Spanky’s Legendary Consignment can be closed for good subsequent month resulting from a pandemic-related lack of income, ending a 39-year run for the used items enterprise.
After studying of the shop’s closing on Wednesday on the shop’s Fb web page, many long-time clients got here to the shop at 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd. to see it for the final time.
“It has been a tragic couple of days,” stated proprietor Rachel Phillips, who purchased the shop about 12 years in the past when it was on Essential Road in downtown Vancouver. “Enterprise has been hit by the pandemic. We lasted for a 12 months, however financially it is simply bleeding an excessive amount of. “
Buyer reminders
Feedback on the Fb put up included longtime shopper Cristin Rigney, who wrote, “I bear in mind procuring at Spankys all my life, from joyfully selecting garments as a child to having a match when my mother was me dragged to Essential Road location as an adolescent. Spankys is actually one of many few corporations in Vancouver that I’ve an emotional reference to. You all helped me gown my son after I was poor, you walked me by means of the bodily thick and skinny of life, and you might be one of many few locations in Vancouver the place you’ll find consignment clothes for males. You might be missed very a lot and in all honesty, Spanky’s a part of the group made a distinction in my life and my capacity to take care of my household. “
Phillips stated the shop was open till March twelfth. Those that put their garments on the market within the retailer have till February 27 to gather them, however after that point the garments will turn into the property of Spanky’s. The shop will then start decrease gross sales to do away with its wares, she stated.
“There’s about 40 years of historical past right here,” she stated. “We’ve individuals who got here right here with their grandmas and now come as adults or youngsters. We’ve a number of unhappy individuals. We’ll miss you. I’m so unhappy to have to do that to the staff. “
Phillips, who lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, stated she is going to focus extra on her native retailer referred to as Grapevine Style.
Humble beginnings
Spanky’s began out as a humble consignment retailer in a tiny 900-square-foot home on 311 E Evergreen Blvd., which is now the Vancouver Group Library.
Sandy Shepherd, co-founder and former proprietor of Spanky’s, opened the enterprise 39 years in the past with two associates, Lee Rafferty and Jan Phillips.
“I had my first son in 1981,” she stated. “I had a buddy who was having a brand new child and we have been going to Portland to purchase a consignment retailer. We thought, ‘I feel Vancouver may use one in all these.’ All of us noticed this little area of interest and took an opportunity. “
The shop gained recognition and moved to 812 Essential Road in 1984 (the spanky signal remains to be on the constructing).
“We took over the primary flooring, then the entire constructing,” she stated.
The homeowners then opened their second retailer in Hearthwood, east Vancouver, grew out of it after which moved to the placement that’s now being closed. The downtown retailer closed in 2007 and in 2009 the homeowners bought the one retailer to Rachel Phillips (unrelated to co-founder Jan Phillips).
“It was a really wholesome enterprise,” stated Phillips. “On the time, I used to be a housewife who stayed at house and was prepared to begin my profession. I’ve at all times dreamed of working my very own enterprise. Spanky’s was on the market and we knew the place. It suited me properly. “
After the store was bought, Shepherd advised Phillips that she would keep a 12 months to assist with the transition, however Shepherd by no means left; She is now the shop supervisor.
“I advised Rachel that I might keep a 12 months and assist her,” she stated. “I am right here eleven years later.”
Shepherd stated it was “fairly a shock” to listen to that the shop was about to shut, however she has seen the enterprise dry up for the reason that pandemic. About 50 p.c of the clothes Spanky bought previous to the pandemic was enterprise put on.
“That has undoubtedly modified,” she stated. “Now we’re promoting extra informal issues.”
Shepherd has seen a swarm of loyal clients over the previous few days visiting the shop to share their experiences.
“I am unable to imagine how many individuals have come and shared their tales,” she stated.
This story has been corrected to precisely replicate the corporate’s relocation dates and the deal with of the primary location.
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