New boutique, Hummingbird comes to the hamlet of Oyster Bay

Suzette LaValle will be opening her third boutique on Saturday, this time in the hamlet in the Town of Oyster Bay. Although she closed Suzette LaValle Boutique, her Brooklyn store, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hummingbird in Sea Cliff will remain open. The upscale women’s apparel and lifestyle boutique became a Sea Cliff mainstay when it opened in December 2019. One reason why she is expanding is because of her success there. A second, is that she fell in love with the hamlet.

“They have an amazing Halloween parade. It was stunning and lit up the whole town,” she said. “I was like, wow this is great! And that was it. I decided to open a Hummingbird in Oyster Bay.”

Another reason is her love of the community itself. “I love the sensation of the town, its close-knit community, and wonderful outdoor restaurants,” said the seasoned celebrity stylist. “I couldn’t think of a more perfect destination for a second Hummingbird boutique.”

And LaValle would also like to up her game. “As much as I love Sea Cliff and my customers there, I need more action,” she said. “Sea Cliff is a very slow-driven village and very quiet. I want to ramp up the traffic.”

Jamie Glowinski, owner of Glowinskin Esthetics, in Sea Cliff, said she was worried when LaValle said she was opening a store in Oyster Bay. “We thought she was leaving her Sea Cliff store,” Glowinski said. “I said, ‘No, you can’t leave us.’ She’s the one who brings all of us businesses together.”

Last summer, when people were venturing out after Covid, LaValle created an advertising campaign for Sea Cliff businesses. Glowinski said LaValle is a leader in the business community and that everyone loves her.

The new Hummingbird at 19 Spring Street will carry similar offerings as the Sea Cliff store and LaValle said she is working on product development too. The boutique, which is 300 square feet, is similar in size to Sea Cliff’s Hummingbird, but in Oyster Bay there will be two dressings rooms for the customer’s convenience.

LaValle brings much experience to Hummingbird having spent over 30 years in the fashion industry. When in her early 20’s she traveled to Paris after landing her first buying position. She was also a fashion stylist for 12 years and was awarded the Black Book “Best Styling” for an advertising campaign that she created alongside fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo. And she was a visual merchandiser for many of Manhattan’s hottest shops until 2015, when she opened her own store in Brooklyn.

Although LaValle lives in Brooklyn, she is no stranger to the North Shore. She grew up in Northport and has always spent her summers on Long Island. “I’m a city girl but a Long Island girl too,” she said.

Her experiences running two small businesses will assist her in making Hummingbird a success.

“The survival of a small business during these uncertain times has never been more challenging,” she said. “In my past experiences as a senior buyer, I’ve learned that survival means taking risks — and building. I’ve seen expansion fortify survival.”

Hummingbird will open on Saturday with informal modeling from 6 to 8 p.m. Customers will find a beautiful selection of clothing, home goods and gift ideas, including LaValle’s own line of seasonal t-shirts and casual styles.

“If Suzette does what she’s done in Sea Cliff in Oyster Bay it will be a success,” Glowinski said. “She’s all about shopping local.”

For further information, email Lavalle at welovehummingbirds.com.