Just as we celebrate new businesses opening their doors, we are equally excited to see existing businesses choose to reinvest in Frederick!
This month, we are featuring ten local businesses that have recently expanded or made significant renovations at their Frederick facilities. These projects demonstrate each company’s strong continued commitment to their workforce, customers, and our community.
Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley: Main Campus
Expansion / Relocation
Set to open in early October, Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley’s newly constructed main campus — located along Monocacy Boulevard — will house the organization’s regional offices, a new retail store, workforce services, and The VSC-Platoon 22 Veteran Services Center at Goodwill.
The building plans feature a refresh of the Goodwill brand and story, a beautiful space to honor Veterans and First Responders, the “Gallery” (a 1,200 SF space featuring local artists and available for meetings), as well as fully equipped computer and learning labs. Together, the two new buildings will total 65,000 SF and host roughly 60 employees — 30 of which being new positions created through the expansion.
In July of 2020 we adopted a new vision of Ending Poverty Through the Power of Work. While the plans had been in place for the Veteran Service Center with our partner Platoon 22 since November of 2019, this new vision allowed us to think more broadly about the remainder of the building and bring to life a space that the whole community can connect with. We are excited to bring another great shopping experience to the community as well as resources to the space that focus on professional development, career advancement, and community impact.
We are excited about the project because so many people know Goodwill just as a retail store, and this campus will allow us to showcase the diversity of our offerings to the community all in one place. — Holly Schor, Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley
An open house will be held for both the Goodwill Main Campus (November 8th from 3PM - 5 PM) and the Veteran Service Center (November 10th). The open houses will feature light refreshments, building tours, and a community resource fair on the 10th showcasing the partners providing services at the Veteran Service Center. For more information about these events, please reach out to Emily.leibold@gimv.org
2. Steinhardt Brewing Company
Expansion
Last month our team was delighted to stop by the expansion project at Steinhardt Brewing Company and formally present the City’s GROW Grant award.
The expansion project will add over 5,000 SF indoors, as well as ~1,000 SF of outdoor courtyard space to the popular Creekside brewery. Transforming a previously empty shell space within the historic Union Knitting Mills building, the renovation work includes the installation of plumbing, electric/lighting, HVAC, restrooms, a cold room, and new bar. When completed, the additional space will triple the capacity of the brewery and allow for exciting new private event & programming opportunities.
In support of its significant private investment, the brewery was able to take advantage of the City’s GROW program -- which offers microgrants for critical building renovations that enhance the functionality of City properties and improve their economic viability moving forward.
3. Frederick Health Hospital
Expansion
As Frederick continues to grow, Frederick Health is adapting to meet our community’s needs. The new Critical Care expansion — which will add 41,680 SF to the existing hospital — will increase access to award-winning and lifesaving services and includes a completely new Adult Emergency Department, as well as a completely new Pediatric Emergency Department and Pediatric Inpatient Unit. The expansion will also feature a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a Cardiac Cath Lab, and a behavioral health triage section of the Emergency Department to assist community experiencing a mental health crisis.
Construction activities on the $47 million dollar project began in early 2021. The first floor of the building, which contains the Pediatric Emergency Department, and the Adult Emergency Department is scheduled to open to the public in August 2022. The second and third floors, which contain the new ICU and the Cardiac-Cath Lab/Surgical Prep rooms respectively, is scheduled to open later in 2022.
Current Frederick Health employees will transition to fill assignments in the new expansion. However, Frederick Health is always hiring qualified team members. To learn more, visit www.frederickhealth.org/careers
Since 2000, the county population has increased by 71%. Senior leadership at Frederick Health understood the need to expand and change our critical care facilities as these are often when members of this community need us the most. By building this new expansion, we are investing in our friends, family, and neighbors. Our mission is to positively impact the well-being of every individual in our community and this expansion helps to fulfill that mission.
Frederick Health has been a pillar of this community for 120 years. Being able to offer trusted, award-winning care to residents of this area and beyond is paramount to Frederick Health. By treating every individual as a person, not just a patient or a number, our aim is to make the experience as patient-focused and comfortable as possible. — Josh Faust, Frederick Health
4. Asian Supermarket
Expansion / Relocation
Another awardee of the City’s GROW Grant Program, the Asian Supermarket expansion project will see the relocation of the store to the Golden Mile. The new location, which is double in size, will allow for greater customer capacity and more inventory. The ownership team plans to expand its already broad range of products to include bubble tea and various Asian finger foods and pastries.
Our goal with this expansion is to continue to provide Frederick and our community members the true family Asian market experience within our new bigger and refined space!
The most exciting thing about this project is not only seeing the community support but also being able to start new again and try to provide the best version of ourselves for the wonderful community.
The love we have received from the community in Frederick is what motivates us to continue to invest in Frederick. We enjoy the wonderful people and environment we have found ourselves in for the past 18 years and hope to continue for a long time within this community! We look forward to seeing you at the new location once we open within the next few months! — Rachel Bur, Owner
The new location is currently scheduled to open in early fall of this year.
5. Rollins Life Celebration Center
Relocation
The family-owned and operated Rollins Life Celebration Center has served the Frederick and surrounding communities since 1993. This June, the business relocated to a beautiful newly constructed facility located at 330 Catoctin Ave.
The new 9,000 SF structure features a single-story floorplan — dramatically improving accessibility & functionality for the business. The space also features a designated community room for repasts, funeral overflow, and meetings, along with a patio for gatherings, three grief offices onsite and two parking areas with a total of 85 spaces.
Becoming a Life Celebration Center allows us to expand beyond helping people with death. The building can be used for other purposes as we celebrate the entire scope of our community. We’ll also be doing more workshops for the community on a variety of topics. Finally, including the grief services allows people to receive the full range of end of life care.
