August 2022 Updates

Overall I'm not a fan of August.  I have a couple of wonderful birthdays to celebrate during the month but mostly it just means summer is coming to an end and school is starting soon.  Feels like they put the back to school stuff out earlier every year!  Every day feels like Sunday.  Things are moving too fast and I try to dig my heels in and try to stop it from happing but its inevitable. What can you do but try to enjoy every day with your friends and family because at the end of the day that's what is most important.

Since this was mentioned a few times I figured I would post it.  These are the new apartments going up along Route 6 in La Plata.  There will be 37 units with high quality fixtures.  They will be mostly two bedroom units but a few will be one and three bedroom as well ranging from 900 to 1200 sf.

At Fox Run Shopping Center the Burger King is now open and it looks like Tropical Smoothie is the last one yet to open in the new strip center up front.  Open tenants include MOD Pizza, Great Clips, Starbucks, T-Mobile.  Popeye's is finishing up and should be opening early Fall.

Brandywine Village is under construction at the entrance to the Chadds Ford residential development.  So far they have 7-11, Taco Bell, Tropical Smoothie Café and Navy Federal Credit Union signed up.

July 2022 Updates

Happy July!  Hope everyone made it thru the 4th will all their fingers intact.  Business has not slowed down.  I hope it has not for you either.  If there is something you want to see in the area send them a message.  It is important for the consumer to make contact so they know you want them here.

"Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible" - Dalai Lama

Panda Express is going to be taking over the former Sonic location in La Plata located at the corner of Route 301 and Route 6.  Renovations have begun.

Fung Fu Tea is coming to Chapline Place Shopping Center in Prince Frederick.  742 Prince Frederick Blvd.  They claim to be America’s largest bubble tea brand with over 350+ locations across the U.S. This is their first location in Southern Maryland.

Salsitas Grill is now open at Rosewick Crossing Shopping Center in La Plata.  

Cava is taking over the former Wendy's location on Crain Highway in front of the Shops at Waldorf Center formerly known as Festival.  I know you were waiting for this one so glad they finally came around.

Chipotle has been approved for the Charlotte Hall Crossing Property we represent.  It will take over the land that has the motel on it between Burger King and McDonalds.

Royal Farms and Starbucks were approved for Charlotte Hall.  They will take the place of the Wentworth nursery at 30315 Three Notch Road.

Bad Axe Throwing is coming to Waldorf. It will be located in the St. Charles Town Plaza between Rainbow and Dollar Tree. This looks to be the first location in Maryland. They have 38 locations in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. They are applying for their liquor license now.

Southern Maryland Axe is coming soon to the St. Charles Industrial Park at 70 Industrial Park Drive, Unit 1C in Waldorf.

June 2022 Updates

Happy Summer!  Already got my first batch of crabs this year.  Hopefully temperatures will stay decent for outdoor activities.  Congratulations to the class of 2022.  The last few years for them has been quite a ride. Lots of jobs out there for the taking.  Whatever your dream is go for it!

Ribs-To-Go has opened in the former Georges Ribs location at 4840 Strauss Avenue in Indian Head.

El Rinconcito Salvadoreño is coming soon to La Plata Village Shopping Center. 114 Drury Drive. Tex-Mex and Salvadorian food.

Bard's Bistro is now open in California, MD near Mission BBQ in the former San Souci Plaza.  12599 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 124.

Sweet Blue Smoke is now open in Callaway, MD at 21030 Point Lookout Road.

Club Pilates has been added to the tenant list at Waldorf Park next to Taco Bell and Chic-fil-A.

Mobility City of Southern Maryland will be coming soon to the Shops at Lancaster behind the AMC Theater on 177 St. Patrick's Drive.  Scooter sales and service.

Starbucks has opened at Waldorf Park next to Chic-fil-A.  No word yet on the opening of Crumble Cookies or Jersey Mike's.

Update on Raising Cane's progress.  They wont open until late this year.  They will be taking over the former Boston Market in Waldorf.

South Park retail and office center has cleared land next to the Hampton Inn and Cracker Barrel in Waldorf.  They will have retail and office suites available.  No tenants yet.

Slim Chickens is coming to the Patuxent Crossing Shopping Center 22622 MacArthur Blvd. in the freestanding building that was formerly the Thai restaurant.  This will be the second franchise location in Maryland with several more planned for Maryland.  Slim Chickens has locations across the United states and in the UK.

Crumbl Cookies will open its California, MD location on June 24th.  They are located in the St. Mary's Marketplace next to Mezeh.

May 2022 Updates

Happy May! Hopefully we are over the mini winters and on to sunny warm days.  Looking forward to some new restaurants in the area opening soon.

This month I will talk about what it takes to get a Whole Foods and Trader Joes to an area.

