Grocery store specializing in selling certified organic produce signs 11,839 square foot lease with Continental Realty Corporation and intends to open new store in late 2024 or early 2025
MOM’s Organic Market, a grocery store which specializes in selling only certified organic produce, has chosen Park Plaza as the site for the chain’s first location in Anne Arundel County and 11th in Maryland. The Rockville-based group signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) for 11,839 square feet of space and intends to open a new supermarket in the shopping center located at 550 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park, MD in late 2024 or early 2025. Cherene Keenan, Leasing Manager for CRC, represented the Baltimore-based real estate investment and management company, and Lee Engle, Principal of Engle Retail Advisors, represented the tenant in this transaction.
Scott Nash founded MOM’s Organic Market in his mother’s garage in 1987 and has grown the concept to nearly 25 locations in six states and the District of Columbia. Originally established as a home delivery service, MOM’s has gained recognition for its commitment to offering a larger selection of organic products and its dedication to providing sustainable seafood, meat and poultry raised with non-GMO feed, which are free from hormones or antibiotics as well as banning more than 250 ingredients, including artificial flavorings, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, and hydrogenated oils. The grocery store stopped using plastic bags in 2005 and has since required customers to bring their own shopping bags and containers, well in ahead of other prominent supermarket chains.
MOM’s Organic Market’s mission statement is “to protect and restore the environment,” which the grocery store supports by conserving energy with the use of ultra-low watt LED lighting, and rooftop solar panels in certain locations. The supermarket also reduces its reliance on plastic with its “Plastic Surgery” initiative that banned bottled still water and replaced it with water machines and reusable water containers. MOM’s also hosts free car charging stations at some of its stores and utilizes sustainable building practices during its tenant fit-outs.
“Our research showed that the greater Severna Park community lacked a natural and organic foods grocery store, and we believe our concept will provide consumers the opportunity to access the products they need to practice a healthier lifestyle,” stated Amir Poustinchi, Chief Financial Officer, MOM’s Organic Markets. “After surveying the corridor, it became clear that Park Plaza is the main shopping hub in this section of Anne Arundel County and the obvious place to establish a presence in this fast-growing and highly-dense area.”
Park Plaza is a 183,380 square foot neighborhood shopping center on Ritchie Highway near Robinson Road in Severna Park, anchored by Planet Fitness and Five Below and featuring 55 tenants including a mix of sit-down, quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, as well as medical, sports and fitness, professional services, and financial services retailers. More than 52,000 vehicles pass the center daily via Ritchie Highway. The lease with MOM’s Organic Market elevates occupancy of the center to 96 percent.
“Attracting a recognized and high-profile grocery store to the Park Plaza tenant mix has been a long-term goal of ours, and we are particularly thrilled to welcome MOM’s Organic Market given its specialized niche in this category and established track record of long-term success and traffic generation,” stated Kristina O’Keefe, CRC’s Vice President, Commercial Division. “MOM’s is considered a best-in-class organic grocery store with an incredibly strong commitment to its customers and the local community. The concept is accessible to everyone, features competitive pricing and offers a smaller footprint than the most traditional grocery stores, which makes it easier to navigate and shop. With more than 125,000 people residing within a five-mile radius of Park Plaza, we are confident that MOM’s will perform exceptionally well and provide significant value to the immediate area, as well as our existing tenants.”
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of nearly eight million square feet of commercial space and over 9,000 apartment homes across 11 states, with a portfolio value exceeding $3.7 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.
