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“My hope is that we can learn about them
as much as they learn about Boutiqueloo,”
Thornhill said ahead of this event. “And
that kind of goes with some of our overall
ethos of wanting to support each other
and work together.”
The space itself is small, but they've done
a lot of work with it. The shelves are custommade
by Thornhill's husband and are built
out of sustainably sourced wood.
“We really tried to incorporate what Rebekah
does with her jewelry,” Penaloza said,
“that it's also sustainable, that our footprint
is reduced, that we don't just create a lot
of trash but that we start reusing stuff and
make something great out of it.”
Even the stain they used is natural, which
Thornhill said was also cheaper.
“But it's also fun doing it,” Penaloza
pointed out. “It's like my heart and sweat
and blood in this. It's also bonding with the
space — with each other.”
They were still working on the store layout
when I spoke with them, but their vision
is to display all of the products in a
way that it would both make sense commercially
while also making sure the vendors
felt comfortable.
“It's much more a collective spread,”
Thornhill explained. “So when a customer
would come in, they would understand
it as a handmade shop with lots of things
around.”
Their goal is to have just one or two people
working the register at any given time, so
the makers wouldn't have to stand by their
products.
All three women seemed giddy, busy
and just a tad nervous. And for good reason!
Their soft opening was approaching,
on Sept. 29 and 30, and by the time
of publishing, they will be open on Friday
from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday
from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the end of the
day, Penaloza envisions Boutiqueloo being
a space that is by and for the surrounding
community.
“By supporting local vendors and makers,
you also support their economy. You
support their children going to school. You
support the community. You support other
small business,” she explained. “And then,
by sharing your knowledge … you also continue
to support the growth of something a
little bit more sustainable and unique.”
Thornhill is on the same page, mentioning
that there are some Sunnyside fixtures that
locals will visit even if they’re not going to
buy anything. She envisions a similar environment
at Boutiqueloo.
“We just want to make it a better place
to live!” Thornhill said. “And if so we can do
that, if we can make people smile, make
people laugh, give them a product that they
really love and helps them in their daily routine,
however that may be, we're happy.”
Photos courtesy of Boutiqueloo
BOUTIQUELOO
35-52 32ND ST., LIC
NYCMADEMARKET.OKABALOO.
COM/BOUTIQUELOO
BOUTIQUELOONYC@GMAIL.COM
718-274-2200
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