It’s easy to get swept away in this place.
For 16 years, Pitter Patter has been catering to the younger set in the Bethany Beach area. And, for 16 years, owner Betsey Clark has been morphing and mixing the store’s inventory to offer exactly what it is she has in mind for her customers. Did we mention that this store caters to the young crowd?
Well, the items in the store are designed for the youth — primarily focusing on clothing sizes ranging from toddlers to 6X, and on toys and games that provide both entertainment and education. But her clientele isn’t all that young, necessarily.
“I used to think the term ‘grandparent store’ was a bad one,” said Clark. “But I’ve learned that it’s a good thing. Grandparents love to shop for their grandchildren, and we provide good products for them.”
Actually, the fun shopping idea was what started Pitter Patter in the first place. When Clark became pregnant with her first daughter, Sarah, she decided to open a store focusing on baby items. “It seemed like fun,” she explained.
Once she decided to go that route, Clark didn’t have to look long for a location. She had already owned the eclectic boutique Japanesque, in a shopping center her parents owned, and it made sense for her to open the new endeavor right next door — in what is now known as The Shoppes of Bethany Station, on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Clark made the decision to outfit the store with things that she personally felt were important — clothes of high quality, toys that are mentally-stimulating and fun, and family-oriented activities and games that are just as much fun for the adults as they are for the children.
Mission accomplished.
While she does not have the space to have as much merchandise as some of the national chains, Clark has actively decided to go a different route. She stocked her shop with items that make great gifts for children, and keeps an inventory of items for people to swing by and pick up if they don’t want to make a longer drive somewhere else. She also pushes quality.
With all the attention paid recently to the dangers of some toys and games manufactured in China, Clark limits her buying to businesses with good reputations who take quality control seriously. She said she got a call from one manufacturer about an item in her store that was discovered not to be safe, and she was able to get it off the shelves immediately. She also doesn’t sell electronic games in the store, removing one item of concern for the public.
“I take that very seriously,” said Clark. “And the companies I use do, as well. I feel 100 percent comfortable with the items we have in here.”
Another key to Pitter Patter is the convenience to the customer. The store is located right in downtown Bethany Beach, north of Bethany Blues on Pennsylvania Avenue, and is open seven days a week, 12 months a year.
Clark also said that many of her customers have come back to the store to tell her what presents were enjoyed by the recipients and what weren’t, helping her in deciding what to stock in the store.
“That’s a really big help,” said Clark. “My children are grown now (son, Benjamin, is now 12), and it’s good to hear what people enjoy and what isn’t quite working.”
Pitter Patter is located at 16 Pennsylvania Avenue in Bethany Beach. To contact the store, call (302) 539-2311.