About Us

Duchess Outlet has been family owned and operated for over 65 years. Our story begins in 1958, when entrepreneur Sam Caprari purchased the historic Pittston Stove building and made plans to open Duchess Coat and Suit Manufacturing plant. It employed over 150 workers and was a major player in the once-thriving garment industry of Wyoming Valley.

As Pittston emerged as a national center for clothing and manufacturing, Sam’s wife, Theresa had the idea to open a discount retail outlet; one of the first of its kind. The new Duchess venture offered premium outerwear at bargain prices. Theresa went on to become vice president of the company, and assumed leadership roles in the community when women in business were still a rarity. Sam continued his entrepreneurship by developing and organizing new businesses while growing Duchess into one of the largest retailers in northeast Pennsylvania.

In the 1980’s Sam and Theresa’s son, Paul and his wife, Paula took over the business. Duchess began carrying the famous London Fog raincoats, along with men’s suits and blazers, and the selection of exclusive outerwear was expanded. Like his father, Paul created and nurtured additional businesses while growing the Duchess enterprise. 

Paula introduced Madame Alexander Dolls in 1984. The Doll Hospital, specializing in doll repair and restoration, opened the following year. Throughout the subsequent decades, Duchess was the recipient of multiple honors and awards. These include “Outstanding Retailer of the Year,” by Doll Reader Magazine, and “Diamond Retailer of the Year,” by Madame Alexander Doll Company. These awards recognize excellence in customer service and selection of Madame Alexander Dolls.

In 2010, Duchess opened a Doll Museum. More than one-thousand dolls in the collection focus primarily on the prestigious Madame Alexander dolls produced from the 1930’s to present, representing truly American traditions and stories.

Paul and Paula’s children launched DUCHESSOUTLET.COM in 2011, becoming the third generation to offer the highest quality merchandise and customer experience.  In 2014, the store was renovated and expanded with an additional 3,000 square feet of retail space. To accommodate the extensive shipping around the world, the facility was upgraded to include the most modern, automated systems available. In 2018, Duchess was awarded “Outstanding Business of the Year,” by the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. Currently, expansion is once again underway. Stay tuned for the next chapter in our story!