Town Center Market in the heart of Riverdale Park started as a corner store and turned into a destination. Now it’s expanding it’s outdoor seating area to accommodate an even larger crowd.
The Spiropoulos family bought the building in 1988 along with some other real estate around the historic train station at the center of Riverdale Park.
They then took over the existing Dumm’s Corner Market, which they renamed in 2012 as the Town Center Market, and moved to a newer building less than 100 feet away.
Today, the Town Center Market focuses on grocery staples like ketchup and cereal as well as an extensive beer, wine and liquor section, including beer and wine on tap, a growler filling station and wines from Maryland and Virginia as well as Europe, Australia and California.
But as on other parts of Route 1, alcohol has turned out to be quite the attraction, owner Jim Spiropoulos told the Hyattsville Wire in an interview.
“We’ve always had a great base of the regulars, but the store has attracted people from outside of the area as it’s become a destination store for hard to find craft beer and bourbons,” he said.
He noted that the store recently had some 10-year and 12-year bottles of Pappy Van Winkle, a rare, limited-edition bourbon, as well as George T. Stagg, both of which are “very difficult to come by.”
The market also holds regular tastings and other events, often bringing in local food trucks to serve customers on its outdoor patio.
Now, Spiropoulos is expanding the outdoor section to include permanent roof and space for outdoor heaters that will allow people to sit outside comfortable, even when it’s cold and wet, offering a three-season patio.
“This mini expansion gives us more seating outside and protects customers from the elements,” he said.
Spiropoulos is waiting on some permits to clear and says the patio expansion should be completed by the spring.
When asked what he thought about the new development along Route 1 and specifically in Riverdale Park, he said:
“With the arrival of the Cafritz development with Whole Foods being there, it’s really changing the face of the area, especially our town, and I think it’s great to watch it happen. Though we are anxiously awaiting the opening of the bridge. We’ve been a little choked off since they closed Lafayette Ave.”
