Northwood News ♦ December 2003

Burnt Mills in ‘Final Negotiations’ with Trader Joe’s

By Jacquie Bokow

It just looks as if nothing’s happening at the property at 10715 Colesville Road (the long-vacant furniture store on the east side of the road north of the Northwest Branch) where the Burnt Mills Shopping Center is supposed to be built, but progress is being made.  Marc Solomon, a co-owner of property manager Finmarc Management (Bethesda, Md.), confirmed that Trader Joe’s will probably be the flagship store of the 32,000-square-foot shopping center to be built there.

“No tenants have been signed, but we’re in final negotiations with Trader Joe’s and a coffee shop,” said Solomon.

When questioned, Solomon admitted that the coffee shop is Starbucks.  Apparently, the Starbucks store in Woodmoor is so busy, the company feels it can open another location close by.  A coffee shop is definitely in Finmarc’s plans for the property; if Starbucks doesn’t work out, they will look to Caribou Coffee or some other local chain.

Solomon also mentioned Finmarc was in preliminary negotiations with a “nice restaurant” which is not yet signed, and, “potentially, a photo store.”  A stoplight will be erected on Route 29 at the southern entrance to the property next to the gas station.

Solomon said his company “would like to hear suggestions” about what stores the community would like to have on the property.  It is due to NFCCA input that a Trader Joe’s may be signed, and Solomon knows our informal poll also requested an ice cream parlor.  If you would like to add your input as to what businesses you would like to see at the Burnt Mills Shopping Center, please call Jacquie Bokow [contact details redacted] and she will pass them on to Finmarc.

We still have time to influence Fin­marc’s direction.  “We plan to break ground this spring and open in the fall,” Solomon said.

By the way, both Solomon and co-owner David Fink are local boys.  Solomon grew up on Irwin Street, graduating from the Northwood class of 1974, and Fink’s parents are still in the neighborhood.   ■