Eldersburg business in tough economic times
October 27, 2009
Eric Villard

Contents:
Find out which businesses have recently left the town
See a map of which businesses left the town
How does Eldersburg's economy compare to the county and state?

To find out how Eldersburg is fairing in this tough economy, one need only look at the increasing number of business vacancies throughout the community.

"It is very concerning to see so many vacancies on Liberty Rd. It is a sign that small businesses are facing serious challenges," said Doug Howard, owner of BDG Entrepreneurial Services and organizer of the Eldersburg 20 / 20. "Entrepreneurship is one of the great examples of the American spirit and an important part of the American Dream. The survival and success of small businesses in our area is an important building block for the future of our community."

Many of the major strip centers have seen a business leave, whether it was video rental giant Hollywood Video, restaurant favorite Meikeljohn’s, or small time gift shop Cards, Candy & More. The absence of these shops leaves the commercial landscape pockmarked with dark, empty rooms in place of busy storefronts.

Gone but not forgotten - Eldersburg businesses that have left and have yet to return:

Map of recently vacated businesses:

Not all of the empty spaces are readily visible. Country Village shopping center, on the eastern edge of town, has a few vacancies hidden behind the main storefronts. Eldersburg Plaza II, located beside the Eldersburg Plaza I, which houses Arby’s, has a vacancy among its commercial and professional buildings.

Other businesses that had promised to relocate within the town have not stuck to their original timelines. Meiklejohn’s owner Grant Gursky had promised that the establishment was simply relocating to a new place in Eldersburg. Word around town was that the new building outside of Walmart would house the new Meiklejohn’s.

“Something big is going to happen in Eldersbug,” he had said. “We’re not going away – let’s put it that way.”

Gursky had hinted at a three to four month timeline for moving in back in June. Almost five months have passed now with no noticeable interior changes to the building that Meiklejohn’s was suspected to move into. Outside a banner advertising leasing for restaurant and commercial space flaps in the wind.

Re/Max left its location in Oklahoma Center in late June with the promise that it would be relocating in Eldersburg within a few weeks, according to Donna Arndt, regional vice president of Re/Max Advantage. Thus far no such relocation has happened. The Re/Max Advantage Web site lists the Oklahoma Center location as still active.

Still, the view is not entirely glum. Liberty Exchange, taking over Freedom Golf Center, is set to bring various retail establishments and professional spaces to the community as well as two restuarants and another gas station. Dixon Harvey of Black Oak Associates recently mentioned that the Carrolltown Center rennovations and the construction of Main Street Eldersburg would be done within three years.

Eldersburg compared to the nation, county, state