Howard County and Columbia claim to be representative of many heritages, but from my perspective it is white-bread, big-box brand name with catering to the upscale community. All the village centers have the standard bank, fast food, drug store, dry cleaners, etc, etc, etc. Why not have something really different to attract more than the Wilde Lake residents?

A letter last week mentioned HMart on Rolling Road. In the last few years the Route 40/U.S. 29 Triangle has become a center for Korean food and other Asian shopping attractions. In fact, Route 40 in both directions is spotted with successful Korean-owned businesses.

However, if someone wants Latino merchandise and foods you have to drive to Prince George's county. Why not have a true Latin mercado in Wilde Lake? There are large numbers of Central and South Americans, not to mention previous residents of Texas and other Southwestern states, who would love to have a local Latino mercado.

So I cast my vote for a mercado in Wilde Lake with a grocery and several small specialty shops. I would fight to be the first customer! And while I'm there I would shop at the other stores.

Virginia Wray

Kings Contrivance