ABOUT US
—

The Packing House is more than just a building—it’s a story of resilience, renewal, and possibility.

Located in Cambridge, Maryland, The Packing House was originally built in 1920 as part of the Phillips Packing Company. The company was the region’s largest employer and an economic driver, playing a vital role in the industrial and cultural history of the Chesapeake.

Today, this historic structure has been restored into a vibrant destination where people can:

• Work in modern coworking and private office spaces.

• Dine and discover unique flavors at Four Eleven Kitchen and other food-based businesses.

• Gather for events, markets, and celebrations.

• Learn through heritage exhibits and community storytelling.

The Packing House honors the past while creating opportunities for the future.

Tenants Include:

• Four Eleven Kitchen

• Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development / Cambridge Office

• Blue Oyster Environment

• MERGE

• Moving Dorchester Forward

• Sante

• First Class Video and Electronics

• All 4 Love

• Lewis Security Services

• Invenergy

• Shore Community Power

• Pierre Consultancy Group

• Carol Masden

• Step by Step for Change

• Boys & Girls Club

• CARES
  

events @
the Packing House
—

Gather. Celebrate. Connect.

The Packing House is more than a historic building — it’s a community hub designed to bring people together. Our event spaces combine industrial charm with modern comfort, creating the perfect backdrop for everything from business gatherings to private celebrations.

the atrium

• Capacity: up to 530 guests (standing) / 250 guests banquet-style

• The Atrium is the centerpiece of The Packing House — a light-filled, open space that showcases the building’s historic character while offering a fresh, modern feel. With exposed brick, soaring windows, and flexible layouts, it’s ideal for:

• Community celebrations & cultural events

• Weddings

• Cocktail receptions & private parties

• Vendor markets & showcases

• Networking events & fundraisers

With the ability to host both large receptions and elegant seated dinners, the Atrium is one of the most versatile venues on the Eastern Shore.

Why Host Here?

• Unique historic-industrial backdrop

• Central Cambridge location with parking

• Flexible layouts to fit your vision

• Supportive team to help bring your event to life

the merge lounge

• Capacity: up to 100 guests
  A warm, inviting space designed for comfort and connection. The MERGE Lounge blends modern lounge furniture with historic architecture, creating a relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for:

• Intimate gatherings & small parties

• Book clubs & creative workshops

• Business mixers & after-hours socials

• Coffeehouse-style performances or talks

Plan Your Event

Ready to host your next event in the Atrium, the MERGE Lounge, or Four Eleven Kitchen?
👉 For wedding inquiries, email Angie Smythe at angie@eventfullyyoursmd.com

👉 For all other event inquiries, email thepackinghouse@crossstpartners.com

Let’s make your event unforgettable at The Packing House.

other spaces available?

• Conference Rooms
  Professional, private rooms designed for trainings, retreats, and business meetings.

• Outdoor Courtyard
  A flexible open-air space, perfect for festivals, food trucks, and community events.

• Four Eleven Kitchen
  Conveniently located on the property, this state-of-the-art commercial kitchen is available for private bookings. It’s an ideal venue for:

• Pop-up restaurants and
  chef-led dinners

• Cooking demonstrations
  and classes

• Tastings, pairings, and intimate culinary events

a place where ideas and people come together.

MERGE offers a welcoming environment that supports creativity, growth, and entrepreneurship. It’s a flexible workspace designed for those who value focus with the option to connect.

Our shared offices, conference rooms, and comfortable common areas give you space to work independently or collaborate when inspiration strikes. At MERGE, we believe the best ideas often come from simple conversations and shared experiences.

Whether you’re starting something new or growing an existing venture, MERGE provides the tools and community to help move your ideas forward.

LEASING
—

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

The Packing House is a 60,000-square-foot historic landmark reimagined as a vibrant hub for business, creativity, and community. Once home to the Phillips Packing Company, this adaptive reuse project now offers distinctive office and retail leasing opportunities for businesses seeking a high-visibility, high-growth location.

Strategically located in Cambridge, MD, The Packing House connects the city’s revitalized downtown with key transit routes to Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia beaches. Its authentic industrial character—highlighted by soaring ceilings, exposed brick, and open floor plans—is paired with modern amenities to create an inspiring environment where businesses can flourish.

