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
We were surprised to learn that, after six years on Jumper’s Hole Road in Severna Park, AA County Farm, Lawn & Garden Center, LLC. would be closing on December 4th. We were even more surprised to learn, a few days later, that one of Severna Park’s most well-established and popular retailers, JOANN Fabrics and Crafts, would be closed as of January 1st.
Thanks to the efforts of owner Corey Stephens and his experienced staff, AA County Farm, Lawn & Garden has already relocated to a similarly sized property in nearby Pasadena and opened for business on December 8. We had an opportunity to tour the new garden center with Stephens last weekend.
Situated 4-1/2 miles from its former location in Severna Park, the business is now situated near the corner of Solley Road and Rt. 177/100 in Pasadena. The barnlike structure, warehouse and surrounding field will suit the garden center well. But there is much to be accomplished before the transition from abandoned building/lot to thriving garden center is complete.
“Our move six years ago from Glen Burnie to Severna Park was quite a challenge because we’d been in Glen Burnie for 90 years,” Stephens said. “We’d accumulated a lot of material over all those years. We’d purposely kept things at Severna Park leaner and cleaner by storing a lot of historical stuff. So, the move to Pasadena was tough but not as tough as the previous one.”
He added that, even though the business was well established, there was quite a delay working everything out with Anne Arundel County. Nevertheless, they were able to hold their Grand Opening on December 11th.
“The reception to our opening here has been incredible. It really exceeded my expectations,” said Stephens. “Our Severna Park location always drew a substantial number of customers from Pasadena and we’re seeing the same folks here. We’ve also seen a lot of our Severna Park clientele come in and walk around as well as some of our former Glen Burnie customers to say nothing of newcomers.”
We started our tour of the interior with the enthusiastic owner amidst some of the merchandise customers seek out – merchandise that ranges from the organic soils and fertilizers on one side of him to Chew-Hooves, Lambs Ear, Pig Ears, Sow Ears, Knuckle Bones and Dog Treats on the other.
After noting the Welcome sign at the back of the family-owned business, we were pleased to spot the familiar brands of plant foods, grass seeds, and poultry, animal, and pet food staples we were used to seeing at the garden center’s previous locations.
We also couldn’t help but notice the old fashioned “General Store” feel of the place.
According to Stephens, there is more room, with the higher ceilings, for his staff to be creative and show off items from AA County Farm, Lawn & Garden’s collection of historic farm tools – implements that made it possible for Anne Arundel County to grow. A collection of photographs from the county’s farms is currently being readied to hang on the walls.
Elsewhere, bundles of dried tobacco leaves and a pair of “tobacco burden baskets” are displayed.
Stephens, who was proud to say he grew up on a tobacco farm, explained their purpose.
“The burden baskets go under the tobacco that is tied into bundles to be stored,” he said. “The burden baskets are what they ship them in. The hook to the right of them is what farmers pulled the baskets with. They’d hook into them and drag them wherever they needed to go. It was very, very tough work.”
Pointing out some other artifacts including an amazing looking toboggan, several plows. wooden barrels, washboards and even a potbellied stove on a ledge above the checkout counter, Stephens noted the reason for showing them off.
“We’re trying to pay homage to my family’s farming history – over 125 years on both sides of the family including my mother’s parents, my father and my brothers and the Pumphries and their heritage as well, He said.
“We have some photos coming for the walls with farm scenes that document some of that history. We also have a collection of photos from all five locations we’ve been in over our 90 plus years in business – from Brooklyn in 1927 to Glen Burnie on Georgia Avenue in 1952 and 8th Avenue in 1977 and Severna Park in 2017 and we’re waiting for Spring to get a good shot of this location.”
Pausing by a mural of mid-20th century farm workers, we learned it was painted by Elsie Cummings. the garden center’s nursery manager at the 8th Avenue property and recently restored. The mural was used as a backdrop when AA County Farm, Lawn & Garden Center participated in the County Fair and Kinder Farm Park Fall Festival.
As always, products carried by AA County Farm, Lawn and Garden Center that you can’t always find everywhere include the aforementioned grass seeds formulated specifically for Anne Arundel County soils, products and equipment for raising farm animals, and birdseed for a wide range of our feathered friends.