Whole Foods looks for an area that has around 200,000 people within a 20 minute drive to their location.  They feel this is the most time they will spend driving to get to the store.  In Charles County we have 163,000 total. There is less in St Mary's and Calvert.  So by those numbers alone we don't qualify.  They also look for a large number of college educated residents.  We currently sit around 30% that have a college diploma.

Trader Joes looks for Median household incomes above $100,000 and population density.  They are what they call a neighborhood store so they want heavy density in one spot.  Expensive homes and disposable income with a university or large medical complex close by really makes them happy.  So I hope that helps explain why they will not come down this way.

“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” —Barbara De Angelis 

Momi's Kitchen will be opening in May 6th at 11705 Mall circle in Waldorf.  Momi’s Kitchen is a Mediterranean restaurant focused on simple, healthy meals.  www.momiskitchen.com 

A site plan was approved for a Royal Farms at the corner of 235 and Great Mills Road in Lexington Park.  A small commercial center is located their currently and will be removed.

The Rib & Bar B-Que has taken over the former Texas Rib at the Smallwood village center in St. Charles.  It is now open.

April Updates 2022

 

Happy Spring! Well not spring like temperatures just yet but we are getting there.  I cant wait to get outside and enjoy some crabs and sunshine!  Hope everyone has a great month!

Its time for another explanation of why we can't get a _______ in Southern Maryland.

This example will be Dave and Buster's.  I talk about needing more population until I'm blue in the face but no one believes it.  Here is what D&B require to come to an area directly from their website:

"Super-regional draw: 700,000 to 1,000,000 daytime population within a 10 mile radius of the property."

"Average guest will travel 22 minutes to visit a D&B store."

Daytime population means who is in the area during the day and not away working in D.C. or somewhere.

Currently if you look at the Mall as a possible location there are only 200,000 people within a 10 mile radius.  So you can see that makes un ineligible for one of their stores.

Scandinavian Designs Furniture will be taking over the former Toys r Us location in Waldorf.  Work has begun on the façade already.   

Strength Connection Fitness and Miracle Ear are new tenants coming to the first floor of Potomac Square in La Plata.  9375 Chesapeake Street.

Smitty's car wash will be coming to White Plains behind the Wawa on Billingsley Road.

Hawthorne Commercial Center is under construction on Route 301 South in La Plata right before the Popeye's restaurant.  It will have two one story buildings.  6,000 square feet up front and 20,900 square feet in the back.

March 2022 Updates

Happy March!  Warmer temperatures, flowers starting to bloom, St. Patty's Day!  Hope everyone is doing well and things are getting back to normal for you.  We should see a lot of stuff opening in the next few months.  Lots of construction in the area.  Hope we can find some new and interesting tenants.

 MOD Pizza is now open in Prince Frederick in the Fox Run Shopping Center.  

HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx will have their grand openings on March 17th at the Shops at Waldorf Center.

No word yet on any tenants that will take their spaces at Waldorf Marketplace.

Big Lots will open in Prince Frederick at the Fox Run shopping center on March 10th.

Rosewick Corner is under construction in La Plata on Rosewick Road.  Currently Aldi is the main tenant and Premier Health Express Urgent Care is also listed as a tenant.  There will be a gas station and a few other pad sites for retail or office users.  They have a plan to do a nice 193 unit apartment complex on the property as well.

It appears that 7-11 will be taking over the former Bob Evans location in front of Sam's Club in Waldorf.  The building will be removed and new construction will begin.  I assume the 7-11 in the strip center down the road will probably be moved to this space but I'm not positive.

February 2022 Updates

Sorry I had to get out of the area for a while and take a much needed vacation.  Things have not slowed down.  Looks like warmer weather is coming so there's that to be happy about.  Hope everyone is staying healthy.  Take some time out for yourself.  Remember you are worth it!  Be kind to each other.

Hunan Star III in La Plata has reopened after their kitchen fire.  Glad to see them back in business.

Photown will have its soft opening February 22nd at 746 North prince Frederick Blvd. in Prince Frederick.

K&K Adventure Park is a new family outdoor entertainment complex and plans to open its location March 31st.  They will be located at 90 Sherry Lane, Prince Frederick across from the Marriott Hotel.

The Greene Turtle will have a new location at the Brandywine Crossing Shopping Center in Brandywine, MD.  It looks as if they will be taking a section of the former Chevys location next to Bonefish. 

Crumbl Cookies has been added to the tenant list at Waldorf Park. It will join Starbucks, Jersey Mike's, and Aspen Dental in the front strip. Waldorf Park is located near the corner of 301 and Smallwood Drive. Chic-fil-A is already on site.

Lendmark Financial Services is taking the last available space at La Plata Plaza North next to Little Caesars Pizza.

Batteries and Bulbs has opened a new location in the Calvert Village Shopping Center in Prince Frederick.

The new North County Farmers Market will open April 9th at 29133 Thompson Corner Road in Mechanicsville. This will replace the Amish market that was located in the library parking lot.