First Impressions: Peebles Department Store

By Susan Bush
12:00AM / Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Valerie MacWhinnie is the manager of the North Adams Peebles department store.

North Adams - It was an amazing, welcome site.

Menswear; piles, stacks, and racks of menswear, including ties, jackets, dress shirts, t-shirts, jeans...all within the walls of a downtown department store.

EXTRAS

• Peebles Preview Photo Tour
• Click here to see 360 degree views

It was enough to bring tears to the eyes.

Boys clothing display at Peebles

Peebles department store is slated for a grand opening on Thurs., Oct. 19, with a ceremony scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m.. City Mayor John Barrett III is expected to speak, as well as Kim Lamanque, manager of a Hudson, N.Y.-based Peebles and city store manager Valerie MacWhinnie.

MacWhinnie will cut a ribbon and the doors to the newest downtown business will open to the public.

The store is sited at a fully renovated former K-mart site. Within just over 17,000-square-feet of space are an abundance of mens', missy, junior, children, toddler, and infant-sized clothing from design names such as Izod, Chaps, Gloria Vanderbilt, Levi, Southpole, and more. There are shoes, boots, belts, and purses.

There is a fragrance counter. There is outerwear and underwear. There are choices of color and choices of style.

Especially impressive is the selection of toddler and infant attire. The store hosts dozens of outfits and accessories, jackets and coats in many styles. There is also a selection of toys manufactured by Melissa and Doug, a popular company known for quality items.

Missys pajama section

A gift section offers items such as picture frames, candles, and specialty plates and cups. There is a selection of glass ware, such as domed cake plates, and a selection of holiday ornaments that include "harvest'" items and Christmas snow globes, tree decorations, thick decorative ribbon, and additional items.

Sweaters, skirts, blouses, blazers, women's pajamas and robes, all those items are at Peebles. Many of the displays have posted "Sale" signs that advertise 25, 30, 40, even 50 percent price discounts.

Little girls' sweaters

Perhaps this writing sounds a bit giddy, a bit over-enthused. But that is exactly the way an Oct. 17 store tour made me feel: enthusiastic, excited, pleased, even nostalgic. The store interior and merchandise reminded me of days gone by, the days when stores such as Roberts Co. and the Boston Store lined the city's Main Street.

There is a store in downtown North Adams that has stocked quality clothing at affordable prices. There are items suitable for my 40-something husband, my young adult sons and son-in-law, my daughter and daughters-in-law, and my five grandchildren. There are items suitable for me, and it's all under one roof!

Infant outerwear

Welcome to the city, Peebles. And thank you.

EXTRAS

• Peebles Preview Photo Tour
• Click here to see 360 degree views

Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.