I talked with the manager of the Annapolis store about the efforts to get a Trader Joe's store in Bowie. I was surprised to learn that even though he lives in Bowie, he was unaware that there was an effort to get the store in Bowie. He stated that he doubted that the beer and wine issue was critical. Afterall, the Annapolis store does not sell beer and wine. My question is which counties in Maryland allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine? I don't think that the Bethesda store sells beer and wine either.
John Dutrow

A nice edition would be a Harris Teeter. There aren't any within a close vincinity of Bowie.

Yes, Harris Teeter! I drive to Virginia sometimes and shop there. Great store; good bargains without cheapness. As to "upscale" or trendy like Trader Joes, as always they use an excuse but the bottom line is we aren't white enough to "merit"their investment. Redlining still exists, and it has NOTHING to do with income or liquor licenses. Ask anybody in this county trying to attract good stores and restaurants for the past 30 years. Why don't they just be honest. They aren't, so we should be. There is no difference between income or wxisting competition, it is about racial demographics. Why else?

@Tea - It's demographics exclusive of race. There are stats out there that clearly show PG County is the wealthiest black county in the country. Unfortunately, there also exists statistics indicating that crime is higher than proportional, that income within the Beltway is significantly lower than outside, the education system is next-to-last statewide... Imagine that you have saved $700k to retire on but instead you are going to open a store with that money. You realize up front that you'll lose about $250k before you'll be making money.... IF you can grow the business to the point you want to... then the franchiser tells you it has to be at the Bldvd at Capital Centre.... you in or out?

The Trader Joe's on Colesville road in Silver Spring does not sell beer and wine either and it is ALWAYS busy.

Well - it is clearly a shame that so many of our retail areas sit fairly empty and have for a long time...Market Place on Rt. 450, Bowie Plaza on 197 and now Bowie Town Center which is becoming a ghost town as businesses packed their bags and moved to Crofton. I would love a TJ's here in Bowie - we have the socio-economic demographics to support it, too!

@sharpshooter - points well taken. I would drive to Silver Spring or Annapolis before going to Blvd at Cap Center and yes it's because of my perception of the crime but also the "clientele" I perceive as trashy. We are outside the beltway and have good income, but is it because they think the type of people living around Blvd at Cap Center would go to their store and pilfer or they just paint it all with one brush? I have been in this County for over 30 years, have experience with (white) developers trying to attract good restaurants and stores, and some were told point blank why. It wasn't for the crime. And in terms of crime ridden neighborhoods, look at DC 14th St - Whole Foods went in at around P st when it was really bad there, but figured the trend was coming up. And they figured that there was enough money that would be spent there to make it work. Silver Spring downtown has crime but they have Whole Foods too. But I accept it could be that we have more concentrated crime as a big factor. I tried to sway a fair sized computer / systems consulting company our way from Silver Spring and the owner cited crime as the reason he wouldn't come, even with the rent savings. It is horrible to watch the substandard educational system spit out more young people who can't read, write or speak at a 10th grade level with no hope of a decent career. Sigh. Some day when my situation changes I guess I'll flee to AA county like so many others. What can you do.

For those above who are looking for a near-by Harris Teeter, if they can wait a little longer, I believe I had read that the new Mall being buile on Rt. 1 in Laurel is
scheduled to have one.

There are other great grocery stores like ShopRite if Bowie broaden their search. Go visit the store and see that they have great quality, selections and prices. They have several locations in Aberdeen, Bel Air, Belcamp and Glen Burnie.

@Jack, thanks for the info on Harris Teeter! Whole Foods would be also be a nice edition. As for stores not wanting to come to Bowie for whatever reason, money is green.

ShopRite would be a great addition. We do the online and pickup now but it would be so much more convenient to have one in Bowie.

And Tea - I am looking to flee AA County and MD altogether! The taxes are killing me in MD!