Blue Tree is a boutique on the Upper East Side of New York City, opened by former actress Phoebe Cates and Lisa Matlin,[1] with Ivana Callahan, store manager.[2]

Blue Tree
FoundedOctober 2005
FounderPhoebe Cates
Headquarters,
United States
Websitebluetreeny.bigcartel.com

Background

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"Phoebe Cates Kline was so fond of the Upper East Side branch of gift store Penny Whistle[3] that when it closed, she simply had to replace it.[4]

The store sells chocolate, diamonds, jewelry, clothing, antiques, perfume, candles, art, photography, books, vintage LPs, and stuffed animals.[5]

The New York Times referred to the store as "a version of Elizabeth Street for the Carnegie Hill crowd, a little oasis of downtown aesthetic at Ladies Who Lunch prices," and said that "the celebrity boutique is a way for famous people to admit the civilian into their universe; it is a presentation of themselves, their likes and desires, their preferences—and does not require them to step in front of a camera."[5]

Cates stated "I always wanted to have a general store." Cates also said that some of her customers tell her that she looks like Phoebe Cates, and that she responds to them by saying "I get that a lot."[6]

The name of the store was suggested by Kevin Kline, Cates' husband.[7] The store's name is a reference to the blue trees in Fauvist paintings;[8] with the idea being that just as blue trees seem out of place in a forest, a store like Blue Tree seems out of place on the Upper East Side.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Blue Tree". Goop.
  2. ^ Jenny Miller (11 November 2011). "Phoebe Cates Hits Sfoglia Twice in One Day, Closes Her Own Shop to Focus on Shackburgers". Grub Street.
  3. ^ Elizabeth Wolff (31 January 2008). "Final Whistle for Uptown Toy Chain". New York Magazine.
  4. ^ Aja Mangum (20 October 2005). "Phoebe Cates Kline Opens Blue Tree Toy Store". New York Magazine.
  5. ^ a b Alex Kuczynski (November 24, 2005). "Some Chocolate With Your Diamonds?". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b Donna Freydkin (March 22, 2006). "Phoebe Cates, sittin' in Blue Tree". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Allie Hogan (25 June 2021). "This '80s Star Quit Hollywood Over Two Decades Ago. See Phoebe Cates Now". Yahoo! Finance. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023.
  8. ^ Patricia Marx (27 March 2009). "Phoebe Cates's Manhattan Boutique". Travel + Leisure. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023.
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40°47′04″N 73°57′22″W / 40.78433°N 73.95613°W / 40.78433; -73.95613