The reopening of Eddie’s of Mount Vernon just hit another delay.

The Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association and Jubilee Baltimore announced Tuesday that even though the store, under redevelopment for two years, is “fully ready for grocery use,” it now needs a new operator.

“While the previous operator will not be moving forward due to circumstances beyond our control, the project remains poised for its next phase with a significant head start,” Jack Danna, president of Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association, said in a press release.

Ashish Bhandari, whose family also owns the Nepal House restaurant in Mount Vernon, took over the grocery store site in April 2024 and was first planning to reopen it that July. Then it was May 2025.

Dennis Richter, landlord of the space and an area resident, said Bhandari, who could not be reached for a comment, had “personal reasons” for not moving forward with the grocery store.

Richter worked closely with Bhandari, finding grants and other resources when he stepped up to be the new operator.

Bhandari “continues to be very supportive” with the transition to position “someone else to pick up where he left off,” according to Richter.

“We want somebody to have a passion to want to do this because it’s an ongoing process, a long term process that you have to commit to,” Richter added.

Paula Fernandes, a Mount Vernon resident, said it was reasonable for people to question whether the grocery store would reopen, especially in the last six months. Timelines were not being met and “there was some indication that things weren’t going according to schedule,” said Fernandes, who served as vice-president of the Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association until December.

“It’s disappointing for the entire neighborhood …there was a lot of hope when an operator was found,” Fernandes said.

The 7 W. Eager Street property closed in 2023 after generations as a neighborhood grocery store.

Since then, it has undergone rehabilitation and renovations. The site also drew investment from the state, including a $250,000 grant through an initiative under the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

“Over the last two years, a coalition of state, local, and community partners has transformed the property, modernized the building’s systems and restored its historic character to create a turnkey opportunity in one of Baltimore’s most dense and walkable neighborhoods,” Danna said. “The progress we’ve made has positioned this property to be highly appealing to another operator.”