‘The next generation of Marissa’: Naples-based Marissa Collections opens Palm Beach store
Rachida Harper Skinner Palm Beach Daily News
Jay and Marissa Hartington hosted a grand opening Tuesday in the new location of the Marissa Collections at the Royal Poinciana Plaza. Meghan McCarthy, MEGHAN McCARTHY/The Palm Beach Daily News
Marissa Hartington says her boutique was born from her ideas of whimsy and relaxation.
On Tuesday, she brought that sense of whimsy and relaxation to Palm Beach with the opening of Marissa Collections in the Royal Poinciana Plaza.
A Naples-based boutique established in 1975 by Hartington and her husband, Burt, Marissa Collections bills itself as an eclectic luxury boutique curated in women’s and men’s apparel, shoes, jewelry, and accessories.
“This place ... incorporates and embraces the spirit of Palm Beach — its colors and its easiness,” Hartington said of the store's second location and its offerings. “There is a lot of beautiful jewelry here, but our focus is on beachwear and embracing designers that are not everywhere.”
New and loyal clients of Marissa Collections browsed racks of designer dresses and perused jewelry, or mingled as they stood in the plaza’s courtyard during a grand opening event Tuesday evening.
Among the crowd of more than 100 people who attended were Marissa Collections CEO Jay Hartington, the founders’ son, as well as Stellene Volandes, the editor in chief of Town and Country Magazine. On Wednesday, the opening day of the boutique, Volandes signed copies of her book "Jewels That Made History."
Models wear pieces from Marissa Collections on Tuesday. Meghan McCarthy, MEGHAN McCARTHY/The Palm Beach Daily News
Jay Hartington said working in retail on a corporate level had always been on his mind, and when he joined the family business in 2008, he said “the stars aligned.”
He began in the family business as a youngster — gift wrapping, preparing spreadsheets and acting as an extra set of hands. Marissa Collections felt like another family member, he said.
“The reality of it is, growing up, my parents worked seven days a week, all the time. Frankly, no matter how good your idea is, it takes constant work on any new concept,” he said.
“I used to joke as an only child that wanted a sibling growing up, that my sister was the store. It was a family team effort.”
Luxury boutique features familiar names in fashion
The 3,040-square-foot storefront at 340 Royal Poinciana Way is a good fit for the boutique given that many of her clients live in Palm Beach and have a lifestyle built around it, Marissa Hartington said. "I understand the beach because I live in Naples. We know our lifestyle is based on sunshine, the beach and easiness.”
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