This new fountain sits in front of Baskin Robbins and Panera Bread, two new tenants in “Shops at Fair Hill.” Photo by Mary Nickerson '12

by Jacob Bogage ‘12

 

Merely nine months ago, Olney Town Center was empty. The newly opened restaurants Chipotle Mexican Grill and Five Guys Burgers and Fries at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Route 108 generated more gridlock about the crossroads than business. “Coming Soon” signs lined the streets while construction crews chipped away at the brick that once covered the area.

What a difference nine months can make. After a much needed facelift and a new name, the “Shops at Fair Hill” have formally re-opened much to the delight of the Olney community. Fair Hill has a new anchor store in Harris Teeter and new occupants Greene Turtle, Baskin Robbins and Panera Bread line its newly paved sidewalks.

“I’m very pleased with the new [attractions] and remodeling. I’m happy that they have the Greene Turtle, happy that they have Panera, so I’m definitely satisfied,” said frequent Fair Hill shopper Michael Kaczmareck of Brookeville.

“So far I think [Fair Hill] is great,” said Susan Boltz, also of Brookeville, who commonly visits Olney for retail purposes. “It looks nice. They made some nice choices with the things they brought in: Harris Teeter, Panera and Greene Turtle.”

Harris Teeter is arguably the most anticipated of the new tenants to open in Fair Hill. The grocery store replaces Olney Cinemas 9, BJ Pumpernickel’s and Embroidery Express and was the first of landlord Carl M. Freeman Companies’ targets to agree to terms to anchor the redeveloped center. Construction of Harris Teeter took over a year and involved the destruction and eventual reconstruction of the West wing of Fair Hill. Olney’s fifth super market, and second to open in two years, finally opened its doors in early April and is pleased with its newest location.

“Olney has been great,” manager Brett Poole said. “We love small communities and towns where we can meet everybody and help everybody. Our niche is quality and customer service and that’s what Olney needed, and that’s what we provide.”

“[Freeman] did a phenomenal job [with the renovation],” he added. “The fountain is a real draw. The Greene Turtle is a real draw. I think it’s now the nicest shopping center in the area.”

Customers also love Harris Teeter and find it a change of pace from traditional grocery stores like Giant, Shoppers Food Warehouse and Safeway. Customer service is exceptional, they claim, and good prices abound.

Boltz was a Safeway shopper until the grocery store closed for reconstruction in January. She tried both Giant and Shoppers Food Warehouse and found she was not a fan of either. Recently she made the switch to Harris Teeter. “I like it here,” she said. “My first time I had trouble finding where everything was, but that’s to be expected. There were some pretty good deals and prices compared to Shoppers and more choices, and more variety, especially with the bakery and the flower display, so I like that.”

Existing businesses are also reaping the benefits of Fair Hill’s overhaul. New retailers brought more pedestrian traffic to the center, not to mention enthused Olney area guests and ultimately more business. Since the construction of the connecting drive between Olney Village Center and what was then Olney Town Center and after the opening of Chipotle and Five Guys, Olney has become more accessible and more popular among residents from a wider radius of communities.

“Business is getting better,” said Sol Azteca assistant manager Freddy Ramirez. “Dinners are much more popular and lunch numbers are up. Like last night, it was crazy. [During the remodeling process] we still got the same people that usually come here but now we’re getting new customers. Everybody goes to check out Harris Teeter which just opened and Panera too, and then they come here.”

“But now parking is the problem,” joked Ramirez. “Even when the employees park around back, I have customers that park at Shoppers and walk down. It’s crazy.”