New Store Brings 'Chic' To Downtown Riverhead

Fashion is coming to downtown Riverhead as a new store, Chic Creations, NY, opens its doors.

Wendy and Felix Martinez, owners of the store, located at 49 East Main Street, will host a grand opening on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

The couple, who live in Hampton Bays, commenced construction of the space in November and have completely renovated the interior.

Their plan is to offer a sophisticated, cosmopolitan boutique, with merchandise including custom-made and unique clothing for women, as well as accessories and jewelry.

“We have fun and unique looks that we want people to wear and feel special,” Wendy Martinez said. Martinez designs many of the pieces and only produces small lots of six to a dozen. “This will be a place to shop for someone who wants custom-made, unique designs that they cannot find at mass produced department stores – more along the lines of New York City or European style.” 

For Felix Martinez, the shop represents a vision realized. “Opening the store to showcase my wife’s designs has been a dream of ours for years and we felt Riverhead was the place to start our first boutique because it’s a welcoming downtown community,” he said.

Martinez, owner of Hampton’s Paint Masters in Hampton Bays, designed and renovated the store himself. “We love the energy and creativity in Riverhead. We’re very excited to be a part of the revitalization.”

The shop is the most recent in a surge of revitalization efforts that are transforming the face of downtown Riverhead. Recently, the Blue Duck Bakery Cafe opened its doors; Ralph's Italian Ices came earlier in the year -- and the Suffolk Theater is slated to open soon. In addition, plans are taking shape for a new project in conjunction with the Long Island Science Center on West Main Street, according to Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter.

 “I applaud the efforts and significant economic investment of Wendy and Felix Martinez,” Walter said. “The block-by-block approach of downtown revitalization is working. On behalf of the Riverhead Town Board, I welcome Chic Creations, NY to downtown Riverhead.”

Walter has also said a dance studio is on the way; a new microbrewery is also planned for West Main Street by Steve Wirth, owner of Digger's.

Landlord Shelly Gordon said he is pleased one of his properties is the first to produce a new downtown business in 2013.  “I believe this dress boutique has tremendous promise and will be very successful.”

Business Improvement District President Ray Pickersgill said he looks forward to the area's continued economic rebirth. “I welcome Chic Creations, NY to the downtown business district. Providing unique shopping experiences, such as this new boutique, is essential to attracting repeat visitors to downtown Riverhead."