Though Christmas items were featured inside, we journeyed outdoors where the most obvious sign of the holidays could be found behind the privacy fencing.
Walking a bit further to what will be the plant nursery, we discovered row upon row of flats containing seedlings as well as the bare bones of a grow house and shade house.
According to Stephens, his crew transported some flats from the Jumper’s Hole Road property. Other flats are from shipments of transplants that just arrived. He explained that it’s imperative to get your stock in early. Transplants of leafy greens, onions and other hardy vegetables will grow in place while the weather is cool and be perfectly sized for selling to farmers, growers and gardeners in the spring. He also pointed out that the crew hasn’t finished unpacking from the move yet so there is still a lot of merchandise stacked behind the fencing or in the warehouse.
Stephens said he and his crew can’t wait to see the property come alive with bloom in the spring when the privacy fences are taken down.
He expressed relief and satisfaction at finding the new location which actually came to him through a longtime customer related to the property owner. She was upset to learn that the garden center was closing in Severna Park and in need of a new location. She urged her husband, Bud, the owner of Arundel Seafood and landlord of the then unoccupied adjoining unit, to reach out and offer it to Stephens. He did and “the rest is history”. The new property is ideal and the two businesses should help each other.
Customers will find ample parking at the garden center and a speedier checkout experience. If you haven’t visited the new location yet, you will want to consult a map online to see its exact location. The new store is located at 224 B&C Mountain Road behind Arundel Seafood. It can be a bit tricky to find as the entrance is on Solley Road.
JOANN Fabrics and Crafts about to close
Area residents and businesses were shocked to learn that JOANN Fabrics and Crafts at Park Plaza would be closing for good in January. At the end of November, just in time for Black Friday, signs appeared in the windows offering 30% to 60% discounts off all merchandise.
It is believed by several longtime tenants that the store has been located at Park Plaza for 30 or more years and may have been one of the anchor stores. It has been a popular destination and major resource for shoppers from Severna Park and the neighboring communities of Pasadena, Millersville, and Arnold and will be sorely missed.
Though we’ve attempted to get in touch with both Park Plaza and JOANN Fabrics and Crafts management, we were not able to reach them by the time we went to press. However, rumors about reasons for the closing abound.
We’d heard that the rent for the property was doubled, then heard that, though doubled, JOANN’s offered to pay it but Park Plaza wouldn’t renew the lease regardless. We’d even heard a rumor that another business wanted to acquire the unit and it was going to be remodeled to accommodate them.
In the end, a series of articles we found online that was written in January of 2023 makes more sense. The articles stated that JOANN’s planned to close eight stores across the United States. Other retailers like Big Lots, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Kohls announced plans to make similar cuts early this year.
According to employees of the Severna Park store, the JOANN Fabric and Crafts Annapolis at 150 Jennifer Road will remain open. Though less convenient, it will carry the same fabrics and crafts supplies JOANN Fabrics is known for.
LATE BREAKING NEWS JUST IN – Baltimore Business Journal reports that Mom’s Organic Market signed a lease for 11,893 square feet at Park Plaza in Severna Park.
The grocery chain expects to open the location in late 2024 or early 2025, according to a release from Baltimore-based Continental Realty Corp., which owns Park Plaza. Mom’s Organic Market has other stores are located in Hampden, White Marsh, Jessup and Timonium.
The space they’ll be taking over is likely the space JOANN Fabrics and Crafts is leaving.
Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company Santa Runs end but Santa’s still appearing
Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s eagerly anticipated Santa Runs began on December 9th and visited neighborhoods throughout Severna Park for three days. Caught up in the holiday rush, we found that the Santa Runs had ended before we’d had a chance to observe the annual tradition. Thus, we were delighted to see Engine 12 with lights flashing followed by the Earleigh Heights rescue vehicle with Santa Claus aboard last weekend. They found a handy place from which to greet children in front of the Walmart store in Pasadena.
EHVFC’s Engine 12 followed by an EHVFC rescue vehicle…… 
…..with Santa Claus aboard. They took up a position in front of the Walmart store from which to greet everyone.
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.)
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.
