A store where its bold pink and yellow colored walls and zebra-striped curtains complimented its clothes, are now folded and put away. Located in the heart of Collegetown, Ithaca’s Some Girls experienced the economic crisis first hand and have made the tough decision to close. This past year was especially difficult due to the birth of Urban Outfitters in the Commons as well as other factors. Their devoted customers enter the store one last time to engage in the biggest sale they have ever had and to say their goodbyes. Owner, Margaret Partyka, states, “It’s sad. Our welcome back sale turned into a goodbye one.” Although the decision to close was a responsible one, the employees are truly heartbroken. Manager, Mandy Bennison comments, “We’re trying to be positive because we know this was a right choice to make, but Ithaca was a home to us.” Fortunately, Some Girls is a small chain and has two other boutiques that are still going strong. Their locations are in Syracuse and in Troy, NY. Regardless, losing Ithaca’s store was the last thing they wanted.
Some Girls launched in Ithaca during 2007 and was instantly a hit. “It was amazing,” Partyka mentions, “For such a small store, our popularity was tremendous. It was something different than the mall.” Some Girls is definitely unique. The hottest trends from Los Angeles, Paris, and Las Vegas flooded the shelves and hangers weekly right in the small city of Ithaca, NY. Emily Clamp, a student from Cornell University states, “The store was definitely very well known since Ithaca doesn’t have that great of a shopping scene.” No matter what the age, Some Girls prides on catering to ages 16 and 60 at reasonable prices. “There’s something for everyone, no matter what the style or wallet size,” Partyka believes.
Over time, the popularity of Some Girls grew less and less. Clamp comments, “It’s a major hit or miss. I can either find a ton of really cool going-out clothes or nothing at all which was frustrating.” Another Cornell student, Rachel Kellen, found Urban Outfitters to offer a lot more than Some Girls. Kellen states, “I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to Some Girls since Urban Outfitters came to Ithaca.” To help bring back the Some Girls flair it once had, the employees held more sales and promotional events. They held a champagne and cupcake party as well as a “Give Thanks Sale” during the holiday season to help those less fortunate. All in all, it was not enough. Partyka states, “It’s how a business works. At the end of the day, you need to do what will be best.” To preserve the Some Girls name and its future in Syracuse and Troy, letting Ithaca go was the best business move for them. “We’re adding by subtracting,” Bennison firmly believes. Closing Ithaca’s store is painful, but now there will more focus on the other two stores, the Some Girls website, and their own clothing line. Their line, House of Bimbo, is a graphic tee shirt and accessory line that was started in 2006 that is continuously growing. “We’ll miss Ithaca very much, but we are looking ahead and we have a lot to look forward to,” Partyka and Bennison admit.
What's Happenin'? An Inside Look at the Ithaca, NY Community. 