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“It’s such a new world, but it is definitely something that Brunswick
can be a part of,” Johnson said. “Barbecue is southern and we
know that. But Brunswick is barbecue. Brunswick is really a place
where you want to eat good food and really just be with friends.”
Brunswick city officials are also looking at ways to make downtown
Brunswick more business-friendly.
The Brunswick Main Street program last year started a partnership
with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development,
resulting in the opening of a pop-up shop inside the Kaplon building
on Potomac Street, which has stayed empty for years. The Made
in Maryland Marketplace is an artisan market, which opens at
holidays offering a selection of goods from local farmers and artists.
In 2016, Brunswick also earned an enterprise zone designation from
the state, which will provide property owners with tax breaks for
improving properties and allow employers to receive up to $6,000
in income tax credits for every new job created in town.
“Revitalizing our downtown continues to be a slow process,” said
Mayor Snoots. “There are projects being presented by several
property owners to help revitalize this area.”
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A former city councilman, Snoots was elected to his current position
in 2016 and says his primary goal is to bring Brunswick back to life
again. Snoots has a long list of projects that he wants to complete
in the city, including repairing water and sewer lines and moving
on with plans to construct a new municipal building for the city
police and public works departments.
“Our police department needs a larger facility, as well as our public
works department,” Snoots said. “As Brunswick continues to grow,
we must plan accordingly.”
One the most highly anticipated projects coming to Brunswick
this year is the 56,000-square-foot Weis supermarket, which is
expected to open in the fall, he said. Brunswick has been without
a supermarket since Fresh & Green’s closed in 2014.
“This will be a very exciting addition,” Snoots said. “Not having
a grocery store here has been a hardship for many of our senior
residents, as well the rest of our citizens. Along with the grocery
store, we are anticipating other small stores and services will follow.”
The Weis will be located on Md. Route 17 within Brunswick
Crossing, a residential development, which has been pumping
new life and residents into the city since 2007. Located north of
downtown, the Pleasants Development project has a 10-year buildout
plan and eventually will add 1,505 new homes to Brunswick’s
existing 2,212 homes.
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She has vowed to make the competition an annual tradition for
the city, which she believes can use special events, festivals and
celebrations as a way to attract business and visitors.