Tuesday, March 5, 2024

March 2024 Updates

March. The signs of the changing season become more apparent. The weather starts to get warmer, and the days become longer. Spring flowers begin to bloom, bringing color back to the world. March is a time of transition from the chilly winter months to the more pleasant days ahead.  I hope everyone has pleasant days ahead filled with happiness.  I'm really in need of some more of that sunshine.

As I always say if you want a restaurant or other store to come to the area tell them!  Go to their websites, Facebook pages, Instagram and let them know you want them here.  They need to hear from the consumers.  Not every place can open because some have to have a franchiser in the area. It's not always a corporate store.

Sheets was approved for Charlotte Hall.  It will be located off of Three Notch Road across from the VA Clinic.  O'Reilly Auto Parts has now been added to the tenant list for that Charlotte Hall Commons project.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

February 2024 Updates

Ah February. The shortest month of the year. Most famous for Valentine's Day.  A day to celebrate love and affection to those closest to you with really expensive flowers and trinkets. It is also a time when many people start to feel the anticipation of spring, as the days gradually become longer and signs of new life begin to emerge. Overall, February offers a mix of winter coziness and the promise of brighter days ahead.  I hope everyone has brighter days ahead filled with happiness and prosperity. 

"In February there is everything to hope for and nothing to regret" - Patience Strong

Panera Bread has opened their new freestanding location in Waldorf next to Silver Diner. 3070 Technology Place. The other location in the shopping center closed.  No new tenant yet.  I hear it does not have a fireplace in the new one and people are already upset.  This one does have a drive thru.

Grille No. 13 is now open as a carry out restaurant at 351 Smallwood Drive in Waldorf.  
Milk & Honey Cafe is coming to the Charles County Plaza next to Planet Fitness.  From their website: "Milk & Honey is a New Orleans themed Southern Brunch that features Award Winning Shrimp & Grits, Chicken & Waffles, RumChata French Toast and specializes in other slow cooked mouth-watering favorites." No word on an opening date as the lease was just finalized.

The former AT&T store at Rosewick road in La Plata will be divided into two spaces.  Webster Insurance and Choice Floors and Stairs will be the two new tenants.

Name correction! The restaurant taking over the former Grill 13 space at Waldorf Marketplace is called T POT. They just opened one in Gambrills, MD recently. No word on an opening date yet. https://tpotrestaurant.com/

Lucianna's Steakhouse is back with a new owner. They are still at 3331 Plaza way in Waldorf.

Calvert Yard Cards Grand Opening at 1921 Skinners Turn Road, Owings, MD

So while doing some research on sales I found that the former capital one in Waldorf Marketplace next to Red Robin has been purchased to do a Zaxby's! I don't have any other information yet. I would assume they got approvals or they wouldn't have bought it. We will see how this progresses.
Firepan Korean BBQ and Bar is now having its soft opening at the Charles County Plaza. 3237 Plaza Drive. Grand Opening is March 6th.


Tommy's Express Car Wash is now open at 3185 Crain Highway.

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

January 2024 Updates

 Happy New Year! January embodies a sense of new beginnings, offering the opportunity for personal growth, fresh starts, and hopeful outlooks. Its a time to declutter physically and mentally. It sets the tone for the rest of the year and encourages people to embrace change and embark on new adventures. I hope that one resolution that people make is to just be nicer to each other. It not only helps you but makes others happier as well. One small gesture of kindness can go along way.


Coco Bay Kitchen and Tea house is now open in Waldorf Shoppers World. 3280 Crain Highway, Waldorf.
Asian fusion quick service collaboration with Aurinko Bubble Tea Shop.
Dave's hot chicken has signed on at the Holly Tree Station strip center located at 2471 Crain Highway in Waldorf.  Dave's was established in 2017 and already has over 170 locations.  They currently have one Maryland location in Owings Mills.

Marco's Pizza is coming soon to the Waldorf Park Shopping Center behind Chick fil a and Starbucks.  Marco's has over 1,100 stores across the United States and is currently the fastest growing pizza company.

Panera Bread should have their new location located next to the Silver Diner in Waldorf open by February 5th if all goes as planned.  Things always change.  The current location will close.
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is coming soon to the La Plata Plaza.  It will take over the vacant capital one bank space. 20 Shining Willow Way.





Friday, December 8, 2023

December 2023 Updates

 Ah December!  A time for holidays, gift-giving, feasting, spending time with loved ones, reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the new year.  Did we meet our goals from this year? I hope you did and I hope you had a great year as well. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and a happy new year.

Things get a little slow at the end of the year but should get back on track in January.  Lots of stuff still caught up in permits.  


Chipotle now open in Charlotte Hall 30030 Three Notch Road.

The Local restaurant opens December 15th. 25188 Three Notch Road, Hollywood MD

BEAUTY ISLAND
Beauty Island is taking over the former Bed Bath and Beyond space at Waldorf Shoppers World.
Hot Chickn Kitchn is coming to Waldorf Marketplace 3054B next to Navy Federal Credit Union.
There is a new building going up next to the Panda Express on north Prince Frederick Blvd. The largest tenant will be a walk in medical center.

The former BB&T location at Wildewood Center has been leased to a place called Tia's Cantina. 23415 Three Notch Road.








Wednesday, November 1, 2023

November 2023 Updates

November is a month when the weather starts to cool down even more, making it a perfect time to indulge in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, or leaf-peeping. Additionally, It's a month of festivities including Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day, and Black Friday sales. Its a month to gather with family and friends to enjoy fantastic dinners, watch football games, or go shopping. Moreover, November is a month when many cities start to illuminate with holiday lights, making it ideal for taking a night stroll, admiring the decorations and sipping hot cocoa. It offers plenty of opportunities for entertainment, relaxation, and bonding with loved ones. Anytime spent with family is always appealing to me.