We were both born and raised here. We continue to make Frederick our home because it’s a great place to live and do business. We are also blessed to provide services that the community needs. The most exciting part of the relocation has been the community’s reaction. They are appreciative of what we’ve created for them, along with our move to become a life celebration center rather than a traditional funeral home. It’s also exciting to see our vision become a reality. — Dr. Denise Rollins, Owner
6. The Sunbox Company
Expansion / Relocation
Frederick-based, The SunBox Company has been in business since 1985 and is the only U.S. manufacturer building light therapy units to help with SAD, PTSD and depression. This past year, the company moved its operations to Monocacy Boulevard to a space double the previous size in order to keep up with business.
The company’s products have seen a significant spike in demand as mental health issues, unfortunately, are more prevalent than ever before. The company, however, is proud of the work they are doing to provide those struggling with an effective therapy that can tremendously improve customers’ lives.
7. Premiere Group of Long & Foster Real Estate Group
Renovation
The Premier Group of Long & Foster Real Estate Group is gearing up to celebrate the reopening of its office following the full renovation of the 2,000 SF downtown retail space. The beautifully finished office will feature all new electrical, flooring, a fireplace, and build ins for creating open workstations that invite community involvement. The space currently employs 28 people onsite and the renovations will allow the company to continue to grow.
I opened this office for Premier Group of Long & Foster in 2014 when I co-founded with Andrew Locke a startup company called Builders National Cooperative (BNC). Since 2014 Premier Group has grown considerably and BNC is no longer a startup. It was time to reinvest in more flexible workspaces for the 28 people that work here. We also wanted to allow greater flexibility for our client’s business to utilize the space and allow better connections with the community as a whole
For Premier Group our agent will have an inspiring environment to encourage a cooperative work environment plus the best resources available. For Builders National Cooperative this flex space allowed our dozens of home builder clients in the region to have a hub for sales, selections, and collaboration.
We are very selective about the Realtors we accept. Agents must meet the highest standards when it come to their performance on the job but perspective on community is also one of our core values. Not only is Frederick home base for many of our agents but it’s a real community we can connect with. We sell properties across central MD and southern PA but who wouldn’t want to be part of Downtown Frederick. — Mike Muren, Team Lead at PREMIER Group of Long & Foster Real Estate
Premier Group conducted the recent renovation to coincide with a major business milestone— This month Premier Group and its agents surpassed 1 billion dollars in properties sold! The co-located Builders National Cooperative (a start-up in 2014) is now a well-established consulting firm that is changing the way housing is built. With a tech driven approach to the building process BNC is not only helping builders and developers but the subcontractor base that supports them. Collectively, the company’s clients would have been the 4th largest homebuilder in Frederick County in 2021.
8. McClintock Distillery: Back Bar
Expansion
The Back Bar is downtown's newest full-service craft cocktail bar, and an expansion project by McClintock Distillery.
The distillery took over the space, formerly home to Temple of Groom Dog Groomers in late 2019, and began the transformation to the new speakeasy-style bar. Build-out was paused to use the space to support hand sanitizer production efforts during the pandemic, but was restarted & completed for a December 2022 open. The new space allowed the distillery to add 6 new part time positions, in addition two full time employees.
The project was motivated by a desire to showcase of how our spirits can be utilized in cocktails as part of the distillery experience. We wanted to create a space to show simple cocktails that utilize organic and locally sourced ingredients to highlight all the great flavors of Frederick County.
The most exciting thing about this project has been the opportunity to work with new local vendors and find herbs, spices and mixers from local artisans. Having cocktails available in addition to our current offerings of tours, tastings and classes will add another opportunity to connect to new folks and showcase the award-winning tastes of McClintock spirits.
As native Fredericktonians we are proud to continue to be a part of the growing food and drinks culture that is drawing people from all over the mid-atlantic to our city.
What’s next for the McClintock company?
Distillery expansion next hopefully! — Braeden Bumpers, Owner
9. Magpie Fibers
Expansion
In 2021, Dami Hunter celebrated the opening of the brand’s first downtown retail outlet, Magpie Market. Just one year later, her team celebrated the ribbon cutting of a second location. At 154 N Market St, the new Magpie Fibers store is located just across the street from the original Market, and will be dedicated to their namesake hand-dyed fibers, in addition to all things yarn and fabric. Magpie Market will continue to operate and will be focused on stationery, cards, gifts, craft kits (punch needle, embroidery, needle felting), and art supplies.
Dami and the Magpie team are excited to use their beautiful new space to bring in internationally-respected instructors offering fiber arts education, and to showcase the modern creativity and artistry of the fiber industry.
Find more info at magpiefibers.com.
10. Homewood Retirement
Expansion
Homewood at Frederick is a private not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. Homewood’s community of 500+ residents is situated on 140 acres of rolling countryside on the northern side of The City of Frederick. Just this year, the organization celebrated 90 years in Frederick!
Homewood’s residential offerings are flexible to each resident’s needs - ranging from patio homes to apartment options. “The Lodge” apartments offer independent living residences with an open floor plan concept that has an adjoining living room, dining room and a fully equipped deluxe kitchen. The current Lodge has 85 apartments, which include four different floor plans ranging in size from 1,066 square feet to 1,396 square feet. Homewood will be expanding The Lodge by adding 31 additional apartments.
The organization has already celebrated the groundbreaking on the addition and the marketing office is currently accepting deposits for the new apartments.
Are you looking to grow your business in Frederick? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff at business@cityoffrederickmd.gov for local resources and help along the way!