9 Round, Firehouse and Smoothie King have opened in Waldorf

9 Round Fitness, Firehouse Subs and Smoothie King have both opened at the Crain Highway Retail Center.  The nail salon will follow soon. Zips is still a few months away on their build out.  Working on more tenants!

Just a reminder that due to the spam I get I have to approve comments and questions before they are posted on the blog.  So if you don't see your question or comment posted immediately that is why.

Harry Nice Bridge Replacement Moving Forward

Governor Hogan announced that the Harry Nice Bridge will be replaced beginning in FY 2020 and completed in 2023.  Estimated cost is around $765 Million.  It will be a 4 lane bridge with a pedestrian and bike lane separated by a barrier.  Many thanks to Governor Hogan for getting this done.  As Governor Hogan stated in his speech local lawmakers in Charles County tried to stop this from happening.

 

 

 Updates can be found here: https://mdta.maryland.gov/Capital_Projects/NewNiceBridgeProject/Home

New Army Reserve Center Under Construction

The Army has begun construction on its new 90,000 sf Army Reserve Center in White Plains, MD.
The center sits on 15 acres near the corner of Route 227 and Route 301 at the Fox Tail Business Center.  The center will be used for Army Reserves training and day-to-day activities, and will be home to a vehicle maintenance shop, and recruitment and retention office. We still have sites available next door.  This will greatly help bring new customers to local businesses.

Waldorf Station Land Has Been Sold

The 145 acres known as Waldorf Station, and was once where a Super Walmart was planned, has been sold by Chaney Enterprises to Greenburg Gibbons.  This new group is responsible for some very nice developments like Annapolis Towne Centre and Waugh Chapel Towne Centre.  We have worked with them in the past and I believe they are the right group to do a nice project on that property.  Their plan is to do an open-air mixed use development.  We look forward to seeing their design.

Demolition permits have been issued to remove some of the buildings on the property.  They may include the Chaney building, Waldorf Restaurant and former Embassy Dairy.






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You Can't Have Your Cheesecake and Country Too

UPDATED 2019

I've posted this before but its so far back in the blog now its lost.  I often get asked for a few of the same restaurants over and over.  Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Changs are at the top of the list.  Then there are the high end grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes and Wegmans

Why don't they come?  What stops them from opening up here?  Well here are the requirements they look for:

Population - The biggest factor.  The entire population for Charles County is estimated around 159,700 Calvert 91,502, St. Mary's 112,667 (all as of 2017).  And for reference Prince Georges County has a population estimate of over 900,000.   Places like the above mentioned restaurants want a daytime population of somewhere in the area of 300,000 within a 3-5 mile radius of the location. Currently the estimated daytime population of the mall within 5 miles is estimated at around 92,000. They want the restaurant packed at lunch and dinner which is why they go to dense urban areas.  On a regular lunch day you can walk into almost any restaurant in Waldorf with no wait time and that's not good.

Wegmans Grocery says they want high daytime population because they depend on the lunchtime crowd to use their food bars.  The issue in our area is that 65+ percent of our workforce leaves the county for work.  Which means our daytime population is lower than what they want to see.

Demographics - workforce, high school and college graduates, number of households, average household incomes, retired or working, age, race, sex.  Our average household incomes are great but not enough houses. Also mentioned by some that we didn't have enough college graduates.  Did you know you needed a diploma to buy food?

Roads and transportation - Is the site on a major road? How many vehicles per day pass the site?  Does the site meet parking requirements? Does the company have a distribution site within a certain radius of the proposed location?

Government - Are they easy to work with? Do they want growth?  Are they business friendly? Any incentives to come to the area?  How long will the process take to get our site approved?

Attractions - What pulls people to the area? Historic sites, large venues, sporting arenas, tourism, casinos, amusement parks.

Land -  They want high profile corner sites with traffic lights and ease of access for their patrons.   They want sites along Crain Highway and we are running out of them.  Many that are out there have wetlands running thru them and you can't build near that.  Storm water and environmental regulations are constantly changing and take up more of the land so you either build a smaller space or have to buy a larger site which comes at a higher price.

So we either have to build houses and apartment and become a densely populated area which is not going to happen because nobody wants that, or stay a little country, a little city and be happy.

Harris Teeter Coming to Dunkirk

Concept Picture

Harris Teeter will be opening a new location in Dunkirk, MD at the new Apple Greene Shopping Center.  The store is expected to open in 2018 and was just approved for a gas station on site as well. The center will be located on Rt. 4 and Ward Rd by the CVS.  Marshall's will also be in the Shopping center as well as Taco Bell.

