Wegdams Add Annapolis Boutique to Portfolio

Tara and Ben Wegdam opened the sixth Creme de la Creme store in downtown Annapolis on Thursday. The new location on Francis Street marks the couple's second business in Anne Arundel County.

The Wegdams started the company in Middleburg, Virginia, in 2000. Since then, they have expanded to six locations. Ben Wegdam said the team looks for fun places with high foot traffic. He called downtown Annapolis the perfect spot.

Tara Wegdam noted that many residents live in the neighborhood. She said this suits a store where shoppers customize their living spaces. She added that no other similar store operated in the city. That lack of competition helped draw the couple to the area.

The store sells French and Italian home goods. It also carries Southern hospitality items. The Wegdams said their stores share data on products and displays. Managers from all six locations talk every week. They use these calls to improve inventory and layout.

Ben Wegdam said the couple moves quickly when a great location becomes available. He noted that the Annapolis opportunity fit their criteria. The team values locations where customers can easily access the store.

The grand opening drew both new visitors and longtime customers. Tara Wegdam said she enjoyed meeting new people. She mentioned a customer who wore Creme de la Creme clothing to the event. The company sells apparel along with home decor.

According to the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, nearly 60 new or expanding businesses opened in the county in May and June of this year. The Wegdam store joins that group of recent additions.