Peekskill Small Business Spotlight: soothsayer

PEEKSKILL, NY — Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this ongoing series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about new ones and the ones we may not know that well.

Business: soothsayer (all lowercase!)

Owners: Nora Quinn
Website: www.shopsoothsayer.com
Address: 101 S. Division St., 2nd floor. (Directly above the wonderful Peekskill Coffee House.)

When did your business open?

June 2017

How did you come up with the name?

"soothsayer" means fortune teller and I like the idea of vintage clothing being relevant again in the future so it stuck.

Why start a business in this town?

My husband and I moved to Peekskill last year from Brooklyn and have found it so easy to make a home here. I've had an online shop for a couple of years but wanted to contribute something to the community here too, and it's been an amazing way of meeting people already!

What business are you in?

soothsayer is a curated vintage clothing and home goods shop for women and kids. I also carry handmade home goods, accessories, and jewelry made in the NY area. We are open weekends from 12-5pm.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced starting a new business?

My shop is on the second floor of the Flatiron Building so there's a hurdle in getting people up the stairs. That said, it's a beautiful spot and I have the Flatiron Gallery and a handful of amazing artist studios as neighbors so it's definitely worth coming up!

What’s one highlight you've had since opening?

The amazing support of fellow Peekskill business owners has meant the world to me.

How does your business give back to the community?

As the owner of a vintage shop, I fully encourage buying second hand goods as a way to recycle and build a more sustainable system of consumption. By offering handmade goods as well, I aim to support the makers in our community and enable them to create for a living. My hope is for soothsayer to become a go-to shop for those in the area looking for a responsible -- and chic! -- alternative to fast fashion.

SEE MORE IN THE SPOTLIGHT SERIES:

• Peekskill Spotlight: Trinity Cruise Company, LLC
• Cortlandt Spotlight: Auntie Liana's Baked With Love

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email lanning.taliaferro@patch.com