The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘THERE’S GOOD ENERGY HERE’
Consignment shop for kids has a new owner
TORRINGTON — A children’s clothing shop on South Main Street has received a little facelift inside thanks to its new owner.
Alyssa Staton took over Child’s Replay in January because its owner was moving and Staton didn’t want to see it close, she said.
“There’s such a need for a children’s store like this in our area, and I had a lot of kids stuff in the Goody Bag already,” said Staton, referring to The Goody Bag Variety and Consignment, which she opened on Main Street in August 2020. “I didn’t want to see it go away when so many people need a good place to get inexpensive, quality children’s clothing.”
Staton, a Waterbury native, has lived in Torrington for about 15 years. She, her husband, Al, and their three daughters, Savannah, Chesney and Ella, all are active members of the business, helping sort inventory and set up displays.
Now that she’s busy at Child’s Replay, Al Staton is running The Goody Bag, she said.
Child’s Replay is in South Plaza, home of AC’s Eatery, a popular breakfast stop whose customers fill the
plaza parking daily, Staton said. “They’re our landlords, and they’re wonderful people,” she said. “When I get here in the morning, this place is packed — I have to park in the back. There’s good energy here.”
The store’s inventory includes clothing for newborns, toddlers and children, and Staton has added a small section for junior or teen sizes. “So we have clothes not just for our littles, but past (children’s) size 10, and up to junior size 24,” she said.
The store’s clothing offerings will be seasonal, and she is selling off her winter stock and displaying Easter dresses and spring/ summer wear. There’s a wide array of shoes, sneakers and slippers; pajamas and nighties; sweaters and tops, jeans, overalls and pants; dresses and skirts. There’s also a large inventory of clothing for newborns, and supplies for new moms for nursing, bathing, transporting and sleep. A “gear room” in the back is stocked with strollers, play mats, mobiles, and decor for the baby’s room, along with T-shirts for moms and dads.
“You’ll get all the brands you love, like Vineyard Vines, Cat & Jack, Columbia, Under Armor, American Eagle . ... But you won’t have to pay those high prices for them,” Staton said.
If a new mom shops with a newborn and needs to take a nursing break, Staton is preparing a nursing room for privacy and comfort.
“There’s nothing worse than having to go into the bathroom to nurse baby in the middle of shopping,” she said. “We’ve all been there — the baby starts crying, and they’re hungry and you have to find a place to feed them. This way they don’t have to leave, they can sit in the back and relax.”
Staton is not stopping at consigning children’s clothing and supplies. She’s adding new vendors and trying to keep it local, with children’s jewelry and toys. She has a back-to-school wall display with backpacks and drawing supplies and books for children and adults.
At the Goody Bag, Staton holds shopping nights on Facebook Live, and is doing the same thing at Child’s Replay on Tuesday nights. Staton rolls a rack of clothing out and shows each piece to the Facebook audience, gives a description and offers a price. Last week, she said, she made $500 in one night.
“Since we started at Child’s Replay, we’ve made a few changes, like the shopping nights, and regular hours,” Staton said. “Every week’s getting better.”
To reach Child’s Replay, visit www.facebook.com/childsreplay or call 860-3252810.