Published in The Saratogian Feb. 14 .

Piper is the new women’s boutique taking over 441 Broadway, which Rockabella recently vacated to move to Lake Avenue.

The business owner is Alessandra Bange-Hall, a Lake Luzerne native.

Bange-Hall earned her corporate retail and finance stripes working for companies like Williams-Sonoma and Marc Jacobs in New York and New Jersey. She returned to the area in July and soon faced a now-or-never decision to open a shop once she heard the Broadway storefront was becoming available.

“One day I just decided that now was the time,” said Bange-Hall, 24. “You just kind of have to go for it and not look back.”

Bange-Hall is among several new business owners on Broadway who are young and female. Emily Davis, 30, opened Yellow Boutique this winter, while

20-somethings Brittany Nasser of the nearby DeVinyl Revolution and Stephanie DeCelle of Elle Ced both dove into retail ownership within the last year.

The camaraderie offered by other local business owners has been a major source of support while getting the business off the ground, Bange-Hall said.

“I couldn’t feel more welcomed … by people who I thought would have been my competitors,” she said.

Piper will carry “modern contemporary” clothing, handbags and vintage jewelry for young women and working girls. Brands like BB Dakota, Ellison and Aryn K will be on hand.

In the store, the walls are painted dark brown and the floors are made of reclaimed barn board. The rest of the “Urban Outfitters”-inspired interior is being put in place this month.

“You walk inside and you don’t just want to shop, you want to hang out,” Bange-Hall said of the vibe she aims to create.

A March opening is planned. Skidmore IDs will be accepted for purchases, and a 10 percent discount will be given to students for a limited time.

For more information, look up “Piper Boutique Saratoga Springs” on Facebook. A website, www.piperboutique.com, is in the works.