Pr. George's Project Might Lure Neighbors

Development to Boost Retail, Dining Options

In a time of unprecedented commercial growth across Charles County, the most ambitious development likely to draw residents in the next few years is being constructed at the southern edge of Prince George's County.

Brandywine Crossing, a project in the works near Route 301 and Branch Avenue, will bring 800,000 square feet of retail and dining options to Southern Maryland over several months, with Target and Costco stores opening in October. The development will add several amenities to the region, but some Charles officials are concerned that it will also bring unwelcome competition to smaller shopping centers in Charles.

"It's good to have new choices, but I hope it doesn't negatively impact our economy in the county," said Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D-Waldorf), who represents the northern edge of Charles. "It's difficult right now to assess what the impact will be."

Project developer Faison Enterprises struck a deal last month with Kerasotes Theaters, a Chicago-based movie theater company, to build Southern Maryland's first multiplex at Brandywine Crossing. The 16-screen theater, with large, plush rockers and stadium seating, will dwarf the region's four other theaters, none of which has more than six screens.

"This is in a different league," said Howard S. Biel, senior managing director for Faison.

Biel said Faison officials have heard high levels of interest about joining the Brandywine Crossing development from retailers and restaurant chains at a shopping center trade show in Las Vegas recently. Although very few companies have committed to the project, Biel said he anticipates announcing several more participants within a few weeks.

The development will be anchored by Safeway, Target and Costco, which Biel called a destination store. The Costco warehouse will be the chain's first in Southern Maryland; the closest locations to Charles are in Arlington County and Gaithersburg.

Brandywine Crossing has sites available for two additional big-box stores, but the development will center on a created pedestrian main street with upscale shops and restaurants on each side. Biel said the caliber of the development's stores will be similar to those in Waldorf Marketplace, another Faison project, whose tenants include DSW Shoes, JoS. A. Bank, Chico's, Starbucks and California Tortilla.

"Community residents all told us they want better-quality shops and restaurants," Biel said. "The location is right at the gateway to fast-growing Southern Maryland and burgeoning Prince George's County, and it will appeal to a very-good-quality clientele."

Brandywine Crossing is also directly across the highway from the Chadds Ford subdivision, which eventually will have more than 1,000 houses. Biel said he expects most of the development's customers to hail from southern Prince George's and Charles.

Collins, who has been a vocal advocate for bringing high-end dining options to Southern Maryland, said he expects more such offerings to appear soon on the Charles side of the county line.

"For many people, it's probably quicker to drive to Brandywine than to drive to St. Charles Towne Center, and that's what people will be looking at," Collins said. "But we will continue to be competitive."