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A Vision Based on Community

History

It All Started in 1967

The organizations that comprise Merritt Companies originally grew out of Merritt Properties, which today owns and manages more commercial space than any privately held developer in the Baltimore/Washington area: nearly 16 million square feet in more than 70 locations. Our commitment to doing what’s right for our customers is evident not only in Merritt Properties, but in the way Merritt Construction Services and Merritt Clubs serve the region.

See how we’ve grown and stayed true to our vision.

1930-1979
1980-1999
2000-2023
Born in 1930, Leroy is raised in a blue collar area dominated by the local steel mill and shipyard. As a young boy working in his parents’ restaurant during the Depression, Leroy learns early the importance of pitching in, working hard and taking care of your customers. With a strong work ethic and aspirations beyond a job in the steel mill, Leroy earns a Senatorial Scholarship to attend Western Maryland College where his entrepreneurial spirit leads him to his first business venture—selling hotdogs and sandwiches in the dorms at night after the cafeteria closed. During summers home from college, he is given his start in construction, working for his uncles who had established a masonry business after returning from World War II.
1930Leroy Merritt born in Depression-era Dundalk, Maryland
Leroy Merritt
After graduating from college and serving the two-year teaching commitment required by his scholarship, Leroy begins building houses, often on spec. He builds more than 60 homes in 10 years.
1953Leroy Merritt begins building houses
Leroy Merrit
In search of an honest builder with whom to partner on apartment buildings, Ed St. John is pointed to Leroy. The two agree to work together. However, instead of apartment buildings, they decide to take advantage of the burgeoning demand for rental warehouse space, a revolutionary concept at the time. They complete their first building—16,000 square feet at 2900 Stafford Street—in southwest Baltimore City, which begins a four-year collaboration between the two men.
1967Leroy Merritt partners with Ed St. John
first warehouse
After four years, Leroy and Ed recognize that they each have their own unique philosophy on business and agree to split the company. Rather than employing a cast of lawyers and accountants, Ed divides the properties into two groups, and Leroy chooses. They move forward separately, each building successful commercial real estate companies and remaining life-long, friendly competitors. After the split, Leroy moves his company into its first offices on Brighton Avenue.
1971Leroy and Ed divide the company
first Merritt office
Scott Dorsey, Leroy’s cousin, joins Leroy’s new company after having spent 5 summers with his father’s concrete company pouring floors for Ed and Leroy’s warehouses. For years, Leroy and Scott share a “desk” made from a door set atop filing cabinets. This allows Scott to learn first-hand Leroy’s approach to business and gift for building long-lasting relationships with customers and vendors alike.
1972Scott Dorsey joins the company
Leroy Merritt and Scott Dorsey
Wishing to make his simple brick warehouses look a little nicer for his customers, Leroy decides to add a mansard roof to two buildings at Aylesbury Business Center. He is surprised to receive a call from the county, expressing concern that the roof may not meet code requirements. While meeting with county officials to review the mansard, a senior official suggests to Leroy that the issue can easily be resolved with a $5,000 contribution to the county executive’s re-election campaign. Leroy refuses and spends over $13,000 fighting the county. He prevails and to this day, the mansard roof is a signature design element on Merritt buildings. The mansard also becomes a symbol to Merritt employees, reminding them of Leroy’s mantra to do what’s right, not what is expedient.
1972First mansard roof installed at Aylesbury Business Center
Aylesbury Business Center
As a recognizable feature on Merritt buildings and a symbol of Leroy’s basic business principles, the mansard roof is incorporated into the company’s logo.
1977Merritt's mansard logo is born
Merritt mansard logo
At the forefront of the racquetball craze, Merritt is approached to lease space for courts in Towson, MD. Unfortunately, once the space is completed, Leroy learns that the investors have backed out of the deal. Recognizing a new opportunity, Leroy takes over the business and opens the first Merritt racquetball facility, the Towson Court Club.
1977Leroy opens his first athletic facility, the Towson Court Club
Towson Court Club
Always interested in new technologies and the efficiencies they bring, Merritt adds the IBM System 32 to the office.
1978Merritt enters the computer age
computer
The Towson Court Club is a success. As the racquetball craze continues, Merritt decides to open another court club. The Annapolis Club opens. Merritt decides to capitalize on the social aspect of racquetball and adds a full-service bar to the club for members. It’s a hit.
1979Annapolis Club opens
Annapolis Club
Merritt opens its third court club. The Security Club is the site of many national racquetball championship matches. Some of these matches are televised.
1980Merritt moves corporate offices to Security Boulevard and opens Security Club
