Local Fashion Boutique Freddy B Makes a Statement

Freddy B offers pieces at affordable prices - college students receive a 10% discount with their student ID card. Photo by Julia McDaniel.

The best businesses are named after a dog — at least, so it goes for Freddy B, named after Beth Madsen’s dog, Freddy Beau. 

Madsen, owner of the chic clothing boutique, opened the store in October 2021 at the outdoor shopping and dining center Eastdale Village in Arlington, New York. Fifteen years after opening Elizabeth Boutique down the road from Freddy B, Madsen was looking to cater to a different audience with her new venture.

“I want a place where the younger generation can shop,” said Madsen, a local of the Hudson Valley. “The idea [was to have] a sister shop and catering to the local community.”

The women’s boutique sells various items, from trendy clothing and accessories to shoes and beauty products. Freddy B is meant as a fashion-forward and wallet-friendly shopping destination, a place that can accommodate everything a young woman could want in her wardrobe. 

Madsen was born into a family of entrepreneurs, so her mindset was already second nature when she tried her hand at it. From a young age, she always knew she wanted to open a boutique and studied fashion merchandising in college. 

“I've always just wanted to have a shop,” said Marsden. “I like to curate things and make things look really nice.”

According to Madsen, the retail industry is a hard and competitive one, but her approach is hands-on in nature — while she drives the business, her employees assist in that same goal. But having always been a go-getter, she is still learning to delegate more. “It's hard to not want to do it all,” said Marsden. 

Whether they’re running social media, modeling clothing, or working the floor, the myriad of experiences employees gain are all thanks to the opportunities Madsen has created.

“The goal of Freddy B is to help younger women gain skills and learn about retail, owning a boutique, buying, and social media. I am looking to help the younger generation,” said Marsden.

While there are plans to expand the business in the future, Madsen remains consistent and focused on who she is and what Freddy B stands for.

“It's focusing on the Hudson Valley and offering a great shopping experience and being a part of the community,” said Marsden.