can't they open anything fancier than panera...like a much needed thai restaurant in bel air or an international food store or some exotic place...they have a panera down the road, and a pnc in town....

Shabnam, there was an international food store in abingdon near fortunato's. It has been a while since I have been there so i'm not even sure they're still open but couldn't hurt to check it out.

We need another Panera around here like we need an extra hole in our heads

Does anyone know if we are getting a Home Goods store? I had originally heard we were and was really looking forward to it. Would really like to know. Thanks

Good morning bloggers. A few responses for you. First, Home Goods and DSW are taking over the former Weiss Market location. Construction has begun and both tenants are projected to open this Fall. Second, with regards to Panera Bread, this is one of the nation's top casual dining retailers. Panera Bread is planning to construct its new "cafe'" concept that provides for more outdoor seating and a larger interior layout. We are excited to have Panera as part of the Blvd. at Box Hill; they bring a great concept and menu to the project.

Next, a general update on our progress with the planning of Phase II at the Boulevard at Box Hill. During the ICSC Spring Convention in late May (International Council of Shopping Centers) we were able to meet with many incredible national retailers for this next phase. Following many of the recommendations from your emails to me, we were able to get one on one meetings and pitch the project for consideration. I have a running list of potential retailers such as Anne Taylor Loft, Soma, Black House/White Market, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Off Broadway Shoes, Ralph Lauren, Casual Male, Sephora, PF Changs, Carrabas, Cosi, Coal Fired Pizza Grill, several Asian Fusion Restaurants, and a few dessert type tenants. Signifigantly, we will be announcing the anchor tenant for Phase II later this summer; site planning and review are underway now. Keep the ideas coming, and thanks.

Tom Fidler
MacKenzie Retail

Tom
Good of you to seek feedback from those of us that live here! If you are still taking suggestions, I have a couple-

For a superb Pizza joint, I would love to see Pizza John's of Essex expand up to Harford County. They do a booming business down there and I happily drive down to buy their pizza. It is THAT good. Just wish they had a place closer. One visit to them will confirm they have a great model for a restaurant, one that could be successfully expanded.

A suggestion for a national pizza chain would be Cicis Pizza. Their food is not as good as Pizza Johns but the price is GREAT.

Other votes would be for Macaroni Grille as well as Noodles & Company.

I vote for a Noodles and Company as well :-) Their food is amazing and a really good price for the price saavy consumer. I would also vote for an Eggspectations :-)

Olive garden ci cis pizza and the noodle company and maybe California tortilla or California pizza kitchen is my vote

Texas Roadhouse!! I know it's a chain restaurant but its like an Outback Steakhouse x10. Everything homemade in house. I believe the closest one is in Ellicott City. That would be a dream come true so close to home!

I'd like to add my vote for pizza johns. We also happily drive from harford county for the pizza. It is THAT good!

I'd like to put in a vote for Big Bowl (an Asian Fusion restaurant with amazing Thai/Chinese food), La Madeleine, and Noodles & Company for potential restaurants. I'd also love to see a Sephora in the area. Maybe even a Nordstrom Rack?

Home Goods is coming to Abingdon and supposedly opening this month. It's located where the old Weis Supermarket was on Rte. 924 in the Gabriel Brothers shopping center. Also coming is a DSW shoe outlet. Yay!

Trader Joes??? What else do I need to say?

I would love for CiCi's Pizza, Chevy's (mexican), BD's Mongolian Grill, PF Changs, Flavor Cupcakery, Maggie Moos Icecream, and maybe a Melting Pot. I'd really love to have places that are not near Harford instead of the same restaurants. There are a variety of people living here, we should have a variety of places to go to, not a variety of locations for the same restaurant.

what they really need to build there is another mcdondals or burger king. I am TIRED of having to make a left out of constant friendship to go all the way up 9-24 for mcdonalds. people drive like MANIACS through that intersection. it would be much safer and better for them to just put one in by the wegmans and then there would probably be less collisions and accidents

MacDonalds, Panera Bread, Wegmans...whatever. Must we always be forced into the same sanitized, overpriced sameness? It's like we're being put into a cookie stamp and spit out. Granted these places are always predictable and clean, but they have nothing interesting or different to offer anyone - nothing unique that says anything about our community at all. You can keep your Panera Bread...I'll take the time to go down to go elsewhere; perhaps downtown where you're much more likely to support businesses whose owners or management actually live here. Can't imagine how anybody truly thinks a MacGriddle sandwich is actually good. That's the most disgusted excuse for food I can think of...

I agree with Karl, It would be great to see something new and different and not another chain restaurant!!! Bel Air is filled with chains, enough already!

Panera bread, Could really it ?
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