Stainton's: A Gallery of Shops celebrated its grand opening at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-1st), Mayor Jay Gillian and Ocean City's newly elected Second Ward City Council representative, Antwan McClellan, Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce representatives Michele Gillian and Scott Halliday, and Stainton's partners Harry Bassford, Lester Argus and Brett Foxman.

Stainton's is a new collection of more than 70 shops on the remodeled first floor of a landmark department store that first opened 100 years ago and anchored Ocean City's downtown until it closed in the 1990s.

A grand-opening celebration continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and will include music, face-painting, balloon-twisting and free refreshments for shoppers.

Business leaders see the new Stainton's as a vital part of plans to rejuvenate Ocean City's downtown. The building's owners first announced plans for the new gallery of shops in fall 2011.

The new store opens a week before the traditional start of the summer season on Memorial Day Weekend and a week after the opening of the rebuilt Route 52 causeway leading to Ninth Street.