On November 21st, the Linwood Center Boutique celebrated its Grand Opening in historic downtown Ellicott City while several hundred people looked on. While enjoying food, entertainment and the ambiance of the Ellicott City shoppes, the ceremony took place in the large parking lot just outside the Boutique.
Bill Moss, Linwood’s executive director, welcomed everyone and with the ShowTime Singers looking on, introduced the honorable Senator Allan Kittleman (pictured), members of Linwood’s board of directors and other notable people attending. He talked about the Boutique’s role in advancing Linwood’s mission to create the possibility of extraordinary lives for people living with autism. The Boutique is a vocational training site for many of Linwood Center’s adult services program participants. It also provides employment opportunities for a number of these individuals.
Dan Flannery,who left Linwood’s board of directors last year to focus his efforts on building out the new store and getting it up and running, now serves as the Boutique’s store manager. During the ceremony, he talked about Linwood’s “Retail 101” program, where Linwood’s program participants are learning the basic skills necessary to function in a retail environment.
Those who attended the event were then directed to focus their attention to the front door for the ribbon cutting ceremony where Senator Kittleman officially opened the Boutique by ceremoniously cutting the ribbon. He was joined by Dan Flannery, Bill Moss, April Jensen, Linwood’s director of adult services, Kyle Brown and Tim Noel, two of Linwood’s program participants, and Jack Boender, Linwood’s board president.
After the ceremony, the audience was entertained by the ShowTime Singers, a mixed chorus that performed show tunes, old standards and a patriotic medley of Irving Berlin songs.
Grand Opening photo gallery
Inside the boutique photo gallery
Linwood Center Boutique is open 7 days per week with extended hours during the holiday season. We look forward to seeing you there.
Linwood Center Boutique
8307 Main Street
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
(Lower level – rear. Behind La Palapa)
410-988-5192
Linwood Center Boutique, offering the flavor of the shoppes in Old Ellicott City, specializes in original art, new and gently used furniture, jewelry and apparel. We are currently featuring the works of Carolina Moon and the Eastern Shore artists.
Linwood Center Boutique provides employment and training opportunities for adults living with autism who currently receive services from Linwood Center.