Lynn & Barrett, a women’s clothing boutique on Western Avenue, is one of many new businesses transforming Allegheny West into a bustling business district.

Story and photo by Haley McMonagle

There’s a new addition to the evolving Western Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Northside. Lynn & Barrett, a women’s boutique that opened in July 2019 on the business strip offers a unique shopping experience. The store sells clothing that reflects earth tones and is designed with a large wall of faux greenery and skylights that brighten up the space. 

Co-owners Marci Lynn Cingolani and Victoria Barrett Cingolani opened this shop together at 903 Western Ave. just across the street from Bier’s Pub and The Modern Cafe. The mother-daughter duo owns a boutique in Wintersville, Ohio and has since moved their second boutique from Crafton, Pennsylvania to the Northside.

“I did a lot of research when we were moving our store from Crafton…”* said Victoria Barrett Cigolani. “I saw that there weren’t really any clothing boutiques over here. So we were really excited to be the first one and thought that we could get our foot in the door.”

The Wintersville, Ohio natives opened their first store in 2016 and have been developing their own style since. They have recently rebranded from what Victoria Cingolani calls “girly colors” to neutrals. 

“Being that my mom and I own it together, we have a good marriage of her age demographic and my age demographic,” said Victoria Cingolani. “I think that we cater to a lot of different ages because my style isn’t necessarily my mom’s style and vice versa.”

The name of their store is a combination of the owner’s middle names. The women are no strangers to the family business. 

“I have known nothing but small family businesses all my life,” said Victoria Cingolani. “My mom and dad own a plumbing company together and they have had a couple of other businesses together over the years. I have known nothing else. It’s what I have grown up with and it’s what I knew I always wanted to do when I got older…” 

The Lynn & Barrett team is gearing up for fall and are excited for their store to be a part of the neighborhood, but the boutique is not the only new addition to the area. 

“When I moved to Western Avenue, I thought I was the new kid on the block and I have come to find out a couple of weeks later that I absolutely am not,” said Victoria Cingolani. “There are so many businesses that have just got here in the last year and there are so many more opening up in the next couple of months. It is growing in front of our eyes.”

*Sentence has been edited to clarify that the store moved from Crafton to Allegheny West in the Northside. 9/26/2019