Nalley Fresh is setting up shop inside Cross Street Market, taking over the stall at 1065 S. Charles Street in Federal Hill and aiming to be customer-ready by late October. The build-your-own salad and wrap chain, owned by founder Greg Nalley, will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week at the new stall, and for the first time is expanding beyond its usual menu into what it calls chow-licious tavern-inspired dishes, including brisket cheesesteaks.
The move was reported by WhatNow, which attributed the news to the Baltimore Business Journal and noted the stall previously belonged to DMV Empanadas. Nalley told the outlet, “I am excited. I think it's going to be a lot of fun.” The Federal Hill location will keep Nalley Fresh's core build-your-own formula intact, with over 80 fresh ingredients and more than 15 international flavors on offer, alongside customizable low-carb, keto, and vegetarian options, according to the Baltimore Business Journal's reporting on the expansion.
DMV Empanadas shut its Cross Street Market stall on May 17, 2026. Co-owner Michely “Nacho” Almaraz told Baltimore Magazine that declining foot traffic and sales had made the stall untenable.
A Historic Market in Flux
Cross Street Market has seen plenty of turnover this year. Plant-based chain Slutty Vegan opened a 2,000-square-foot space there in August 2026, while long-running tenant Taco Love Grill is scheduled to exit in October 2026, as reported by SouthBMore. The market itself dates back to 1845 as an open-air shed, and its current brick shell was rebuilt after a 12-alarm fire destroyed the earlier structure in the 1950s. A renovation involving Caves Valley Partners and BCT Design Group among the project team wrapped up in 2021, per BCT Design Group.
Nalley Fresh's arrival fits into a broader pivot the chain announced in June 2026, when it began phasing out large standalone dining rooms — including its Timonium location — in favor of pickup-focused layouts and a hub-and-spoke system. Hoodline previously covered the Timonium closure as part of that strategic shift. That same month, Nalley took full, sole ownership of the company after buying out several investment partners, telling WBAL and the Baltimore Business Journal the restructuring let him return the brand to its original operational roots.
Nalley Fresh's Build-Your-Own Format
The chain's build-your-own format lets customers choose ingredients and flavors for their meals.
Nalley Fresh's Cross Street Market stall puts its build-your-own menu in a market setting.
Neighborhood Safety Still on Merchants' Minds
The new stall lands in a Federal Hill commercial strip that has also seen public-safety incidents. A March 2026 shooting on the 1700 block of Light Street injured a 20-year-old man.
