Northwood News ♦ October 2004

Trader Joe’s Delayed, No Ice Cream Parlor

By Jacquie Bokow

I spoke on 22 September with Jon Rhodes, Finmarc Management’s property manager for the Burnt Mills Shopping Center currently under construction on Route 29, to get an update.  Construction on the Trader Joe’s section is projected to be completed, and the space turned over to Trader Joe’s, on December 1.  However, the store is not expected to open now until the end of February.

Rhodes did still confirm that Ritz Camera and Starbucks Coffee will be part of the Center, and mentioned that they are still negotiating with an Italian restaurant in Bethesda about opening a branch at the BMSC.  We should have more definite news on other tenants by the next newsletter.

The disappointing news for our community is that it looks fairly certain that no ice cream parlor will be part of the Center.  Although I reiterated that a Trader Joe’s and an ice cream parlor were the community’s top two choices — and Rhodes confirmed that the civic association in Woodmoor also wanted an ice cream parlor, although it was “further down on their list” — he stated they needed “more credit-worthy tenants.”

“We want successful businesses in there,” said Rhodes.  “We need to meet the mortgage” and ice cream stores “typically don’t do well.”   ■