Shop Small to Make a Big Difference

Saturday, November 26, 2016 marked “Small Business Saturday,” a day established to help support local merchants and the economy on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Shopping small is about supporting locally-owned businesses, shops, and restaurants while strengthening the economy in Frederick.

Shopping small has the ability to make a positive impact on the local economy. Frederick households spend an average of nearly $2,300 on clothing, apparel, and jewelry, according to Esri Business Analyst. Shifting more of that spend to small Frederick businesses helps keep money within the local community. Frederick residents also like to dine out. Households in the city spend over $3,500 a year on food purchases away from home, which is 14% above the national average according to Esri Business Analyst. 

Luckily 95% of all businesses in Frederick are small business, so there are abundant shopping and dining choices within the city to enjoy throughout the year. 

From the Golden Mile to East Frederick to Downtown Frederick, here is a snapshot of our small business community.   

Select photos by Hood College intern Melissa Dryman.

Inspiring Office: First United Bank & Trust Finds New Office Space in a Former Cannery

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires. From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs.

Inspiring Offices is a feature that highlights some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick. Get a behind-the-scenes look at First Untied Bank & Trust. 

First United Bank & Trust
Q&A with Dave Esworthy, Market President at First Untied Bank & Trust.


Why did you choose your current office location and how long have you been located there?

We wanted to find a new location in downtown Frederick and were attracted to the prominence of the Monocacy Valley Cannery Building on the new Gateway into the City. The quality and character of the building is unmatched and we did our best to leverage these strengths in the design of our new office. We also like the location since it is right in the center of planned development on the east side of Frederick, convenient to I-70, and within walking distance to the historic district. We have been open since April and have been very pleased with our choice.  
 

Was it “move in” ready or did you have to design/fit it out?
We leased space in the historic section of the building which was just a shell, so we needed to fit out the entire space.   



What inspirations did you use to decorate/design the space?
Our goal was to leverage the historic charm of the building yet create a very contemporary and welcoming space for our clients. We retained some of the characteristics of the Cannery using new materials like sliding glass doors as well exposed brick and beams.
 


What are the most unique aspects about your office space?
We have a mural in our vestibule that has pictures of the Cannery in operation early in the 20th century. It showcases some of the technology and people that worked here, and occasionally we have folks stop in that knew someone who worked here. We’ve also had compliments on our community room that is available for non-profit organizations and clients for meetings.



What do you, your employees, or customers like best about the space?
Many people come in and ask, “Is this a bank?”, and they are really impressed with the technology and unique features to handle routine transactions and complex financial needs. Clients love the openness of the space along with the mix of contemporary finishes and historic charm with the exposed bricks and beams.   

Find Your Own Inspiring Office

If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream. 

If YOU know of any interesting office spaces, let us know and we will put them on our list to feature.

Transformative Projects of Frederick - New York New York Salon & Day Spa

Story by Bobby Baumler with photography by Melissa Dryman

This new series will highlight a variety of transformative projects within The City of Frederick. These projects provide a significant change through capital investment, improving community conditions, expanding access to employment, or more. 

Our first project provides a look back at the rehabilitation of the historic mansion and former Robert E. Dailey and Son Funeral Home located at 1201 North Market Street. New York New York Salon & Day Spa owner Mary Louise Riser purchased the property and embarked on a two-year renovation and complete rehabilitation of the property. The mansion dates back to 1878 and is now the new home for New York New York. 

The salon is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Frederick and debuted its custom-designed salon and spa with a ribbon cutting and grand opening on October 18, 2016.  Scroll down for a series of "before and after" pictures, demonstrating the meticulous attention to detail and stunning final design of the space.

The men's grooming and barber room features both the original marble fireplace and hardwood floors.

Extra effort went into incorporating this former fireplace into a storage area for hair products.

A view from the front foyer area. The new nail station area included the beautiful dental moldings and original wainscot paneling.

This upstairs restroom retained its original tile and vanity top. The refreshed space is now pristine and chic.

