When Baltimore said goodbye to Betty Cooke, a local artist of jewelry and a retail entrepreneur who died last April a few months after her 100th birthday, her followers knew it would not be long before her iconic Cross Keys retail store would fade into Baltimore history too. Now that day has come, as the store is in its final days of a final sale.
A part of the Village of Cross Keys open air mall since it was developed in 1965, The Store Ltd was a destination for shoppers who wanted to find unique artistic elements. As stated in the mall's directory, "The Store LTD reflects Betty’s reputation as a style icon and features the latest fashions, jewelry (including eponymous Betty Cooke Jewelry), handbags, accessories, home décor, and more..."
Ms. Cooke reportedly worked until shortly before her death, so she experienced the current revitalization of the nearly 60-year-old mall by owners Caves Valley Partners. Many have praised the company for regaining local ownership and expanding the development.
The store's final sale displayed some published articles about Betty Cooke, as well as the catalog of a 2019 Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition, The Circle and The Line. of her work. The Walters Art Museum also featured a retrospective a few years later.
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| still image from video on Village of Cross Keys website (2024) |
