Shopping in Mechanicsville?

[Brocktune]

Hi all. It looks like I will be moving to Southern Maryland in a few months. I've done some preliminary research into the area and I'm starting to think that Mechanicsville is where I want to focus my home search. However, I am concered about isolation. It looks like the nearest mall is up in Waldorf (30 minutes), which isn't too bad, but do you have to go out of the area to do basic grocery shopping? If so, how long of a drive is it?
Any input provided is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[bresamil]

In Mechanicsville/Charlotte Hall there is a Food Lion and a McKay's grocery store. Plans have been approved for a Giant as well. These are most convenient if you move to the side of Mechanicsville that surrounds Md Rt 5. If you move closer to the Rt 234 side then you have about a 15 minute drive but also have the option of shopping in Leonardtown or LaPlata.
There are many gas stations and convenience stores (WaWa, 7-11, Burchmart) and pretty much every fast food restaurant. Sit down dining is limited to Captain Leonards (seafood), Berts (burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, etc), The Landing (variety of homestyle food), Ledo's, and a new Chinese restaurant.

 

[Warron]

Just north of Mechanicsville on route 5 are a couple shopping centers that should have all the core stores you need on a daily basis. How far it is depends on how far off route 5 you live.

 

[limblips]

"It looks like the nearest mall is up in Waldorf (30 minutes), which isn't too bad,"

If you plan on shopping at the mall in Waldorf, make sure your concealed carry permit is up to date.

 

[Brocktune]

Good information. Thanks!

Ugh, sounds like the mall is Waldorf is out. Are there any other malls in the Southern Maryland area that are nice?

 

[belvak]

Hi all. It looks like I will be moving to Southern Maryland in a few months. I've done some preliminary research into the area and I'm starting to think that Mechanicsville is where I want to focus my home search. However, I am concered about isolation. It looks like the nearest mall is up in Waldorf (30 minutes), which isn't too bad, but do you have to go out of the area to do basic grocery shopping? If so, how long of a drive is it?
Any input provided is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Welcome!!!

Good information. Thanks!

Ugh, sounds like the mall is Waldorf is out. Are there any other malls in the Southern Maryland area that are nice?

The mall in Waldorf isn't that bad! It is just lke a lot of other malls anymore. Just use common sense when you're there, and be aware of your surroundings. I hate malls as a rule, but I go there when I need something from Sears, Dick's, or one of the specialty stores, and have never had any trouble.

 

[bresamil]

Good information. Thanks!

Ugh, sounds like the mall is Waldorf is out. Are there any other malls in the Southern Maryland area that are nice?

The mall, like all malls, is just fine during normal hours. Its the late night that causes issues but then that area has become urbanized and most "urban" environments require caution late night.

This was originally a rural environment. In order to try to maintain some portion of that commercial growth is in concentrated areas. Those concentrated commercial areas also have a buildup of apartments, townhouses, and the such. For some reason this seems to invite crime.


The St Charle Towne Center is the ONLY mall in Southern Maryland proper (Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's counties).

 

[Urbanite]

In Mechanicsville/Charlotte Hall there is a Food Lion and a McKay's grocery store. Plans have been approved for a Giant as well. These are most convenient if you move to the side of Mechanicsville that surrounds Md Rt 5. If you move closer to the Rt 234 side then you have about a 15 minute drive but also have the option of shopping in Leonardtown or LaPlata.
There are many gas stations and convenience stores (WaWa, 7-11, Burchmart) and pretty much every fast food restaurant. Sit down dining is limited to Captain Leonards (seafood), Berts (burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, etc), The Landing (variety of homestyle food), Ledo's, and a new Chinese restaurant.

WOW Giant, do you know where it's going to be - we SOOOOOO need a decent Grocery store in the Mechanicsville area

 

[Brocktune]

For those of you who live in the area, I'd love to hear your thoughts about Mechanicsville. I'll be working at PAX River, so it seems like the commute shouldn't be too bad.

 

[lil_daisy]

I prefer to shop either La Plata or Calfornia for the Walmart/Target.
I hit the Bj's wholesale in California.
Waldorf is crowded on the weekends/evenings. yes there is a certain unpleasantness of the undesirables that will come out. Never go alone if shopping at night.
Char. Hall/Mechanicsville is a nice area. I'm glad my kids are here. I'm very happy with our elementary school, staff and lots of great parent volunteers!

 

[bresamil]

WOW Giant, do you know where it's going to be - we SOOOOOO need a decent Grocery store in the Mechanicsville area

It is planned to go in the space next to the 7-11 according to the project manager of the construction firm that won the bid.

I personally can't afford to shop at Giant frequently but whenever I was on travel I would look for Giant or Safeway to hit their salad and hot food bars for lunch or dinner. Of course McKay's does a good job of that but I can't afford to shop there much either.

 

[Lizzy4459]

Good information. Thanks!

Ugh, sounds like the mall is Waldorf is out. Are there any other malls in the Southern Maryland area that are nice?

