April will mark 12 years of operation for Phoenix Boutique in Lawrenceville, owned and run by Jacqueline Stone. She reveals her favorite items in the shop, the story behind her shop name, and shares a plea to Pittsburgh shoppers and beyond.
Shopping Pittsburgh: An Interview with Jacqueline Stone at Phoenix Boutique
TABLE Magazine: Why Lawrenceville?
Jacqueline Stone: Because I looked east, north, south and west. I really went all over this city prior to coming to Lawrenceville, looking for a space. And it was a total serendipitous moment where one of the ladies I used to work with worked next door [to this location] at a former boutique, and told me this spot was opening up.
TM: What’s your favorite part of being a Lawrenceville business owner?
JS: The people. I love the people. From the day I opened, I’ve had regulars. I have people who have moved as far away as Wisconsin, Chicago and Florida who still ship me their stuff.
TM: What is your favorite item currently in the shop?
JS: Well, it left yesterday. It was a Chanel Grande tote. My favorite item in the store now is probably some of the Comme des Garçons that I have … It’s a lot of Comme des Garçons pieces that are in right now, like this velvet and tulle blazer. I’m loving the tops, the funk of it all. I have a lot of the Kooples brand in, too — that I really love. This is the designer rack, and I tell you, you can’t fit a sheet of tissue paper.
TM: Have you noticed more foot traffic — or people consigning, or shopping here as a result of tariff price increases?
JS: I don’t think it’s changed. I haven’t seen a change because of the tariffs. What I have seen a change in is the original sellers — the high end, their prices have skyrocketed.
TM: As a business owner, all of the economic stuff is worrisome, because it affects your business …
JS: It affects every business here in Lawrenceville. I don’t worry just for myself. I worry for my neighbors, too. And it goes in waves. It’ll peak, it’ll plummet. It’s been like that for 12 years. I used to guess why: “Now it’s the weather, it’s the construction.” A lot of that has played a part. There has been so much construction down here. But it comes back … It’s like a roller coaster.
TM: What inspired you to open the shop?
JS: I started working at a consignment store in South Side 28 years ago. I was there for four years and then worked for a nonprofit which had a high-end consignment store that benefitted homeless women. I was there for eight years [and then] took a hiatus for two years knowing that I was going to do this, and now I’m here.
TM: Why call it Phoenix Boutique?
JS: I was trying to think of all different names and a friend of mine, who — God bless her soul, she’s passed now, at a young age. She said “Phoenix,” and I said, “absolutely.” She gave it to me. I wished I was the one who had thought of it. I think of her all the time. She gave me that old wooden bench behind the counter.
TM: Anything you wanted to add that was not asked?
JS: Please come down. Please shop small. Not just Phoenix. All small shops, because the big people — no names mentioned — are really just making little shops disappear … Shop small or this will be a thing of the past. It’ll be like when I grew up — I never thought we wouldn’t have a mom-and-pop candy store, and we don’t have them anymore. That will be the same going down the road if it continues. They’ve taken over. We need small.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Story and Photos by Amanda Reed
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