The contents of Woodberry Kitchen restaurant have gone up for sale in an online auction that began last week and ends on March 29 at 7 p.m.
“Featuring items from acclaimed restaurant Woodberry Kitchen,” reads an announcement from Alex Cooper Auctioneers about its latest Discovery Auction.
Auctioneer Paul Cooper said in an email message that the auction of Woodberry Kitchen items is a voluntary sale by the owner and was prompted by “redecoration.”
Prospective buyers will be able to view the items in person at Alex Cooper’s Discovery Auction gallery at 10880 Railroad Avenue, Suite 700-B, in Cockeysville. The in-person previews will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 22, 23, 24 and 25.
There are more than 600 lots in the sale, including dozens of items from Woodberry Kitchen. Items from the restaurant range from dining tables, chairs and banquettes to wine racks and cabinets.
Kitchen equipment includes refrigerators; a commercial range: a meat grinder; a meat smoker; sheet pan and bakers racks, and a La Marzocco Industrial Espresso Machine. All lots start at $20, and a 23 percent buyer’s premium is added to the winning bid price.
Woodberry Kitchen opened in 2007 at 2010 Clipper Park Road as part of the Clipper Mill community and is the community’s exclusive caterer.
Founded by Spike and Amy Gjerde and led in recent years by Spike Gjerde, it was a local pioneer in the farm-to-table movement and has received numerous awards and glowing reviews over the years. In 2015, Spike Gjerde won the James Beard Award for “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic.” Charles Patterson of SM+P Architects was the designer.
Gjerde also operates Artifact Coffee at 1500 Union Avenue. His popular Sandlot dining spot at Harbor Point closed last year to make way for construction of a new headquarters for T. Rowe Price.
Woodberry Kitchen closed in March 2020 when city and state officials forced all bars and restaurants to halt service temporarily to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although it reopened after the initial lockdown, it closed again last fall except for private parties, catered events and carryout meals such as Thanksgiving dinners.
According to a message on the restaurant’s website, “Woodberry Kitchen has closed to the public until spring 2022. We have some extensive renovations planned before our grand reopening.”
Under a section entitled Private Dining, the website says that Woodberry Kitchen is open for private events: “Please get in touch if you’d like to host your special occasion with us. We offer private dining at both Woodberry Kitchen and Artifact Coffee, as well as off-site events.”
Gjerde said in an email message today that the restaurant items are being sold to make way for the renovation work.
“We are still planning to reopen WK after a renovation,” he said in his message. “The furniture, tableware, artifacts and equipment at the auction have been consigned to make room for our new look and operating model.”
Alex Cooper has auctioned the contents of several well-known dining establishments in recent months, including the Hopkins Club at Johns Hopkins University and the Milton Inn in Sparks. The Hopkins Club is currently closed for renovations and the Milton Inn was redecorated after the property was acquired by the Foreman Wolf Restaurant Group.
Woodberry Kitchen gained a new landlord last year after businessman Larry Jennings and an affiliate of ValStone Partners LLC sold the historic mill building it’s in to a group headed by C. David Bramble of MCB Real Estate.
Gjerde’s former business partner, Corey Polyoka, has become the corporate food and beverage director of ASH NYC, a company that is planning to open a boutique hotel called Ulysses in the former Latrobe Building at Charles and Read streets and a restaurant in the former Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon space at 909 N. Charles Street.
In his email message, Gjerde did not give a specific date for the restaurant’s reopening.
“Thanks to everyone who has joined us for one of our many iterations in the past few years,” his website says. “We couldn’t have done it without you and we can’t wait to see you again soon.”
