroll Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-412-4670
Savory Café
7071 Carroll Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-270-2233
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