7550 Main Street
Photograph from Gate House Archive.
Harris Food Market
History
The storefront of 7550 mirrors that of its neighbor at 7548 Main Street, having also been tied to the Harris family's businesses, which operated for 76 years on Main Street in various locations.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
Awaiting updates from the SHDC.
1911 Sanborn Map
This selection from a 1911 fire map of Sykesville shows the footprint of this address as a store ("S") as seen at location 118 on this map.
1924 Sanborn Map
This fire map of Sykesville shows the address (listed here at location 118) as a storefront..
1975
Harris Food Market is seen in this 1975 photograph from the Gate House collection.
1983
Harris Food Market is seen in this 1983 Photo.
1996
This photo by R. Berry from the Gate House collection shows the Mission Store operating at this address.
(Undated) likely c. 1940s
This image, taken from the hill across from 7550 shows a fire response in an undated photograph. Based on clothing, we believe this to be the 1940s or early 1950s, despite the use of the earlier fire engine.
Site Use
Research is ongoing to confirm the historical use of this property. If you see any errors or have additional information, please contact the Museum through the methods at the bottom of the page
Confirmed Use as of October 22, 2025:
c. 1913-???: Harris Department Store, run by J. Marion Harris had opened in Sykesville in 1901 in this building, but relocated several times along Main Street from 1913-1977 (see also: 7548 Main Street).
1921-1923: The Woman's Store, with John Harris as Proprietor, operates at this address. A grocery department is included as part of the store as early as 1922 (Sykesville Herald, 16 September 1921; 20 April 1922; Sykesville Herald-Messenger, 1 March 1923).
1983: Harris Food Market (see photo above)
1986: Tae Kwon Do classes are held at this address sponsored by the Town of Sykesville ( Carroll County Times, 22 Jan 1986, p. 9)
1989: Land transfers from John Harris to Charles B. and Bonnie L. Mullins (Carroll County Times, 5 March 1989, p. 10)
1992-1996: New Mission Store opens at Sykesville in 1992 and remains at this location through at least 1996 (Carroll County Times, 15 February 1992, p.3; see also: above photo) This new site was an extension of the Westminster Rescue Mission (Carroll County Times, 18 February 1992, p.1)
2004: Chesapeake Coins, Maryland Antique Galleries, and Reflections of History Antiques operate at this location (2004 Centennial on the Tracks Walking Map)
2012: SK Printing ("Sykesville Past and Present" Linda Greenberg, 2012)
2024-present (2025): Foxy Boutique, a womens clothing store, operates at this address run by Leomara Pendleton ("Foxy Boutique Marks Opening in Sykesville." The Baltimore Sun, 13 October 2024, p. A005)