The owner of the boutique goes from fashion to fashion

Noelle Wellington entered the foster care system when she was 2 years old and didn’t leave until she was older two decades later.

“People would tell me I was nothing, or that I was on drugs like my mom, and things like that,” she said. “So my ambition and determination was always through the roof.”

Leaving the foster care system means making the difficult transition to adulthood without a support system — often after a lifetime of trauma — and all the statistics were against her, according to the National Conference of Legislators, an advisory group. About half of foster children who age out of the system become drug addicts. A quarter do not have a high school diploma or GED. And more than one in five will be homeless.

Wellington decided not to go to college because she wanted to avoid debt. She also had an entrepreneurial spirit and loved to work. Between retail and home health care jobs, she often works 80 to 90 hours a week.

Then, at the age of 25, she was in a car accident. Two years later, she received funds to open a clothing store at 2577 Bailey Street, Queens.

“I really didn’t have any clothes growing up. I would go into my closet and pray over my clothes and say, ‘God, please multiply it,'” she said. “And then, years later, I found a clothing store.”

Unfortunately, that year was 2019, which meant that Covid-19 was just around the corner. Wellington had to close the store, but was still on the hook for rent and other bills. She launched her e-commerce business and built a following.

She reopened the brick-and-mortar Queens boutique earlier this month. It sells men’s and women’s clothing, women’s underwear and accessories such as handbags.

She admits that the road to get to where she is has been tough and there are likely to be more bumps in the future. But she believes that owning a clothing store is nothing short of a miracle.

“It was a dream come true and I have to give all the thanks to God,” she said.

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Veterinarian Valerie Ciallella and former West Side Pet Clinic manager Joe Speranza have teamed up to launch Pawsitive Vibes Roaming Veterinary Care, a mobile veterinary practice.

Pawsitive Vibes offers in-home tours, which owners say are helpful for anxious dogs and for clients who are elderly, lack transportation or have mobility issues.

JC Penney, located in Walden Galleria, has replaced the Sephora beauty store with its own new concept, JC Penney Beauty. The new store-within-a-store is described as “ultra-inclusive” of all skin tones, ages, races, budgets and hair types.

The new store will replace Sephora as it migrates from JC Penney to Kohl’s stores after it decided not to renew its relationship with JC Penney. It will have 600 stores installed in the spring.

A new Taco Bell has opened at 1175 Union Road in West Seneca. It is franchised by KBP Brands, which has more than 1,000 fast food restaurants in 31 states.

The store has free Wi-Fi, power outlets and comfortable seating. The drive-through has a menu board with an electronic ordering system, which the company says makes ordering quick and accurate.

Beginning Jan. 1, Walmart will no longer offer paper bags to customers for purchases in New York State. Shoppers should bring reusable bags.

Walmart stores in Vermont, Maine and New Jersey have gone bagless.

Get the latest news from the Buffalo Niagara Economy:

Throughout Western New York, Health professionals have many stories to tell How they weathered the storm while on the job.

Legal marijuana sales began in the state on ThursdayBut not because of a lawsuit that halted sales here in Western New York.

World Central Kitchen is back Help feed Buffalo’s East Side in response to the storm It shut down the city for a week.

Wales Enterprises to cut 183 jobs at Dunkirk factoryThat’s fewer than the 319 workers the company previously planned to lay off.

It confirms the three-year agreement Premium members will continue to have access to the network. Care in Catholic health facilities.

Athenex is closing its Newstead manufacturing plant. And as of March 17, it laid off all 92 employees.

Preparatory work is being done. To prepare for the third stage Project for the redevelopment of the Northland complex in Buffalo.

The state is looking for ideas To redevelop the prison that was closed in Gowanda last year.

He needed federal funding to get the Tech Center program off the ground. It is included in the year-end spending bill before Congress.

Cost and benefitsTrade is at the center of the state’s climate change plan.

A development agency is hiring a consultant. Ways to improve the infrastructure connecting Canalside and the redesigned Centennial Park.

Slow hiring in the Buffalo-Niagara region is being driven by a labor shortage.And the local authorities are starting to look for ways to alleviate the problem.

Big changes are coming to the state’s energy markets. The plan to reduce harmful emissions was approved by the advisory panel.

Five reads next to Buffalo:

1. Return to the economy of Buffalo NiagaraThe price of all goods and services produced in the region, which decreased by 3.4% at the time of the epidemic, has been roaring in the past year, with a gain of 5.3%.

2. The bills make me want to buy.Buffalo Bills merchandise is the hottest local gift item this holiday season.

3. How will it be Have Western New York’s higher education institutions recovered from Covid-19? Enrollment in some local schools is booming, while others are struggling to attract students.

4. New life for old stones: How a Buffalo company is finding new uses for old bricks and stones in construction projects.

5. A major change has been proposed for the state’s energy marketsAnd it could change the way residents heat their homes and cook their meals in the coming years.

The Buffalo Next Team gives you the big picture on the region’s economic recovery. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or contact Deputy Business Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

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