Store

Fashion-conscious teens and young adults with upscale tastes and bargain-basement budgets would do well to put Plato's Closet on their regular shopping agenda, not only for the store's trendy bargains, but also as a source of cash. Friendly, courteous sales associates pay cash on the spot for gently used, stylish clothes — a huge incentive to clean out the closet. What’s not to like about that?

The store stocks designer brands from Abercrombie and Fitch to Forever to Roca Wear. Creased, whisker-treated, sandblasted and embellished jeans fill three racks devoted entirely to the denim basic. Jeans prices start at $12. Readers of Seventeen magazine voted Plato's the best place to buy jeans. Tank tops with Ecko, Frenchie, Guess, Mudd and Sport labels are sorted by color to make selecting a complete outfit a breeze. A Wet Seal blazer can be had for $12, while a wide array of Bohemian bell skirts sell for $19.99. Plato's also carries tees, footwear and accessories, and one-third of the retail space is dedicated to apparel for the male persuasion. Store owner Jeff Swanson promises that entire outfits can be purchased for $25 or less.

Jazzy, hip background music, a fresh clean scent and a smartly displayed selection of clothing all await bargain hunters at Plato's Closet. One shopper from Eastern Washington, whose treasures filled three bags, said, "We don't have anything like this where I live!"

By Heather Larson
Special to NWsource