Perk It Up Coffee Shop to Open in Baltimore Soon
Owners Kathy Brady and David Cangialosi plan to debut their new coffee venture in early 2027.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The new coffee shop Perk It Up is scheduled to open at 10 Light St in Baltimore by late January or early February 2027. Owners Kathy Brady and David Cangialosi are launching the space as an expansion of their existing business operations.
Why it matters
The owners are targeting specialty coffee beverages for the new location due to the higher profit margins these products carry compared to traditional food offerings.
The ownership team currently manages 20 employees at their established cafe at 115 N. Charles St, which has operated in downtown Baltimore for 30 years.
The players
Kathy Brady
A long-time business partner who has worked with David Cangialosi since 1993.
David Cangialosi
The co-owner of David and Dad's Cafe and the new Perk It Up coffee shop.
The details
The new site at 10 Light St was previously occupied by a juice bar and will feature grab-and-go items sourced from the David and Dad's kitchen. To manage costs, the owners successfully negotiated a deal for their landlord to share the expenses of the build-out.
Timeline
Kathy Brady was hired by David Cangialosi in 1993.
David and Dad's began adding express locations in 2010.
David and Dad's moved to 115 N. Charles St in 2016.
Perk It Up is expected to open in late January or early February 2027.
Market Landscape
The launch of Perk It Up follows a pattern established by the owners' 2010 expansion into express locations. This new shop positions the company to compete more aggressively in the specialty beverage market within downtown Baltimore.
Customers can expect a new source for specialty coffee and grab-and-go food items in the downtown area once the shop opens. The shop will utilize the existing supply chain from David and Dad's kitchen to ensure consistent product availability for local patrons.
The takeaway
Business owners looking to increase profit margins often shift focus toward specialty beverages to offset the lower returns of traditional food products. This transition allows established cafe operators to scale their footprint through lean, targeted new locations.
What happens next
Perk It Up is expected to open in late January or early February 2027.
Further reading
For more information on local business activity, see Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Baltimore Banner.
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