Bay Ridge boutique opens first-ever plus-size outpost in the nabe

Bay Ridge’s premiere plus-size boutique is open for business.

Towne Plus — the second-coming of local clothing store Towne — has opened up at 8313 Third Avenue, just three storefronts down from its predecessor.

The sister shop — which specializes in unique and affordable plus-size clothing — was the brainchild of Towne’s own patrons.

“I had customers coming and saying ‘I love this store but nothing fits me,'” said owner and longtime Bay Ridge business-owner Sallyann Russo, who first opened the business’ flagship store in Huntington, Long Island in 2012 and, shortly after, settled into a second shop at 8319 Third Avenue. “These women were constantly telling me that they had nowhere to shop that’s on trend. They wanted unique, high fashion at an affordable price, but could only walk out of our stores with accessories and pocketbooks.”

And so, Towne Plus was born.

“Just like Towne, the store is all private-label, which means that you’re not going to see these things anywhere else. It’s ours and ours alone,” Russo explained. “And the pricepoint is modeled after the other two stores in that everything is under $100, maybe even 75 percent of it is under $50.”

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Maria Devito
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Maria Devito

“It’s guilt-free shopping,” she went on. “The theme of all of the stores is that we want it to look expensive but not be expensive, so you’re not spending your mortgage or your car payment on your closet.”

According to Russo, Towne Plus is the first of its kind for the neighborhood.

“I’ve been a Third Avenue merchant for over 25 years and I don’t recall ever seeing a plus-size store on Third Avenue, or even in the neighborhood,” said Russo, who, before her time with Towne, owned the long-shuttered Bay Ridge clothing store Threads for 17 years.

The feedback, she said, has been incredible.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how excited people are. They’re pinching themselves,” Russo said. “All the customers are so gracious. It’s been so overwhelming.”

Both Third Avenue locations are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.townenyc.com.

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