Beacon Square: What’s the deal?

I recently caught up with John Rosso – principal of Rosso Commercial Real Estate Services ­– who kindly gave me the latest scoop. John is a commercial real estate broker in town and familiar with the Beacon Square project. He handled one of the first major restaurant leases at the project for his client Eggspectation restaurant & cafe, early on and back in 2021. Eggspectation is expected to open mid-2025; egg-cellent news, if you ask me!

Georgia-based SJC Ventures is the owner/developer. And, HR Retail is the leasing broker for SJC Ventures.

Some quick project numbers to know:

• 93,395 square foot grocery anchored retail center
• 428 retail parking spaces
• 508 apartment units

Moreover, 2500 Riva Road is a 12-acre property across from the Annapolis Town Center and adjacent to the Festival at Riva Shopping Center, purchased by SJ Collins Enterprises. Wegmans had once considered the site for a new grocery store, but the regional grocery chain pulled out of the deal in November 2019. AT&T and USI (an internet startup company) previously occupied the property

Additionally, SJ Collins bought the 3/4 acre former Henry Murray Insurance property next to it. SJ Collins Enterprises purchased both properties to redevelop the site and construct this new large-scale mixed-use project.

“It’s location within the ‘Core’ of AA County’s Parole Town Center Master Plan promotes the most intense development densities, tallest building heights, hosting a diverse mix of retail, office, hotel, housing, and more,” said John.

It was ripe for redevelopment, hence the project that is being constructed today, John also noted.

What prompted the project?

As John mentioned, mixed-use buildings, such as those with residential units above ground-floor retail or service uses, can enhance density. What does this mean in layman’s terms? It can reduce the need for driving. Pedestrian infrastructure also provides alternatives to car use and creates an environment oriented toward walking and biking. Lastly, amenities such as parks and gathering spaces like the huge outdoor patio that they are planning can boost the quality of life for area residents and visitors.

Ok, so now to what everyone is truly wondering. What’s going into the space?

John said, [the] “unnamed national grocery store has not been identified publicly yet, though many have speculated it might be Amazon Fresh. We’ll see.” That’s some FRESH and juicy tea. ☕ Here are businesses that we can expect to join Eggspectation restaurant & café:

• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
• Mighty Quinn’s BBQ
• Arhaus (They’re doing a large flagship, new 2-story location. John thinks over 17k sq. ft.)
• Visual Comfort Lighting
• Ohm Fitness
• Dog Haus Biergarten
• Meg Fox Aesthetics
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Moby Dick House of Kabob
• Inspire Nail Bar
• GNC

Next up, what about timing?

“My understanding is that many of the ‘shop spaces’ on the left side of the project when you drive in where Jersey Mikes and GNC, etc. are located have been delivered to those tenants, and those tenants are building out the interiors of their spaces now,” said John.

Same with Aspen Dental on the other side of the project, John added.

“It would seem those tenants may be first to open, perhaps later this year. Apartments appear to be built to the point where they seemingly should deliver early-mid next year, with Eggspectation following shortly behind,” he said.

In addition to the Beacon Square project, John also provided insight that one block down from Beacon Square, the “Shoppes at Riva” is also under construction. This project is totally separate from Beacon Square. That is the other crane and construction we all see when driving down Riva Road. This site was the former home of Verizon, where that big, old, and vacant high-rise office building used to sit.

John confirmed the new Shoppes at Riva will bring with it more groceries via a new 23,000 SF ALDI grocery store, plus Salon Lofts, Honeygrow, and Quickway Japanese Hibachi. He understands the developer at this project still has a few more spaces to lease, but it’s getting close to being full. Lots of new food coming to Naptown!

Fun fact about John: He and I are both 2005 Severna Park High School grads! Thanks for your intel, John!