Clothes Come 'Round Again--Plato's Closet Offers High Fashion at Discount Prices

Plato's Closet buys and sells gently-used teen clothes & it's offering top dollar for name-brand styles in good condition. "We're not a thrift store where you're going to be digging through piles. We only have top quality items," said Kellie Robertson, owner of the clothing store in Point Plaza on Central Avenue.

The store specializes in hot brands like Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, and American Eagle. Plato's sells clothes, outerwear, shoes, and accessories for boys and girls. On a recent Thursday afternoon, the store was filled with clothes and kids. A couple who has just brought in a bag of clothes to sell takes some time to browse through the organized racks, maybe hoping to restock. All the racks are organized by clothing type, color and size. Shoes and accessories crowd the tops and ends of the racks, and the store is decorated with shopping bags from popular stores in the mall.

Plato's only accepts items that are in style. "They have to have been in the mall in the last year," said Janelle Ledbetter, Assistant Manager. To ensure that the clothes on the racks stay attractive, the store's 14 employees are tested on their fashion skills and style, Ledbetter said. "You have to be pretty fashion saavy," Ledbetter said.

Plato's Closet is part of a national franchise. Robertson and her husband learned about the franchise from Robertson's cousin, and decided to open their own store two years ago. The Robertsons have six kids and know how expensive clothing can be, Robertson said. They wanted to help make it easier for other parents. In January, they will open a second location across the street from Rotterdam Mall.

Plato's Closet certainly is an alternative to the mall for some budget-conscious kids and parents looking to stretch a buck. Customers can get a whole outfit--tops and bottoms--for $25. That's less than the cost of a sweater at some of these boutiques, meaning that Plato's Closet could give the mall a run for its money.

Plato's Closet is located at 818 Central Avenue in Albany. They are open Monday-Friday 10am-8pm, Saturdays 10am-6pm, and Sunday 12pm-5pm.