Thomas and Rebecca Ferleman see opportunity in unexpected places, pairing creative vision with a willingness to invest in ideas that strengthen the surrounding community. Since moving to Allegany County in 2020 and purchasing the building at 9 North Centre Street in Cumberland, they opened Ferleman Gallery, added Gallery Stage (a music venue) and, most recently, transformed the building’s underutilized second floor into RootsTable, a fine-dining restaurant focused on the food and traditions of the Potomac Highlands.
Their investment in Cumberland has grown alongside their appreciation for the community. The 1800s-era building retains its original floors and ceilings and has become a place where people can gather, experience local culture, and spend time downtown. That vision has continued to grow with the addition of RootsTable. The idea for the restaurant came from Thomas looking at the building’s large second floor and imagining what it could become. The space included a small, oddly shaped break room that he believed could be transformed into a commercial kitchen.
“Thomas looked at this, and he said, ‘Okay, I think we could put a restaurant on the second floor,’” Rebecca recalled. “And I said, ‘You’re crazy.’”
His response: “Right. I am crazy, but we’re going to do it anyway.”
While RootsTable is new, the couple’s interest in food is not. They have traveled extensively, taken cooking classes, and hosted dinner parties and supper clubs. Thomas also spent time living abroad, experiences that shaped his appreciation for food and culture. At RootsTable, those experiences come together with a distinctly local focus. Rather than simply offering Appalachian-inspired cuisine, the restaurant focuses specifically on the Potomac Highlands and the food traditions of the region.
For Rebecca, the connection to Appalachia is personal. Her mother grew up in a mountain farmhouse similar to the one Rebecca and Thomas now call home. Rebecca learned from her mother, grandmothers, and aunts how to preserve food, make things last, and make do with what is available. Those lessons continue to shape how Rebecca and Thomas approach RootsTable and the land around them. The traditions they learned influence how they steward their land, prepare and share food, and think about the role they can play in their community.
Even the restaurant’s name reflects that connection. “RootsTable” refers to the tradition of preserving food for the winter months, an important part of life in a region where growing seasons are limited, and winters can be harsh. The restaurant aims to source ingredients within approximately 50 miles whenever possible, connecting its menu to local producers and the agricultural traditions of the area.
“RootsTable represents so much of what we want to see in Allegany County’s economy: private investment, historic preservation, job creation, workforce development, and a unique visitor experience,” said Nathan Price, Senior Project Manager for Allegany County Economic and Community Development.
“Thomas and Rebecca have taken a historic space and created something that reflects the character of Cumberland while giving residents and visitors another reason to spend time here. That kind of investment has benefits that extend well beyond the walls of the business.”
That local investment makes RootsTable more than a new restaurant. The business is already partnering with Allegany County Public Schools’ vocational culinary program, where it has hired one student, and hopes to establish a partnership with the culinary program at Allegany College of Maryland. The expansion has also created approximately 10 restaurant jobs, along with several gallery positions, and a position supporting the music program.
The businesses also play a role in a larger effort to encourage visitors to stop in Cumberland and experience more of what Allegany County has to offer. With outdoor recreation, historic architecture, arts, music, and a growing dining scene, the county has the ingredients to become a destination where visitors stay longer and explore more.
“People come through Cumberland a lot,” Thomas said. “So the trick is we need to get them to stop in Cumberland.”
That philosophy is at the heart of the Ferleman’s vision for their investment. A visitor might come for dinner, experience live music or art, explore the outdoors, and ultimately decide to stay overnight. That creates opportunities not only for RootsTable, but for hotels, restaurants, retailers, galleries, outdoor recreation businesses, and other local businesses.
After years of investing in their building and building out their vision, the couple is excited to see how art, music, and food can come together to strengthen Cumberland’s downtown and give people another reason to experience Allegany County.
To learn more about the businesses that call Allegany County home, read our blog.
