New Faces Behind the Counter at Java Mammas

When closed on March 4, the community almost lost its hangout. But Reisterstown natives and sisters Mary Martin and Carrie Gorham stepped up to .

The shop reopened on Monday with extended hours and all the familiar sites and sounds, and even the same menu.

“The plan is to keep our core customer base and gain some more,” Gorham said. “Nothing’s broke, so why fix it?”

Rebecca Coyle, one of the previous owners, is helping Martin and Gorham get up and running and working in the shop as things get rolling.

Gorham and her sister are both Franklin High School graduates and the daughters of , a known community figure who remains active in the Reisterstown Recreation Council.

Gorham earned a culinary degree from the Baltimore International College in 2004, and has worked at several restaurants in the Baltimore area, the most recent being Libertore’s in Owings Mills New Town. She can trace her restaurant career back to Reisterstown, where she got her first “real job” at the now-defunct Friendly’s.

Martin, who will continue to work her full-time human resources job, has always wanted to own a business, Gorham said. She’s excited to be managing a shop in her hometown.

“It’s nice, and it’s an honor to be in the historical district,” she said.

There will be some “improvements” that could include an expanded menu and longer hours if business picks up, Gorham said. She and her sister are also in the process of setting up an open mic night.

“Maybe it’ll be a breath of new life.”