Business & Tech

Students Help Renovate Six Mile Coffee

Frederick Road coffee shop served as a training ground for CCBC students

on Frederick Road will soon double in size, with the renovation of the lower level of the building nearly complete.

But instead of hiring a contractor to do the work, owner Chris Sikora offered to let interior design students from manage the project.

Students have been working several days a week since mid-March on flooring, installing trim, fixing ceilings and painting. They also met with Sikora to work on a design concept for the space, said Moira Denson Gannon, an instructor at CCBC.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

When Sikora approached her for the project, she said she thought it would be a challenge and a good way for students to gain experience working in a professional setting. Students who worked on the project received  internship hours. They got some materials donated, while Sikora paid for other items.

The students also were the main architects of the design and the aesthetic of the room, which includes a mural with musical themes also designed by a CCBC student.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Dilini Perera, president of CCBC’s chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, said Six Mile gave them a lot of freedom with the design.

The students built a trash and recycling bin by salvaging an old wooden shelf, for example.

“It’s been great to see our thoughts come to life,” Perera said.

In total, the students renovated 540 square feet of the space. The mural will also run the entire length of a stairway and wall.

Yul Espinosa, an art student from Randallstown won the design contest for the mural. The students in class sponsored the contest. Espinosa designed a mural to reflect Catonsville’s nickname as Music City.

“I wanted to design something abstract that tied in with the history,” he said.

The downstairs area will add more seating and will also serve as a location for nights on Thursdays.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here