BERLIN – While the developer remains tight-lipped about specific for the commercial property surrounding the Walmart on Route 50, a handful of area businesses have confirmed their interest in the location.
Construction of a McDonald’s at the intersection of Samuel Bowen Boulevard and Route 50 is now underway, and Taylor Bank officials confirm they are hoping to build a branch between there and Walmart.
“We are excited and anticipate opening in early spring,” said Rose Emerick, marketing manager at Baxter Enterprises, the company that owns more than 20 McDonald’s restaurants on the Eastern Shore.
Emerick said the new restaurant would replace the McDonald’s on Route 50 near Stephen Decatur High School, which is one of the company’s oldest. The new restaurant, which will be built using a variety of recycled and reclaimed materials, according to Emerick, will feature a two-lane drive-thru and patio seating. She said it would be similar in appearance to the McDonald’s in Ocean Pines.
A bit to the east, in front of the Home Depot, is the site Taylor Bank officials are considering as a possible branch location. Ray Thompson, president of Taylor Bank, said this week the bank was still studying the spot. In August, the Worcester County Planning Commission gave the bank sketch plan approval for a 4,000-square-foot facility at the site.
Directly in front of Walmart, newly constructed retail space is available for lease. Jennifer Keener, a Worcester County zoning administrator, said a dry cleaner and a nail salon were planning to fill two of the nine units there. She said a restaurant was also a possibility for the building, but that county officials knew little else about the project.
“What was originally permitted was a retail shell and parking,” she said. “Until they get individual tenants we don’t see anything.”
John Knibb, director of development and leasing for the Cordish Company — the group behind the project — said he was not able to provide any information at this time. He said he expected to be able to release the names of the retailers going into the building in front of Walmart in mid-January.
In the meantime, construction is underway on a second retail building just west of Home Depot. Keener says the 20,000-square-foot building is part of Ocean Landings II, a two-building, 125,000 square-foot retail project.