Mid Atlantic Restaurant Opens

Mid Atlantic Restaurant has now opened in Waldorf at 3331 Plaza Way next to Mom's Organic.  They serve a large variety of items including seafood, salads, wings and chicken.

MGM National Harbor Announces Opening Date

The grand opening of the MGM Casino at National Harbor will be December 8, 2016.
The resort costs an estimated 1.2 billion dollars and is 135,000 square feet employing over 3,500 people.

Spoons Grand Opening Date

Spoon's Korean & American BBQ has announced that Monday September 26th 2016 will be their grand opening.

A Few Updates

Just a few updates since most people I have noticed do not look past the first page of posts.  Shame on you.

Urban Bar B Que is now open in La Plata behind Panera Bread.  I am hearing good reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/UrbanBarBQueLaPlata/

The Leonardtown location I hear will open in later this Fall.
https://m.facebook.com/UrbanBarBQueLeonardtown/

Spoons hopes to open by late next week in La Plata in the Rosewick Crossing Shopping Center.

https://www.facebook.com/SpoonsKoAmBBQ/

Sky Zone is pushing for a Late September opening
https://www.facebook.com/SkyZoneWaldorf/

Dunkin Donuts has opened in La Plata and Leonardtown.

Taco Bell has begun construction on their new space in Charlotte Hall, MD next to AutoZone

All great additions to the area.  Lots more to come.

Just a reminder that due to the spam I get I have to approve comments and questions before they are posted on the blog.  So if you don't see your question or comment posted immediately that is why.

Crain Highway Retail Center Tenants

Here are the Tenants we have so far for the Crain Highway Retail Center.  Most Tenants have begun their build out and should be opening in four months or so depending on the amount of building they have to do.  We still have two spots left on each end cap for other tenants.  

Just a reminder that due to the spam I get I have to approve comments and questions before they are posted on the blog.  So if you don't see your question or comment posted immediately that is why.

New Shopping Center Going Thru Approvals in Hollywood, MD

The Hollywood shopping Center has preliminary approval on their plan to build at the corner of Rt. 235 and Sotterley Road.  This 14 acre center is proposed to have a CVS Pharmacy and Burchmart relocate to it.  Additional retail space will be available.  According to recent news posts the commissioners had turned down the location but the state appeals board overturned the decision. This still has a way to go on getting it started but if the traffic pattern can be worked out it should continue thru the process.


Just a reminder that due to the spam I get I have to approve comments and questions before they are posted on the blog.  So if you don't see your question or comment posted immediately that is why.

Five Below Opens in California, MD

Five below has opened up next to the Staples in the First Colony Shopping Center.  It is located at 45033 Worth Avenue.  Five below has over 440 locations in 20 states.

Dunkin Donuts Open in Leonardtown

Dunkin had its ribbon cutting yesterday and it's open for business.  The new Dunkin Donuts is located on 22845 Washington Street in Leonardtown, MD.

Proposed Waldorf Walmart Super Center Pulled

Walmart has pulled their proposal to build a new super center on the former Embassy Dairy land behind Sonic in Pinefield.  There was a lot of opposition against it moving forward due to concerns for the Mattawoman creek as well as opposition from local unions and residents.  Similar to what happened in La Plata.  We will have to see how this will affect the Western Parkway being completed.  It is unknown at this time if they will move to another location or out of the county completely.  The land owners still have a meeting scheduled on 7/26 to apply for a large box user that the public can attend.  Check the county website for correct time and date.

UPDATE:  county meeting has now been been cancelled.

UPDATE 10-28-16: The land has been sold to another developer for a different transit oriented mixed use.

Hobby Lobby Coming to California, MD

Hobby Lobby will be taking over the former K-Mart location in California, MD.  I am waiting on confirmation from my source but they should open later this year in time for the holiday season.
Hobby Lobby owns 700 stores in 47 states.  They also offer one of the highest wage rates in the industry with full-time employees earning $15.35 an hour and part-time employees receiving $10.23 an hour.  Not to bad.  They are still looking for a spot in Waldorf and we have given them a few places to look at.  So we will see what happens.

UPDATE 11/17/16:  Landlord has started construction on the facade work of the building.  Opening wont be until early 2017.

UPDATE 3/1/17:  Grand Opening date is April 17, 2017

Weis Market Taking Over Food Lions

Weis Markets, Inc. is purchasing 38 Food Lion markets operating in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. 21 of them are in Maryland wich include stores in La Plata, Prince Frederick, Lexington Park, Lusby, and California.

