New Secondhand Children's Clothing Store Opening In Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — A popular secondhand children's clothing store chain is set to open its newest location in Norwalk next month.

Once Upon a Child, which sells and pays cash on the spot for gently used children's clothing, toys, equipment and furniture, will soon open in the shopping center at 542 Westport Avenue.

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The location's website urges customers to "save your kids' outgrown stuff! Soon we will begin stocking our store with it."

Once Upon a Child has locations in a number of Connecticut communities and nearby states, however franchise owner Lauren Rossi noted the new Norwalk store is locally owned and operated by her.

"The idea is sustainability, reuse and recycling," Rossi said to Patch.

Rossi, who lives in Darien and serves on the town's Advisory Committee on Sustainability, said she decided to open her own business after losing her job last year.

Though she initially considered opening a Once Upon a Child in Darien or Stamford, Rossi said Norwalk emerged as the best option after she met with residents and learned more about various events in the city.

"I chose Norwalk because I like the way it's run," Rossi said. "I like the businesses around here. I think there's lots that I can partner with."

Once Upon a Child currently has Connecticut store locations in Bristol, Danbury, Enfield, Manchester, Meriden, Orange, Waterbury and Wethersfield.

Located near the AMC Royale 6 movie theater and The Edge Fitness Club, the Norwalk store will occupy the former OshKosh B'Gosh space next to a former Carter's store location.

Rossi noted the location already having been associated with two well-known kids brands was a positive factor.

"I thought I wasn't going to have as much work to do going from a kids store to another kids store, but it turned out to be a lot more than I thought," Rossi said, "but we're doing it, we're doing well."

Rossi said she plans to open the store "to buy" in late May.

"Open to buy means that we will only be buying through the end of late May and then into June," Rossi said, "then in July we will open to sell, because we have to stock our store."

Rossi, who noted all of her children's clothes are secondhand, said she hoped the new store was "a win" for the community.

"We're going to get some really great stuff in here, kids stuff, and we're going to be able to help families afford it," Rossi said. "We have really low price points, we pay cash for kids stuff, so it's a win for families that they come in and we give them cash for their kids stuff, and then we go and we sell that stuff at a lower price point."

According to Rossi, what interested her the most about opening the new store was "saving families money and giving families that may not have had the opportunity to buy nicer clothes and strollers and things like that for their kids, maybe giving them that opportunity by selling it secondhand."

Though it is still weeks away from opening, Rossi said residents have already shown a lot of interest in the new store.

"There's a lot of people that are very interested in bringing their whole house to me," Rossi said.

Rossi and her team are currently working on getting the space ready for its planned opening next month.

According to Rossi, seeing the store slowly come together has been emotional for her.

"It's been quite a journey," Rossi said, "and it will continue to be a journey."

Rossi recommended customers follow the Norwalk store on social media so they can keep up with what the store is offering and looking for.

She also said the store is currently hiring and encouraged anyone interested to apply.

"I'm super excited to do this," Rossi said, "and I hope everybody else is too."