Buy, Sell, Trade Vintage Clothes at The Attic

Business:

Location: 516 Main St.

Manager: Amy Chalifoux

Contact Info: 610-865-2210

 

What’s special/unique about your business?

The Attic buys, sells or trades unique, gently or barely used clothing. The styles tend to be vintage, unique or unusual, said store manager Amy Chalifoux, who cited, as an example, a bathing suit made of beads. For those selling their used clothing, the store will give you 30 percent of the cash value they expect to sell the item for or 55 percent of the value in store credit toward purchasing another item. The process is explained by shop owner Anne Kuronyi in a You Tube video attached to this story. The store also buys, sells and trades house wares and collectibles with an eye toward kitschy and vintage styles. Owls are very popular, Chalifoux said.

 

What’s your most popular product?

Jewelry and dresses are the store’s most popular items. The jewelry is generally of the costume variety and nothing sells for more than about $15.

 

How have you weathered the Recession?

“We’ve been doing pretty well, actually,” Chalifoux said. “This year has been better than last year.” The store has been very popular during the traditional Christmas and Musikfest tourist seasons. It’s also a popular destination around Halloween for costume hunters. The very nature of the store makes it a popular destination for bargain hunters. Women can walk out with a complete outfit for as little as $30, Chalifoux said. The store is currently running a 10 percent coupon sale and is also selling reusable canvas bags for $2.95. Bring the bag to shop with all summer for a 5 percent discount.

 

Tells us about your history.

The Bethlehem store is actually the second Attic and the Main Street location is the second Bethlehem location. Inspired by vintage clothing stores she saw in New York and on the West Coast, Kuronyi launched the first Attic in Kutztown in 2003. After becoming a hit with the college kids there, a second Attic was opened on Broad Street, Bethlehem in 2008. That store has since moved to Main Street. A third location was opened in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia in 2009. The Attic launched an Online store in 2011, with its own unique line of products.