Part 3: Shopping and Retailing at the Heart of the Columbia Plan (via Maryland Reporter)

Part 3: Shopping and Retailing at the Heart of the Columbia Plan (via Maryland Reporter)

By Len Lazarick

Tony Tringali is a living fossil, a historical remnant of ancient Columbia. His barbershop in the Wilde Village Center is not just antique; it qualifies for a plaque as a historic landmark of the Founding Father’s plans.

Tony is the last merchant standing from those that opened their doors 49 years ago for the first Columbia residents. Before the mall, before Route 175, before the eight other village centers opened, there was Tony. [Unfortunately, Tony died March 20, 2017, six months after this article was first published.]

Through thick and thin, he’s been there. In recent years, it’s been mighty thin as the Giant grocery that opened with him was first expanded and then torn down. Regular customers like me would have to figure out how to get to the shop hemmed in by construction fencing, mud and broken sidewalks.

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