The Shake and Bake Family Fun Center will temporarily close for major renovation on Sept. 1.
According to Councilman Eric Costello the closure was necessary to address safety and operational issues.
"The facility requires significant capital upgrades which simply can't be completed while the facility is in use," he said in a statement on Facebook. "While renovations and improvements are underway at Shake and Bake, the City will be seeking program and management ideas."
Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh released the following statement Tuesday,
"Shake and Bake is an iconic gathering place for Baltimore youth and families, and with much needed upgrades, it will be able to serve residents for many more years to come. In June, I toured Pennsylvania Avenue to outline what investments could be made to enhance community life in West Baltimore, including the Shake and Bake facility. Despite its character, after a preliminary engineering report, we discovered several dysfunctional health and safety conditions including core systems such as heating and cooling, roofing, and plumbing. Shake and Bake will be closed temporarily to make necessary improvements, and with the support of the community, when it reopens, our goal is to relaunch with sound infrastructure and robust recreational programming for all ages."
Anthony Williams has operated Shake and Bake for the past 30 years. It's become an icon in the Upton community.
Shake and Bake's final event is Friday Aug. 25 from 5-9 p.m.
