Young Entrepreneur Opens Boutique on Sag Harbor's Main Street

A new boutique, Annabel the Shop, has opened on Main Street in Sag Harbor. The creation of Annabel DeGroot, a 26-year-old from Bridgehampton, the shop features an eclectic mix of clothing and accessories, candles and glassware, and a smattering of coffee table photography and fashion books.

“I have 30 to 40 different brands in here,” said DeGroot. “I hand-picked everything myself.”

DeGroot, who said she had been thinking about opening a shop for the better part of a year, said she had high hopes her taste would be shared by customers.

“I’m confident in my sense of style,” she said, “and whenever I started to doubt myself, I have a large group of girlfriends who I forced into a poll group to give their opinions.”

DeGroot said her store has “a little bit of everything,” including a wide range of women’s clothing, from casual to more formal wear, with crocheted tops sharing space on the racks with pinstriped jackets and slacks.

The shop has a range of shoes from different brands, ranging from “strappy heels to cowboy or combat boots.” Sunglasses, hats, beach towels, and blankets share space with cards, decorative matches and wine carafes.

There are also a few men’s selections as well.

“Mostly, it’s funky clothes for people of all ages,” she said. “You don’t need to be a size 0 to fit into it. That might be why some people think I’m running a thrift shop — it’s not.”

Despite her young age, DeGroot is a seasoned entrepreneur. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, she moved home from New York and launched Annie’s Charcuterie, for which she created custom platters for gatherings large and small. That business is on hiatus for now, although DeGroot said she would consider taking on some jobs if the situation was right. She has also worked in photography, flower arranging and food styling.

As a young shopkeeper, DeGroot said she had to build relationships with various suppliers “and convince them via email I was the real deal” in order to get them to ship their products to her.

“I have a lot of sustainable and small brands, a lot of women-owned brands, and a lot of stuff at slightly lower price points than you usually see in the Hamptons,” she said. “I wanted it to be more accessible for a wider range of shoppers.”

Annabel the Shop is in the space at 150 Main Street formerly occupied by Annyx. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. The hours will be extended to 9:30 or 10 p.m. starting in mid-June.