GREENWICH — The newest store on Greenwich Avenue opened after a trio of friends decided to pool their unique retail experiences and live out their entrepreneurial dreams.
Lena Scilipoti, Alejandra Salazar and Janice Wright remember that they were chatting one day, when the topic of opening their own store came up.
At the time, the three longtime friends had already worked together at two local children’s stores and were planning to take their expertise to a third.
“We were talking about if we had a store, what we would do and what we would sell,” Scilipoti said. “I said, ‘Why don’t we start our own website.’ But we felt we really needed a brick-and-mortar store.”
Their idea came to fruition late last month when The Piccolina Shop, which means “little one” in Italian, opened its doors July 26 at 82 Greenwich Ave.
Scilipoti, a Riverdale, N.Y., native who resides in Oceanside, N.Y., is the owner of the new store, which sells products for babies and toddlers, including clothing, strollers, car seats, gifts and gear for little kids.
“We love the assortment that we have,” Scilipoti said. “I truly feel it is what Greenwich wants and needs.”
Scilipoti had planned to open the shop in May, but it was pushed back due to the COVID-19 crisis. The store practices social distancing and safety precautions are in place at the shop. Masks are worn, customers are asked to stay 6 feet apart, and there are sanitizing stations throughout the store, including a touchless station.
“With the amount of time it took, we literally feel like we were pregnant and gave birth to this,” Scilipoti said.
The 37-year-old Scilipoti runs the store with Wright and Salazar.
The three possess institutional knowledge of the business of running a children’s store. For more than five years, they worked together at Giggle — a children’s store on Greenwich Avenue — until it closed. With their experience and knowledge from working time at Giggle, Scilipoti, Salazar and Wright were each employed at JoJo Maman Bebe, a children and baby clothing store that was also located on Greenwich Avenue.
“We have been in the baby industry for over 15 years,” Scilipoti said. “Basically, we learned everything about products from the companies we worked for.”
All three women are also parents. Scilipoti has three daughters, Wright has four sons and Salazar has one son.
“Being mothers, we know what babies and toddlers need and what they don’t need,” Scilipoti said. “We know how to give gifts for little kids.”
They will soon launch a website to allow consumers to purchase goods online from The Piccolina Shop, according to Scilipoti, who noted that curbside pickup will also soon become available.
When it came time to select a location for The Piccolina Shop, Scilipoti knew exactly where to look.
“Greenwich Avenue is such a great location,” she said. “There are so many people on The Avenue and so many people come to see what we have. It is a retailer’s dream. There is a reason why I picked Greenwich, and it’s because I am passionate about the community.”
dfierro@greenwichtime.com
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