BY SUSIE CURRIE — This four-story building, built in 2007 as Belcrest Center, sits on East-West Highway between Mosaic at Metro and Giant Food. Adjacent to Prince George’s Plaza Metro station, it connects to the Mall at Prince George’s by a pedestrian bridge.
Its new name – Metropolitan Shops at Prince George’s Station – sounds a lot like the one on the development across Belcrest Road, The Shoppes at Metro Station, which is anchored by Starbucks and CVS. That property is now being managed by StreetSense, the outfit behind the thriving Arts District retail area.
Virginia-based Rosenthal Properties changed the name after acquiring the property in a fire sale at the beginning of this year. It’s unclear what plans the company has for the center, since at press time the Shops had yet to be included in its web portfolio.  But problems there date to at least 2009, when one of its original anchors, Circuit City, filed for bankruptcy.

Metropolitan Shops at Prince George’s Station is adjacent to the Prince George's Plaza Metro station, seen beyond the pedestrian tunnel. Photo courtesy Susie Currie.
The center is adjacent to the Prince George’s Plaza Metro station, seen beyond the pedestrian tunnel. Photo courtesy Susie

Metropolitan Shops at Prince George’s Station. Photo courtesy Susie Currie.
A sign for Metropolitan Shops at Prince George’s Station towers above East-West Highway.

 More recently, J. Maries, which offered live jazz and American Cajun Creole cuisine, closed at the end of July. Calls to the business line reach a recording that says the restaurant has “temporarily closed pending its relocation to another site,” which sources say is in Silver Spring.
“Hyattsville, University Park, College Park and Greenbelt all have great communities of people who are extremely invested in the success of [local] businesses,” said owner Jeaneva Fox. “However, there are a lot of incomplete developments, overpriced retail units, and state- and municipality-sanctioned fees and taxes that impede the overall success of Hyattsville businesses.”
The property is currently anchored by Staples, Bally Total Fitness and Bobs Discount Furniture, which took Circuit City’s place in May. Already popular with the school-age set for the free candy, cookies and ice-cream buffet, Bob’s will awarding $5,000 this fall to one Maryland school for cultural arts programming. For more information about the Sixth Annual Celebrate the Arts contest, visit the store. All entries must be submitted by September 26.
Photos courtesy Susie Currie.