Kids’ clothing outlet opens in LCF
While other businesses around the country may be closing their doors due to the recent economic crunch, one La Cañada business owner optimistically opened her store doors this past week.
Tanya Pereira, owner of The Closet Exchange, a children’s new and gently-used resale clothing outlet, is confident she’s offering a product that will benefit young families and offer its own form of stimulus to area parents.
“Everybody needs clothes, and we’ve all got so many things our kids outgrow that are still quality items, we wonder what to do with them. This is a way to sell or consign outgrown clothing and purchase kids clothes at an affordable price,” she said.
The Closet Exchange is located a few doors west of Lasheart Drive on Foothill Boulevard. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Although there are already low prices on items, Periera is adding a special grand opening price this Saturday of $3 per item for all clothing in the store.
Opening her own store in La Cañada has long been a dream for Pereira, who immigrated to the United States from India more than 30 years ago.
Pereira, then 11, was the oldest of six children reared by a single mom. Her uncle had moved to this country from their homeland in Goa, a former Portuguese colony in India, and urged his sister to come here as well, since Goa is a tourist area with few jobs or opportunities, Pereira said.
In America, the young mom was able to work and support her family and eventually put all six children through college.
Pereira and husband Neville, a civil engineer, moved to La Cañada five years ago.
The couple have three children, Tyler, 13, an eighth grader at La Cañada High School 7/8, Nicholas, 12, a sixth grader at La Cañada Elementary School, and Kayla, 6, a first grader at La Cañada Elementary.
In addition to clothing, The Closet Exchange offers a variety of items for young children, from books and toys to small chairs, changing tables and storage bins, and there’s even a pretty “Princess,” youth single bed frame.
Pereira hopes her business will be a vital part of the community and a way to help young families keep ahead in the country’s difficult times.
“Why go spend $20 or more for a child’s pair of Gap jeans, when you can get them here for so much less?” she asked, adding, “This helps keep money in our pockets and helps recycle items, which is also good for the planet.”