2nd Time Around To Close Wellesley Store

WELLESLEY, MA —In 1973, Dottie Casler opened a consignment store in Newton as part of a solution to the age old problem of what to do with those clothes you didn't want to wear any more but weren't exactly "old." Two decades later, her son Jeffery Casler continued the business, opening a 2nd Time Around on fancy Newbury Street in Boston.

The consignment shops expanded beyond Newton, Brookline and Newbury Street and were a smash. They opened stores as far South as New York City and as far west as Illinois.

Now, the stores - all of them - are closing up shop.

"2nd Time Around is under serious financial pressure," according to the company on its website.

Why? According to its website, it has to do with a change in the habits of consumers.

"Because of a convergence of market forces hitting all brick and mortar stores - including increased competition from online retailers combined with skyrocketing rents - we have made the difficult decision to close our stores."

The consignment shop is due to close up all shops by the end of the month. Some 18 are already closed and there's a list of 22 more slated to close, yes, including the shops in Newton, Needham, Wellesley and Cambridge. Going out of business sales are already starting. But if you have store credit, you won't be able to pay with that, according to the website.

"We are committed to paying all consignors whose items were sold after May 1, 2017 but at this time cannot promise that we can pay consignors whose items were sold earlier. If you have store credit from a sale that occurred after May 1, you will be paid by check as soon as possible."

A couple of years ago the Newton Highlands location closed and Fleck coffee shop took over that spot

The Caslers did not immediately respond to request for comment.

By Jenna Fisher (Patch Staff)

Photo of the Coolidge Corner 2nd Time Around by Jenna Fisher/ Patch