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
I would assume Wegman’s criteria is the same as Whole Food/Trader Joe’s?
ReplyDeleteHow much is demographics factoring into the decision process? Why did Harris Teeter skip Charles County and establish stores in St Mary’s and Calvert County? Why does Annapolis have a Whole Foods with a population size of 39k ? And less than 100k within a 20 min drive?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the county doing to attract businesses? Grocery stores? Attractions?
A larger portion of this county of military and federal workers, with steady incomes and it seems we’re getting the cold shoulder compared to other communities.
The homes are more expensive, there is a large medical facility nearby, and there is more pass through traffic. That Whole Foods sits on a major highway going into Baltimore.
DeleteI’m unsure about demographics, but WF also looks for a large lot — we don’t have that.
Sprouts is looking to expand. Wish we could get one in st. Marys
ReplyDeleteYes, a Harris Teeter would be divine in this area. That old Shoppers space would be IDEAL!!! That shopping center needs a little revitalization anyways! I would love to talk to HT to see why this up and coming suburban area with hundreds of new construction full of military and government workers is not a suitable location for them!!!
ReplyDeleteI realize Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s is pie-in-the-sky for Charles County, I used to shop at both on the way home from the office and I am totally over both of them! If I can’t get it at Giant, Aldi, Lidl or Moms, I don’t need it. However, I am surprised that Charles doesn’t get an Amazon Fresh, especially given that Amazon has definitely made inroads here with home delivery and is aware of the potential market.
ReplyDeleteAs to the demographics, there is a definite disconnect there. Charles County is currently the 18th wealthiest county out of 3000+ counties nationwide by household income. This ranking varies based on the economy, but we are resilient due to Federal/military employment, and we are always in the top 25. And no Harris Teeter? I think the answer lies in their parent company’s (Krogers) concern about other demographics; they have a history of closing stores and creating food deserts in midwestern cities. Instead of wishing for something that won’t happen, I think we should support the retailers who come here and only see the color green.
Does Chris or anybody know what they're building in front of Sam's Club on Route 301 in Waldorf?
ReplyDeleteIts a 7-11 by sam's club sorry nothing exciting.
ReplyDeleteHarris Teeter just has some kind of problem with Waldorf. Every developer ive spoken with says they wont come. Its perplexing.
Places like Annapolis have much more attraction because it has the Naval Academy and its other surrounding areas.
Ok. I was hoping for something exciting
DeleteHarris Teeter is a conservative company, I applied for a job with them at there St Marys and after they refused to give me salary in a JOB Interview, I refuse there job offer i email. this company isnt for me.
DeleteI'm sure demographics is way the are staying away from Charles County and choose Dunkirk and Military town California
I can't imagine why no high-end store wants to set up shop in waldorf! Even the mall stores can't seem to stay in business. Face it, we're stuck with what we got and it's not going to change. People drive through waldorf, but few stop.
ReplyDeleteSince we can't get Harris Teeter I would even settle for a Publix grocery store which are prevalent in the south. Publix is definitely an upgrade over Giant Food in terms of food selection in my opinion. The closest Publix stores are in Fredericksburg Virginia and Stafford Virginia.
ReplyDeletehttps://g.co/kgs/1P7Usu
https://g.co/kgs/r7Lgnp
what about Wegman?!
DeleteIs there a Royal Farms coming to Lexington Park?
ReplyDeletePublix has not come up this way to Maryland yet.
ReplyDeleteA plan was approved for a Royal Farms at the corner of great mills and 235 across from gate 2. I suppose its a done deal now so i can mention it.
Any word on Crumbl’s opening in California? :)
ReplyDeletehas not shown up on their grand opening list yet. I haven't seen where they are on construction so it could be a few months.
ReplyDeleteAny update on why it's taking so long for Salsita's in La Plata to open? Drove by last night and at least the paper is off the windows, but no sign indicating when they're opening. And what about the Italian restaurant next door? I'm getting antsy LOL.
ReplyDeleteChris, do you know what is being built at the new clearing by shortcut rd on 301 south by the old junk yard?
