There is a new option for clothes shoppers in the City of Hornell.
Ella & Jake’s Boutique, described as a “stylish and affordable” clothing store with a mix of gently-used and new apparel, debuted this earlier this month on the second floor of Old Town Antiques, 103 Main St.
Husband and wife Joe and Kelly Tomeno, who opened an antique and collectibles business in the expansive former Tuttle & Rockwell building in 2023, are looking to fill a clothing void in Hornell after Pookies Little Britches and Harmony Blue Boutique shut down.
“The reason we did this is we have had two clothing stores close up shop. We saw something missing and wanted to bridge that gap, so to speak,” Joe Tomeno said.
Tomeno stressed that he is grateful to Harmony Blue Boutique for supporting Ella & Jake’s as it gets started.
The new boutique aims to appeal to vintage clothes lovers, trendsetters and treasure hunters.
The 20-foot by 40-foot space has undergone a transformation, with new paint, new lighting, and the creation of men’s and women’s customer fitting rooms.
There is a new checkout station in place, and patrons will soon be able to pay for their selections on the second floor.
The 51,000 square-foot building is owned by the Hornell Industrial Development Agency.
Ella & Jake’s is family business, named for grandchildren
The boutique is a family effort, with the couple’s daughter, Sarah, taking a significant role in developing the store’s identity as well as putting in plenty of elbow grease during the renovation.
And Ella and Jake’s is named for the Joe and Kelly’s young grandchildren, ages 4 and 6.
The owners began purchasing clothing on June 11, accepting gently-used items that are in-season, clean, current and odor-free.
Sellers should call or message the store to set up a time to drop of items. Competitive cash offers will be made within two or three days.
“Right now, we have more women’s clothing than men’s, but we do have some men’s on its way this week,” Joe Tomeno said.
The business also expects to have more footwear in stock in the coming days.
Grand opening for new Hornell clothing store July 1
Ella and Jake’s will continue to build up its inventory and variety ahead of the store’s official grand opening on July 1. Details are still being worked out for the grand opening event.
Even though it is still in the early days of the business, the store owners are heartened by the initial community response.
“So far, the feedback (from customers) has been great,” Joe Tomeno said.
Going forward, Ella & Jake’s will be open the same days and hours as Old Town Antiques:
The businesses can be accessed from Main Street and the back entrance.
The phone number is 607-324-4074.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Ella & Jake’s opens in Hornell, offers new and gently used men’s and women’s clothes
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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