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In part three of this series, I’d like to highlight a small Chinese restaurant located in Perry Hall, MD.  At Chopstix, the food is filling, quite tasty, and the prices are great.  Each time I have been to Chopstix, I have had an excellent experience and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great Chinese restaurant.

Chopstix opened a few years ago in popular shopping center and has attracted many locals.  Although I am not a big sushi fan, I have heard many people rave about the sushi menu at Chopstix.  Even though the sushi is a big hit, the regular menu is second to none.

I have tried numerous things at Chopsitx, including lemon chicken and General Tso’s chicken.  Both dishes were accented by a cup of soup and a standard “appetizer” of fried noodles and duck sauce.  When I was served my food, I knew that it was freshly made and not the product of a warmer or microwave oven.  Also, the taste of each dish I have had was exceptionally good, as it has unique flavor and texture.  Overall, each experience I have had has been very good.

If you’re interested in Chopstix, I would suggest enjoying their lunch menu as your first experience.  During lunch time, you can order a main dish, cup of soup, and a spring roll or egg roll for under $8.00.  The food is served quickly and the service is great.  If you live in the Baltimore area, I recommend visiting Chopstix at least once to enjoy the unique experience and great food.

Chopstix Cafe
5002 Honeygo Center Dr
Perry Hall, MD 21128-8961
(410) 256-9136

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In my second edition of “Love the Locals,” I’d like to highlight I Love Theatre in Ellicott City, MD.  I recently stumbled upon this hidden gem while I was on a day trip with my girlfriend.  When I was least expecting it, I was surrounded by sports, movie, and theatre paraphernalia.  With a huge selection, great prices, and an awesome customer first mentality, I Love Theatre will be my first stop for many things.

I Love Theatre sells sports, movie, and theatre memorabilia.  When I first entered the store, I was immediately enamored with the amazing selection of merchandise.  The owners Michael and Cookie Kornstein carry anything and everything, especially in sports memorabilia.  The wide list of products ranges from toilet seats and tooth brushes to window valances and mail box covers.  I’ve seen a lot of sports goodies before but this place has every other store beat  – hands down.  And, if you’re looking for something that I Love Theatre doesn’t carry, Michael and Cookie will be happy to scour around and locate it for you.  The selection of sports memorabilia covers all 32 NFL teams, major college teams, and popular MLB franchises.

In addition to the sports merchandise, I Love Theatre has a lot of movie and theatre items for sale.  There are many Broadway and movie t-shirts throughout the shoppe and you can even pick up bobbleheads of your favorite personalities, such as the Wizard of Oz cast.

However, possibly the best thing about I Love Theatre is their low prices.  Michael Kornstein explained to me that the product I bought was listed for nearly $19 at the Baltimore Ravens merchandise store and at other local sports stores.  Fortunately, I only paid $12 or $13 for the item and saved some money.  The Kornstein’s understand one of the most essential retail principles – Low Prices + Great Customer Service = Repeat Customers/Referrals.  It’s that simple.

If you’re looking to complete your NFL room or if you have a specific item in mind that you’d like to pick up for someone (or yourself), I highly recommend swinging by I Love Theatre in Ellicott City at 8141 Main Street.  If you’d like to contact the Kornsteins, you can email them here.

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Recently, my passion for local businesses was rekindled by numerous great experiences on a journey across town.  I was greeted by courteous, authentic, and down to earth people which made me feel like I was of worth and not just another customer to walk through the door.  Not only do you get great service from local businesses, but they are often far cheaper and offer better quality merchandise compared to their mega-store competitors.  After having such great experiences, I decided that I would highlight a few of them on this site to let everyone know about the high quality businesses that are in your backyard.

**Note:  Since I live in Maryland, I will be highlighting Maryland local businesses.  If you wish for me to highlight a business elsewhere, simply email me.**

The business I’d like highlight is a small yet popular business in Harford County, Maryland called Broom’s Bloom Dairy Farm.  Broom’s Bloom has been owned for 9 generations by the Dallam family.  The current residents, David and Kate Dallam, started milking cows in 1997 and recently started making and serving ice cream and other dairy products at their storefront.

In my opinion, the best part about Broom’s Bloom Dairy Farm is the wonderful and plentiful ice cream.  A small ice cream cone includes 5-7 scoops of their handmade ice cream and costs a little over two dollars.  Broom’s Bloom offers a variety of flavors, including Peanut Butter, Black Raspberry, Butter Pecan, and Coconut Almond.  Not only do they offer excellent ice cream, but the storefront also serves sandwiches, salads, and quiche.

Every menu item is reasonably priced at Broom’s Bloom and the service is great.  You will find mostly college and high school students working behind the counters but don’t let that fool you – they know how to make a great business run.

If you get a chance, check out Broom’s Bloom Dairy Farm at 1700 S. Fountain Green Rd, Bel Air, MD.  If you need directions, you can find them on their website.  If you want great service, great food, and reasonable prices, be sure to check out Broom’s Bloom.  You won’t be disappointed.

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