Lee & Associates brokers sale of 1030 Cromwell Bridge Road to entrepreneurs to fuel expansion of separate companies, and move from former 2,000 square foot operation in Jarrettsville

Ali von Paris, while attending the University of Maryland at College Park at the age of twenty, founded Route One Apparel from her small apartment located near campus. When he was fifteen years of age, Mike Cooke started a company selling silver jewelry while living at home and attending high school. The now twenty-seven year old entrepreneurs, each separately managing rapidly-growing business entities with international presences, have jointly acquired a single-story 14,000 square foot building at 1030 Cromwell Bridge Road in the Towson section of Baltimore County to fuel future expansion.

Kate Jordan, Principal of Lee & Associates Chesapeake Region brokered the transaction on behalf of the two companies. Route One Apparel and Sterling Forever, the company owned by Cooke, intend to relocate from their current 2,000 square foot building in Jarrettsville by the end of the year. David Dannenfelser and Tyler Boykin of JLL represented the seller in this transaction.

“Route One Apparel and Sterling Forever are separately pointed in upward trajectories because their respective owners are high-achievers, they have recognized and seized upon sales opportunities in diverse industries and share a deep affection of the State of Maryland,” explained Kate Jordan of Lee & Associates. “The couple is also dating, which adds additional spark to this feel-good business story which will result in the doubling of employment bases for each venture. Both entities have positively impacted the economic development environment of Baltimore County and will continue to do so.”

Each company plans to more than double their respective workforces within the next six months to one year after taking occupancy of the building, to accommodate continued business growth.

1030 Cromwell Bridge Road is configured to support a combination of office, warehouse/distribution and logistics space. The building, positioned less than one mile from Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway), features thirteen to fifteen foot ceiling heights, two dock doors and one drive-in door. It is surrounded by a free, surface parking lot that can accommodate numerous cars and trucks.

Route One Apparel currently markets more than 1,500 products featuring State of Maryland branding ranging from clothing, headwear and footwear, to jewelry, home goods and pet-related merchandise. The company sells the majority of its items through the Internet, but also operates a store within the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market on York Road in Cockeysville and sells wholesale to more than 50 retail locations across the state. Route One Apparel maintains license agreements with the University of Maryland and Natty Boh for additional product lines and also offers nautical, America, Washington, D.C. and America themed-based items, among others.

“It was extremely important to find a new location within Baltimore County to strengthen our relationships with various local businesses and educational institutions, and this new building is perfectly suited to accommodate our continued rapid growth,” stated Ali von Paris, founder and owner of Route One Apparel. We plan to grow our current five full-time employees to approximately ten to twelve, while also providing office space for many of our team members that are now working remotely. The space will be utilized for our administrative, creative and marketing divisions, as well as for warehouse and logistics operations. After outgrowing our former building, this is an extremely necessary step for us to operate under the same roof and formulate and execute plans to achieve our future growth objectives.”

According to von Paris, the on-going expansion of the company includes securing additional license agreements with companies, brands and educational institutions. They are also working on fostering internship and job placement programs with local universities. In addition, Route One Apparel is seeking opportunities that span nationally.

Sterling Forever, which sells merchandise directly to consumers, maintains relationships with national retailers Nordstrom and Free People and operates a sales showroom in Los Angeles, employs six workers locally and an additional six outside the area, also intends to expand its workforce in response to the company’s “doubling in size within the past year,” according to owner Mike Cooke. The company offers a diverse selection of bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings and chokers.

“The shared work environment is a good fit for both companies, and we can achieve efficiency of operations by continuing with this arrangement,” Cooke added. “Both Ali and I are extremely driven, share a love for our home state, and are managing fast-growing business models. We draw energy from each other, learn together and are also motivated by the respective success of our companies. This purchase represents the ideal situation in the continued evolution of our companies.”

“By starting and growing exciting small businesses and creating jobs, these young entrepreneurs are truly helping to change Maryland for the better,” said Governor Hogan. ”Congratulations on this new location, where they can continue to thrive and grow their businesses in our state."

Lee & Associates is a commercial real estate brokerage, management and appraisal services firm. Established in 1979, Lee & Associates has grown its service platform to include offices in the United States and Canada. Lee & Associates provides superior market intelligence in office, industrial, retail, investment and appraisal to meet the specialized needs of our clients. Visit www.leeassociates.com