In Greenbelt, MD there are many businesses that have been around for many years. A lot of the businesses and buildings in Greenbelt hold a lot of history. Today we will be jumping into the history of some businesses in the Roosevelt Center, the Greenbelt Cinema and the Greenbelt Co-op. The Co-op wasn’t always just the Co-op, and neither was the cinema. There were many twists and turns in throughout its history.
The historical Greenbelt cinema was first opened in 1938, located in Roosevelt Center. The cinema had an opening attraction of “Little Miss Broadway” with Sherley Temple. Although the cinema had a great start it was only opened for just about 40 years before it closed in 1976. But that closing didn’t last too long before the reopening in 1980, but soon closing again in 1987. Sometime after the second closing it was purchased by P & G Theatres and was reopened once again in the year 1990. During the years 2014-2015 things got exciting for the cinema because the City of Greenbelt renovated the theatre. The original seating of the cinema was designed in an Art Deco style by the architects Reginald S. Wadsworth and Douglas O. Ellington. The Greenbelt cinema is known as one of the best movie houses in the capital area.
As a staple business of Old Greenbelt, the Greenbelt Co-op not only provides quality products at an affordable price, but is living proof of the impact of smaller businesses. The Greenbelt Co-op provides food for another Roosevelt Plaza veteran, Generous Joes. The two restaurants’ symbiotic relationship provides convenience for the customer and the owners, as Old Greenbelt citizens benefit from both the high-quality foods served by Joe’s and the fresh ingredients held by The Greenbelt Co-op. As one of the highlights of the community, the Co-op naturally holds a deep history. The Co-op used to be a gas station, a mechanic, and a general store. But when the mechanic business went under, a group of individuals and neighbors came together to pull the co-op together and create the store we know today. This development continued, with management working hard to “make a place that will be thriving for decades”, said the co-op’s general manager. In specific, she highlights that there was “lots of positive change” at the co-op since Dan Gillotte, the co-op’s general manager, stepped in.
In the modern day, the co-op is not without trials or developments. Specifically, the co-op has the difficult challenge of balancing the products for all customers. To address this issue, management had to learn that they “can’t meet everyone’s needs, but can streamline the needs of the majority and supporters while reaching the new market”. Not just management, but everyone working in the co-op shows themselves to be dedicated and express a sense of togetherness. Throughout all of the interviews, each person expressed the “tight-knit community” that was built in the co-op. Furthermore, “the systems and practices have modernized and improved for the better”, said one co-op employee. These developments and community are visible, as young and old customers alike see the store see and appreciate these changes. It’s “different in a good way”, said Eleanor Roosevelt alumni X’zavier Holland says, “It’s a nice place to be in”. The co-op in the modern age is a love letter to its community, and a bastion of quality goods and people for us all.
