Solar Gaines and Hannah’s Café Select North Park in Hunt Valley for New Locations

BALTIMORE, MD (May 5, 2026) - Solar Gaines, LLC will relocate its corporate headquarters to the North Park business community in Hunt Valley, Maryland this summer. The commercial solar construction company, which operates across four states and the District of Columbia, employs more than 300 full-time workers, the majority of whom are based on job sites throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Solar Gaines has signed a lease with St. John Properties, Inc. for 15,036 square feet of space at 4 North Park Drive, part of a three-building, 300,000-square-foot Class 'A' office portfolio acquired by the commercial real estate firm last summer.

In addition, locally owned and independently operated Hannah's Café will open its second restaurant location at 4 North Park Drive in late summer.

These transactions represent the first leases executed by St. John Properties since its acquisition of the 25-acre North Park site, located at the intersection of York Road and Shawan Road. Stephanie Caronna of St. John Properties represented the landlord in both leases. Ryan Miller and George Santos of CBRE represented Solar Gaines.

Solar Gaines designs, procures, installs, and maintains large-scale solar energy systems for developers, as well as commercial property owners and operators across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.Its rooftop and ground-mounted systems are engineered to deliver clean energy either to solar developers-who then distribute power to subscribers-or directly to commercial buildings. These solutions are designed to reduce electricity costs, support sustainability initiatives, generate tax advantages, and enhance long-term asset value. Solar Gaines was founded in 2009 by Tom Gaines and Hans Wittich.

"The solar energy sector is growing rapidly, as companies spanning nearly every industry are embracing the substantial financial and environmental benefits, and we are also expanding quickly to service the new requirements," stated Wittich.

"We outgrew our existing space but wanted to stay in the immediate Hunt Valley area because our team enjoys the lower congestion and slower pace, as well as the diverse amenities," added Gaines. "North Park emerged because of the building's extensive window lines and the picturesque views. The nearby walking trails, which our employees will use to relax and unwind during the workday, are also a plus."

Hannah Seidman realized her dream of opening her own restaurant at age 26 - a plan first formulated while in middle school - when she founded Hannah's Café at 215 Washington Avenue in 2022. The breakfast and lunch establishment was met with immediate success as it satisfied the daily requirements of businesspeople working throughout the Towson and York Road corridors, as well as developing a robust catering operation. Regular customers particularly gravitated towards the breakfast burritos and chicken Caeser salad wraps.

"After perfecting our menu and processes, we are ready to scale operations with a second location and Hunt Valley represented the next submarket for growth based on its diverse and energetic business environment, as well as the proximity to residential communities," Seidman explained. "We specialize in a diverse menu including healthy choices and comfort food, and it is extremely important to source locally to support local farmers and utilize the freshest and best-tasting ingredients possible."

Hannah's Café will occupy 1,967 square feet of space and employ approximately 15 workers. Menu options include breakfast sandwiches, homemade soups such as Matzo Ball, avocado toast, bagel and lox, flatbreads, and submarine sandwiches such as meatball parm and tuna melt. Seidman mastered her craft while attending culinary arts school at Johnson & Wales University before working in several local restaurants.

St. John Properties invests more than $2 million in business community makeover

The North Park portfolio features on-site amenities including a large conference center with kitchenette, fitness center, and walking trails. The business community offers convenient access to abundant retail and dining options, including the adjacent Hunt Valley Towne Centre, a mixed-use project anchored by Wegmans Food Markets. The location is transit-connected via the MTA light rail and bus routes, and offers easy access to I-83 and I-695.

Immediately following its acquisition of the portfolio last year, St. John Properties invested in a $2 million improvement strategy focused on the replacement of the existing HVAC systems, upgrading the interior common areas, installing new signage, and refreshing the landscaping to create a modern, inviting environment for tenants and visitors.

"We purchased North Park because we were confident in the location and knew we could implement strategic improvements to make the park more attractive to tenants," stated Matt Lenihan, Executive Vice President of Leasing for St. John Properties. "The addition of a high-quality café was a missing element, and we are excited to have an established operator like Hannah's join us. Solar Gaines is our first new headquarters lease since the acquisition, and we are seeing strong demand as the Hunt Valley office market continues to improve."

Founded in 1971, St. John Properties, Inc. is one of the nation's largest and most successful privately held commercial real estate firms. The company is distinguished by its commitment to customer service, achievements in green building, and top-rated workplace culture. Throughout St. John Properties' 55-year history, the company has developed more than 25 million square feet of flex/R&D, office, retail, and warehouse space and has investments in over 3,000 residential units. The company proudly serves more than 2,700 clients in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.

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