If you are looking for a little extra cash or perhaps a new outfit for this weekend, The Attic downtown just might be the place for you. The Attic recently opened at 346 E. College Ave. (where Campus Candy used to be). It is sort of a mix between a Plato’s Closet or a Buffalo Exchange, meaning that they buy, sell and trade gently worn clothing. I personally love to sell/buy my clothes at places like this so I was very excited for this store to open. I went through my closet and selected a few items I hadn’t worn in a while. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I got to the Attic but I was pleasantly surprised. The staff was very helpful and took my clothes as soon as I got there. The girl explained to me that they buy clothes that are less than two years old or clothes that mimic vintage styles. They also buy unique accessories and knickknacks (like trolls or ceramic cats). You have to be over 18 to sell clothes here and she checked my ID while I filled out a waiver. She explained to me that the store is able to offer 30 percent cash on the spot or 55 percent store credit of the price that they decide to sell your item for. I was told it would be about a 10 minute wait.
I was very impressed by the jewelry selection they had at the front of the store. The pricing started around $2 and they were selling everything from necklaces to earrings to bracelets. It was trendy, cute stuff that I would actually be interested in buying. They also had a pretty good selection of hats and scarves for winter. The actual clothing section was good too. They had a lot of thick vintage-looking sweaters for winter. There were also a lot of colored pants that are in style now for only $12. I even found a pair of high-waisted Levi’s jean shorts for $8 that look like the ones from Urban Outfitters. I felt that the clothing prices were fair for each item and everything seemed to be in pretty good condition. The shoes however, were not in the best condition but there were enough sizes and variety to get a good pair.
After I was done shopping I went back to the counter to see if they wanted to buy any of my stuff. They ended up only being interested in a Hollister jean skirt and some black Converse but I got $8 on the spot! That might not seem like much but it bought my wings for the night and it was more than I would have gotten if I had just donated my clothes.
The only down side of The Attic was that some of the items I saw I would probably not wear. It would be the perfect store to go to if you need to create an unusual outfit or costume but don’t expect to walk in and find exactly what you want. You definitely have to search through the racks and have an open mind and maybe a sense of humor to find something good. I had a great experience at The Attic and I will definitely be going back.