A downtown landmark will soon be up for lease — again

The historic Alex. Brown & Sons building at 135 E. Baltimore St. will soon be up for lease again.

The downtown building’s current tenant, Fruition at 135th, closed Monday after less than six months in business, according to an Instagram post that also promised a “new chapter is coming.”

Owner Shanita Sampson could not immediately be reached for comment. The restaurateur, who also runs HomeSweetHome Cafe’ & Brunch in Northwest Baltimore, opened Fruition in March.

The 15,000-square-foot restaurant included a 5,000-square-foot main level with primary dining areas and private event space. Fruition’s menu was anchored by seafood, with offerings such as oysters, crab balls, fried catfish and lamb chops.

Sampson was the third restaurant operator to try their luck in the opulent Gilded Age building, one of the few structures in the area to survive the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. Previous tenant Zander’s shut down in 2024 after just five months in operation.

The building, which dates back to 1901, was constructed as the headquarters for the country’s oldest investment banking firm, Alex. Brown & Sons. It was renovated and turned into The Alexander Brown Restaurant in 2019. That concept closed in the early days of the pandemic.

Alex Griswold, a descendant of the Brown family, which still owns the property, said the space will be put back up for lease. “We are targeting event venue operators for weddings, family and business events etc. who are looking to lease a turn-key event space,” Griswold said in an email.