Armory Marketplace Celebrates Completion With Ribbon Cutting

BEL AIR, MD — State, county and local partners celebrated the completion of the Armory Marketplace in Bel Air recently. The business incubator was created behind the Bel Air Armory, where garage bays were turned into spaces for businesses.

The goal of the Armory Marketplace is to help new and emerging businesses grow through reduced rates so they can ultimately move into a storefront in Bel Air.

There are four lessees plus a permanent tenant, which is the Harford Artists Gallery.

The Harford Artists Gallery features local photography, paintings, pottery and jewelry made by local artists, and it is run by volunteers from the 220-member Harford Artists' Association.

Current businesses located in the Armory Marketplace include the following:

• Caprichos Books
• Ferrari Frame & Design
• Kore Bootcamps
• Love Evolution Studio

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday to celebrate the completion of the Armory Marketplace, Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Kenneth Holt presented the Town of Bel Air with a proclamation. Harford County and the Maryland Department of Commerce also issued proclamations for the occasion.

Bel Air Mayor Susan Burdette recognized the town's funding partners during the ribbon cutting, which was attended by about 65 people.

Funding for the marketplace project came from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Community Legacy Program, the Harford County Office of Community and Economic Development's Community Development Block Grants Program and the Greater Bel Air Community Foundation.

Pictured above, County Councilmen Richard Slutzky, Chad Shrodes and Jim McMahan join Bel Air Mayor Susan Burdette, Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Kenneth Holt, Town Commissioner Amy Chmielewski, County Councilman Patrick Vincenti and Town Administrator Jesse Bane at the Sept. 21 ribbon cutting at the Armory Marketplace. All photos by Kathi Santora of The Writing Studio.