Security Club
Wanting to bring a first-class office building to customers in the suburbs, Merritt builds Timonium I & II with high-end finishes and building amenities expected in a downtown office.
1986Merritt builds its first multi-story office building in Timonium
Timonium One
As the racquetball craze begins to wane, the clubs take advantage of new fitness trends and shift to full-service Athletic Clubs.
1986Clubs evolve from racquetball to full-service clubs
athletic clubs
Dating back to the late 1800s, this iconic waterfront building originally served as home to the Scarlett Seed Company. Merritt transformed the building, combining unique office and retail spaces that integrate contemporary design with the historical architecture and industrial character of the original building.
1987Merritt's first historic renovation at 729 E. Pratt Street
729 East Pratt Street
After graduating college, Robb Merritt joins his father’s company, learning the business from the ground up as Leroy had. He begins his career on the field construction crew.
1989Robb Merritt joins the company
Merritt takes over the Downtown Athletic Club. This historic building was a former train repair station in the early 1900s. Members can still see the arches of the building where trains were brought in for repair. The building has the only wooden roof truss system in the state.
1989Downtown Athletic Club opens
Downtown Athletic Club
1990Merritt Completes its first retail project, Columbia Marketplace
Columbia Marketplace
Situated in the heart of the burgeoning Columbia business district, Merritt begins construction on an 18-acre park that will ultimately include five class A office buildings and retail.
1990Merritt begins its first office park, Columbia Corporate Park
Columbia Corporate Park
With the collapse of the real estate market in the early 90s, Merritt’s 25th anniversary coincides with lean times. “Survive ‘til ’95” becomes the rallying cry. Even the company’s Christmas party consists only of a deli tray and beer, served in a vacant warehouse. While certainly not extravagant, the party is a celebration of the comraderie forged from facing adversity, and it becomes one of Robb Merritt’s favorite memories.
1992Recession hits the commercial real estate industry
deli tray
With a rebounding economy, Scott Dorsey and Robb Merritt travel to New York to seek equity that will allow the company to take advantage of greater development opportunities. What begins as an 8-year investment from Rothschild Realty, grows into a long-term partnership that continues today.
1997Merritt partners with Rothschild Realty
Working with a facilitator, the Merritt team codifies its core values and tagline, “Creating Homes for Businesses.”
1998Merritt holds its first corporate retreat
corporate retreat notes
Seeing another opportunity in the growing market of Loudoun County, Merritt begins expanding beyond Maryland into Northern Virginia. Opening the Virginia office at Ashbrook.
1999Merritt opens Virginia office
Leroy steps away from day-to-day operations, dubbing himself the CFO, Chief Fun Officer. Scott and Robb take over leadership.
2000A new role for Leroy
Leroy Merritt
Merritt kicks off the new millenium with a building boom, completing 16 new properties with more than 1 million square feet in the year 2000 alone.
2000Business is booming
Merritt realizes the increased competition of health clubs in Maryland and decides to start branching off into the family marketing. They start construction on their first family-oriented Club in Eldersburg. The 75,000 square foot facility features a day care, children’s dance studio and two indoor pools. The revitalization of some areas in Baltimore City also makes the Federal Hill area very desirable. Merritt opens another location on Fort Avenue in Locust Point that same year.
2000Eldersburg and Fort Avenue Clubs open
Eldersburg Club
2001Owings Mills Club opens
Owings Mills Club
2002Leroy receives the NAIOP Lifetime Achievement Award
Merritt becomes an official sponsor of the Baltimore Ravens.
2003A hometown company. A hometown team.
Ravens logo
2003Canton and Cranbrook Clubs open
Canton Club
Merritt moves the Fort Ave location from a shopping center to The Foundry, a building owned by Merritt Properties. The club membership has grown so much more space is needed.
2003Merritt's Fort Avenue Club moves to the Foundry
Fort Avenue Club
The loss of Leroy’s legendary warmth and humor is tremendous, but his ethics and approach to business continue to steer the company forward.
2010Leroy Merritt passes away
Hero Leroy
2013Merritt wins business and philanthropy award for charitable and volunteer work
2014Scott receives the NAIOP Lifetime Achievement Award
The White Marsh area is shown to be a popular family market with little competition for Clubs. Merritt Properties buys a parcel of land and Merritt Construction builds the White Marsh location. The 55,000 square foot facility features an outdoor pool, large kids center and indoor cardio movie theater.
2014White Marsh Club opens
White Marsh Club
Merritt notches its seventh LEED-certified building, leading the way in Maryland.
2014Merritt completes 7th LEED building
Major expansion of Canton Club planned alongside development in region.
2015Canton Club expands
201650 years of service
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Leadership

