Situated in the wealthy Olmstead-designed Baltimore suburb of Roland Park, Cross Keys has been a beloved part of the community since it was opened by The Rouse Company in 1965. At that time, the idea of a mixed-use village was a novel concept.
Discussing his vision for Cross Keys, Jim Rouse said, "There is a real need, we believe, for residential developments in which there is a strong sense of community; a need to feed into the city some of the atmosphere and pace of the small town and village; a need to create a community which can meet as many as possible of the needs of the people who live there; which can bring these people into natural contact with one another; which can produce out of those relationships a spirit and feeling of neighborliness and a rich sense of belonging to a community…”
In its initial heyday, Cross Keys was the place for Baltimoreans to eat, shop and meet up with friends and family. People have fond memories and stories about coming to to the property and enjoying time there.
Sadly, Cross Keys languished over the years because the property was an anomaly in the portfolios of the large retail specialist companies who owned it; the property simply did not fit into their formulaic approach, so it was neglected. Retail, restaurant and service tenants who were loved and patronized by Cross Keys "villagers" (residents, office workers and hotel guests at Cross Keys) as well as residents of Baltimore's wealthy close-in northern suburbs left the property, leaving vacancies and month-to-month tenants.
Throughout the years, half-hearted attempts were made to bring life back into the retail component of the property, but tenanting the property with chains found in the area's malls did not appeal to customers and ran counter to the property's position as Baltimore's place to go for unique offerings and a community experience.
In 2020, Cross Keys was bought by local and private developer Caves Valley Partners (CVP). CVP embarked on a program to renovate and revitalize the property with the goal of returning the property to its rightful place as Baltimore's loved and local place to be and be seen. This vision is now being realized with the renovations complete, several new tenants already open and many more slated between now and the end of the year.
The realization of the vision is due to several inter-related factors:
A committed local private developer with a clear vision, strong team members, a commitment to excellence and patient capital;
A plan to update the property while paying homage to its mid-century modern architecture and vibe;
An assemblage of service provider partners who have worked collaboratively to help CVP achieve its goal (Mitchell Brown Consulting for marketing & retail strategy, retail & office leasing brokers, property management, security, architects, engineers and contractors), and who all work together for the greater good without being territorial or ego-driven; and,
An unwavering commitment to thoughtfully curate a tenant mix with the right combination of uses which are not duplicated in the primary trade area:
A variety of food and beverage offerings that will appeal to office workers, upscale diners, Cross Keys residents and families;
A combination of national, regional and loved and local retailers; and,
Services and uses that create synergy with retail, restaurant, and office tenants.
After nearly four years of hard work and sticking with the vision, Cross Keys is now returning to its rightful place as the community gathering spot for Baltimore. The combination of a mixed-use property with an upscale, open-air shopping plaza featuring new and legacy tenants is already drawing people from throughout the city and the adjacent counties. As more new businesses continue to open in the property, the audience will continue to diversify and grow, and the property will once again flourish.
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