It has been a long slow decline for Harold's Market since former owner Ronnal Simpson moved to Florida.
Today, Harold's has been reduced to rubble, and it is uncertain what will happen to the property it occupied now that the new owners are seeking a zoning change through Baltimore County's Comprehensive Zoning Map Process.
Located at 1750 E. Joppa Road for nearly 40 years, it had been the place to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables for those who didn't want to bother with the parking and check out lines of a large supermarket.
It was a local institution, by all accounts. But it closed about a year ago, except for a pit beef enterprise located at its rear. According to state property records, it was sold in July to BSH Properties for $425,000.
The bulldozer began tearing down Harold's just before Thanksgiving. By December, even the rubble was gone.
"People have been amazed," said Perry Hall resident Greg Seward, who in recent weeks has been selling Christmas trees at the rear of what had been Harold's parking lot, as he has since 1965. "They just can't believe it.
"In its heyday, Harold's had 50 part-time employees, mainly kids from the neighborhood," he said. "Oh, well, this is America. Things change daily."
Indeed, the change in zoning would allow a change in how the 4.58-acre property on the north side of Joppa could be used. The request for the zoning change is CZMP Issue-5-024.
According to 5th District planner Donnel Zeigler, the property is now zoned for residential use for no more than 5.5 dwellings per acre.
The BSH subsidiary is seeking zoning that would allow local business use for the 1.54 acres nearest Joppa, which would include enterprises similar to those on either side of Harold's.
"It's an opportunity to make improvements," said attorney Rob Hoffman, who represents BSH
The owner of the Harold's property also owns the Salvation Army Thrift Store property next door, he said.
New commercial zoning would allow the owner to improve both properties and, in the short term, provide more parking for the thrift store, which is on a lease.
It would also help with long-term improvements involving low density retail, whether the thrift store is involved or not, Hoffman said.
Loch Raven area activist Donna Spicer said that, considering the shape it was in, she was glad to see Harold's torn down.
"It looked like hell," she said. "The gravel parking lot was unsafe, just a step away from people twisting their ankles. Cars would park all over the place and the doors were hanging off the refrigerator system they'd stuck outside. Animals could crawl in and die there."
A new building or buildings could be promising, she said.
"We'd like to see an upgrade to encourage other business owners to spiff up," Spicer said.
But the biggest change could come from the request to change the zoning on the remaining 3.02 acres: the wooded area at the rear of Harold's and east of residential Emge Road. BSH is seeking a classification that would allow 16 dwelling units per acre. The DR-16 classification also allow town houses and apartment buildings.
Hoffman said the owner has no definite plans, but considering the Genesis Loch Raven nursing home and assisted living facility is nearby on Emge Road, "maybe additional senior housing would be appropriate," he said.