Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.
There's more to relocating than finding a home. If you're anything like me, finding nearby shopping is pretty high on the priority list, once your boxes are unpacked. Even though you moved all your household goods here, there will probably be things you need - perhaps new window coverings, shelving, closet organizers, and maybe you'll even make an unplanned purchase or two...
You'll be happy to know the two largest shopping malls in Maryland are located right here in Anne Arundel County! If shopping is a sport for you, or you just want a convenient resource for your annual holiday shopping, this is the place to live!
ARUNDEL MILLS MALL, the Maryland cousin of Potomac Mills Mall in Northern Virginia, is an outlet mall that is very accessible to Baltimore (10 miles north), Washington, (20 miles south) and all of Anne Arundel County via I-295 / Md. Rt. 100. You will find 17 anchor stores and over 225 specialty stores - and you may want to grab lunch at one of the 20+ eateries. If you're just too tired to go home and work on your new house, you can go to a movie (or send the kids, with their dad) or even shoot a game of pool.
Restaurants at Arundel Mills Mall may include some that you're familiar with, since they are popular national restaurant chains including Chilis, Chevys, Burger King, Subway and the like. No unique local favorite restaurants here.
Shopping at Arundel Mills Mall could be an all-day outing or a one-stop shop for a quick trip to get whatever you need for your new home - from clothes to crafts, shoes to sporting goods. This link will take you to a complete list of stores and a floorplan layout for the mall.
Entertainment at Arundel Mills Mall includes your choice of 24 different movies under one roof at Muvico, an Egyptian-themed 24-screen mega-complex, the Medieval Times dinner theater set in an 11th century-style castle, and Dave & Buster's Grand Sports Cafe featuring their "Million Dollar Midway" of interactive arcade games and a stylish, world-class billiards/shuffle area.
ANNAPOLIS MALL, located near the intersection of MD Rt. 50 and I-97, is my personal favorite AND the largest shopping mall in Maryland. Officially, it is "Westfield Annapolis", one of several Westfield Shopping Malls around the country, but it's "Annapolis Mall" to shoppers! Annapolis Harbour Center and other retail areas are nearby, making Annapolis a huge shopping mecca.
Restaurants at Annapolis Mall include several "typical" mall eateries such as Sbarros, California Pizza Kitchen, McDonalds, and Chick fil-aat the Mall Food Court, but one of the new restaurants in Annapolis Mall's recent expansion is the uspcale McCormick & Schmick's, which I recently visited and reviewed. The Austin Grill is coming soon and there are cafes in Border's Books and Nordstrom's. You won't go hungry or thirsty, while shopping at Annapolis Mall!
Shopping at Annapolis Mall is a "WOW" experience, with more than 300 stores on one level, and space for more, following the recent expansion. The new Pottery Barn is the biggest I've ever seen - and believe me, I've visited Pottery Barn stores in lots of places. Anchor stores include Macy's, Nordstrom's, J.C. Penny, and Lord & Taylor. This link will take you to a complete list of stores located at Annapolis Mall.
Entertainment at Annapolis Mall is limited, compared to Arundel Mills Mall, but there is a stand-alone 11-screen theater with stadium seating. (Not far away is the Annapolis Harbour Center Apex, so no shortage of movie options in Annapolis.)
Valet Parking is available at Annapolis mall on weekends, at the California Pizza Kitchen entrance near Nordstrom's, and upcoming special events include a visit from the Easter Bunny every day from March 8 through March 22 at the Center Court, a BOSE Sound Seminar on March 8, and a bridal event at Williams Sonomo on March 9.
Several other major malls are nearby, and you'll probably visit them all when you live in Anne Arundel County:
- Bowie New Town Center, in nearby Prince George's County, is literally ten minutes from my home in Crofton.
- Mall in Columbia, in nearby Howard County, is about 30 minutes away for me. I visit this mall when I want to shop at Restoration Hardware Store or their large L.L. Bean, since neither of those stores have locations in Annapolis.
- Marley Station Mall, in northern Anne Arundel County, features over 140 stores as well as restuarants and its own movie theater.
- Prime Outlets, across the Bay Bridge in Queenstown, is on your way to the beach; you might want to allow a few hours for shopping when you make that trip. While this Prime Outlets location is only about 40 minutes from home for me, there's aother location in Hagerstwon, about 90 minutes away. In fall, it's worth the trip to Hagerstown, just to enjoy the beautiful drive along Rt. 70, flanked with fall foliage.
If you're looking for unique shopping options, SAVAGE MILL in nearby Howard County is easily accessible from Anne Arundel County via MD Rt. 32. With dozens of spaces occupied by antique dealers and crafters, this is the place to shop for unusual gifts or home accessories. This is NOT a place to take your kids or spouse, unless your spouse happens to be interested in vintage clothing or antique glass... This is a 19th century textile mill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that has been restored and adapted to become a truly unique retail center. There are five eateries, including the destination Rams Head Restaurant and Tavern and an authentic french bakery.
Speaking of unique, the streets of HISTORIC ANNAPOLIS are lined with one-of-a-kind shops - not only Main Street, but Maryland Avenue, Eastport and West Annapolis. Visit stores with names like The Brown-Eyed Girl (a funky boutique), Easy Street Galleries (Voted "Top 100 Retailer of American Craft" in 2005), Fleet Street Sports (a locally owned and operated store catering to runners), and La Belle Cezanne (four generations of custom designed jewelry - even while you wait).
In good weather, the scenery is as good as the food at Carroll Creek Cafe in Eastport, where you can dine on the large deck overlooking the U.S. Naval Academy and "Ego Alley", just across Spa Creek. Buddy's Crab House, overlooking the City Dock, is the restaurant we frequent most often - not for their crabs but for their amazing Sunday Brunch. George Washington dined at Middleton Tavern, just around the corner from Buddy's, and you'll want to visit there, too.
LOCAL SHOPPING
It would be impossible to accurately list all the neighborhood retail centers throughout Anne Arundel County, so I'll just tell you about the new one in Gambrills, not far from my house:
If you live in the Crofton-Gambrills-Odenton area, it is likely that you'll do your grocery shopping at the Safeway store in the Village at Waugh Chapel, located at the intersection of Rt. 3 and Waugh Chapel Road. Stores include Home Goods, Dress Barn, Pier One and Pat's Hallmark. Robert Andrews is a large Tuscan-style salon (that I frequent monthly), and restaurants include Damon's (for GREAT ribs), Applebee's, and another Woda favorite, the Atlanta Bread Company.
A medical center, banks, day care facility, gym and community meeting room are also located here at the Village.
I hope this gives you some idea of what to expect, when it comes to shopping in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. While we're out looking at possible homes and communities for you, I promise to include nearby shopping areas in our tour!
Photos: Istockphoto
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