Meet the Owner: Pattern Finders Finds Success on East Main Street

Over the last 35 years, Stacy Davidson has taken her business, Pattern Finders, from a mail-order operation out of her Mt. Sinai home to a thriving retail space on East Main Street in Port Jefferson village.

Her shop – which has an alternate name, "Stacy's Finds" – marries vintage goods with trendy new merchandise, along with some consignment items. There you'll find jewelry, dresses and women's accessories, home accents and bric-a-brac.

Asked what she loves the most about her business, Davidson's reply is simply "everything."

"I have wonderful regular customers," she said. "I get to buy the most beautiful things from both worlds, the old and the new. I love the challenge of trying to fit it all in to my tiny little store."

Her store in its current iteration evolved six years ago from her previous endeavor, which was matching dinner ware. But she saw that market start to fade, and decided to change with the times.

"I noticed a declining situation where people were calling me more to sell theirs than to buy new," she said. "... You have to recognize when things need to be changed and then be able to do it."

Davidson said while the metered parking situation in Port Jefferson can be a turn-off for customers, foot traffic is still good and the village government is, overall, supportive of the local businesses.

"I don’t think it’s really affected my business," she said, "but I do think it’s a challenge in this economy when so many other areas are competing for the same customer."

She said she is particularly excited for the planned renovation of "Baker's Alley," the village right-of-way that connects East Main Street to the municipal parking lot, which is located right next to Pattern Finders.

She is also known for doing charity work: the pre-loved furs she sells benefit Infant Jesus church across town; she has run prom dress drives and school supplies drives; and she has facilitated the fulfillment of Christmas wishes for underprivileged kids with the organization Holiday Magic.

As for the future, Davidson said even with 35 years in business behind her, she doesn't see herself retiring any time soon.

"I love being here," she said. "I’d like to work here and have my business running successfully until I can no longer work. I don’t see myself retiring because this is too much fun."