ABOUT NORTHWOOD COMMONS

June 30th, 1949, General Contractor Ring Engineering Company along with Ehrhardt & May Inc. begins to excavate basement bays for Northwood Shopping Center.

Workers from Potts & Callahan, a Baltimore-based contractor, lay and distribute asphalt for the Food Fair parking lot.

Northwood Theatre opened & premiered the American Technicolor adventure film, “Last of the Buccaneers”.

Founded by Samuel Friedland in the late 1920s in Harrisburg, PA, “Reading Giant Quality Price Cutter” changed its name to Food Fair in the late 1940s. At its peak, the chain had more than 500 stores and eventually rebranded under the name “Pantry Pride”. By 1970, Food Fair had converted most of its stores to the Pantry Pride banner.

June 7th, 1951 – The popular comedy film “You’re in the Navy Now” premiered at the Northwood Theatre.

Rendering of proposed Hecht’s Company first suburban store which featured a rooftop restaurant. Hecht’s opened in late 1954 to anchor the Northwood Shopping Center.

February 19th, 1963 – Members of Morgan State University’s Civic Interest Group were denied entry in protest of anti-segregation laws. Photo Source: The Baltimore Sun Media Group – photographer William L. Laforce.

September 1975 – The Northwood Shopping Center was sold to partners Paul Diamond, David Diamond, Ben Schuster, and Sam Gloger. The Diamond and Schuster families also owned Baltimore-based grocery chain Food- A-Rama. Pictured: Ben Schuster, Paul Diamond, and David Diamond with winners of a Pepsi-Cola Shopping Spree.

August 1981 – Food Fair/ Pantry Pride fell victim to financial problems and sold 11 of the 18 Baltimore-based Food-A-Rama owned and operated by the Diamond and Schuster Families. After the acquisition, most of the stores were named Super Super Foods.

Northwood Shopping Center underwent major renovations including the transformation and expansion of Baltimore City’s first ever drive thru McDonald’s between Havenwood Road and Argonne Drive.

Picture of Northwoods Plaza pre-demolition, 2018.

November 1st, 2018 – Developers & local elected officials host groundbreaking event featuring Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford, Baltimore City Mayor Jack Young, and Morgan State University President Dr. David Wilson.