Greater Prosperity for Our Customers
Greater Opportunities for Our Employees

True to Leroy Merritt’s vision, we focus equally on the efficient operation of our businesses and on our impact on the community—our commitment to doing what’s right, every day, for every customer.

Scott Dorsey

Scott Dorsey

Chairman & CEO

Focusing on strategic planning and long-term goals, Scott oversees relations with financial institutions, government agencies, economic development organizations and industry groups. He joined the company in 1972. Scott is Chairman of the Board for the Maryland Economic Development Corporation and Maryland Free (formerly Maryland Business for Responsive Government), and sits on the Board and Executive Committee for the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, the Young Life-Urban Baltimore Board of Directors, M&T Bank Greater Baltimore/Washington Director’s Advisory Council, the Baltimore County Economic Development Commission, Caves Valley Golf Club Foundation, the Board of Trustees for Junior Achievement of Central Maryland and the Greater Baltimore Medical Center Corporate Leadership Council. In addition, he has served on the Maryland Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education (Kirwan Commission) since its inception in September 2016. He is also a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University and an MBA from Loyola University in Maryland.

Robb Merritt

President

Robb oversees daily operations and management of the company, having learned the development business from the ground up. He is former president of the Baltimore Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and is currently a member of the Legislative Committee. He also sits on the President’s Advisory Council for the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Baltimore County Economic Development Commission. At the national level, he has served on the NAIOP Industrial Development III National Forum and as a governor on the NAIOP Research Foundation. In addition, Robb is a board member for the Maryland Business Leadership PAC, Living Classrooms Foundation and National Aquarium. A graduate of the University of Colorado, Robb received an MBA from Loyola University.

One Family. Three Companies. Five Decades of Service.

Creating Homes for Businesses

We believe in simply doing what’s right, every day for every customer. It’s a pretty uncommon notion in the commercial real estate industry, because it means going beyond what’s simply required. It means doing whatever is necessary to address your needs, put your mind at ease, and create a comfortable home for your business.

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Building a Better Way

Merritt stands for respect, collaboration, and quality because that’s what our founder expected from his team. He saw these as essentials often promised but seldom delivered, so he developed a thoughtful, flexible approach to construction – an approach we follow to this day. Before we complete a project that’s worthy of your business, we believe we have to do a job that’s true to our name.

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Fitness That Matters

We’re changing the way Baltimore thinks about fitness. Each facility is designed to meet the needs of the neighborhood it serves, continually evolving programs to bring people together through new experiences that support the overall well-being of our members. We’re not just supporting active lifestyles, we’re creating a happier, healthier community.

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Maryland
2066 Lord Baltimore Drive, Baltimore, MD 21244
(410) 298-2600  •  Driving Directions

Merritt Properties, LLC, Industrial Property Management, Baltimore, MD