Trader Joe's, Michael's, Hardware Store: Businesses Crofton Wants

Deb Belt
Crofton residents have a few requests for businesses they want in town, including hardware and craft stores, but no fast food chains.

CROFTON, MD — We asked Crofton Patch readers what businesses they would like to see come to town, and you answered. In fact, the responses were overwhelming when we posed the question on Facebook, with quite a few residents saying that the town has enough development and traffic problems.

But Patch got dozens of comments that included multiple requests for a hardware store and a craft store like Michael's, along with a Trader Joe's, plus various restaurants. Many readers said Crofton doesn't need more fast-food chain locations or gas stations.

Overall readers want a mix of independently-owned businesses as well as chains. The retailers with sizable support are Trader Joe's, Michael's, Naval Bagels, Cava, and Joanns.

Here's a sampling taken from the Facebook comments, with several commenters asking for no more building in Crofton, or noting what types of businesses they don't want to see:

  • Jennifer Scott wrote: "Nothing else in Crofton, unless it occupies a vacant space. No more building please!"

  • And Antoinette Kellaher said, "No more stores, gas stations, donut shops, fast food places, and chain restaurants. It’s not necessary and cheapens the area."

  • NONE!!!! Tired of all this building adding more traffic.

  • One that solves our traffic issues

  • "Hardware store for sure. That's what I was hoped was going in the K-Mart space but I will say that the In Home place is nice if you're looking for those kinds of things," wrote Bill Higgs. "There's already "good" non-chain restaurants. There were already a huge bagel store."

  • "NO more new developments please! But welcome any new business to occupy an existing structure," posted LoRa Diaz. "Hoping for hotpot or korean barbeque."

  • Please no more gas stations, like two Royal Farms within a mile and no plans to fix the traffic problem.

  • "No business," wrote Marty Henry. "We need a Community Center for the children to have a place to go to occupy their idle time."

  • Hardware store !!! We don't need another fast food store, gas station or convenience store. No more banks either please !!!

  • "Get rid of one of the multiples and bring in a Sonic," said Lee Ann Rissler Wigglesworth. "I concur with most of the group enough is enough with the building!!! 301 is now the longest part of my commute home and I cannot imagine what it's going to be like once everything is done being built and occupied!"

Other types of businesses you'd like to see:

  • A Bagel shop ... IDC which one... Einstein , Uber Bagels, Naval Bagels... I JUST WANT BAGELS

  • Trader Joe’s

  • A hardware store so we don’t have to go into Bowie for nails or painters tape.

  • A salad place like Sweetgreen. Or maybe Cava!

  • World Market or Container Store! Or a hotel instead of all the new homes...

  • A decent coffee shop!

  • A good, non-chain restaurant

  • A craft store like Michaels, Hobby Lobby or Joann’s. A healthy fast food option like a salad place.

  • Bagel shop & a real deli

  • Craft store!!! Trader Joe’s!

  • We need a craft store!

  • Staples or Office Depot!

  • Christmas Tree Shop

  • Not that we need anymore... but a Craft store would be useful or a party City. No more restaurants and gas stations

  • Trader Joe's, Michael's, hardware store.

  • Hardware store and a bagel shop (like the one that used to be near Giant).

  • Nalley Fresh, craft store in a preexisting building. No new building please!

  • Trader Joes, Ace Hardware, Naval Bagels!

  • WHITE CASTLE! Or RAIN FORREST CAFÈ

  • Trader Joe’s for sure!

  • A high quality restaurant like houlihans that is not a chain restaurant. A hardware store so we don't have to drive to Annapolis or Bowie.

  • Aldi’s , Trader Joe’s, Non chain food place

  • Any kind of good steak house

  • A nice place to get a cocktail!

  • Buffalo wild wings where the grottos use to be

  • PF Chang’s, Noodles and co

  • A good Mediterranean place! I miss garbonza! But maybe a cava or something like that!!!

  • The Container Store

  • Salata, this is a chain I’ve seen in Texas and Georgia and it’s so good

  • Home Depot or Lowe's and Michael's or AC Moore

  • A Joann fabric and craft store. I miss the options.

  • A hotel with a banquet room.

PHOTO: Shoppers line up at the grand opening of a Trader Joe's in Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)