1356	15789 Livingston Road	Accokeek	MD
784	45315 Alton Lane	California	MD
2515	20995 Point Lookout Road	Callaway	MD
2598	5896 Robert Oliver Place	Columbia	MD
1549	15300 Mcmullen Hwy SW	Cumberland	MD
1289	219 Marlboro Avenue	Easton	MD
1315	3261 Solomons Island Road	Edgewater	MD
1324	6375 Monroe Avenue	Eldersburg	MD
1529	6551 Waterloo Road	Elkridge	MD
1187	17600 Old National Sq Pike	Frostburg	MD
1345	16567 South Frederick Road	Gaithersburg	MD
1477	883 Russell Avenue	Gaithersburg	MD
1168	100 Drury Drive	La Plata	MD
1210	19 St. Mary's Square	Lexington Park	MD
2606	210 H G Trueman Road	Lusby	MD
1387	12100 Central Avenue	Mitchellville	MD
2535	9251 Lakeside Boulevard	Owings Mills	MD
1526	750 Prince Frederick Blvd	Prince Frederick	MD
786	10 Village Center Road	Reisterstown	MD
1443	13300 H G Trueman Road	Solomons	MD
1535	5715 Crain Highway	Upper Marlboro	MD

You should see all of the listed Food Lions change over to the Weiss brand by October 2016.  

Weis currently operates 162 stores in five states.

According to a Union facebook page the Giant Stores are not selling so they will not close.

Pearle Vision Center and Med Express Coming to California, MD

A new Pearle Vision Center will be opening at the Park Place Development in California, MD.
It will be part of a small retail center on a site next to Cracker Barrel.  There are also plans for an Med Express Urgent care center center on a separate parcel.


UPDATE: Med Express is now open

New Domino's Pizza Coming to Waldorf

A new Domino's Pizza will be opening in the Waldorf Plaza at 2215 Crain Highway. It will be a new concept store featuring seating areas instead of the normal pick up and go. Coming later this summer.

Sonic Coming to La Plata

Hey La Plata ready to get your Sonic fix?  The Sunoco station at Route 301 and 6 will be coming down soon to make way for the new Sonic location.  Construction will begin very soon and we will see an opening later this year.  As soon as they give me a grand opening date I will post it here.

PhysioCare Rehab Now Open in Brandywine

Physio Care Rehab and Wellness has opened in Brandywine Maryland.  They do physical therapy, sports medicine and wellness services.  They are located behind the Brandywine Crossing Shopping Center at 7651 Matapeake Business Drive #203.  For more information visit their www.physiocarebrandywine.com

Dunkin Donuts Coming to La Plata

After a long wait Dunkin' Donuts has received its approvals for a drive thru location in La Plata.
Dunkin Donuts will be taking the end unit behind Rite Aid in the La Plata Village Shopping Center on Drury Drive.  This will be the forth location on Route 301 in Charles County.  They should open sometime this summer.

UPDATE: 8/22/16 Now Open

Urban BBQ Coming to La Plata

Urban Bar-B-Que company will be coming to the La Plata Plaza Shopping Center in the old Three Brothers location.  Look for an opening date some time in the summer.  This will be their 12th location.  They are also working on a space in Leonardtown.

UPDATE 9-7-16: Now Open in La Plata.

The Waldorf Urban Redevelopment Corridor

You may have heard a little about redeveloping some of Waldorf into a more walkable area when light rail ever comes here if it ever does.  We keep hearing it will be here in 15 years or so.  Whenever it does come the county has created a concept plan for the land along where it will it will make a couple of the proposed stops.

So here is the concept for Downtown Waldorf.  Apartments, hotels, office, retail and a civic center.  Just so you can get your bearings the top is Route 301 and Leonardtown Road (Business Rt. 5) runs along the left side of the picture.  The current CSX rail and the light rail would run parallel to each other thru the county as shown at the bottom.

However none of this is going to happen until there are some major upgrades done to the infrastructure in the area.  Water and sewer upgrades, getting all the power lines run under ground, road improvements, etc.  The design for those should be complete in October.

Please understand that this is only a concept and is not going to be built by the county.  The current land owners can build what they want as long as it complies with the new zoning for the area.  Some things that are now not permitted to be built in the area are automotive related businesses, fast food, gas stations and mini storage.  We will see how this turns out over time.  It will take someone with a lot of time and money to develop the land and turn it into something nice.

UPDATE 8-3-16:  According to this article: http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0716/plans-to-revitalize-town-threatened-by-recent-decision.html

Some of the commissioners decided to throw in a change to the recent comprehensive plan about how many of each type of residence would be allowed in the county in the future.  This would change the concept a lot since much of the plan was based on apartments and town homes.  It makes no sense to create a proposal for future transit oriented development and then destroy that with this recent change.  We will have to see how this plays out.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park Coming to White Plains

Sky Zone Trampoline Park will be coming to White Plains, MD in the late summer of 2016.  They will be located at 4390 Crain Highway in the current Flooring America space.  The flooring company will shift over to the space next door.  This will be the fifth Sky Zone in Maryland with two more just announced for Baltimore and Bowie.  Sky Zone is the worlds first indoor trampoline park and has franchise locations all over the United States and in other countries.

