Ikea, Duck Donuts, Casino, Sprouts: Businesses Anne Arundel Wants

ANNE ARUNDEL, MD — We asked Anne Arundel Patch readers what businesses they would like to see come to the area, and you answered. In fact, the responses were overwhelming when we posed the question on Facebook, with quite a few residents hoping for new dining options and entertainment venues.

Patch got dozens of comments that included requests for a new grocery store chain and more shopping options such as IKEA, plus restaurants that would be new to the county. Some responses noted there is already a Wegman's, Trader Joe's or Chick-fil-A in the area, but you want them in other towns.

Overall readers want a mix of independently-owned businesses, such as a vegan restaurant, as well as chains. The retailers with support included Duck Donuts, along with Sprouts, White Castle, and luxury store Saks Fifth Avenue.

"Most of you think it should be about food either restaurants or food stores but my thought is how about an Ikea that takes over most of the Marley Station Mall? I have so many friends that have to travel to College Park or White Marsh," wrote Carol Petrosky. "This would be the ideal location between Baltimore and Annapolis."

Here's a sampling taken from the Facebook comments, with several commenters asking for activity venues like an ice rink, a great fishing pier and a casino — along with chain eateries like Duck Donuts, White Castle, Sonic Drive-In, and Bubba Gump.

Here are other businesses you want to see in the county:

• A Trader Joe's that isn't in Annapolis!
• Chick-fil-A in Riviera Beach
• Chick-fil-A Pasadena/lake shore
• Duck Donuts!!!
• Trader Joe's
• White Castle
• My kids say Sonic in Pasadena.
• Wegman's Pasadena
• Buca di Beppo
• Aldi in edgewater/annapolis
• A Sprouts in Annapolis or at least closer than Ellicott City
• Bubba Gump
• SONIC - GLEN BURNIE OR PASADENA !!!
• Dairy Queen in Riviera Beach and Aldi's in the old Mars store
• Chick-fil-A or Starbucks on mountain or ft smallwood
• Walmart Edgewater
• Zoe’s Kitchen /Waugh Chapel Gambrills
• Lowe's
• Jack in the Box
• Wawa Dairy Queen chicken we need more chicken
• Salt n straw.... Vodoo doughnuts....Capriottis Subs
• Red Robin in the Glen Burnie area
• Olive Garden
• KROGER
• Longhorn Steakhouse in Glen Burnie
• Glen Burnie Safeway
• Dave and buster's in old lord & Taylor
• Ikea in glen burnie somewhere
• Bagels in Odenton!
• Aldi closer than Pasadena
• Giant Pasadena Ritchie Hwy
• Saks Fifth Avenue

Non-retail options residents want included:

• Ice rink
• "Grocery stores in Pasadena/Riviera Beach area," wrote Christina Evans. "More restaurants in Pasadena and more places for teens/preteens to go to. Growing up we had the skating rink, dance club and ice skating rink to go to. It would be nice to see more businesses come in and NOT a 711, Royal Farms or Gas Station."
• Casino
• Big ol' free fishing pier and marina
• Road race track like summit point

Want more local news? Get the Anne Arundel Patch newsletter.

PHOTO: Customers leave an IKEA store in California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)