VM Services, Howard International Grocer Move Into Long Reach

COLUMBIA, MD — Two businesses are moving into the Long Reach Village Center. VM Services, a storefront selling cellular phones, phone plans, wire transfers and more, will be moving into 1,643 square feet of the center as part of the Long Reach Rising Revitalization project led by Howard County. The owner, Nora Sanchez, previously rented a small space in Deli Town, another store in the Village Center, and is now expanding to her own space. Sanchez has two other business locations in Gaithersburg and Arlington.

“Long Reach Village Center is becoming a central hub for a diverse set of businesses and entrepreneurs – it’s wonderful to see VM Services join the community with a dedicated space to grow,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “The continued revitalization of Long Reach over the past 10 months has brought in numerous creative services that will encourage community engagement and becoming a central hub for the Long Reach neighborhood."

“We are proud to be able to serve the community,” Sanchez said. “Our goal is to serve our clients with the best attention, kindness and respect that our clients deserve."

Howard International Grocer, a market specializing in international foods and halal meat, is moving into 1,733 square feet of the center. Owner Monzurul Islam, who formerly lived in the Long Reach neighborhood, still has family in the area. Islam has three other retail locations and a wholesale distribution business in Prince George’s County. Howard International Grocer will sell fresh meat and fish, frozen meat and fish, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk, eggs, snacks and more.

“We’re so pleased to see a locally-run family business open a new international market at our Long Reach Village Center,” Ball said. “Thank you to the Howard International Grocer for investing in Long Reach and providing a new option in fresh and diverse ethnic foods to this community. For far too long the Long Reach Village Center was dormant, but in the past 10 months, we have added a diverse group of businesses and services to revitalize and reinvigorate this space, encouraging community engagement and becoming a central hub for the Long Reach neighborhood."

In the past year, more than 45,000 square feet of office and retail space has been leased, including 25,000 square feet of the space that previously housed Safeway. VM Services and Howard International Grocer joins Blooming Hope Dominican Salon, Roving Radish, Manneq Art, Head Start, Every Kid Can Cook, Roll Up N Dye, the Columbia Arts Center, the Stonehouse Community Center, the African Art Museum of Maryland and new Howard County Arts Council artists’ studios, as part of the emerging arts, culture and entrepreneurship hub.