Patrons pick over the offerings. (Photo by Christina Coulter)
It was an unusual sight for Saugerties, or anywhere. Throughout the weekend, women with satin frocks and ball gowns draped over their arms left her bridal shop at 160 Ulster Ave. in droves. After 16 years of selling ornate dresses for all occasions, Michelle Siracusano opened her doors for the last time to give away her entire stock — for free. Facebook posts, word of mouth and newspaper ads resulted in a line of customers that extended along the sidewalk toward Price Chopper. At the door, Siracusano’s husband Bob instructed each visitor to take only three dresses — a limit imposed, Siracusano said, after initial visitors pulled dresses off the shelves with reckless abandon.
Each day last weekend, the store’s congested racks would be picked clean, only to be restocked and pored over the next day. “Someone said, ‘It’s like you’re the Apple store and you’re giving away free phones,” joked Siracusano. “I’m glad that the fire inspector didn’t show up when 100 people were in my 800-square-foot store.”
Siracusano, along with her spouse Bob Siracusano, are no strangers to mass acts of generosity. Although the lifetime Saugerties residents own Sawyer Motors, the largest car dealership in town, the couple is best known for their local philanthropic acts — orchestrating the town’s annual Holiday in the Village celebration, the Sawyer Motors Car Show, galas, golf tournaments, fundraisers, an annual stage show to raise money for Saugerties High School and donating large sums to local children in need.
“This three-day event was an extraordinary experience. Many of my former brides showed up with their daughters and picked out prom gowns — another generation! Several prom and pageant girls came back for wedding gowns,” Siracusano said. “It almost felt like a reunion … My goal was to make people happy, and I think I’ve accomplished it. I’ve donated hundreds of gowns and dresses in the past, to local schools, churches and Cinderella’s Closet … [this last time] it was a lot easier for people to come to me, rather than shipping loads of garments to multiple locations.”
“I scored 42 dresses today — I couldn’t fit another one in my van it was so full. Probably about $30,000 worth of dresses,” said local artist Kelli Bickman, who said she would use them as part of an upcoming art installation.
Siracusano said that she’d given over 2,200 garments away over the weekend, dresses for brides, flower girls, proms, christenings, along with a slew of accessories like veils and tiaras — “you don’t want to know [how much they cost in total].” Owning a bridal shop, she said, was a goal on her “bucket list”; in the same vein, she’s earned a helicopter pilot license. Siracusano said that although her shop is closed, she’ll never retire, and continue to devote herself to local projects.
(Editor’s note: The story was updated to clarify for what purpose Bickman took the dresses.)
Should have let people know shelves were being restocked, some brides left and didn’t come back, not know shelves would be restocked after greedy people took more than they needed. Craigslist is probably full of free dresses, asking a mint
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Who needs 42 dresses ? greedy & despicable
Is this the same Kelli Bickman who has a mural hanging in the village? Nice!!
Agree with JR, why would you not leave dresses for others to have. 42 dresses! $30,000 worth of dresses. Why would someone be so inconsiderate of others? You should be ashamed. Most likely you so an opportunity to make a profit from someone elses generosity!
I swear that this happened the same spot a few years back? It really is like deja vu. It’s not something that you would forget about unless they just kept going afterwards and kept the business up which would have been great I’m not sure but I know I’ve definitely heard of this before because I was eager to go myself but I felt like it was already over with. And that was at least 5 years ago. Either way is there still any extra room for some other sizes are people or they just are done and all gone? And of course every luck to them for their new ventures!
Kelli should certainly be ashamed of herself.
Oh, and thank you to the Siracusanos for another fine act of generosity. They make Saugerties a better place, every day of the year.
I am not surprised to hear this story and the name Siracusano. This family has been a great accent to the town of Saugerties for years. Thank you for your benevolence, you are great citizens of the world and our hamlet is lucky to have you part of our neighborhood.