Shop Talk: Pretty Funny Vintage’s Stephanie Leggio

In the second installment of our new shopkeeper series, we find Stephanie Leggio in her natural habitat, arranging items in the basement of what is arguably Tarrytown’s best-curated antique shop. She talks of Grandpa Joe and cats in sailor suits, points out a fabulous many-drawered desk, and extends to Patch readers a special discount.*

So buy local and go say hello to...

Stephanie Leggio, owner of  

1. It seems as if the joy of your shop is not about individual items so much as the artful way you put them together. What’s in your background that made you such an arranger?

SL: I did go to school for theater and did a lot of prop styling. But really it must go back to when I was five and rearranging the furniture throughout my house.

2. How’s business?

SL: We actually just came out of our best year ever. I think our success is due to deciding to make it like an event to come here. You can come in, look around, be inspired; we have good music playing, often offer iced coffee. There’s a club feeling and of course everybody’s a member.

3. Is it hard for you to part with things? What’s your house like?

SL: No. I have a rule: to take something in, I have to let something go. I’m never so attached to any one thing that I wouldn’t sell it in the future. Perhaps my two sons I’ll keep.

My house is similar [to the shop]. An eclectic mix of different times. But my real passion is folk art, things Grandpa Joe made out in the garage.

4. What’s been one of your most interesting finds?

SL: Ah, 25 years of finds… I found this painting going through the back roads of New Hampshire, a cat in a French sailor suit eating a giant fish... Of course I got it for a steal and sold it for many hundreds of dollars. It was a big hit.

5. What’s your favorite item of the moment?

SL: This 1940's jeweler’s desk ($1,150), with this catch-all pull-out tray and all these little drawers. We’ve had five to six of these through the years but they are really hard to find. I have one in my living room.

*Patch readers who mention they saw this article receive a 20% discount on a purchase of vintage jewelry. Enjoy!