It’s one down and a few more to go at the new Glyndon Square shopping center, on Butler Road opposite Glyndon’s original commercial center bearing the same name.

The 23,500-square-foot site, which consists of two historic buildings, a new office building and a smaller building for a bank, is set to be fully completed and occupied in February, said Thomas Fidler, senior vice-president of MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, which manages Glyndon Square.

MacKenzie spent about $3 million on the project, he said.

One of the historic buildings, the Reter House, was renovated and occupied about two months ago by two small businesses, Tickled Pink Boutique and The Boxwood Collection.

Two of the four units in the office building have been leased by Northwest Dental Associates, which will consolidate its longtime Pikesville and Reisterstown locations into the Glyndon spot, and Subway Cafe.

The historic building facing Railroad Avenue is being considered by a spa, Fidler said.

Although the current economic crunch may not seem like an optimal time to launch a new commercial project, Fidler is cautiously optimistic.

“We are all concerned. Anyone who says they are not is lying to you. The entire industry is in a gigantic slowdown,” he said.

“Fortunately, our project is structured in such a way that we think it is an attractive (part) of the community. That (area) is very much a captured market,” he said.

Leo Ottey, president of the Glyndon Community Association, said the community has been pleased with Glyndon Square.

“We are delighted with the progress so far and we are happy with the developers,” he said.

Owners of the two new businesses that recently opened in the old Reter House, the historic home facing Butler Road, said they feel welcome in Glyndon and are excited about their location.

“A lot of people told us to check it out,” said Karen Coppa, co-owner of Tickled Pink Boutique, which also has a store in Westminster, Carroll County. “As soon as we saw the house, we were like, ‘This is it. This is beautiful.’ Everybody here is so friendly and wants to see everyone do well.”

Coppa, a Hampstead resident, launched the business with her friend Kim Dunworth, of New Windsor, Carroll County, after the pair began selling jewelry and handbags together.

The shop features jewelry, “shabby chic” furniture, handbags, clothes, accessories and gifts.

“We felt there was a need for it. We just wanted to have something different there,” Coppa said.

She feels confident about weathering the rough economy.

“Kim and I had a strong belief that getting the lines (of merchandise) that we wanted, we would be fine,” she said.

Coppa and Dunworth spread the word to their friend Sandi Kroh, who opened The Boxwood Collection next door.

Kroh, a New Windsor resident who has worked at Cedarmere Elementary, Chatsworth Elementary and Wellwood International School, began selling Polish pottery after retiring from teaching four years ago.

“I feel like I am fulfilling my dream,” she said of the store. The Glyndon site “is an old house and they restored it beautifully.”

Kroh is unsure of what the economy will bring but said she feels encouraged by being in Glyndon.

“It is a real community spirit (here) and we certainly want to continue that and be a part of that,” she said.

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