BETHEL – Celtic specialty retailer Linda Clifford will celebrate the grand opening of a new retail store Oct. 11 to 13. The new store is located at 91 Main St.

A specialist in kilts and tartan fabrics, Clifford has been a successful importer of Celtic merchandise for more than 10 years. She started her business online, attracting customers from all over North America. The Internet business proved so successful that she opened her first retail outlet on Bethel’s Broad Street in 2000. The retail business outgrew its location, so Clifford moved the store, Scottish and Irish Merchant, to its new location.

“Our customers have a mix of interests,” Clifford said. “Many of them, particularly our online customers, trace their roots to Scotland or Ireland, and are looking for authentic kilts and other products that reflect their heritage.”

The outfitting of wedding parties in full clan regalia is a specialty, and Clifford designs and registers tartan patterns for customers whose families don’t have a registered tartan.

Other offerings include Celtic jewelry and wedding rings, genuine Irish lead crystal, cloaks and other woolens from Scotland and Ireland, and Barbour jackets and vests. She also features fine pottery by specialty producers such as Nicholas Mosse, Stephen Pearce and Moorcroft, and glassware from Jerpoint.

The grand opening celebration will feature hourly prize drawings and displays of new product lines. On Saturday, Diane Sweet, the U.S. representative for Nicholas Mosse pottery, will be in the store from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.