Ugly Mug Secures Home After Years of Angst

Once abandoned seemingly forever, plans for the non-profit Ugly Mug Café and Concert House--a hangout for local teens--are back on track.

The board behind the Ugly Mug is finalizing negotiations with the owners of a building at 6228 Sykesville Road off of Route 32 in Eldersburg.

Plans for the coffee shop hang out were put on hold about a year ago when the board and the building owners could not reach a purchase agreement.

The owner of the building was planning to donate the building for the Ugly Mug’s use, but the cost of renovations was too great, amounting to more than $200,000.  

“The owner of the building has a big heart but after realizing how much it was going to cost in renovations we decided we weren’t going to put this money into a building that we didn’t own,” said Steve Lowe, pastor of Journey Church and chairman of the board for the Ugly Mug.

About a year ago, the board officially abandoned those plans and started searching for a new place to call home.

“It took me a long time to say we had to move on,” said Lowe.

But moving on wasn’t that easy.

“We looked around and there’s nothing under $3 million. Sure you can have a café or a community center but we don’t want that. Nothing fit our vision,” said Lowe.

With no luck, they tried one more time at their dream building. This time, they were successful. 

In January they started negotiations again and we were able to agree on $500,000 to purchase the coffee shop with an agreement to raise $358,000 to cover the down payment, renovations and the business start up.

They currently have $118,400, all from three private donors.

“We’re begging anyone who wants to see this happen to help us out,” said Lowe.

Once all of the funds are secured, the renovations and preparations begin. Lowe said the actual first day for the Ugly Mug will be approximately nine months after all of the money has been raised.

But Lowe said he’s glad he can finally say they’ve secured a home for the Ugly Mug and he’s looking forward to getting local teens, including his three children, something to do.

“The coolest thing for high school students to do is hang out in the Denny’s parking lot,” said Lowe. “There’s nothing to do in Eldersburg especially if you’re underage. We’re setting off to change that.”

The three-floor café was given its name by a contest winner who played off the fact that visitors will be able to pick their own unique mugs when they order coffee. The location will also offer a concert venue in addition to free wireless Internet access. In addition, the non-profit café will offer customers a chance to donate part of their purchases toward local, national and international causes.

“Every time you go in you see something that you can help with,” Lowe. “Coffee with a cause. The whole idea is to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.”