Unlike most Sandy Spring crossroads, Norbeck was slow to sprout the usual general store and blacksmith/wheelwright shops.

Stonestreet was operating his large store and the postal service, Walter H. White owned the blacksmith shop—and Norbeck's commercial course was set.

The side streets were developed some time ago, prior to the massive spread of the Washington suburbs.

It is also very convenient to many Washington DC [sic] areas, with Rockville Pike's commercial corridor being a quick drive west on Route 28, the District being south on Georgia Avenue, and Baltimore and other parts of Maryland to the east.

Being on the outer edge of the densest part of suburban Washington DC, [sic] it is also now an area under intense pressure for change.