[9] Converted to a storefront around the turn of the 20th century, Yiddish-speaking Polish Jewish immigrants Harry and Florence Martick purchased the building as a grocery store in 1917.

[12] He expanded beyond the traditional scope of a corner bar by bringing in such events as silent movie nights, chess tournaments and live jazz bands.

[20] In later years, Martick would state in interviews that the tavern had not in fact been integrated while Jim Crow was still on the books,[12] but this is contradicted by other late statements of his about that time, that he "served anyone who came in [and] didn't worry about their race.

"[19] The bar also drew a clientele of diverse professions, from newspaper and radio men (Russell Baker, J. Anthony Lukas, Louis Rukeyser,[16] Harley Brinsfield[12]) to local and national artists (Joan Erbe,[15] May Wilson,[15] Raoul Middleman[10][22]).

Waters, who visited with his friend, the future drag icon Divine, found Martick's a formative location for the group of artists that would eventually become known as the Dreamlanders.

[26] Maelcum Soul, yet another early Waters collaborator, was a Martick's bartender, and also the subject of an art show there in 1965, featuring 25 portraits of her in the nude.

[29] Taking on the bohemian character of the bar which had previously inhabited it, as well as the proprietor, Martick's restaurant was noted for its eclectic decor - snakeskin wallpaper, stained glass, hubcaps, bowling balls and plastic baby dolls hanging from wires.

"[30] Particularly after Morris Martick's passing in 2011, a number of articles described the building and restaurant as "a hub of city artistic life,"[35] and "utterly unlike anywhere else.

[7] In the same year, Baltimore architecture firm Murphy Dittenhafer proposed a large-scale redevelopment of the entire block in a plan which would have worked around the existing building at 214 West Mulberry, and in fact depicted it in their concept renderings of the larger project.

The developers framed their plan as part of a rejuvenation of the historic Baltimore Chinatown, with a stated intention of encouraging Asian restaurateurs and entrepreneurs to occupy the space.

[43] The developers argued that the structure at 214 West Mulberry was too degraded at this point, suffering from water damage, crumbling masonry and mold.

[20] At the January 18, 2019 hearing of the city's CHAP, the staff recommendation was made that the Martick's building be determined to contribute to the historic Howard Street Commercial District.

[9] At the February 12, 2019 hearing of CHAP, the developer again applied for demolition, arguing "retaining and rehabilitating the historic building will create a financial hardship."

The developer submitted six scenarios to CHAP, from full rehabilitation of the structure to its complete razing, and attempted to make the case that retention of the building would not be economically feasible.

[46] Community activists, as well as the director of Baltimore Heritage argued for a postponement of approval at a minimum, citing questions about how the financial feasibility had been calculated by the developer.

[46][50] The Park Avenue Partners development group returned in early March with a proposal to restore and retain the front third of the Martick's building, in exchange for permission to tear down the remainder.

[51] At the March 12, 2019 meeting of CHAP, the committee voted 9–0 to approve this compromise plan, which retains the older portion of the structure, while tearing down the later (although still 19th century) construction in rear.

While the consent from the committee was unanimous, it was opposed by the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association and members of the community, who presented a petition asking the entire building to be retained.

[52] Johns Hopkins, head of Baltimore Heritage, supported the arrangement, seeing the retained portion as the "core" of the former restaurant and "the best shot we have at saving Martick’s.