Petite Street is a Pacific Beach Children’s Boutique you ought to meet.
Owner Kimberly Brophy, who lives nearby, has been at 747 Turquoise St., Suite 100 for about a year.
“I really like being on this block because of people like (John) Pernicano,” said Brophy of the iconic Italian restaurant owner whose business is a couple of doors down.
Once a nanny, Brophy said it was time to go into business for herself. Part of the reason, she added, was because she “really wanted to keep having kids come in and watch them grow.”
Petite Street is a one-stop shop for all things children. Brophy has apparel, including many local brands. There’s also no shortage of cuddly stuffed animals (some talk), kid’s games and other diversions. She even sells tutus she makes herself.
“I try to keep with the beach theme,” said Brophy of her décor and inventory. “I carry a lot of local names, like My Mommy Surfs Better Than Your Daddy out of Ocean Beach. You can come in here and get almost anything you need for children ages newborn to 10.”
Unique clothing lines Brophy carries include shirts that come with wearable mustaches, “Stickie Bellies” for kids stating their ages for photos, teething necklaces that change colors with body heat and beach sandals with crabs on them that say “pinch me.”
“I try to keep my prices lower than online (shops),” Brophy said, citing one item she carries, a baby shoe that she said would cost $50 at Nordstrom and $39 online.
There’s even something for dads at Petite Street, like chic coffee mugs, T-shirts and surfer backpacks.
The boutique’s inventory also includes boys and girls pajama sets and pop-up educational books, as well as baby rattles and a “Socktopus,” a stuffed animal with socks of different colors kids can wear.
Also at Petite Street, are hats, including machine-washable sun hats, and pierce-free earrings, perfumed lipsticks, tattoo jewelry, and seasonal items like Easter baskets. The inventory also has some “gently loved” slightly used or practically new clothing that children have grown out of.
Brophy said moms — and dads — come in and select clothes for their youngest children. But after a certain point, it’s the child’s choice.
“Moms or stay-at-home dads will come in and pick out their clothes until they are around age 4 or 5,” Brophy said. “But after that the kids want to pick them out themselves.”
What’s most fun about operating Petite Street for Brophy is the opportunity to “interact” with others in the beach neighborhood.
“My favorite part is just meeting local families in the area, getting connected with them and meeting their kids, watching them grow,” she said, adding she’s in the children’s boutique business for the long term.
“Hopefully, those kids will be shopping here for their own kids,” Brophy said.
Petite Street is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information call (858) 539-0052 or email [email protected].