Hidden Gems: Meet Lindsay Stuart of Glam Expressway

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Stuart.

Hi Lindsay, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Entrepreneurship has always felt very natural to me. I grew up in Jamaica in a family and a culture where entrepreneurship was all around me, so I always knew that eventually I wanted to build something of my own.

When I moved to New York and started a family, that desire became much more practical. I was building a career while also becoming a mother, and I quickly realized how difficult it can be for women to balance the demands of work with actually having the time to raise their children. I thought owning my own business would give me more freedom and flexibility. Of course, I can laugh about that now because entrepreneurship gave me anything but free time!

But somewhere along the way, what started as a desire to create a business and a life that worked for my family became a much bigger mission.

I saw an opportunity in DUMBO. It was becoming this incredibly vibrant, creative, tourism-driven neighborhood, but at the time there was very little fashion retail. I wanted to create a store that felt like the neighborhood itself—artistic, unexpected, diverse and a little funky. That became Glam Expressway.

Since opening, I’ve poured myself into creating a boutique where women can discover pieces they aren’t going to see everywhere else. We carry statement clothing, fun jewelry and accessories, independent and international brands, and pieces from women- and minority-owned designers. Size inclusivity is also incredibly important to me. We carry sizes from XS through 4XL, which unfortunately is still unusual for an independent fashion boutique. I want women of different ages, sizes and personal styles to walk through our doors and feel that there is something interesting there for them.

One of the most rewarding things has been realizing that we aren’t simply selling clothes. We help women discover and express their individual style. There is nothing better than seeing someone try on something she never would have chosen for herself, look in the mirror and suddenly see herself differently. That’s the part of the business that keeps me excited about what we do.

Glam Expressway has also become deeply connected to DUMBO. Our work in the community has been recognized with an award for helping to make the neighborhood better, and I now serve in a leadership role with the DUMBO Business Improvement District. Supporting and advocating for the other businesses in this neighborhood is something I take very seriously. When one small business succeeds, it contributes to the energy and success of the entire neighborhood.

Today, Glam Expressway has grown into both a brick-and-mortar boutique and an online shop, but the heart of it hasn’t changed. We’re still about individuality, discovery, inclusivity and community. I’m incredibly proud that a business I initially imagined as a way to create a different life for myself and my daughters has grown into something that contributes to the fabric of DUMBO and Brooklyn. And I feel like we’re still just getting started.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been anything but a smooth road! I came into this business with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, but I didn’t have a background in retail or fashion buying, so much of what I know today I taught myself along the way. Everything from buying and merchandising to marketing, e-commerce and understanding the cyclical ups and downs of retail has been an education.

Then, of course, there was COVID. Like so many small businesses, we had to figure out very quickly how to adapt. But interestingly, some of the things we developed during that period ultimately made us a stronger business. We became much more intentional about creating content and telling our story online, and that allowed us to connect with our customers in a completely different way. We also began hosting events more regularly, which helped turn the boutique into more than simply a place to shop. It became a gathering place and deepened our relationship with the community.

There have been other challenges that aren’t talked about as often. As a Black woman in fashion, I’ve experienced racism and uncomfortable treatment in some luxury showrooms while buying for the store. We’ve dealt with isolated incidents of shoplifting and, like every independent retailer, the constant realities of running a small business in New York City.

But one thing entrepreneurship has taught me is that almost every challenge forces you to learn something. You adjust, you become more resourceful, and sometimes you discover an entirely new way of doing things. Some of the things that are now integral to Glam Expressway—our content, our events and the strong community we’ve built around the store—grew out of periods when we were simply trying to figure out how to keep moving forward.

So no, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think the challenges have helped shape Glam Expressway into the business it is today. Every difficult season has taught us something, and we’ve always come out of it knowing ourselves and our community a little better.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Glam Expressway?
Glam Expressway is the kind of store where you walk in looking for one thing and leave having discovered something you didn’t even know you needed. We are a fashion-forward, size-inclusive boutique in DUMBO, Brooklyn, specializing in clothing, statement jewelry, accessories and those special pieces that make people stop and ask, “Where did you get that?”