When you are looking for a new place to come to the area remember that they need to hear from you. Tell them you want them here. Also make sure they have locations in the area. A business in Florida isn't coming up here to open one location in southern Maryland. A lot of places are franchises so unless there is a person that wants to invest in opening a location here it may not come.

Coco Bay Kitchen and Tea House is planning to open after Thanksgiving at the Waldorf Shoppers World 3280 Crain Highway. 
White Oak Veterinary Urgent Care opening November 9th in La Plata across from Aldi. 145 Rosewick Corner Place Suite 103.



Bon AppéSweet & Better Black Coffee
Opening November 11th in Leonardtown at the Shoppes at McIntosh. 25805 Point Lookout Rd.
Big Boy Tacos coming to 30265 Charlotte Hall Road. This will be their second location.






Saturday, October 14, 2023

Why can't we get a Wegmans in Southern Maryland?

I posted this on my business Facebook page but I'm adding it here as well as a reference.

Every time someone asks please refer them to this post.  I'm trying to educate instead of watching rumors fly.  This is what they require:

Population Density:  "High number of residents surrounding the potential store.   Typical drivetime to store 20 minutes or less."

Charles County population estimate 2022: 170,000

Prince Georges population estimate 2022: 946,971

Workforce: "The store hires somewhere in the area of 500 people.

We operate a high-volume, low-price business; we require a lot of customers shopping in our stores to achieve the volume needed to be successful." 

Daytime Population: Wegmans has food bars and caters to lunchtime crowds.  Approx. 60% of Charles county workforce leaves the area for work pre covid.  Our current restaurants are not busy enough or staffed well enough.  Just because people work from home now does not mean it will stay that way forever.

Store Size:  "Typical Wegmans is 80,00 to 120,000 square feet and requires 15+ Acres."  They also only open 2-3 stores a year.  They are very picky.

These stores decide where they want to go.  Not us, not the county or the commissioners.  This is not build it and they will come.  You can ask them to come until you are blue in the face.  Give them all the marketing material.  They do their own calculations and research and make their own decisions.  

The same goes with Whole foods and Trader joes but they also require:

-household income in excess of $100,000

-200,000 people within a 20 minute drive

-Distribution centers closer to the new stores.

-They also would love a major university or large medical complex close by.

-Large number of college educated residents.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

October 2023 Updates

Hello October!  The leaves are changing, the Halloween decorations and Christmas decorations start to clash in the stores.  Screaming ghosts and Christmas songs across the isle from each other. Its a great time!  I myself enjoy the kid friendly version of Halloween.  I was never a fan of the blood and gore and jump scare decor.  Hey that rhymes!  Anyway Its fun to take the kids to a busy neighborhood and trick or treat or trunk or treat at a local church.  Everyone in my neighborhood grew up and moved away so we go where the action is.  Don't know how much longer the kids will want go out so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.  I remember the Halloween parties at school where each kid brought a treat from home and dumped it on your paper plate and then we just got high on sugar and were sent home.  Good times.  I hope everyone has a safe Halloween this year and get lots of good stuff.  But not those plastic witch fingers.  I hate those.


Bad Axe Throwing Waldorf will have its grand opening on Saturday October 8th at the Waldorf Town Plaza.  1140A Smallwood Drive.

Aldi and Starbucks are your first tenants for the Pax River Village Center.  This is what's taking over the current Millison Plaza.  They hope to open late 2024.

The Farmhouse Cafe and Creperie will open in La Plata on October 11th at 5695 Washington Avenue.

Alpas Wellness Center had its open house today at 1014 Washington Avenue in La Plata. Alpas is a treatment center for behavioral health, substance abuse and other disorders. They will offer in and outpatient services and use traditional as well as alternative holistic approaches to mind and body healing. They plan to start taking patients by the end of the year. Pictures are on our facebook page.
At the corner of Billingsley Road and St. Charles Parkway will be a new shopping center called Fairway Village.  The anchor tenant will be a state of the art 63,000 sf Weis Market store like none we have seen in the county.  Its on point with the look of any high end grocery store and not a rebranded food lion like what we have currently in the area.  Along with Weis there will be several pad sites for restaurants and retail.  None that I can mention yet because they are still in negotiations. There will also be apartments on the site as well.  

I had added this on my Facebook page a while ago but didn't add it here so here you go.  Current construction in Pinefield on route 5 / Mattawoman Beantown Road. Proposed royal farms and small 9,300 sf retail strip. The remaining land is planned for 225 town homes, 300 apartments and assisted living facilities. This is all part of the Waldorf Station project. The rest of the main retail center near sonic will be built later as the western parkway expansion is completed. 
Bryans Road is getting an AutoZone near the corner of 210 and Marshall Hall Road at the Bryans Road Shopping Center.  Bids are out for construction.


Berry Pointe is a new 82 acre mixed use business park on Route 228 it will be mostly comprised of warehouse flex space.  There may be a small amount of retail and a few pad sites but the plans keep getting modified.  This is a large project that will be built as the demand is made.  This is being built on land that has been zoned business park for years so it isn't something that was not already in the counties master plans.  There is currently no inventory of available warehouse flex space so this will be a great addition to the area for local trade businesses, etc.
Chipotle in Charlotte Hall has changed their opening date to early December.  30030 Three Notch Road.