We interviewed boutique owner, Elliesha Villanueva, of The Green Onion Children’s Boutique in Brooklyn, New York. Elliesha gives us the lowdown on Halloween happenings in the Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens neighborhood, her views on growing up in the community and the perfect take-me-home gift for baby. Read more to discover more about The Green Onion!
The Green Onion
274 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718.246.2804
CHECK-IN and JOIN
The Green Onion’s Facebook
page and click HERE
1. Tell us the inspiration behind opening your own boutique?
Having my own business has always been a dream I wanted to pursue. The Green Onion was originally founded and opened in 1998, and I had the opportunity to purchase this successful existing children’s boutique in 2008 and I love it!
2. How did you come up with the name?
The name was already conceived, and I kept it because it stood out, and people always remembered us because of our name.
Inside the Green Onion
3. Tell us the inside scoop about any special events that you have planned for your boutique for fall, especially the fun deals we can expect! Anything for Halloween?
Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens is a great neighborhood to raise a family – we have an amazing community! We normally open for Halloween and give out candy. Cobble Hill Park and Carroll Park both have separate parades. Prospect Park, which is located in Park Slope, is one of our nearby neighborhoods that has a ton of events during the weekend leading up to Halloween.
4. Please tell us 1 fun Halloween tradition you had with your family as a child that you can share with our readers?
I grew up in Cobble Hill Brooklyn, and being an urban child during the early 80’s in New York was a different experience than it is now, but our tradition was to keep the “trick a treating “ within our local small business community. I have fond memories of Halloween in my neighborhood!!!
5. What is one fun way to decorate a pumpkin or your home for Halloween?
My Husband and I love to fill our home with the scent of cinnamon and we also love to decorate our windows at home and in the store!
6. Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”
We have not started our own family yet, but my husband and I have sworn to never let our children create a habit of sleeping in our beds.
7. Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Brooklyn, New York. Did you grow up in the local area?
I grew up in Cobble Hill Brooklyn, New York and it is and was a great neighborhood to grow up in. Downtown Brooklyn is socially and culturally diverse. Those who don’t know Brooklyn tend to think of it as a middle & lower class dormitory suburb of Manhattan. That’s not the image most New Yorkers have nowadays. Like Manhattan, its smaller cousin in terms of population (2.5 million versus 1.5 million), it has always been a borough of many neighborhoods, some rich, some poor and many solid middle-class. The challenge for the coming years will be to manage Brooklyn’s growth and maintain its cultural diversity.
8. What Le Top or rabbitmoon Fall 2011 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
From Le Top we love the layette bunting (or what Le Top calls a “snugglebag” that also comes in blue and pink) in mint green! It has been one of our best sellers since fall 2010. We love it because it’s a great take-me-home piece and a fabulous gift for a new baby. Our other favorite are the knit sweaters from Rabbitmoon.
rabbitmoon "anjou" color-blocked sweater dress
The Green Onion
274 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718.246.2804
CHECK-IN and JOIN
The Green Onion’s Facebook
page and click HERE
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