Nearly a Decade of Pandemonium in Babylon Village

It has been nearly a full decade since Pandemonium Boutique opened its doors on Deer Park Avenue, and while a lot has changed in that time – the women's boutique has remained as one of the village's most well-known shops.

Patch spoke with owner Jacqueline DiDonato about how she has remained successful and the changes she has seen in the businesses here.

When did you open Pandemonium and what was it like then?
Pandemonium opened in November of 2005, which was a wonderful time to open a business in Babylon Village. The economy was doing well and most of the storefronts in town were filled. The community watched Pandemonium being constructed for much of the year, and was very excited by the time we opened in time for the holiday season; we were an instant success. 

How much has changed in the business district since then?
Unfortunately, many of the businesses that were open in 2005 suffered in the difficult economy and no longer exist. On the other hand, most of those same storefronts are filled again with new businesses. The turnover, however, remains high. There are a number of restaurants in town, which I know some people feel concerned about, but they are popular with customers and extend the population base in Babylon, which increases the visibility of other business owners in town, like myself. 

What has changed at Pandemonium in the years since it opened? 
When Pandemonium opened in 2005, the average price point for our merchandise was a bit higher. Once the recession arrived we transitioned to include some more moderately priced clothing and accessory lines. It has been a pleasure researching and finding beautiful clothing and jewelry for our clients.

In the last eight years, we have also adjusted our inventory to accommodate teens through grandmothers. Our largest demographic are women between 25 to 60 years. We are proud to carry clothing that is classic, current and timeless. It also gives us much joy to watch the daughters of our clients who began coming into the store with their mothers at eight or nine, and we are now dressing for high school and special events.

What's the biggest challenge with competing against national chains or websites? 
This is truly a can of worms. Simply put, we cannot compete with them. As a small business we pride ourselves on being very different from the large national chains. We are not a cookie cutter boutique. Our 2,200 square foot space is beautiful and unique. We offer top of the line styling and each and every client is our friend who we strive to make feel as if they are walking into a closet of fashion dreams. We also pride ourselves on selling local and US-made clothing, jewelry, handbags and even fragrance.

We use social media, but with a personal, familiar touch. Our Facebook page has thousands of views per day. Instead of running commercials, as the big box stores do, we nurture our clients and invite new ones. When customers walk into Pandemonium they are greeted with a smile and a cup off coffee. We specialize in finding the perfect outfit, accessory or gift. Every item that is purchased at Pandemonium is wrapped for gift giving in one of a kind hand painted bags. My Dad, who is an artist, beautifully paints each of our shopping bags with floral designs, our store logo and seasonal themes. 

What are you most proud of? 
I am most proud of our relationships with the community. For eight years now, our clients/friends have come to rely on us for their everyday wardrobe, special occasion dress and unique gift giving. We endeavor to offer a warm, cozy place to visit when someone needs a fun break in his or her day and feel special. I am incredibly proud of the entire Pandemonium team. Most of our stylists have been with Pandemonium for years. They adore each other, their clients and what they do and it shows!

STORE: Pandemonium Boutique
LOCATION: 220 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon Village
PHONE: (631) 376-0009