ReplyDeleteThey keep saying permits are taking a long time. the Italian place says a couple more months.
ReplyDeleteI've been inquiring about what is going on in Brandywine but haven't got an answer yet.
It’s a storage facility being built
DeleteIs Circle K still coming to Newburg Md?
ReplyDeleteMy kingdom for a Wegmans in Southern MD!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for posting this blog on what is coming into the area. It is nice not to hear unsubstantiated rumors and actually have a fact.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for setting the record straight on demographics. It is hard to help folks to understand that we don't really live in Montgomery County where every store and restaurant will open. This area is unique and in a good way.
If we had those crowded conditions, we would also have the unbelievable traffic to deal with. I am not sure that is worth the trade off. (I grew up in Montgomery County.)
Having some of those stores is nice, but if you really want to go to Trader Joes or Whole Foods, driving to where they are can be a fun trip. It also means that we come back to a beautiful area that isn't overbuilt, has natural beauty and water and animal life, and less traffic.
Anyway, I really appreciate your common sense attitude and actual public service in letting us know who does want to build and open their shops in this area. Thanks! :)
Driving from LaPlata to the nearest TJ’s
Deleteor Whole Foods is not a “fun trip”, especially with traffic and gas around $5 a gallon. Besides, I would rather shop close to home and pump my tax dollars (if I must) into the local economy.
Sorry to break it to you… it’s already crowded and traffic is already bad because people are commuting for work 5 days a week and to find a decent grocery store or family activity on the weekends. Master communities have been built in Charles County and people are paying a lot for their houses and even more in property taxes (second highest in the state). It’s only natural to want certain stores and/or amenities near your own house…
ReplyDeleteIf you don’t think demographics play a role in what’s happening here then I can recommend a couple of books for you that detail reasons why areas with a large minority populations are underdeveloped. There are reasons why Charles County skipped over for development while St Marys and Calvert continue to make gains.
I don’t think anyone specifically mentioned Montgomery County or asked to be like them. But what it boils down to is people don’t want to drive a couple of hours away from their half-a-million dollar home to get decent groceries or food or shop or have fun nor should they have to.
With regards to Royal Farms in Charlotte Hall, did they win their appeal? I see the area is in process of being demolished.
ReplyDeleteHello Chris, Do you know what is coming on the corner of Middletown Rd. and McDaniel? The signs reflect Under Contract.
ReplyDeleteHas there been talks of reopening shoppers food warehouse in Waldorf MD?
ReplyDeleteChris any updates for Brandywine?
ReplyDeleteChris is a June update coming? Any news on construction in Brandywine??
ReplyDeleteAmazon Fresh store now in Northern Virginia, maybe Waldorf will get one. If Manassas can get the store, than we should too.
ReplyDeletehttps://wtop.com/business-finance/2022/06/amazon-fresh-opens-three-new-stores-in-northern-virginia/
https://youtu.be/tRmPGqnzn7o
Royal farms is going to appeal but the date was pushed.
ReplyDeleteNot much going on in brandywine but houses.
I asked the person in charge of the shoppers center for an update but I got nothing.
Havent heard anything about mcdaniel and middletown. That should be all residential zoned.
Anything on Circle K
ReplyDeleteComing to Newburg/Faulkner Md?
Im disappointed that Royal Farms was approved on Great Mills Rd. That intersection is going to be a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteIt makes no sense that Charles County doesn't have a Trader Joe. I am forced to shop there on my way home from work either in old town alexandria or dc. How can we have a mom's but not a trader joe??
ReplyDeleteEven though Mom's
is much more expensive, it does well. Meaning Trader Joe definitely would do well!
We have so much space out here and it is more affordabe then
northern virginia and montgomery county. Rather than trader joe come to us has the county offered a proposal to trader joe?
We don't need any more fast food, chicken places, gas stations, car washes, seven eleven, liquor stores, .
We patronize those stores but we have tons of them. We seem to get new ones every year. We need more diverse healthy options that provide more opportunities for increases in.property values.