How MCB and Morgan State Alumni Are Transforming Northwood Commons

MCB has always been committed to ensuring that the properties we own contribute to the strength and vitality of the community. A prime example of this dedication is Northwood Commons (formerly Northwood Plaza), located near the historic Morgan State University in Baltimore. MCB and our development partners made a substantial capital investment in this 120,000-square-foot destination, which offers a seamless blend of retail, dining, and essential services. These enhancements complement Morgan State’s extensive expansion efforts, backed by more than $160 million invested in the nearby Northwood Campus.

In October 2024, Morgan Magazine highlighted how Northwood Commons has evolved beyond a retail center, becoming a valuable resource for faculty, residents, and the university’s 8,000 students. The development has also created exciting opportunities for several Morgan alumni business owners. Alongside the university’s Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Public Safety Department, visitors can explore a variety of businesses offering essential products and services. Notably, five of these enterprises are led by Morgan State alumni—underscoring the university’s enduring influence on local entrepreneurship and MCB’s ongoing commitment to supporting both the community and emerging business leaders in Charm City.

Tiffany Hawkins, a shareholder with the New York City-based wealth management firm Momentum Advisors and a member of Morgan’s Class of 2005, highlights MCB’s efforts by saying, “We got connected with them (MCB) very, very early, and they asked us if we knew anymore Morgan alum and minority business owners who wanted to be tenants in the development. We see them as Northwood has opened: Morgan alum — minority-owned franchisees and non-franchise system (business owners). That was by design. That was not by accident”

Click the here to read the full story in Morgan Magazine.