When walking into the front doors of Bellingham’s The Leopold, you’re immediately greeted with the building’s charm and grandiosity. The 1920’s structure is imbued with character and life. It has stood the test of time and seen many memories made throughout the years.
“It feels like coming home for many of our residents,” says Anneliese Dompe of The Leopold. “This is where it all began. It’s not unfamiliar. Their childhood dances were here.”
Dompe goes on to describe the iconic building as a place that has maintained connections through the generations and the memories it holds. “It has a sort of historical power and connection,” she says. “Can you believe there has been a bride here every year since 1929 creating that connection?”
The grand ballroom, affectionately called the Crystal Ballroom, boasts a disco ball made specifically for The Leopold in Chicago in 1913. As the lights are dimmed, the flickering of the disco ball sets the stage for the events that are held monthly. It creates a beautiful setting of grace and charm and recalls the history and memories the room has seen.
Each month features ballroom dancing for the residents. It has the formality of linen table cloths and fresh flowers yet the lively excitement of a celebration. “We’re creating living memories for our residents,” says Dompe. “These are their great years.”
She describes one event, the Classic Car Cruise, where a skeptical resident wasn’t sure she would have a good time. At the end of the evening, the 94-year old resident proclaimed, “I don’t know who I was with or where we were going in those old cars, but it was the best night of my life.”
The Leopold residents are treated to freshly baked goods and coffee in the common area just outside the lobby. Here they gather to relax and read or catch up on the latest happenings of the building’s retirement community. The dining room resembles a beautiful restaurant. The fresh flowers on each table are donated by local grocery stores and carefully arranged by the residents. The menu features two full meals daily and, with the addition of new kitchen staff, an expanded dining experience that’s available to residents throughout the day
As Dompe and other staff walk through the common areas, they greet the residents by name and carry on conversations about the latest events or any needs. “It feeds my soul in a way that has surprised me,” Dompe says of working with residents at The Leopold. “I want to make every day great for them. It’s like I see the world very differently when I’m with them.”
The heart of the staff is evident in everything they do with the residents. They perform their duties and treat their residents with respect and integrity. There is also an ethic among the residents as to how the building is treated and respected.
As a part of a vast and recent interiors improvement project, each floor features a different color scheme, making it easier for residents to know if they’ve reached the right floor of their apartment. A daily schedule of events is placed on their door each night so they know what the next day has in store for them. The daily events include trips to the Pickford for movies, to the Farmer’s Market each weekend or to any one of the downtown events being held at any given time. “We walk everywhere,” says Dompe. “We do something every day.”
Each residence features the charm of The Leopold along with the modern conveniences of updated kitchens, lighting and bathrooms. The Leopold staff are conscious of the building’s own environmental footprint. From a solar panel system to LED lights on every floor and easy access recycling bins for residents, it is clear there is a priority in the preserving and conserving of energy.
There is also a pride in the community that is evident in their involvement in both local businesses and local downtown events. “We’ve made partnering with our community neighbors a priority,” says Dompe. “Working with downtown businesses, we are creating a tightly woven tapestry of community and cooperation.”
The Leopold is an affordable option for many seniors looking for a retirement community that is active and located in the heart of the county. Dompe now works very closely with the Bellingham Senior Center to involve all of the seniors in the community through coordinating events and calendars with both establishments.
The living memories of the Leopold continue with the residents who know of its charm and charisma. They continue to make memories through the vibrant living atmosphere The Leopold offers its tenants.
That historical connection of The Leopold to the county and that “this is where it all began” feeling has stood the test of time. The Leopold continues to be the heartbeat of the county bringing new families and guests into its doors while continuing the familiar legacy of those that live within its walls.
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