In 1983, he moved the business to Thames Street -- where the Daily Grind is now -- in an old building that once was a streetcar-horse barn and later the J.C. Mooney ship chandlery. Bondroff joined him in 1989 for the move to Ann Street and they've been friends, companions and partners on and off ever since.
The skinny is that the China Sea will probably be replaced by a French bakery and cafe -- a perfect symbol for the gentrification of Fells Point.
"I'm going to miss Fells Point," Bunker says. "I'm going to miss Bertha's, because they're good neighbors. I'm going to miss the waterfront. I'm going to miss my buddies on the tugs. I'm going to miss my friends.
"So I'm telling them all I have a guest house behind my house in Maine, so come on up."
Bunker and Bondroff are moving to an 18th century house in Maine where they'll build a new store out of barn siding and ship's timbers.
"A lot of people have been saying what an impact this shop has had on the neighborhood, everyone from [Sen.] Barbara Mikulski to little old ladies from Lemke House," Bondroff says. "I suspect there's more truth in that than I can know. And that's kind of touching.
"We're taking Fells Point with us," she says. "We're taking the people in our hearts. We have lots of photographs and memories, and the love of people here."
Pub Date: 6/02/99
