New stores fill recession voids

The stores have moved into spaces that have been vacant for more than a year.

Kohl's Department Stores took the spot of the Value City in the Shoppers Food-anchored retail strip, while The Fresh Market replaced the old Whole Foods Market in Annapolis Harbour Center.

Both of the new stores combined provided about 240 jobs to local residents, store officials said.

As early as 9 a.m. yesterday at Kohl's, shopping carts were at a premium, said workers who were trying to scrounge up buggies whenever they could for shoppers with arms loaded with merchandise.

Even with all the cash registers fired up and the constant sounds of cash drawers springing open, a line of customers waiting to check out wrapped around one side of the store.

But it's a pleasant sight to be this busy, said David Riggins, the new Kohl's general manager, who was promoted to this rank from his job as assistant manager at the Germantown Kohl's in Montgomery County.

While walking the span of the store and answering questions from customers, Riggins said he and his team of 150 employees were ready for a day of heavy foot traffic.

The Kohl's opens at 260 Solomons Island Road, the same location where more than a year ago Value City Department Stores closed as a result of the company filing for bankruptcy.

And whether it was deals or cabin fever that brought out the customers, sale signs, beach towels and little-girl Easter dresses were a sight for their sore eyes. "Everything is spring, fresh and inviting," Riggins said.

Angelic Carroll, an Annapolis resident who wore a huge grin as she rounded another aisle, said she managed to squeeze in a shopping trip in the morning before heading to work for the day. Her basket was almost overflowing with items for her whole family, including a pair of shorts and sandals.

"I'm very excited I don't have to travel a half-hour now to get to a Kohl's," she said, adding that she often has made the pilgrimage to the Severna Park store. "You know, this is more of a discount store, and with about a third of residents below the middle-line, it's about time we've gotten one here."

Mary Kniskern, an Arnold resident who lives equidistant from the Severna Park and Annapolis Kohl's stores, was at the new store on a mission for a bargain. With a newspaper ad circular in her hand, she went straight for the luggage section.

"I'm here for the early-bird special," she said.

Kniskern, whose son is about to study abroad in Taiwan, said finding two suitcases was on top of her to-do list.

And as for a recession, Kniskern, surrounded by crowds of shoppers with seemingly ample spending power, said she didn't see much evidence of one around her, at least not yesterday morning.

"Yes, there's a recession, but I think it's overplayed for news value," she said.

'Fresh' start

Just up the road at 2504 Solomons Island Road, The Fresh Market's grand opening brought in droves of customers to feast their eyes on gourmet foods, even though the "discount" label may not fit the bill.

But Brian Wittman, a regional vice president for the grocer, said though ambience and atmosphere may seem more upscale than the regular supermarket chains, The Fresh Market's prices remain "competitive" on similar-quality items.

And as for the store with which they'll presumably compete the most for market share, Wittman said their focuses are different: Whole Foods Market, which left the Annapolis Harbour Center and opened the 56,000-square-foot store in Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole in May 2009, focuses predominantly on organic foods, while The Fresh Market is geared toward a more old-world, general store aesthetic.

About 90 employees staff the relatively small store, he said. "We're smaller than a Whole Foods, but we focus more on making it an intimate experience," Wittman said. "We're in the 20,000-square-foot range, and it makes the store feel more cozy."

In the fall of 2008 it was confirmed the Whole Foods, along with Bed Bath & Beyond, would be moving to the larger, brand new Annapolis Towne Centre development up the road.

The swap of retail space came as a rather last-minute shock to outside observers, with threats of lawsuits looming over both anchor retailers for abandoning their turfs. But Harbour Center officials quickly lined up The Fresh Market as a replacement tenant for Whole Foods in September 2008.

Anthony Mitsopoulos, an Arnold resident, took a peak at the store's new offerings yesterday, picking up a couple boxes of fresh strawberries and another container of almond cookies. "I love to be surrounded by food," he said, suggesting that this was more of a leisurely browse than a pantry stock-up trip. "I'm just getting started."

Faith Tiggett of Edgewater and her mother also were familiarizing themselves with the new gourmet digs. Tiggett, who used to come to the store when it was the old Whole Foods, said she was eager to see how The Fresh Market compared.

"It's going to give Whole Foods a run for its money," she said. "The moment I walked in, I was totally impressed with how they utilized space."

Indeed, the layout of the store departs from the typical grocery store. Having hardly any conventional aisles, the stands and shelves for stock are all low enough so a customer can see from one end of the store to the other.

Tiggett and Mitsopoulos both said though the economic downturn is affecting many people's budgets, food is one area for which neither of them would downsize.

"I could see intermixing some of my spending here with other stores," Tiggett said. "But when it gets down to it, when I think of the times I've gone to Safeway or Giant for a sale on produce, it wasn't ripe. And so it doesn't really pay to skimp on those sorts of things because you end up having to throw things out when they're not right."

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Annapolis - 2010-03-05 16:26:06

Mary Ann, Guess you don't know boats,a checkmate is a boat!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

jim pearson - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible

Jim - 2010-03-05 15:35:23

Now how would I know why they choose not to stop here. This is an International Race. They may only make one stop on each continent. What the heck is your "checkmate".

Mary Ann Donnell - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

Annapolis - 2010-03-05 15:01:48

Mary Ann, If Annapolis is called the so-so sailing capital of the world,why did they not stop?

annapolis - 2010-03-05 14:40:53

Ok, The volvo never stopped there but, the sail boaters did, now they go to west river and stop at the west river fuel dock.thats why there are 30 or so on an average weekend morning.Oh In know they never stopped but they stayed out on the water so people could see and take pictures.And as far as I am concerned, I will keep my Checkmate!

Jim - 2010-03-05 13:35:32

Volvo never stopped there.

Annapolis - 2010-03-05 13:20:48

I think KOHLS is a great addition to parole people can get clothes and other things w/o out going to the mall,and as far as Annapolis downtown, it will never be the same as it was 30yrs ago ,they ran everyone out except the thrift shops,and if I remember the volvo does not even stop there now,they go to Baltimore.I also have to ask what is left in downtown except parking meters! what a concept.

Cohen should focus on downtown - 2010-03-05 07:56:49

Anybody else find it odd that while Market house again is put on the back burner, Mayor Cohen is issuing press releases inviting people to the grand opening of Kohls? While I'm glad Parole is doing well in this economy, if Annapolis as a destination is to thrive, the mayor needs to put some effort improving and encouraging people to come to downtown. And why does Kohls get an official press release? If I were the Fresh Market or the handful of other new businesses and restaurants in Annapolis I'd wonder why Cohen seems to be giving Kohls so much attention.

Kevin M - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

Throngs of customers ready to spend at grand openings for Kohl's, Fresh Market

'Fresh' start

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