AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services,
and Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena
May 29th was a banner day for entrepreneur Rose Walker’s Bohemian Black fashion boutique as it opened for business at 1915 Annapolis Towne Centre Blvd, suite 915 having relocated from its original Severna Park address.
Opening day represented the fourth of five major transitions for the fashion and lifestyle brand. Bohemian Black was created by Walker in November of 2021 as an outgrowth of her company Walking Roses which did personal styling, helping individuals select the right apparel for their body types. The company was originally known as the House of Design in conjunction with Walker’s mother – a talented seamstress who created stylish apparel but sadly passed away. Daughter Rose managed to revamp the concept of the business while keeping her mother’s legacy alive.
Bohemian Black first came to the attention of local residents at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s SHOPTOBERFEST 2022 at Park Plaza when Walker set up an exotic tent to market fall fashions with a BoHo Chic vibe. Shoppers were drawn to the display like bees to honey.
For a year or two, Walker displayed similar creativity while marketing her clothing, jewelry and home products at various events in Severna Park, Arnold and neighboring communities, and through Bohemian Black Festivals and fashion shows she held in collaboration with other vendors at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company. She was determined to establish Bohemian Black as a well-recognized brand in the fashion/lifestyle retail market.
She’d been looking for a space to open a bricks and mortar storefront boutique two years ago when introduced to the Listman property being redeveloped at the corner of Earleigh Heights Road and the Baltimore Annapolis Trail opposite the Ranger Station. She accepted an offer for a space there.
Unfortunately, the Listman property’s owners were tied up carrying out the extensive renovations required but Walker badly needed space to accommodate her growing inventory of clothing. She couldn’t afford to wait, so the owners agreed to remodel and restore a former garage attached to the store’s first floor for her.
On September 22, 2024, the innovative stylist finally opened the brick-and-mortar version of her fashion boutique Bohemian Black by Walking Roses at 45 W. Earleigh Heights Road.
Just past the Severna Park Taphouse, opposite The Yoga Barn, and parallel to the B&A Trail, it was easy to spot and seemed a promising location.
With two floors, the interior of the building provided sufficient room to show off various collections of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, jewelry and products for the home. There was a problem, however.
“Even though the shop was located just off the B&A Trail, the area wasn’t conducive to retail traffic. People just didn’t come to busy Earleigh Heights Road to shop,” Rose Walker said.
After less than a year of operation, she made a difficult but imaginative decision. She relocated the Bohemian Black boutique to a space at Annapolis Town Center but transformed the original Severna Park location into the Bohemian Black Studio. A July 9th posting on the company’s Instagram page proclaimed, “A New Chapter for Our Severna Park Location”, and introduced Bohemian Black Studio — a flexible, inspiring space where creatives, entrepreneurs, and dreamers can gather to style, shoot, teach, host, and create.
Though closed when we drove by on the last day of August, we learned from Walker that a transformation was taking place inside to ready the Bohemian Black Studio for this Sunday’s September Market at The Station from 9 am till 2 pm. Roughly two dozen vendors will be on hand for the market with a diverse range of products.
Walker said she is already accepting bookings for Bohemian Black Studio spaces into October. She notes that the facility can be adapted for use as a co-working space, a place for client meetings, a place for non-profits to host workshops or events, a space for content meetings or photo shoots or even as a convenient location for a book club.
As mentioned at the opening of the column, the opening of the Bohemian Black boutique at Annapolis Town Center on May 29th was another monumental step forward for the brand. Rose Walker said she loves being located along Annapolis Towne Center Boulevard with other retailers, nearby restaurants, a coffee shop and lots of foot traffic from the condominium residents and people who come there specifically to shop.
Walker also is pleased to have more floor space to carry handmade items from over 15 women-owned businesses that make and market their own merchandise. She’s excited about the latest chapter for her business and hopes that those who became familiar with Bohemian Black in Severna Park will visit the new store in Annapolis or avail themselves of the versatile space that is Bohemian Black Studio.
Broadway Songfest & Silent Auction to benefit SPAN, Inc. on September 20
A Broadway Songfest benefitting SPAN, Inc. created and performed by vocalist and actress Laurette Hankins-O’Connell with pianist/singer Anita O’Connor will be held September 20th at the St. Martin’s in-the-Field Episcopal Church Parish Hall along with a Silent Auction on September 20th at 5 pm.
This is the fifth year Hankins-O’Connell has done a benefit concert for SPAN. (Last year’s concert raised $9,000 for the organization.) Her repertoire of Broadway songs combined with lively banter and amusing anecdotes and occasional duets with Anita O’Connor delight audiences. Tickets are $25 and 100% of the proceeds go to SPAN. They must be purchased in advance. To do so, visit Broadway Songfest and Online Auction – SPAN, Inc (spanhelps.org)
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility whilereducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
And Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena, A family- owned business with four locations (Annapolis, Pasadena, Laurel and Wheaton). With 40 years’ experience and the backing of a national brand, they are committed to earning customers’ trust by offering the expertise, value and responsiveness drivers expect – “every time they visit us.”
