By Tavon N. Thomasson AFRO Intern
What was as soon as a struggling buying heart with boarded-up storefronts and few guests has now turn into a vigorous business hub, dwelling to a rising mixture of eating places, retailers and salons located beside Morgan State College.
The transformation of the previous Northwood Plaza started in 2018. Practically seven years later, the now-thriving Northwood Commons has welcomed a wave of latest tenants. Amongst them is Estie Lash, a contemporary magnificence studio based by 27-year-old esthetician Lashae Wesley, who’s been working within the plaza for simply over eight months.
With seven years of expertise within the magnificence trade, together with 5 as a licensed esthetician, Wesley started by engaged on her personal earlier than managing a small retailer for 4 years. Even then, she says opening a storefront at Northwood felt out of attain.
“I used to be simply driving by means of Northwood in the future and I used to be like, ‘Wow, it might be superb if I might have my store right here,’” stated Wesley. “I discussed it to a pal, and my pal was like, ‘Why not?’ And I’m like, ‘What do you imply, why not?’ I used to be 25 years previous and I used to be similar to, that’s so farfetched.”
To her shock, the dream turned a actuality. After sharing her marketing strategy to Northwood Commons’ property managers, Wesley was met with enthusiasm and approval. However whereas the inexperienced gentle got here shortly, getting the store off the bottom proved to be a a lot greater problem.
“After I requested for the area at Northwood, they tore all of it down and sort of constructed it again up,” stated Wesley. “The buildings had been shell buildings—I imply, not even retailers within the partitions, no lights. I needed to do every little thing. And I knew completely nothing about that. I didn’t learn about needing constructing permits, plumbing permits, all sorts of issues… . That was all new to me, so I needed to sort of simply wing it.”
Regardless of the steep studying curve, Wesley remained dedicated to her imaginative and prescient, and that persistence has paid off. Estie Lash now enjoys regular foot site visitors, notably from Morgan State college students and close by customers. Wesley says the environment at Northwood Commons feels fully totally different from what she remembered just some years in the past.
“It wasn’t a spot that I might simply wish to go to until I needed to, for no matter cause,” stated Wesley. “I might say now it provides you a greater really feel. I am going up there and stroll round and I really feel secure, I really feel welcomed… . It seems like a group and that’s one of many issues I like about it.”
Estie Lash isn’t the one new enterprise to take root at Northwood Commons this 12 months. Simply throughout the lot, Jawad Labwam, a Morgan State scholar and supervisor of Native Fry, can also be serving to form Northwood’s subsequent chapter. Specializing in loaded fries, fried hen and rice bowls, the eatery opened two months in the past and is among the latest places in a franchise that’s been round for practically a decade.
“We’re attempting to turn into a part of the group, not simply one other retailer in that buying heart,” stated Labwam. “For instance, I’ve one other retailer in Northwood Commons, the Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s. I really feel like that’s already turn into somewhat a part of the group as a result of I all the time see the identical faces there. Some folks don’t even order, some simply are available to relax, to speak to the employees. They only get pleasure from going into that retailer.”
That sense of connection, Labwam says, impressed him and his father to increase their presence inside Northwood Commons.
“We determined to open up a Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s as a result of we already had expertise in that space we might form it how we needed,” stated Labwam. “We gave it about six or seven months and located that individuals actually preferred it. They didn’t simply settle for the restaurant, they accepted us.”
What stands out to each house owners is the rising sense of group, not simply among the many common patrons who return week after week, however among the many small companies which can be reshaping the buying heart collectively. It’s a refreshing shift from what Northwood as soon as was and an indication of what’s nonetheless to come back.
