Stacy Thomson, a veteran retail store employee, has taken theownership plunge and opened a store in Old Colorado City.
Thomson, along with her husband, Vern, opened Recess, achildren's consignment boutique at 1721 W. Colorado Ave. on May 26.The pair plan a grand opening June 13, when they'll offer food,music and a drawing for gift certificates.
For the past five years, Thomson has worked with fellow west sideretailer Eve Carlson at Eve's Revolution, a women's clothing store.Her experience kept her in touch with customers who often spokeabout the lack of affordable children's wear in town.
'With this recession happening, now couldn't be a better time toopen a consignment store,' Thomson said. 'We're offering affordablechildren's clothing, but they're still name brand and qualityitems.'
Recess will offer some handmade items, but 90 percent of saleswill be through consignments. Customers will find items for boys andgirls from newborns to size 10.
Sporting a bright turquoise facade, the store is hard to miss,and it succeeds in portraying a nostalgic feel. Thomson even hungthe 'Recess' store sign from an old swing set out front.
'We chose the name because we wanted the store to be kid friendlyand nostalgic and most people have good memories of recess,' Thomsonsaid.
Recess will stock brand name apparel from names like Gap,Gymboree, Children's Place, Carters, Sweet Potatoes, Baby Lulu,Charlie Rocket and Oilily. Prices range from $1.50 to $20.
Consignments are taken by appointment Monday through Saturdayfrom 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Items are kept on consignment for 60 daysand consigners receive 40 percent of an item's sale price.
Customers also can find Recess online at www.recessconsign.com.
Otho's arrives
Chapel Hills Mall shoppers will soon notice a fresh new aromanear the upper level Dillard's wing. Otho's Cookies and Brownies isscheduled to open July 1.
Citing increased foot traffic on the north end of town, ownerOtho Spencer closed his store at the Cheyenne Mountain ShoppingCenter on the south end and converted all baking operations to thenew retail location.
'I've been looking for a mall location for some time,' he said.'The lease came up on my former location, and I believe cookies andbrownies belong in a mall.'
Otho's is not a chain, and Spencer uses his own recipes, as wellas a few passed down from his grandmother, who owned a wedding cakebakery during his childhood.
He'll shutter his catering business to focus solely on thelocation at Chapel Hills Mall, and depending on performance willconsider opening another store in Cherry Creek Mall.
'I want to see how this location does before I make a decision,'he said. 'In this economy, anything can happen.'
Spencer's most popular cookies are the spiced chocolate and oldfashioned raisin, while people seem to like the dark chocolateraspberry and toffee brownies most.
He renovated the 600-square-foot space in the mall to fit theoven in up front, in view of shoppers, and said he'll be baking 24hours a day during the holiday season. Otho's also accepts onlineorders of a dozen or more at www.othos.com.
Burlington earns award
Burlington Coat Factory has earned the National Partner Awardafter raising $1.6 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societyduring 2008.
The company raised more than $1 million for LLS during 2007 aswell and has accrued more than $5 million in its total fundraisingeffort for the organization, which is dedicated to blood cancerresearch.
Scott Prater covers retail for the Colorado Springs BusinessJournal.
