AFRO Intern
What was once a struggling shopping center with boarded-up storefronts and few visitors has now become a lively commercial hub, home to a growing mix of restaurants, retailers and salons situated beside Morgan State University.
The transformation of the former Northwood Plaza began in 2018. Nearly seven years later, the now-thriving Northwood Commons has welcomed a wave of new tenants. Among them is Estie Lash, a modern beauty studio founded by 27-year-old esthetician Lashae Wesley, who’s been operating in the plaza for just over eight months.
With seven years of experience in the beauty industry, including five as a licensed esthetician, Wesley began by working on her own before managing a small store for four years. Even then, she says opening a storefront at Northwood felt out of reach…