CHANGING JOBS:
Carroll Street construction feeds deli
By JOSEPH M. DELEON News-Post Staff
jdeleon @ fredericknewspost . com
FREDERICK — It took a convoy of more than 30 cement trucks to construct one level of the six-story Creekside Plaza near Carroll Creek last week. About 15 finishers smoothed out the concrete as it was poured. Those workers brought their appetites and money to the job site every day. Their spending trickled into restaurants ahead of tenants and visitors who are expected to boost the economy.
A block away, a sign with a picture of two pairs of dirty work books greeted potential customers at The Market Bagel and Deli at 36 S. Market St.
It read, “To our construction friends, please take a minute to knock the mud and dirt off your boots before you enter.”
The construction is part of a burgeoning service industry in Frederick County being fed by job growth in other areas, such as biotechnology.
Mary Demarco, manager of the deli, said a few workers even left their boots at the door.
“Some of them may speak Spanish, but we find a way to communicate,” she said. “When it comes to food, there's no language barriers.”
Raul Garcia, a concrete finisher, dusted his pants and boots as he took orders for several coworkers.
“We take turns bringing the food so we don't all have to clean our shoes,” he said in Spanish. “That's the place to go, because the sandwiches are big and the workers are fast and friendly.”
Gene O'Neill of Jernigan Concrete Pumping grabbed a late lunch at The Market.
“I don't have time to sit down, I've got to grab it and go,” Mr. O'Neill said as he rushed back to work.
Bagels and sandwiches make the perfect construction food, owner Randy McClement said.
“I didn't think construction guys would be interested in bagels, but they're quick, and they fill you up,” he said.
He is surprised so many workers come in at 7 a.m. for Philly cheesesteak sandwiches.
The construction of buildings along Carroll Creek has been good for business. He noticed about a year and a half ago that sales started to rise.
“We couldn't pinpoint it, but we suspected it was the construction workers from (South Market Center) and the creek,” he said. “Once the creek opened up, we noticed business leveled off.”
After construction began at Creekside Plaza, he saw a spike in sales again.
“After the flow of construction workers leaves, the influx of people who occupy those buildings and tourists who visit the creek will continue to feed us.”