AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Fresh from a summer afternoon swim, teens Abby Roberts and Ava Burleson were in need of a pick-me-up. So they crossed Riggs Avenue, strolled down the sidewalk past Severna Park Elementary School and entered Olde Severna Park’s newest business, The Sugar Shoppe, for a taste of something sweet.
Once inside, the Severna Park teens found two entire walls of something sweet. They started at one end of the shop, near the back where the chocolates were located. Forgoing chocolate covered peanuts and malted milk balls. they worked their way forward to where the M&M’s, gummy bears and other colorful treats shone out from their bins. By the time they approached Georgia Denton, who was minding the checkout counter, each had a see-through bag containing a mix of candies.
Denton, the daughter of owner Jamie Denton and business partner Eloise Patton (who were away at a meeting) filled us in on the origins and opening of the business.
“As long-time friends, my mother and Eloise had always wanted to open a store together – a clothing store or a gift shop or something similar.” she said. “They had some free time and, talking about Severna Park one day, they spontaneously had the idea that what the town needed was a little neighborhood candy store. So, they came up with a plan, started working on it in September and got the lease for their historic location at 4 Riggs Avenue in February. Ever since then, we’ve all been busy right here.”
There was a lot of work to do. Built in the 1920’s opposite the Severna Park Train Station, the building was briefly a grocery store but was known, for more than a decade, as Doc Codd’s pharmacy. In 1944, following the death of Dr. Francis Codd, it became Cliff Dawson’s variety store featuring liquor sales, a soda fountain and a slot machine. In 1952, Dawson’s relocated, and its former location became home to the Antique Marketplace. In the spring of 2021, MaryAnn and Cam Neal took over the retail space and opened The Red Apron Shoppe (Red Apron Shoppe a welcome addition to Riggs Avenue – sharonleestable.com) which was an offshoot of their primary company Red Apron Estate Sales. The establishment closed its doors in June of 2023.
Transforming the century-old building was not an easy task.
“We basically changed the whole place,” Denton said. “We took down a column in here, added counterspace and storage units, painted the ceilings and all the walls, added a bathroom and pretty much redid everything. The exterior has been refreshed as well – quite an investment,”
The partners opened their new establishment about a month ago and the Sugar Shoppe will be having its Grand Opening with a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on August 22 at 5 pm.
Denton took us on a mini-tour, starting with the same wall of candy her earlier customers checked out. While noting that chocolates and caramels were, by far, the most popular sweets, she pointed to empty spaces along the shelves where bins of chocolate-covered mints and chocolate-covered Oreos had stood but sold out and were subsequently removed. Among customers’ favorites were chocolate covered peanuts and nut clusters, malted milk balls, Nonpareils and caramel creams.
Pointing to displays of beach bags and games a bit further on, Denton said the owners decided on decor and merchandise with a coastal vibe on the interior of the store echoing the fact that the Sugar Shoppe is a mere block or two from the Severn River.
Roomy but stylish beach bags, shelves filled with dinosaur-themed l paper plates and napkins, and fanciful picnic items contributed greatly to the coastal feel of the retail space.
A second entire wall was filled with candy especially appealing to kids including a bin of dark green “military gummy guys” and brightly colored superhero or action-figure candies.
For information on hours and other details, visit THE SUGAR SHOPPE (sugar-shoppe.com) or check them out on Instagram at The Sugar Shoppe (@the_sugar_shoppe) • Instagram photos and videos.
TAI CHI BUBBLE TEA a popular destination on a sweltering July day
From time to time, we’d received tips from several Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League members that we should pay a visit to Tai Chi Bubble Tea at 572 Ritchie Highway in Park Plaza which they found fun. However, one commitment or another managed to sidetrack us.
We finally found the time to stop by early this week. Due to the soaring temperatures, high humidity and strong mid-afternoon sun, entering the cool confines of the spacious restaurant was a pleasure. We saw other shoppers with the same idea cooling off with icy smoothies, fruit bubble teas or milk teas with great names like Tai Chi Panda or flavors like Pudding, Vinilla or Watermelon and/or one of the restaurant’s healthy Ramen or Sushi menu items.
Unlike The Sugar Shoppe, Tai Chi Bubble Tea is not a new business, but it has been a successful one.
Owner Amy Chen tells us that when she opened the restaurant on Father’s Day in 2021, she was building on the success of her first Tai Chi Bubble Tea location in Annapolis. She has found Park Plaza, with its ample parking, to be a great location and the restaurant has steadily grown a loyal customer base. The eatery occasionally hosts events and celebrations like the Chinese New Year and has become a popular place for organizations like the chamber’s Successful Women In Business Group to hold meetings.
A Self-Defense Workshop for College Students at Jing Ying Institute this Sunday
Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi is holding another of its Self-Defense Workshops for College Students this Sunday, July 28 from 2 to 4 pm at the school at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Arnold. Conducted by Billy Greer, the classes are filled with useful information and are geared to raise students’ awareness of possible danger, give them the tools to avoid it and provide them means of escape if they are attacked. As you can see from the photo below, the students pair up to practice every technique demonstrated by Greer.
For information or to register, visit Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org) .
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.) They are also doing a summer camp.
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
