Uptown Cheapskate: Not Your Grandmother’s Consignment Store

It’s all about the style. Oh, and the price.

Uptown Cheapskate, an upscale consignment store that opened two weeks ago in Timonium, knows what’s hot and what’s not.

American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People and Michael Kors are among the chicest of the chic brand-names in clothing that you'll find at Uptown. 

What’s not hot?

Well, it depends on the style of clothes themselves, even more than the label, according to store managers. 

When asked how the Target clothing brand Mossimo would fare on the hangers, next to ritzier and clingier brand-name clothing, assistant store manager Tanya Crouse said, “Target brands do really well. It is kind of more style-based, than brand, but sometimes the brand will carry the item.”

Crouse said if she’s unsure of whether to accept a piece, the name on the tag might be the deciding factor.

A pink, striped, tailored Classiques Entier jacket, with ruffled pockets and trim, hung from the rack with a $15.99 price tag.

On a shelf, a pair of black, sequined Steve Madden high heels were tagged at $13.99.

Uptown Cheapskate is a franchise, with locations as far-flung as Texas, Minnesota and Georgia. Maryland’s original location in Salisbury, owned by the mother and daughter team Nancy Kline and Emily Schramm, has been open since last year.

The Timonium store is the duo’s second location.

Crouse stressed that all consigned clothing must have no visible signs of wear and be freshly laundered.

The system must be working. The store is filled already with thousands of consigned items. Its modern, boutique-like feel is reflected in its artsy merchandise displays and an open lounge area with a television and magazines.

“It’s been crazy, which is really good,” Crouse said enthusiastically. “Some days we have bags lined up with items to go through.”

Jennifer Bennett, a Ruxton mother of two, brought in three bags of items to consign. Crouse went through her items on the spot, while Bennett waited to see which pieces would be accepted, and how much money she would get for them.

Uptown Cheapskate is not a traditional consignment store. They offer cash on the spot, usually between 20 and 25 percent of the resale price. If consigners opt for a store credit instead, they can make 25 percent more.

“Purses, clothes, diaper bags—I don’t know if they take diaper bags,” said Bennett, listing what was in her bags. “Scarves, shoes and belts.”

Crouse said they don’t normally accept diaper bags, but Bennett had a very stylish one that could pass for a handbag.

“This one is really cool,” Crouse said accepting it.

It’s all about the style.

Bennett walked away with $39 and a plan to come back as a shopper, not a consigner, next time.

Kurt Heimbach, a Towson resident, brought in an arm-full
of freshly-pressed men’s dress shirts to consign.

“I probably still have more, like shoes and stuff,” Heimbach said. “I’m going to bring my kids this weekend, especially my excited 16-year-old daughter. I sent a picture to my daughter, and she was mega-psyched to come here.”

The store mostly caters to teen and young adult fashion, according to its website, but what’s hanging on the racks appeals to a much broader crowd.

While Crouse went through his shirts, Heimbach found a long, heavy, woolen Banana Republic black car coat for $44.

Heimbach opted for the store credit, which totaled $43.76.

His new coat was almost free.

In addition to consigned items, roughly 30 percent of the store is composed of new items from outside vendors, chosen by the owners, including clothing, belts and jewelry.

Want to shop? Ready to consign? Visit the store’s website here, and go see them at 1830 York Rd, next to the Starbucks and the Chipotle near Bertucci’s. Store hours are Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.