This framed piece sits atop a stone fireplace in the basement of the salon and encapsulates this transformative project.

Various images in early 2016 as demolition work began on the property.

In the lower right picture, observe the original hand-painted wallpaper that was preserved behind the bed.

The New York New York team posed for a staff picture in late August as construction was nearing the final stages.

Recent Tour Highlights 3 Reasons Why Frederick Remains an Attractive Location for Business

Commercial real estate professionals from Frederick and beyond attended the 2016 Taste of Downtown Frederick Property Tour on October 20, 2016. Participants had the opportunity to tour Downtown Frederick and learn more about available office and retail properties, major City projects, and available programs to encourage rehabilitation within Downtown Frederick. The tour departed from City Hall and included a walking tour of Carroll Creek and the Downtown Frederick commercial district. Along the way, guests enjoyed sips and samples from a several of Frederick's culinary destinations.

The commercial broker community serves as a vital economic development partner.  Brokers actively market Frederick as a business destination and often serve as the first point of contact in the Frederick community for prospective businesses.

3 Reasons Why Frederick Remains an Attractive Location for Business

• Quality of Life and Location - Frederick is a desirable location for residents and businesses to locate.  Businesses locating in Downtown Frederick can enjoy funky and fun office spaces with exposed brick and original charm, while being a part of a vibrant and strategically located metropolitan area.  Here are a few highlights:
• Two-thirds of the U.S. population is within a day's drive
• Within 50 miles of 3 international airports 
• Close proximity to federal agencies 
• Top 10 Best Downtowns (Livability.com, 2014) 
• Well-educated - Nearly 40% of residents hold a Bachelor's degree or higher 
• Award-winning public education system. All high schools rank in the top 10% National Challenge Index.

• Programs to encourage investment - Participants learned about the available tax credit and grant programs available to property owners and businesses to encourage investment and rehabilitation in Downtown Frederick, including:  
• Facade improvement grant - In partnership with the Downtown Frederick Partnership and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, eligible businesses may receive a 1:1 match on qualified exterior facade improvements. This program is also available along the Golden Mile and in the East Frederick area. 
• Business personal property tax phase-out - In 2015, The City of Frederick adopted a 10-year phase-out of the business personal property tax. Additionally, manufacturers that have acquired new business personal property after January 1, 2015 may be eligible for a 100% tax credit.
• Vacant commercial rehabilitative tax credit - The credit encourages properties to be rehabilitated and placed back into active use. All commercial properties that have been vacant and marketed for at least 18 of the last 24 months prior to the start of rehabilitation are eligible for the tax credit. This rehabilitative tax credit can be claimed for 7 years.
• Historic preservation tax credits - Properties located within the Historic District may be eligible for tax credits on both City and County real property taxes.

• Business infrastructure - The City of Frederick remains committed to making investments in public infrastructure that are necessary to attract and retain private investment and business growth. Recent projects highlighted on the tour included:
• Carroll Creek Park - The multi-modal urban park project was completed in May 2016 (Phase II) and is expected to attract over $150 million in new private construction, hundreds of new jobs, and increased tax revenue.
• Downtown Frederick Hotel & Conference Center - The Marriott hotel will feature 207 rooms and 24,000 SF of meeting space and will serve as an anchor along Carroll Creek.  The $84 million project will create 280 jobs (110 direct) and $26 million in annual economic impact.
• Wastewater Treatment Plan Upgrades - The plant upgrades ensure compliance with recent EPA mandates and will reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharges to the Chesapeake Bay.  This $51 million project (Phase II) will be completed by January 2017.

The Taste of Downtown Frederick Property Tour was organized by the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development in partnership with Downtown Frederick Partnership and the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.  The event was made possible with support from our sponsors:

Looking For a New Business Space?
The Department of Economic Development (DED) provides no cost business location services, including access to the CoStar commercial property database. 

Connect with DED via Facebook, Twitter, or email to expand your business location search.