Mount Airy is thriving with business. There are boutiques, plenty of supermarkets, an abundance of restaurants and parks and other recreational activities for the entire family, but could there be more?

The Peacock Shopping Center (more commonly recognized as the old Superfresh building) has been a hot topic of discussion in Mount Airy since the Superfresh’s closing in 2011. There were excited whisperings about the area being turned into a movie theater, but according to the February 2014 Town Council Minutes, the Carroll Hospital Center is installing health buildings and offices in the center.

Heather Smith, Town Planner, said that there was an unanticipated delay in the medical center’s progress, but it appears to be back on track. “Town staff will be working with representatives from Carroll Hospital Center in the next few months to realize the finite details of the plan to re-purpose the vacant grocery and retail tenant spaces.”

According to a Lancer Media survey, of the 1,072 responses, only six respondents said they would prefer the Mt. Airy empty spaces to be used as office space.

According to a website that aggregates listings of medical businesses, Health Grade, there are already twenty-four different medical practices already established in the town, not including gyms and fitness centers. Excluding recreational parks, there are only four listed leisure activities: a farm, a pottery painting center, bowling lanes, and a museum.

Although the Superfresh space is claimed, there are several other available commercial properties in the area. Smith shares that the Carroll Health and Wellness buildings will not occupy the space that once held Blockbuster next to Ledo’s Pizza and the Hair Cuttery. The old Four Seasons Restaurant off of Interstate 70, the empty bank on the corner of Main Street and Prospect Road, and a two-level building on Ridge Road are only a few of the other commercial retail space offered in the town.

According to the survey, the most popular idea for abandoned sites was establishing entertainment facilities (almost 50% of the vote). Fifty-one percent of the entertainment supporters said their facility of choice would be a movie theater. Other popular responses were a trampoline park and an ice skating rink.

About 25% of survey respondents supported opening either a Chick-fil-A or a Panera somewhere in the town.

Town Council liaison to the Planning Committee, Chris Everich, said the town of Mount Airy “absolutely wants business,” and said that the town will do anything they can to help businesses thrive in the town.

The Town Council cannot directly invite businesses to come to the town. They can’t even make sure they get the building the business desires– that is all done privately between the building owner and the business owner. However, the town can recommend possible buildings that could be used and help to make the set-up process run as smoothly as possible.

He said that the town can offer economic incentives such as rebates and tax credits to make doing business in Mount Airy “more attractive.”

He revealed that there are ways Linganore and the rest of the Mount Airy community can get involved. He encourages people in the town to voice their opinion. “The Council and Mayor are always interested in views from across our community.” He promises that no email to a council member goes without a response.

To become more involved, he suggested that members of the community voice their opinions at the Town Council meetings. The next meeting will be held at the Town Hall on Main Street in Mount Airy on May 2, 2015.

Lastly, the most important thing people can do is lobby the business they would like to see come to Mount Airy.

“If you want a Panera or Chick-fil-A, tell them! As council members, we can’t seek them out, but you guys can. Email them; go to them; let them know you want them to come to your town,” said Everich.

If you or someone you know is interested in the prospects of Mount Airy, you can get involved by visiting the Town of Mount Airy website and viewing council members’ contact information or business development page.