Eddie’s of Roland Park to begin renovation

After years of planning, Eddie’s of Roland Park announced today that it is about to begin a 15-month, multi-phase upgrade of its store at 5113 Roland Avenue. 

“This is incredibly exciting for us,” said Eddie’s vice president and third-generation co-owner Michael Schaffer, in a statement.

“It has literally been years in the planning, and my family is grateful to the longtime shoppers and devoted fans who have been cheering on this process with great anticipation,” said Schaffer, who is helping to lead the renovation effort.  

The store will remain open throughout the remodeling period. According to the owners, construction is set to begin this summer, possibly “as early as June.” It will last up to 15 months, including a pause during the busy holiday shopping season.

Initial phases of work will include the store’s basement and façade—including an expansive, steel cantilevered canopy that will be erected above the main entrance to provide protection from the weather, a shaded place for seating, and a location for outdoor events.

“This store was destined to be a place for gathering,” said Nancy Cohen, president, co-owner and daughter of the late Victor Cohen, who founded the store.

“My father always felt that the key to a successful business was treating your customers like family, making them feel at home. This store is rich with history, and we hope to share some of that story through the interiors while introducing many new elements to heighten the Eddie’s shopping experience.”

“Eddie’s of Roland Park has been an anchor to the Roland Park community for decades, dedicated to a high level of customer service in a neighborhood setting,” said Doug Bothner, a partner at Ziger|Snead Architects, the design firm for the project. “We are honored to be working with Eddie’s to bring needed updates and improvements to the shopping experience to ensure a sustainable future for the store.”

Other companies working on the project include Morabito Consultants; FSi Engineers; Birchfield Jacobs Foodsystems; Morris & Ritchie Associates, Inc.; Flux Studio Ltd.; Proutt Consulting, and Lewis Contractors. Their plans have been approved by the Roland Park Civic League and the Wyndhurst Improvement Association.

Plans call for more windows to bring natural light into the store; LED lights; improved circulation and new, energy-efficient refrigeration and freezer cases throughout the store.

The space has been designed to feel more open, with an exposed wood ceiling, wider aisles and nearly 1,000 additional square feet of retail space, including all-new shelving and fixtures.

Full-service departments such as deli, bakery, cheese, coffee and gourmet-to-go will receive a complete upgrade—outfitted with new equipment and modernized signage. Shoppers will also see an expanded salad bar and a centralized wine and spirits department. Eddie’s catering service will move near the checkout area, making it more convenient for customers to order.

Additional amenities will include a new vestibule with automated doors, a water fountain with bottle filler, and two front-of-house, gender-neutral public restrooms.

Eddie’s of Roland Park was founded as “Victor’s Market” in 1944. For 76 years, it has remained an independent, family-owned grocer, with a location at 6213 Charles Street as well as the store on Roland Avenue.

Eddie’s received national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic with an award from the National Grocers Association and a cover story in Progressive Grocer magazine about the state of independently-owned grocery stores.

“Eddie’s of Roland Park worked hard throughout 2020 to retain its tradition of personalized, community-minded service, and succeeded brilliantly,” the article stated.

“The year was not without its difficulties,” Cohen said. “But we have a wonderful staff that really pulled together. Between our employees’ dedication, the loyalty of our community and vendors, and now this amazing project finally getting underway, there is a lot to be optimistic about and thankful for.”