The mall in Waldorf is not that bad. It has a few kids that think they are "gang" members, but drop them in Harlem or East LA for a night and they would be peeing their pants on the street corner. I'm a woman and I go there alone, with my child and sometimes with my husband. I have never had a problem. Like with anywhere, park close and know your surroundings.

Sometimes a trip to the mall is needed. We also go to the mall in Fredericksburg, VA and Annapolis. Both are a hike but sometimes a day trip can be fun.

 

[Lizzy4459]

For those of you who live in the area, I'd love to hear your thoughts about Mechanicsville. I'll be working at PAX River, so it seems like the commute shouldn't be too bad.

It depends on what your hours at PAX are. Keep in mind that Rt235 is the ONLY road that you can take PAX without taking a tour of Southern Maryland. Just leave at a reasonable hour and on snow days it can be a complete mess. It also depends on where you are from. If you are use to traffic then it might not be a big deal.

 

[OldHillcrestGuy]

It is planned to go in the space next to the 7-11 according to the project manager of the construction firm that won the bid.

I personally can't afford to shop at Giant frequently but whenever I was on travel I would look for Giant or Safeway to hit their salad and hot food bars for lunch or dinner. Of course McKay's does a good job of that but I can't afford to shop there much either.

Unless this is brand new news, I know of no plans for any Giant on that lot, Safeway was the only one who had plans for that lot, and the hang up was they wanted a entrance from Rt. 5, another stoplight at the crossover by Burger King, state said no way they were going to put a light there because it was too close to the Golden Brach intersection. I saw where Giant has dropped plans for a new store up in Brandywine across from Costco and Safeway, sighn down and the lot is for sale again.

Back to the subject of Mechcanicville/Charlotte Hall area, its a great location not as built up as some areas, you wont find any appartment or townhouse complex's. Ive been in Charlotte Hall for 32 years and never had a problem with crime, as a whole my developement, is pretty much crime free, just a few occasions of maybe cars being vandalized once, with spray paint and maybe 2 or 3 times with some windows being popped out in 32 years. Its been at least a dozen years that I know of a breaking and entering to a home.
This area is within 20/25 minutes from several shopping areas, California, Waldorf, LaPlata and Prince Frederick. The schools are pretty decent in the Northern end of St Marys also.

 

[Brocktune]

Thanks again for all of the replies!

 

[Dymphna]

15 or 20 minutes North, South, East or West will get you to a Walmart. North, South and West the same distance will get you a Target. If you need a department store, there is the mall as well as a series of strip malls in Waldorf, but to the south, in California/Lexington Park area there are also a bunch of strip malls with nearly as many stores.

No, you don't move to Mechanicsville if you are born to shop and must be able to do so at the drop of a hat, but you don't have to go far to find anything you need.

 

[ltown81]

The fact that your asking about shopping in Mechanicsville tells me that it is something your care about. If that's the case..Mechanicsville is likely not for you unless you like to shop at nothing but "value" grocery stores and eat at fast food places/ hole in the wall restaurants. It's not a bad area..to live in..but for shopping it sucks. The problem is you are in between the two major shopping areas of Lexington Park/Leonardtown and Waldorf/LaPlata. So you will have to drive 20-30 minutes to one of them for anything beyond groceries and fast food. We were once in the same place you are as far as deciding on where to live and paid a little more to be in Leonardtown since I would rather do most of my shopping in California then Waldorf. As for a mall, Waldorf is okay as long as you are smart. It's good for a quick run to Sears on a Saturday or whatever. I normally don't go after dark. I used to think Fredericksberg was okay..but me and my wife went up a few weeks ago and two of the enterances had big groups of kids fighting or something like it outside. Annapolis is the nicest..the only issue is a trip there will take your whole day and parking sucks.

 

[SamSpade]

Personally, if I were to PICK a place in Southern Maryland, Mechanicsville would be my first choice. It's nice, quiet, private enough to suit me but in every direction there's something I can get to. But that's me. Some people really want to be very close to everything.

If you're going to work in PAX, you'll have just about everything you'll want in California or Lexington Park for shopping, more or less. It doesn't have to be a "mall". And they're still building two more shopping areas on 235.

A friend of mine recently had a new house built in the Ben Oaks development in Mechanicsville, near where 235 and 5 split. A short drive takes him pretty much everywhere - Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown, California. Waldorf and LaPlata.

 

[MsMove]

For those of you who live in the area, I'd love to hear your thoughts about Mechanicsville. I'll be working at PAX River, so it seems like the commute shouldn't be too bad.

We live in Waldorf and my sig other commutes to Pax River everyday for work - not a bad drive because you're going the opposite way of everyone that's headed to DC.

The mall in Waldorf isn't bad - it's 2 stories, has pretty much everything you need (all the standard dept. stores, clothing stores, decent food court, etc.). I've been there plenty of times and haven't had any issues at all.