Whether you’re into flapper dresses, mermaid stuff, hippie gear, 80’s retro or leather trim, Paper Doll Curiosity Shoppe is the place for you.
But there’s more: flasks and shot glasses, juggling balls, whigs, shoes, and plenty of hostess gifts, as well as actual century-old vintage clothing.
It’s all available at Paper Doll now at 33 East Main Street.
And the grand opening party is this Saturday, May 13.
We caught up with owner Dominique Maciejka last week in Patchogue to learn a bit more about the much-anticipated retail shop and Saturday’s big bash.
“The store is all about trying to think outside the box a little bit,” said Maciejka, who started the Paper Doll chain in Sayville five years ago with boyfriend and business partner Joseph Laspina.
Their two other stores in Sayville and Huntington focus on vintage and retro clothing.
But a pop-up opening in the Patchogue location from Black Friday to January — before closing for renovations — taught them Patchogeans wanted more.
“There was a lot of niches to fill in Patchogue with retail, so we’re kind of trying to fill them all,” Maciejka said. “The other two stores are definitely more boutique-y, with a mid-century vibe. Here it’s a bit more costume-y.”
One thing they noticed during the winter pop-up was a certain breed of parents.
“These are young, hip parents,”Maciejka said. “So we’ve some got cool, hip, retro toys for their kids.”
And plenty to look at, such as the 7-foot tall Sasquatch statue, and doors painted like attractions from a turn-of-the-century sideshow, by local artist Amanda Reilly.
There’s also takeaway items for young people popping around the village at night, during which time they might pick up a flask, keychain or beard oil you won’t find at a drugstore.
But the selection this year could be quite different from that of 2018.
“The great thing with the Curiosity Shoppe is I’m not limited to anything,” Maciejka says.
Scroll down for photos taken this past week in the Curiosity Shoppe.
IF YOU GO
The grand opening party runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 13, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the early afternoon.
Geeks Get Glam will be doing (free) braids for those wanting to look like their favorite Hunger Games or Game of Thrones character, or Disney princess. Pin me Up Parties will be offering complimentary glitter lips for those looking to sparkle. There will be music from DJ Soul Revival System, Deidre Muro and The Dark, and a show from Betsy Propane, a Coney Island burlesque dancer.
Curious? Click here to follow the Curiosity Shoppe on Facebook.
teaser photos below
