Woman's Industrial Exchange

The 1882 charter states that the Woman's Industrial Exchange in Baltimore, MD endeavors “by sympathy and practical aid to encourage and help needy women to help themselves by procuring for them and establishing a sales room for the sale of Women's Work”. It has been in continual operation ever since. It is a combination consignment store featuring fine needle work, crafts and baked goods and a breakfast / lunch room. It was originally founded to provide a place for Civil War widows to make some money by selling their goods in a “proper” setting.

It is also:

• Open Monday to Friday, 7 am to 3 pm and closed weekends
• Located at 333 North Charles Street. / (410) 685-4388
• Cash only
• No reservations
• Host of speeches, lectures and art shows
• THE place to have lunch with the girls in Baltimore.
• Famous for old fashioned chicken salad, tomato aspic, sherbet, and charlotte russe
• Inexpensive ($3 to $10 for a meal)
• Located in the center of the artsy section of Baltimore, near the Walters Art Gallery, about a half-mile from the Inner Harbor
• Staffed by sweet little old ladies who will call you “Hon”
• A step back in time
• A “must try it at least once” landmark
• A fun place to show off Baltimore to visitors
• Full of wonderful, old-fashioned needle work (hand smocked baby dresses) displayed right next to church bazaar crafts (sock monkeys)
• A great bakery (try the cupcakes)
• Featured with Rosie O'Donnell and Meg Ryan in “Sleepless in Seattle”
• Strangely ignored by John Waters
• Subject of a documentary film by Lillian Bowers called “Not a Lady Among Us”