10 Popular Things That Don’t Exist in Maryland Anymore

MARYLAND STATE - Maryland is a state where the old and the new are constantly at odds. While the Chesapeake Bay remains a constant, suburban and urban landscapes have seen several local legends and retail anchors depart. Here are 10 popular things that no longer exist in the Old Line State.

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1. Lakeforest Mall (Gaithersburg)

Once the premier shopping destination for Montgomery County, Lakeforest Mall spent its final years as a "dead mall" before officially closing in 2023. However, 2026 marks the true end of an era: the physical structure is being systematically demolished this year to make way for a new mixed-use community. The massive retail square footage that once defined Gaithersburg is now just a memory.

2. Shoppers Food Warehouse (The "Colossal" Era)

While a handful of locations still linger under new management, the original, dominant Shoppers Food Warehouse brand has effectively vanished. Parent company UNFI has shuttered several of the last remaining hubs in Essex, Waldorf, Westminster, and New Carrollton in late 2025 and early 2026. For many Marylanders, this means the end of the legendary "colossal donuts" and the warehouse-style grocery experience that defined local shopping for decades.

3. The "Three Bears House" (St. Mary’s County)

For over a century, the quirky "Three Bears House" along Bull Road was a landmark for drivers and cyclists. Known for its unique "telescoping" construction—a main house with two smaller additions attached in descending order—it was a visual link to the state's rural farm history. Sadly, due to advanced deterioration, the historic structure was demolished in February 2026.

4. Three Brothers Italian Restaurant (The Original Chain)

A staple of Maryland’s dining scene for over 50 years, the Three Brothers chain—which began as a 12-seat eatery in Greenbelt—was officially sold by the founding Repole family in 2025. While the names may remain on some storefronts, the original family-run legacy and the specific Rockville location that anchored the brand for decades are gone.

5. Joann Fabrics (Statewide)

Following a period of severe financial struggle, the arts-and-crafts giant Joann Fabrics completed the closure of its remaining 14 Maryland locations. By early 2026, the familiar green signs have disappeared from strip malls across the state, leaving a significant gap for local quilters and crafters who now have to rely primarily on competitors or online orders.

6. Rite Aid (The Entire State)

Similar to its neighbors in the Mid-Atlantic, Maryland saw the total exit of Rite Aid in 2026. After decades as a primary healthcare and convenience hub, the final locations in Baltimore and the D.C. suburbs were shuttered or converted to other pharmacy brands this spring, ending the brand's long history in the state.

7. Macy’s at Marley Station (Glen Burnie)

Marley Station Mall suffered a major blow in early 2026 with the closure of its Macy’s anchor. As part of a national strategy to cut underperforming stores, the departure leaves the mall with significant vacancies and marks the loss of a major traditional department store for the Glen Burnie community.

8. The "Just Walk Out" Amazon Fresh Stores

The high-tech experiment of Amazon Fresh grocery stores in Maryland—specifically in locations like Chevy Chase and Franconia (serving the DMV)—has come to an end. By early 2026, Amazon shuttered these "Just Walk Out" locations, pivoting away from the cashier-less model that was once touted as the future of Maryland retail.

9. The Enchanted Forest (The Original Park)

While some of the fairytale structures were famously moved to Clark’s Elioak Farm, the original Enchanted Forest theme park in Ellicott City is a thing of the past. The site was converted into a shopping center years ago, but 2026 sees even fewer remnants of the original nursery-rhyme magic as the area continues to be redeveloped for modern commercial use.

10. Abandoned Rowhouses on North Avenue (Baltimore)

In a major urban renewal push, 2026 has seen the aggressive demolition of long-standing abandoned rowhouses along Baltimore’s North Avenue. While these buildings were part of the city's historic silhouette for over a century, their removal is part of a 15-year plan to eliminate thousands of "vacants" and hazardous dumping grounds that had plagued the neighborhood.

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