UPDATE 8-29-16: Projected opening will be early September.

Tower Radiology Now Offers Whole Body Scans

Tower Radiology in White Plains, MD has recently installed a new Siemens SOMATOM Scope.  This CT machine is a whole body scanner that has the lowest radiation does of any in the D.C. Metropolitan area and is personalized to your body.

Tower Radiology is located in the Fairview Center Business Park at 4255 Altamont Place White Plains, MD (301) 638-4606  Visit their website for more information on all of their other services: www.towerradiology.com

Jimmy John's Coming to Lexington Park.

Jimmy Johns will open this Spring in the Lexington Village Shopping Center next to Sonic in Lexington Park.  Opening dates as we get updated.

Chipotle has opened in Prince Frederick

Chipotle is now open in the Calvert Village Shopping Center in Prince Frederick.  They opened March 10th.  This is the 4th location in Southern Maryland.

Bruster's Ice Cream Coming to Waldorf

Bruster's Ice Cream will be opening soon at the St. Charles Town Plaza in Waldorf.  The store is known for making their items fresh in the store.  This is their seventh store in Maryland.  Bruster's is based out of Bridgewater Pennsylvania.  It is also a franchise.  The store will be open by May 2016.

UPDATE: STORE HAS OPENED

Bonchon coming to Waldorf Marketplace

I

BonChon is a South Korean fried chicken restaurant.  BonChon means "My Hometown".  This will be the fifth location in Maryland.  Bonchon will take over the former California tortilla space at Waldorf Marketplace.  No opening date has been set.

UPDATE: Looking at a mid July opening pending inspections.

Now Open

MedStar Opening Urgent Care Facility

MedStar has jumped into the pool of new urgent care facilities for the Waldorf area.  This new facility will be located in the Waldorf Marketplace next to Pho D-Lite and the Navy Federal Credit Union.  Should expect an opening date of around May 2016 or sooner. 

Firehouse Subs Coming to Calvert County

Firehouse subs has leased a space at the Fox Run Shopping Center in Prince Frederick.  The space is located next to Advance Auto Parts.  Construction was out to bid so thy should open in the summer of 2016 or earlier.

New Medical Care Center Opening Soon

Righttime Medical Care has taken over the former Red Hot and Blue location at 3350 Crain Highway.  They are an urgent care facility that is open from 7 am to midnight 365 days a year.  Righttime has been in business for 25 years and serves children and adults.  They plan to open early spring 2016. 

Mid Atlantic Seafood Coming to Waldorf

I just sold the former Hong Kong Buffet next to Moms Organic.  The buyer is planning a Mid Atlantic Seafood restaurant.  The place has already been totally gutted and new construction has started.  This owner has several restaurants in the Maryland area.  If you have been around the area for a while you will remember this building as the old Western Steer restaurant.  Look for an opening in the summer.

Sonic Waldorf Grand Opening Set

Sonic Waldorf has announced a March 1st opening date.  Sonic Waldorf is located at the corner of Route 301 South and Mattawoman Drive in Pinefield.  There will be another location coming to La Plata on the corner of 301 and Port Tobacco Road with construction beginning in the summer of 2016.

Bryans Road Shopping Center to be Renovated

Now that we have taken over the leasing for Bryans Road Shopping Center we have made suggestions to help get the place leased.  The Owners have begun design work for a renovation to the center.  Great to have Landlords that are making things happen!

UPDATE 3-14-17 Renovation are underway currently

Recovery Centers of America Coming to Waldorf

Recovery Centers of American has purchased the former 20 acre Changing Point South building at 11100 Billingsley Rd. Waldorf, MD.  Plans are to put $25 Million dollars into renovating and add buildings to the facility up to around 90,000 sf.  They have purchased several properties on the east coast to build localized, innovative alcohol and drug-addiction facilities which will offer a comprehensive continuum of treatment programs.  They plan to open this summer 2016.  Picture below is of the building many years ago.  Since then its fallen into some disrepair and has been used for churches and homeless shelters.  In my opinion they should have bought land and built a new facility.  I'm glad someone is finally going to do something with this property but refitting a dated building is a pain.  Too many new code requirements to deal with.

https://www.facebook.com/ShashoCommercial/  Please like our Facebook page for quick notifications on new projects!

UPDATE: 5-6-16 RCA is still working on permits to get existing buildings renovated.  Site needs to comply with newer codes and regulations so it it taking longer.  No word on an opening date yet.