Coastal Society, a new boutique where “East Coast prep meets West Coast free spirit with a little bit of saltiness,” is now open in French Mountain Commons on the Million Dollar Half-Mile in Queensbury.
The Moore Family, who owns the retail plaza and also owns The Queensbury Hotel in downtown Glens Falls and the Fairfield Inn in Queensbury, have partnered with Shonna McTiernan in Coastal Society. Mrs. McTiernan created Minky Mink, the funky fashion store downtown, before selling it a few years ago. She is the buyer and creative director of Coastal Society.
She said when Ed and Zack Moore contacted her, “I was not looking for another opportunity to get back into the fashion business. But after my first meeting with them I couldn’t resist. I realized how much I loved being in the fashion industry and missed it.
“It is now showing it was a perfect fit of their idea and my vision.”
Zack Moore, an executive in many of his father Ed’s business ventures, said they were close to a deal to bring Vineyard Vines to French Mountain Commons, but it was never finalized.
“So my dad said, ‘Let’s do it ourselves!’ He had gone into a boutique in Florida that sold Vineyard Vines and Lily Pulitzer and other brands, and he said, ‘Let’s do something like that.’
“With retail going the way it is, it’s up to us to fill the spaces with things people want as things evolve from outlets to mixed use. So it was the type of clothes people wanted, and we knew it would do well, but we didn’t know how to go about it.
“Shonna had an expertise in this so we contacted her and told her that Vineyard Vines was what we wanted and then told her to do her thing. And she took the ball and ran with it.”
The store opened July 1st and Mr. Moore says “Business has been great so far. The store is doing very well and we’re looking forward to the fall and all of the great products that Shonna is bringing in…I think people like it because it doesn’t feel like a chain, you know?”
Mrs. McTiernan said “The store vibe is coastal. The styles and brands we carry are what one would find when you think of yourself on or near the water. The clothes are comfortable and can carry anyone from a day on the water to out for dinner and drinks.”
In the spacious store, Vineyard Vines clothing is mixed with hats from Kiel James Patrick, hand-stitched needlepoint items from Smathers and Branson, and unique totes from Sea Bags, a Maine company that makes bags out of recycled sails from sailboats. They also stock items from Mod Ref, Comune, Hem and Thread, THML and Thread and Supply.
“We stock affordable brands that you can wear when you’re out on the boat, and then wear it out to dinner at night,” she said.
And coming this fall - enjoy a glass of wine or a local draft beer while you shop! A beautiful bar with seating for six sits in the front of the store by the window, and once their beer and wine license comes through, they’ll be pouring wine by the glass as well as serving up drafts from local favorite Common Roots, who will be brewing a yet to be named draft just for Coastal Society. Stay tuned!
Zack Moore and Shonna McTiernan outside Coastal Society
The store is open seven days a week, year-round. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Find more online at www.mycoastalsociety.com.
Special thanks to Finch Paper for making this story possible!
Founded in 1865 and located in the heart of downtown Glens Falls, New York, Finch Paper is an enterprising pulp and paper manufacturer with over 500 employees. We are currently seeking a full-time Customer Satisfaction Representative to support our Sales and Marketing Teams. Click here to visit our career page!
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