I think it's a case by case basis. I'd pick some Columbia places over EC and vice versa. Some houses will be worth the CA payments, others won't be.

They both have their own appeals and things in between. Ellicott city has the historic old ec and the many nature hiking paths around it. It is also the most cultural diverse area within Howard county, from Asian markets and more as you drive up towards Catonsville.

Columbia has the mall and merryweather area which is known for Concerts, seasonal drive through events such as the Christmas symphony lights, and the Toby theatre. There are plenty of different hiking trails and nature reserves, all throughout. There’s other communities you might like around Columbia as well, such as maple lawn, Fulton, which in my experience has a great community that interacts with each other through the many restaurants and retail buildings within the area. Next to that and still around the Columbia area is Clarksville, one of the more expensive areas around river hill. Plenty of modern homes surrounded by nature and farmland, and town areas.

Columbia has gone downhill a bit. Large developers are trying to lure in out people which is slowly degrading the charm of the city. Ellicott city is way more family oriented now

Echoing others here, both are great. Columbia is a bit more manicured, ellicott city has some older homes with added charm. They are right next to each other and easy to pop back and forth.

They’re right next to each other, so regardless of where you end up you’ll be able to get to the other easily. Columbia does have the Columbia Association, which maintains a ton of walking paths and tot lots throughout the city, and has gyms and pool memberships for an additional fee. You pay an annual fee to CA each year based on value of your home (assuming you own your home)

Can't go wrong with either of them. You do have to pay a HOA fee in Columbia Association parcels, but that gets you great walking/hiking trails. Not as familiar with EC so I'll let some else speak to the details.

Memories of shopping at CompUSA

Sound business reasoning.

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207 was a Columbia legacy store that had a long term lease and the rent was significantly cheaper than at Columbia Crossing.

They were offered right of refusal for CC when it was built and Office Depot wanted to move in so they opened a second store to stop Office Depot. They had no reason to keep it open once Elkridge was built and OD moved in.

Oh damn, you're right. Over by the Dicks it was a Staples. My bad

Do you know why they chose to close the larger of the two? I'm sure there was a good reason, but I was surprised when it happened.

Wasn't #1053 the long gate where "corporate" was located?

Yes! I never understood why we needed two Staples within 2 minutes of one another. And then we also have another one at Long Gate in Ellicott City which is about 10 minutes away. The Columbia Crossing location is a Homesense now, I think?

Yes. Store on Snowden is #207 and store in Columbia Crossing was #482. Source. Worked at both over a 6 year span.

Office Depot put a store where Aldi is when the Elkridge shopping center opened but it closed.

Not a good time for office stores. Good time for home furnishing stores though…

Office Max was over at Gateway Overlook but has been closed for a while and is now an Aldi.

The Staples location at Columbia Crossing is now Home Sense. The other Staples location at Snowden Square is still open.

Big Lots was also in Columbia Crossing but on the other side near JoAnn Fabrics. However, I noticed this past weekend that it is now closed.

Hey! We put on the Nutcracker On Ice every year at the Columbia Ice Rink. It's always a sold out show at every performance. Almost all the work that goes into it is volunteered by parents of skaters. Plenty of holiday spirit at the ice rink!

Yes they ran in parallel for quite a few years.

Yes, there was a staples near Dicks sporting goods. I believe that’s where the Homesense is now.

Yeah it was an office max for a while, then a big lots. Now it's empty. Been so for... a while.

This used to mess me up too. Was one of them an Office Max, maybe? I mean... tomato, tomahto, etc.

Bob Evans. Hands down the best holiday meals I’ve ever had. Ever since we lost my mom, my dad and I will go eat there on pretty much any major holiday and it’s soooo good. Their turkey is fire 🔥

Boston Market?

I do ICC. Mall area to Shady Grove&270 is 35-40 mins.