From left, Christine Peterson and BJ Buonaiuto are the owners of the new high-end retail merchandise shop The Sophisticated Shoulder Experience, located at 306 W. Third St., Jamestown. The businesses specializes in designer handbags by Coach, Doonery & Bourke, Kate Spade and Michael Kors. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Anyone looking for a high-end designer handbag can find it online.

However, to find a high-end shopping experience while buying a new handbag you need to visit downtown Jamestown.

The Sophisticated Shoulder Experience, located at 306 W. Third St., Jamestown, is the new business offering more than just designer handbags by Coach, Doonery & Bourke, Kate Spade and Michael Kors. The boutique’s owners, BJ Buonaiuto and Christine Peterson, are also offering a one-of-a-kind shopping experience where a client might receive cotton candy, hot chocolate or, depending on the mood, a glass of wine.

“We like to give everyone an experience,” Peterson said.

Buonaiuto and Peterson, who have been friends for 20 years, opened The Sophisticated Shoulder Experience on Oct. 1 to offer authentic designer handbags along with a wide range of jewelry, candles, scarves, perfume, art work and literally anything in the store.

“We offer affordable luxury,” Buonaiuto said.

The shop offers private shopping events and fundraisers for charities where designer handbags are given away. So far, the two have raised $70,000 for local nonprofit community organizations like the Chautauqua County Human Society and Child Advocacy Program of Chautauqua County.

Both have said it has been a great experience meeting so many new people since the store opened.

“The support has been phenomenal,” Peterson said.

Even during a rough period around the Fourth of July when the store was robbed, which delayed the opening of the store, The Sophisticated Shoulder community supported Buonaiuto and Peterson.

“Our (Facebook members) took it personally,” Peterson said about the store being robbed.

Buonaiuto said its great being a part of the downtown shopping community along Third Street, which now has three stores – Dot’s Gift Boutique, ART Cloth + Craft, and The Sophisticated Shoulder Experience – owned by women.

“We want Jamestown to be fun again,” she said. “There are a lot of very good businesses downtown.”

The hours for the business can be found on its Facebook page at The Sophisticated Shoulder Experience. The shop is currently open from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, 3-8:30 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 484-4014.