City Announces Interim Market House Manager & HVAC Contractor

June 17, 2011

Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announces that the City has retained FranPoint Partners, LLC, an Annapolis retail consulting firm, as the interim Market House manager. Additionally, the City has signed an agreement with Fresh Air Concepts to install the air conditioning upgrades at the historic market at City Dock.

The administration made the formal announcements at the work session of the City Council.
 
“Despite the litany of setbacks, the City Council and I remain firmly committed to beginning a new chapter for the Market House,” Mayor Cohen said. “I am encouraged that we have identified a quality interim manager and have begun the long-overdue work to fix the air conditioning.

This week, the City made its selection of FranPoint Partners, which specializes in the development of small and emerging businesses, including restaurants, and has a strong understanding of the Market House business dynamics. The company prepared a managerial and operational analysis of the market two years ago.

FranPoint Partners  CEO Richard J. Sharoff led the writing of that report. “I am delighted to be working with the City of Annapolis again on this valuable revitalization project,” said Mr. Sharoff.  “I know our firm can add significant value to the building, and as a 20 year resident of Annapolis, I have a personal goal to see the success of this historic landmark.”

The Annapolitan has three decades of business experience, including serving as director of corporate planning for Sara Lee Corp. and chief executive officer of Vie de France. He was responsible for transforming a small, Midwestern ice cream company (Maggie Moos), showcasing it on a national level and making it a huge success.  The FranPoint Partners team will also include Carol Fearns, former general manager of Westfield Annapolis, who will be responsible the day-to-day oversight of Market House operations.

Fresh Air Concepts, a Howard County-based HVAC contractor, who will install the upgraded heating and air conditioning system, was selected via competitive bidding earlier this month.

The company started work on installing the air conditioning system earlier this week. This phase of the project will cost $278,000. Over the next few weeks, fire proofing work will also be completed by Absolute Fire Protection, a Severna Park company.

Phase two of the heating and air conditioning project will be completed in early 2012 when geothermal wells will be installed.  The overall budget for Market House renovations is about $500,000.  The City has a $96,000 federal grant to defray the cost of the geothermal system, as well as $250,000 of matching bond funds from the State of Maryland for the overall improvements.