Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 27th 2007, 11:53am By queenseyes

Yesterday, when I pulled over to check out all of the new signage on the Hertel's North Park Theater building I immediately noticed that a new boutique had opened their doors. When I walked in I bumped into boutique owner, Patty Santoro, who, along with her daughter Sarah, converted the former tailor shop into a 'trendy new boutique'. The 1100 sq.' space has been completely remodeled, which entailed gutting the inside to allow for a wide-open layout. What makes P.S. Accessories so different is that there is nothing in the entire shop over $50.

The ‘under $50 concept’ was new to me as far as a clothing boutique goes. The price factor means that although there are no name brand or designer labels, the owners went out of their way to find great looking apparel and accessories that they felt would not break anyone’s bank. Maybe that is why there were so many young girls trying on items left and right as we discussed the concept.

Not only has Hertel seen a recent influx of restaurants and antique/interior design shops, it is also starting to attract the fashion-minded businesses. Patty told me that she has been attracting a wide-reaching customer base, and many of the shoppers are happy to support her boutique because of the location. "We wanted to be on a commercial street in the city... not in a strip mall," she said. "My daughter and I looked for months before we landed this location. We love being with this diverse mix of businesses, and having Empire Grill across the street helps out a lot too. We've been open for two weeks... we painted the walls muted colors to make it cozy, and the landlords redid the facade - they're great promoters of these businesses."

Opening an urban boutique was something that the mother-daughter team always talked about. ""We were ultimately inspired by the movie 'The Secret'," Patty exclaimed. Once we committed to the idea, everything else started to come together. If you put it out there babe, it's gonna come back to you. We're both 'people persons'... we like to interact and mingle with the customers."

It’s refreshing to see these little retail enclaves popping up on Hertel. These types of developments will ultimately make the commercial street more pedestrian friendly. Density and variety are key when it comes to attracting shoppers.

P.S. Accessories is located at 1442 Hertel Avenue.