(June 16, 2016) After operating an online business at home for several years, Megan Cosman last Friday officially opened the doors of her brick-and-motor shop Patty Jean’s Boutique at 116 Broad Street in Berlin.
The contemporary boutique was named for Cosman’s mother, Patty Jean O’Toole, whom she called a key inspiration. O’Toole worked as a pattern maker for the Lee clothing company, and would often use her daughters as models for new fashion products during boardroom meetings.
“I took a lot of fashion classes in high school and studied the hospitality industry in college, but my heart has always really been in retail and the fashion world,” Cosman said. “My inspiration is my mom and my sisters. We lost my mom to cancer when I was 12, but she’s always been a huge influence.”
The concept behind the store was creating “a shopping experience for women and girls who like to have fun with style, who like to look fabulous and take a chance with the latest trends and styles.”
“The items I pick for Patty Jean’s are girly, fun, stylish and colorful with different patterns and textures,” Cosman said. “I want to help others infuse their wardrobe with items that they love and feel good about wearing.”
A Kansas City native, Cosman moved to the area about a decade ago with her husband, Michael Cosman, who is the executive chef at Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill in Ocean City. He helped build most of the furniture and the interiors inside the store, and Cosman called him her “number one” throughout the long process of getting the physical store off the ground.
“He’s the one who really encouraged me to even start [the business] out of our house,” she said.
Although the online business has done well – shipping items as far away as France – Cosman said she had been looking for the perfect spot to open up shop in Berlin for years. When Heart of Gold moved from Broad to Main Street earlier this year, she jumped at the opportunity.
Cosman credits Donna Compher, owner of Sisters, as being extremely helpful during that transition.
“She’s been a really big mentor for me,” she said. “She always said, ‘don’t let your passion die just because you can’t find the right location,’ and she encouraged me to stay positive. We sat down and talked many, many nights and she’s been a huge role model.”
During Berlin’s most recent 2nd Friday art stroll, June 11, the dream of Patty Jean’s Boutique finally became a reality.
“We had a great turnout. It seems like it was very well received by the community,” she said, adding that an official ribbon-cutting ceremony was planned for Friday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m.
In the future, she hopes to continue to increase the online business and, if all goes well, open a few other physical locations.
“This is a good starting spot,” she said. “It’s a cute little corner of Berlin, and we’re really thrilled to be here.”
For more information, visit Patty Jean’s Boutique at 116 Broad Street, about a quarter mile off of Main Street in Berlin. The shop also ships orders worldwide from the web at www.pattyjeans.com.
The contemporary boutique was named for Cosman’s mother, Patty Jean O’Toole, whom she called a key inspiration. O’Toole worked as a pattern maker for the Lee clothing company, and would often use her daughters as models for new fashion products during boardroom meetings.
“I took a lot of fashion classes in high school and studied the hospitality industry in college, but my heart has always really been in retail and the fashion world,” Cosman said. “My inspiration is my mom and my sisters. We lost my mom to cancer when I was 12, but she’s always been a huge influence.”
The concept behind the store was creating “a shopping experience for women and girls who like to have fun with style, who like to look fabulous and take a chance with the latest trends and styles.”
“The items I pick for Patty Jean’s are girly, fun, stylish and colorful with different patterns and textures,” Cosman said. “I want to help others infuse their wardrobe with items that they love and feel good about wearing.”
A Kansas City native, Cosman moved to the area about a decade ago with her husband, Michael Cosman, who is the executive chef at Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill in Ocean City. He helped build most of the furniture and the interiors inside the store, and Cosman called him her “number one” throughout the long process of getting the physical store off the ground.
“He’s the one who really encouraged me to even start [the business] out of our house,” she said.
Although the online business has done well – shipping items as far away as France – Cosman said she had been looking for the perfect spot to open up shop in Berlin for years. When Heart of Gold moved from Broad to Main Street earlier this year, she jumped at the opportunity.
Cosman credits Donna Compher, owner of Sisters, as being extremely helpful during that transition.
“She’s been a really big mentor for me,” she said. “She always said, ‘don’t let your passion die just because you can’t find the right location,’ and she encouraged me to stay positive. We sat down and talked many, many nights and she’s been a huge role model.”
During Berlin’s most recent 2nd Friday art stroll, June 11, the dream of Patty Jean’s Boutique finally became a reality.
“We had a great turnout. It seems like it was very well received by the community,” she said, adding that an official ribbon-cutting ceremony was planned for Friday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m.
In the future, she hopes to continue to increase the online business and, if all goes well, open a few other physical locations.
“This is a good starting spot,” she said. “It’s a cute little corner of Berlin, and we’re really thrilled to be here.”
For more information, visit Patty Jean’s Boutique at 116 Broad Street, about a quarter mile off of Main Street in Berlin. The shop also ships orders worldwide from the web at www.pattyjeans.com.