Plato’s Closet draws a crowd with deep designer discounts

Divina Rocco crocheted a lei of maroon satin cord as she awaited the opening of Plato’s Closet in Hono­lulu. She was first in line, having arrived at 7 a.m. for the 10 a.m. opening. "Gotta keep my hands busy," she smiled.

Plato’s Closet sells new or gently used apparel, shoes and accessories at up to 70 percent off retail prices. While its target audience is teens and 20-somethings, it is likely to draw bargain-seekers from all demographics to its store at 1161 S. Beretania St. at Piikoi.

Rocco knew specifically which items she was looking to buy, as she and her daughter previously had been in the store to sell some items. She had her eye on a funky black purse with gold spikes, some board shorts and a blue Hello Kitty purse for $10 she previously had seen at a department store for $50.

Inside, the energy of owner Suzanne Green, store opener Tasha Poepping, the staff and other guests was electric.

The store had been open for months, building inventory by buying gently used or never-worn clothing, shoes and accessories, but this was to be its first day of sales to the public.

Racks of jeans start at $6, while the higher-end denim is right at the store entrance. Tuesday morning a pair of Miss Me jeans, still bearing a $98 price tag from Le Lotus Bleu, were marked with a Plato’s Closet price of $35. True Religion, 7 for All Mankind and Hollister jeans are among the many brand names.

All manner of footwear for both genders sits atop clothing racks throughout the store, ordered according to size — 5 through 12 for women, and up to otherwise hard-to-find size 14 for guys.

Frilly red satin Charlotte Russe platform pumps were marked at $8, while blue suede Aldo pumps were priced at $10 and sky-high stilettos by Bebe were $16. Coach sneakers were $14.

On the guys’ side, chock-full of clothes, there were jackets, jeans, shorts and accessories. The selection included ball caps, like a black 59FIFTY number embroidered all over with gold thread, that were priced at $15, as were several seemingly new pro baseball team logo caps. Narrow-brimmed fedoras started at $3.

The guys’ shoe selection is dominated by brand-name athletic shoes, including Nike, Reebok and K-Swiss. One pair of Nike high-tops was marked at $60, but most shoes were less expensive. The store’s sellers have included Nike collectors who might not ever wear items in their collections.

About half an hour before opening, Green took a few minutes to talk to the employees with last-minute reminders, to have them each lock away their cellphone and to rally their excitement. She was part mom, part cheerleader, part fun friend — especially when she did an energetic dance to some pumping rock on the sound system — but also was every bit the in-control owner of a store about to open its doors for the first time. "We’re going to kick it today," she told them to an enthusiastic response.

Store opener Poepping is in Hawaii for several days, having arrived from corporate headquarters in frigid Minnesota.

Minnesota-based Winmark Corp., which franchises concepts including Plato’s Closet, also oversees such brands as Play It Again Sports, Once Upon a Child and Music Go Round. All of these brands buy, sell, trade and/or consign used and new brand-name merchandise.

Poepping has helped first-timers as well as multilocation owners open stores and prefers situations like Green’s because "I can use my skills more," she said. "It’s so much fun," adding, there are always "lines outside the doors."

Indeed, minutes prior to opening, the line awaiting entrance to Plato’s Closet Hono­lulu snaked around the corner.

Plato’s Closet owners Diana and Mark Ede, from Anchorage, Alaska, are in the islands vacationing but heard about the impending store opening. They called corporate to get Green’s number so they could come and help and are excited for Green and her crew.

"The kids are at a surf lesson," Diana said, though they had been in the store the night before helping out until about 9 p.m., like they do back home.

The Edes opened their Plato’s Closet in 2007. Diana Ede noted some common elements between the two store locations, including isolation from the mainland, "the costs for everything are so much higher" and that the stores are allowed a little flexibility with their merchandise, given the uniqueness of their locations.

Just as Plato’s Closet Hono­lulu carries local brands of board shorts in addition to internationally known clothing brands, the Anchorage store sells a great deal of outerwear, including snowboarding apparel, Mark Ede said.

The Honolulu store will continue to welcome those wishing to sell clothing, apparel, accessories and shoes in great condition. No appointment is ever needed, Green told TheBuzz.

Plato’s Closet prices are 50 percent to 70 percent off the retail price of each item, and the store pays sellers 30 percent to 40 percent of that.

After making sure a fun song was playing on the sound system, Green strode toward the door, opened it and greeted eager shoppers with an ebullient "Welcome to Plato’s Closet!"

Within a few minutes of being let in, Rocco’s hands were full of many of her long-awaited items, including her spiked evening bag, $8 Reef brand board shorts for her husband, a $10 Hara­juku Lovers tote bag and a $5 bundle of bracelets. She didn’t find the sought-after Hello Kitty bag, but had turned her gaze upon a rack of costume jewelry — and already was planning a return trip to Plato’s Closet.

Its hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.