
Noel Wellington overcomes obstacles to open a boutique clothing store in Queens
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.”

Noelle Wellington erected a portrait in her shop in Queens.
Joseph Cook/Buffalo News
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.
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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.

Noelle Wellington examines coats in her shop.
Joseph Cook/Buffalo News
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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Pawsitive Vibes, a mobile vet, hit the road.
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.
A new JC Penney beauty concept headed to Walden Galleria
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.
New Taco Bell in West Seneca
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.
Walmart is eliminating paper bags
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.
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ICMI
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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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Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com.