HCX, the only hair salon to concentrate solely on hair coloring, opens in Washington, D.C. and in Maryland's Mall at Columbia.

Rockville, Maryland Office Reels in the Retail

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND – “The D.C. market continues to be incredibly strong,” says Alan Luger, principal of Divaris Real Estate, Inc.’s Washington, D.C. office. “The ability to secure prime locations remains a challenge, but we’re handling that challenge pretty well.”

Luger is disputing the rumor that the retail market was hit pretty hard after September 11. From daycare to hair care, health clubs to health stores, Luger, along with DRE Principal Earl Goodman, Garrett Bauman, vice president of retail, and Susan F. McGee, vice president of shopping center leasing, have been instrumental in securing over 100,000 square feet of retail space spread throughout the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, which includes Maryland and Northern Virginia. 

Fitness First, Maryland’s largest health club chain, recently signed three leases. The first, for 13,110 square feet, is situated in the heart of the District, at 1828 L Street Northwest. This is the health club’s first downtown Washington, D.C. location.  The second lease was signed for 17,000 square feet, and is located in the upscale Tysons Corner retail complex in McLean, Virginia. The Olney, Maryland-headquartered company has also signed a build-to-suit lease in Olney Village Mart. 

Recently placing third in Washington Business Journal's 2002 ranking of largest health clubs in the metropolitan D.C. area, Fitness First boasts a membership exceeding 20,000 sweaty Bobs and Bettys.  It operates 13 locations in Bethesda, Rockville, North Potomac, Olney, Gaithersburg, Layhill, Germantown and Frederick.   Peter Harvey founded the club in 1991, when he took over a failing nautilus gym. 

Each state-of-the-art facility averages between 12,000 and 16,000 square feet and includes free weights, cardiovascular equipment, the latest aerobics and spinning classes as well as daycare services.  The clubs are located in close proximity to one another, allowing members to utilize all clubs for the price of one.  Fitness First offers low rates and is one of the only health clubs to offer free personal training.

DRE’s Alan Luger exclusively represents Fitness First in its search for new sites nationally.  He has been instrumental in securing 12 locations for the club, totaling over 150,000 square feet. 

While Fitness First caters to the health conscious adult crowd, Rolly Pollies on the other hand, is a gym for babies. This dynamic approach to child fitness provides children ages six months to six years with a safe, fun and structured way to develop and enhance motor skills, increase physical awareness and coordination, and gain the strength and flexibility needed to improve overall health. 

Rolly Pollies recently signed a lease for 4,575 square feet of space in the Divaris- leased Robinson Crossing, located on Governor Ritchie Highway in Severna Park, Maryland. The facility creates an extraordinary environment for children with a non-competitive curriculum. Age-specific weekly classes provide the active, high-energy and fun environment children need to maximize their physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth.  Susan McGee represented the landlord, MR Festival One, LLC, in the negotiations.

After a hard workout at Rolly Pollies, kids can exercise their minds at Minnieland (no relation to the Mouse), a private northern Virginia day school that provides a safe, loving and educational environment for children.   Recently, Minnieland signed a lease for 10,125 square feet of retail space in the Divaris-leased and managed Ashdale Plaza, located at 2912 Dale Boulevard in Dale City, Virginia.  Founded nearly 30 years ago, Minneland was created when Chuck and Jackie Leopold decided to leave the workforce to cater to their own children. The first Minnieland school was located on the second floor of the Leopold’s home. In 28 years, Minnieland has grown to over 38 locations throughout Virginia and remains a family-owned and operated business.  Susan McGee represented the landlord, A.R. Kronstadt, in the negotiations of the Dale City lease. 

If any of the kids at Minnieland want Kelly Osbourne-orange hair and don’t have a rock star father’s budget, they don’t have to bother with at-home dye kits or go to a pretentious day spa. Haircolorxpress (HCX) is quickly coloring the East Coast and the Mid-Atlantic. The full-service hair salon has leased 1,411 square feet of retail space on trendy Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C., and 1,450 square feet in the upscale Mall at Columbia in Columbia, Maryland. The mall is anchored by Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor. 

HCX is the first and only hair salon to concentrate solely on hair coloring. The salon provides a sanctuary of high-quality, convenient services at extraordinarily competitive prices in friendly, relaxed, and professional salons.

Currently, HCX operates three stores in Florida.  The company’s goal is to become a worldwide chain of over 10,000 salons within the next eight years. DRE’s Garrett Bauman has been selected by HCX to exclusively represent its real estate interests in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

“We’re expecting to open four or five more stores this year and up to 25 next year,” he states. Bauman is working with Brian Sorrentino, the Mid-Atlantic development agent who owns franchising rights in Virginia, Delaware and Maryland. In addition to the Rockville office, DRE’s Virginia Beach, Newport News and Richmond offices will be involved in HCX’s site selection process as well. 

Kids wanting to show off their new blue do’s can check out My Organic Market for a healthy bite to eat. The locally owned supermarket recently signed a 10,893-square-foot lease to join CVS/pharmacy and Blockbuster in the Divaris-leased Mount Vernon Village Center in Alexandria, Virginia.  Operating for over a decade, My Organic Market specializes in the sale of high-quality organic foods and health products from its two Maryland locations. Bauman, McGee, Luger and Goodman represented the landlord, Arlandria Center LLC, in the negotiations. 

If, during the trip to My Organic Market, some carrot juice is spilled on your threads, take them to Dry Clean Depot for quick, affordable service.  With Dry Clean Depot’s 16 stores throughout the Baltimore/Washington area, chances are there is a store convenient to everyone. 

Bauman exclusively represents Dry Clean Depot nationally in its search for new sites and recently signed three leases totaling 19,200 square feet in Virginia and Maryland.   Two of the new Virginia stores include a 6,600-square-foot Dry Clean Depot in Augusta Center, a new shopping plaza on Route 7 between Tyson's Corner and Leesburg, and a 6,600-square-foot space next to Tweeters on Route 234 in Manassas.   The Maryland site is a 6,000-square-foot, freestanding building in the Bowie Marketplace in Bowie. 

Founded in 1979 by Randy Lievan, Dry Clean Depot has over 100 locations, making it one of the fastest growing franchises in the country. At only $1.75 per item for men's or women's clothing, customers are lining up to get their clothes dry-cleaned and pressed.  Dry Clean Depot offers same-day service and all cleaning is done on the premises.  Bauman is working to secure six to eight more locations in the next 18 months.