NORTH SYDNEY - A North Sydney boutique has emerged as a labour of love for a couple with a flair for fashion.
Alex and wife Valerie Pendergast lived in Halifax for a few of years where they enjoyed shopping at high-end consignment shops.
After moving back to Cape Breton in 2015, the pair saw no similar business in their hometown.
“I love clothing and colours and fashion and things like that,” said Valerie when asked about the new venture. “We can get it so that women can afford it.”
The pair invested their own money into opening Treasures on the Waterfront inside a 3,000 square-foot space on Commercial Street in July.
A former administrative worker, Valerie undergoes dialysis three times a week for renal failure.
The 55-year-old is seeking a kidney donor and has been waiting two years for a tissue match to be found.
“I didn’t want to go away too much anymore,” said Alex, who used to work at a nickel processing plant in Newfoundland and Labrador before his wife’s illness.
“It gave me a reason to get up and do something,” said Valerie of watching the store open.
“I had to keep busy ... It gives me a purpose. I wanted to do this, but I couldn’t do it myself so that’s why my husband is Mr. Fashion, Mr. Fashionista.”
Alex said the shop is focused solely on top brands that are uncommon on the island such as Loft, Guess, Cynthia Rowley, Banana Republic, Kate Spade, Nicole Miller, Franco Sarto and Lush.
“Everybody seems to be happy we’re here,” said Alex. “They come in and say, ‘It’s nice we have a place to browse.’”
With Valerie’s eye for fashion, the couple purchases resale clothing from the United States and accepts items on consignment in the local area that fit under their guidelines.
The couple started renovations at the former video store space in April.
The shop is now home to two large dressing rooms and several mirrors that add to the shopping experience.
“Anything that’s consigned we put a little sticker on it, so people will know that these are the consigned items and we hold them for 60 days,” Valerie said.
“People have been great though in bringing their stuff in. There are some nice things out there.”
In addition to women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, Treasures on the Waterfront also offers plus size clothing, children’s clothing, maternity and some men’s footwear.
The Pendergasts are hoping to expand into men’s clothing in the coming weeks.
Treasures on the Waterfront will host its grand opening Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
