Pettitcoat Lane Gets New Digs In Chappaqua

Petticoat Lane has moved into a new, prominent downtown Chappaqua location, at the intersection of King Street and Greeley Avenue. It is a major attraction in a town that until recently had a staggering number of vacant storefronts.

Petticoat Lane has been a fixture in Chappaqua since 1988. Proprietor Phyllis Jacobson began her business in a small store at the end of King Street and by the train tracks, next to where Auntie Penny is now. When her landlord refused to fix up the building, she decided to look around.

The new building was up for sale, and Jacobson and her husband purchased it.

"When this opportunity came by, I said that's it," she recalled.

Jacobson is on a first-name basis with most of her customers. Ladies in Chappaqua and those who purchase gifts for them have relied on her for years."Congratulations" was a frequent greeting as customers entered the store.

Vera DeDominicis said that she stops by for "a little bit of everything. I even pickup an occasional piece of jewelry."

Although the actual petticoats of yesteryear do not appear in the store, the latest in lingerie does. A velour robe by Betsey Johnson in her signature hot pink and black is prominently displayed.There is also a delicate peignoir by the same designer. Other brands of lingerie include On Gossamer, Wacoal and Cosabella. Expert fitting is an added feature at the store.

Petticoat Lane is also well known for its bags. There is a huge selection of merchandise from Desmo, Eric Javits and Longchamps. For summer, Jacobson is touting a bag by Carlos Falchi. It has an abstract print lining, change purse, cellphone pocket and key clip. It's, "The best selling bag of the season," she said.

In addition to her bricks and mortar store in Chappaqua, Jacobson operates bagshop.com and several other retail spaces.

A well known "secret" is the pricing policy at Petticoat Lane. While the store carries only designer goods like those found in many department stores, that is where the similarity ends. Jacobson discounts everything in the store except where prohibited by the manufacturer. Bags have been 20 to 40 percent off the list price, while stockings have been 10 percent off.

Since opening in the new location on Monday, Jacobson said that she is "seeing a lot of new people," crossing her threshold.

What does the future hold for Petticoat Lane? A grand opening is currently being planned for July. And after attending a trade show in August? "I'll definitely bring a lot of new lines for the fall," Jacobson said.