Maxway Sets Closing Date

Maxway, the discount store in Merritt Park Shopping Center, is closing for good Aug. 13, a senior vice president with the North Carolina-based chain confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

Located on Merritt Boulevard, the store is part of a franchise of more than 400 stores in 15 East Coast states carrying clothing, kitchen items, bedding, toys and other household goods. The store’s lease ends as the ownership of the shopping center changes hands on Sept. 1.

"We would’ve liked to stay through the new ownership, but weren’t able to," said Bill Pope, a senior vice-president of real estate with Variety Wholesalers, which owns Maxway. 

The other Maxway location in Dundalk, in the Logan Village Shopping Center, closed earlier this year.

The store is selling all items at 10 percent off regular prices as part of its closing sale. Pope said Maxway is researching other opportunities to open a store elsewhere in the area but nothing has been finalized.

The family-owned Variety Wholesalers, which began in 1949 with five stores in eastern North Carolina, has grown into one of the largest privately-owned U.S. companies. Variety Wholesalers also owns nearly 150 stores operating under the names Popes, Eagles, Super Dollar, Bill’s Dollar Stores and Super 10, as well more than 100 Roses stores.

Maxway store manager Heather Jenkins said the six current store employees were told about the closing nearly two weeks ago.

“We were expecting it when the shopping center was sold,” Jenkins said. “It was not a surprise.”

Jenkins noted there are two Maxway locations in Baltimore and another in Middle River where those who are being laid-off might find work but she hasn’t decided what she’ll do next.

Jenkins said the store has remained busy, although customers have been asking questions about its viability for some time in light of the uncertainty surrounding the Merritt Park Shopping Center.

“It’s going to be missed,” Jenkins said. “There are a lot of seniors who live behind the shopping center who walk to pick up the things they need.”