Shopping in Linthicum

Arnold Farms opened in 1970 as a simple roadside farmstand. Today, patrons find the same folksy service alongside gardening and landscaping needs sprawled across the shop’s multilevel facility. On Arnold's upper floor, outdoor-living supplies, including pottery, potted plants, all-weather Cheetos, and more than 100 styles of patio furniture rest near a fully stocked hardware store. One floor down, the shop spreads out its mulches and landscaping supplies in a nursery that houses annuals, perennials, shrubs, grasses, and trees. Gardening experts roam the aisles to assist customers, and master landscape designers work with patrons to create beautiful touches or complete overhauls for existing yards of all shapes.

Somewhere among the rows of illuminated display cases that flaunt Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Arnette shades, a furry snout pokes out, sniffs twice, and returns to its brightly colored chew toy. The snout belongs to the official mascot at Shades of the Bay: Allie, a 13-year-old beagle who spends her days nuzzling visitors and frolicking amid shelves piled high with sunglasses and Reef flip-flops. Across the street lies Shades of the Bay’s sister store—Shades Unlimited—which also boasts a large collection of sunglasses from top designers, both polarized and nonpolarized. At either location, a knowledgeable staff helps lead customers to shades that flatter faces or transform sock puppets into trendy companions.