Adjacent to the new Cannery Park, tenants and visitors alike enjoy direct access to a dynamic public space designed for recreation, events, and outdoor gatherings—further enriching the workplace experience.

OFFICE

Already home to several businesses, The Packing House  is one of Cambridge’s most unique office leasing opportunities. It’s a great fit for companies looking for flexible workspace, modern amenities, and a setting that blends historic character with updated finishes.

RETAIL

Retailers at The Packing House can take full advantage of open floor plans, soaring ceilings, oversized industrial windows, and exposed brick walls—creating a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that blends historic charm with modern style. It’s a retail space unlike anything else on the Eastern Shore.

FOOD SERVICES

The Packing House has long-standing roots in Dorchester County’s agriculture and food industries—and that legacy continues today. This is a rare opportunity to launch the next culinary destination in Cambridge, in a space that honors the past while embracing the future.

FOUR ELEVEN KITCHEN
—

Creating pathways that lift food entrepreneurs—empowering dreams, elevating potential, and building lasting success.

Whether it’s equipment rentals, storage solutions, or spotlights in our virtual community, every service at Four Eleven Kitchen is built around the needs of food professionals at every stage. With flexible hours, hands-on workshops, and resources tailored for growth, 411 empowers its members to succeed while enriching the local culinary landscape with diverse flavors and experiences.

Four Eleven Kitchen (411) is Dorchester County’s only shared-use commercial kitchen—created to give food entrepreneurs the space, tools, and support they need to thrive. Designed for caterers, restaurant owners, food truck operators, and culinary professionals, Four Eleven’s fully licensed facility offers commercial-grade equipment, flexible membership plans, and 24/7 access.

More than just a kitchen, Four Eleven Kitchen is a community. Members gain opportunities to test, prepare, and grow their culinary creations while connecting with a vibrant network of peers. Serving Dorchester County and beyond, 411 provides the foundation for food entrepreneurs to turn ideas into thriving businesses.

Transformation

The Vision
—

Cross Street Partners is transforming the historic Phillips Packing Company, Factory F—now known as The Packing House—into a dynamic hub for innovation, community, and culture in Cambridge, MD.

Rooted in the Eastern Shore’s rich traditions of agriculture and fishing, this 60,000-square-foot landmark is designed to support regional growth in agriculture, aquaculture, environmental technologies, and tourism. Inside, a vibrant mix of tech and creative entrepreneurs, food producers, eateries, and specialty retailers come together around a soaring two-story atrium—an open, light-filled space designed for public programs, cultural gatherings, and private events.

Historic architectural features have been carefully preserved, giving the building an authentic Eastern Shore industrial character. Just steps away, Cannery Park provides a new central green space for recreation and community connection, strengthening ties between Cambridge’s downtown revitalization and the nearby highway corridor leading to Maryland and Virginia beaches.

More than a redevelopment project, The Packing House is an entrepreneurial engine for the region—advancing research, production, and retail that create jobs and support local businesses.

As the last remaining factory of the once-thriving Phillips Packing Company, The Packing House honors Cambridge’s industrial legacy while embracing a forward-looking vision for the future.

legacy

History
—

Originally built in 1920 for the Cambridge Furniture Company, The Packing House later became part of the Phillips Packing Company’s vast empire of vegetable and food processing plants—the last surviving factory of its kind. At its height, the company employed thousands of Cambridge residents and even supplied K and C rations to U.S. troops during World War II.

After the company’s closure in the 1960s, the building sat vacant and slowly deteriorated for decades. Today, its redevelopment both preserves this remarkable history and reimagines the space as a catalyst for Cambridge’s future—celebrating its distinctive heritage while creating new opportunities for the community.
__________________________________________________________

Unpacking Cambridge: A Story of Rebirth and Reconciliation

Unpacking Cambridge tells the story of a rural city’s rebirth after decades of decline. Once a booming hub, Cambridge’s Phillips Packing House fueled the economic and social life of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This documentary peels back the layers of history to uncover how new opportunities—and a renewed sense of hope—are emerging from the legacy of the long-shuttered Packing House.