A longtime Pasadena shopping center is getting a new chapter.
After serving the community for more than six decades, Pine Grove Village Shopping Center has sold for $6.65 million. The 65-year-old retail strip, located along Fort Smallwood Road, was purchased by a partnership led by Gillis Gilkerson, a Salisbury, Maryland-based developer and construction management firm celebrating its 40th year in business. The center was sold by the private estate of its late owner, Lisa Bertani.
Built in 1960 and renovated in 1991, the 85,000-square-foot shopping center at 8567–8587 Fort Smallwood Road has long been a familiar stop for local residents. Like many neighborhood centers, Pine Grove Village has weathered changes over the years. It’s currently about 50% occupied following the closure of Mars Supermarket in 2016, when the grocery chain filed for bankruptcy.
There’s already momentum building for what’s next. According to officials with MacKenzie Cos., negotiations are underway with a gym interested in taking over the former supermarket space, which spans more than 38,000 square feet. Today, Pine Grove Village is home to a mix of everyday businesses, including Sand & Silo Marketplace, Dollar General, Pizza Boli’s, a spa, a nail salon, and several other locally owned shops.
MacKenzie Cos., based in Lutherville, played a key role in the transaction – handling the brokerage, arranging financing, and previously marketing and leasing the center. While the firm won’t be involved with the property moving forward, Vice President Tim Harrington said the process came together quickly despite some unique circumstances.
Interest in the property was strong. MacKenzie Principal Michael Ruocco, who worked alongside Harrington on the deal, said the sale drew nine written offers.
For Gillis Gilkerson, the purchase marks an expansion beyond its Eastern Shore roots and onto what officials jokingly called “the other side” of the Bay Bridge. The firm has built and managed a wide range of projects – from retail centers and restaurants to medical offices – primarily on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Looking ahead, plans for Pine Grove Village include exterior upgrades and the possibility of leasing or selling a small pad site along Fort Smallwood Road. While details are still taking shape, the goal appears to be breathing new life into a center that has long been part of Pasadena’s daily rhythm.
The sale also reflects a broader trend, as investor interest in neighborhood shopping centers across Greater Baltimore continues to heat up. Recent deals in Bel Air, Carroll County, and beyond show that community-centered retail remains very much in demand – and Pine Grove Village is poised to be part of that ongoing story.