I personally curate the store, and I think that point of view is what really sets us apart. I’m not interested in filling the racks with things you can find everywhere else. I look for pieces that are interesting, wearable and a little unexpected—from independent and emerging designers to women-owned, Black-owned, sustainable, local and international brands. We have designers represented from Brooklyn to Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Australia and the UK.

Our aesthetic is cool, chic and effortless, but individuality is really at the heart of Glam Expressway. We love a great statement piece, unusual denim, an incredible pair of sunglasses, bold jewelry or a beautiful set that does all the work for you. We also believe great style shouldn’t be reserved for one body type, which is why size inclusivity has become such an important part of the brand.

The experience is just as important as the merchandise. We offer personal styling, and because we’re an independent boutique, we really get to know our customers. Someone can tell me they’re going on vacation, have an event, or simply want to get out of a style rut, and we’ll help them find pieces that feel like them rather than dressing them like everyone else. That personal approach has been part of what has distinguished the store over the years.

And you truly never know who will walk through the door. We’ve had celebrities, artists, stylists, tourists from around the world and, most importantly, an incredible community of loyal customers shop with us. Some celebrity shoppers such as – Ashley Graham, Cush Jumbo, LaToya Tonodeo, Elle Varner, H.E.R. and Sarah Sherman of SNL have shopped here. Glam Expressway has also been featured in publications including Cosmopolitan and Latina, and we’ve been recognized for our contribution to the DUMBO community.

What I’m most proud of, though, is that Glam Expressway has developed a personality of its own. People come here because they know they’re going to find something different. We’ve created a space where fashion is fun, where women can experiment with their style, and where people of different ages, sizes and backgrounds can feel welcome.

I want someone who reads this to visit our website or come into the boutique and immediately understand who we are. If you like fashion but don’t want to look like everyone else, Glam Expressway is for you.

Come find us in DUMBO, Brooklyn—or discover us online. Just don’t blame me when someone stops you on the street to ask where you got your outfit.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is building something that leaves a meaningful legacy. Of course I want Glam Expressway to be successful, but success for me has never been only about how much we sell or how large the business becomes. I want to be able to look back and know that what I built had a positive impact on other people.

A big part of that is empowering women. Sometimes that happens in the fitting room, helping a woman see herself differently and feel confident in what she’s wearing. Other times it’s encouraging another woman in entrepreneurship, sharing what I’ve learned, or simply reminding someone that she is capable of doing more than she thinks she can.

I’m especially proud of the work we do with young women. Through our internship program, we have the opportunity to mentor young people and give them real-world experience inside a small business. They get to see that entrepreneurship isn’t just the glamorous parts you see on social media. They learn about customer service, merchandising, marketing, content creation, operations and the everyday problem-solving it takes to keep a business moving. I hope that experience gives them confidence they can carry into whatever they choose to do next.

Giving back is also something we’ve intentionally made part of the culture of Glam Expressway. Every year around Thanksgiving, we organize a philanthropic initiative focused on a need in our community. Most recently, we partnered with I Support the Girls for a toiletry and personal-care donation drive. We are always looking for meaningful ways to use our store, our platform and our community to help others.

Ultimately, I want my daughters—and the young women who come through Glam Expressway—to see that you can build something successful while also being generous, community-minded and committed to bringing other people along with you. If Glam Expressway can inspire women to feel more confident, encourage a young person to dream bigger, support someone who needs help, and contribute something meaningful to our community, then that’s the kind of legacy I want to leave.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shopglamexpressway.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glamexpressway/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glamex/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-stuart-b274381b0/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/glam-expressway-brooklyn-3?osq=Glam+Expressway
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@glamexpressway