Fashion Re-View/Fairless Hills Produce/Boardwalk Sunsations Tanning
What does a high-end consignment shop, a produce store and a tanning salon have in common?
Perhaps anywhere other than Falls Township the answer would be nothing.
But, in a shopping center on Lincoln Highway, the side-by-side businesses are all owned by the same family.
Betty Black opened Fashion Re-View in 1992, unknowingly paving the way for other family-owned retailers. She ran the store until 2013 when her daughters, Mary Taylor and Cary Wood, took over.
n its time, the store has amassed 3,000 consignment customers, according to Taylor.
“Most of them fell in love with mom,” she said, adding that her mother has always been good with people.
Even in retirement, their mother “still says it’s her store,” Wood said. “It’ll always be mom’s store.”
The shop, which sells new and used items for men, women, juniors and plus sizes ranging from a variety of clothing, gowns, evening bags, jewelry and accessories, has also carried mink coats, Prada bags and Gucci shoes.
“We have to research everything,” Taylor said. “We do not sell fakes.”
Fashion Re-View has been a mainstay in the plaza, which had also been home to Pathmark.
Fairless Hills Produce Center is situated alongside the consignment shop. Mary’s son, Matthew Taylor, has owned the produce store since purchasing it from his uncle in 2010.
“While I was in school I worked with him off and on for five years,” he said. “I always liked the idea of working for myself.”
In addition to the Falls Township store, Matthew also has a location in Doylestown. Having family close by is an added bonus.
“It’s nice to just go see them,” he said. “They’re always looking out for me.”
So too are the family’s loyal customers.
“The people in town are really nice,” he said. “We have a lot of familiar faces that have been coming to us for a long time.”
One such customer is Margie Devenuto. The deals at all three shops bring her back.
“I’ve gotten so much more of a better buy,” she said. “It’s a lot more economical. I can get nicer things for less money.”
For Taylor, opening a tanning salon was a long-time goal. She had been watching the retail space where Boardwalk Sunsations Tanning is located. In 2010 she took the plunge when the space became available.
The salon, which offers spray and UV tanning services, also features soaps, jewelry, signs and other trinkets made by locals.
“I’ve always loved tanning,” Mary Taylor said. “Living here, you can’t always go outdoors to tan.”
The salon evokes the feeling of being on the beach with an oversized lifeguard chair out front and a nautical theme throughout.
Despite running seemingly different businesses, Wood said all three retailers share customers.
“I have people who say ‘I’m supposed to be buying apples right now,’ ” she said.
Some customers know about the family connection, while others do not. Either way, shoppers help the family businesses thrive.
“We’ve tried so many different types of advertising,” Mary Taylor said. “Word of mouth is best. It keeps us going.”
To learn more
Fashion Re-View is located at 636 Lincoln Highway in Fairless Hills. The consignment shop sells new and gently worn famous label and designer clothing. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (215) 428-1766 or visit http://www.shopfashionreview.com/.
Fairless Hills Produce Center is located at 636 Lincoln Highway in Fairless Hills. The stores offers a wide selection of fruits and vegetables at discount prices. The store also carries milk and eggs, oftentimes having storm essentials on hand when grocery stores run out. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 215-428-2420 or visit http://www.shopfashionreview.com/.
Boardwalk Sunsations Tanning is located at 636 Lincoln Highway #12 in Fairless Hills. The salon offers spray tanning and tanning bed services. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (215) 295-8267 or visit http://www.boardwalksunsations.com/default.asp.