Clothes Mentor opening this week

Clothes Mentor, an upscale resale chain, is opening Thursday on Kings Drive, and the company says it has plans for two more stores in the Charlotte area.

The store carries lightly-used women's clothing from brands such as Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, and Gucci, and promises to sell them at a steep discount from what they would cost new. For example, Clothes Mentor says it sells Lily Pulitzer dresses for $25 to $50, and Coach and Kate Spade purses for $30 to $100.

The franchise store is owned locally by Shawn and Alyssa Cox. Alyssa is a Greenville, S.C. native and Queens University graduate, while Shawn is from western New York. He previously managed a restaurant in Charlotte, while Alyssa worked for an online handbag and shoe company.

The couple, who live in South End, plan to open two additional Clothes Mentor locations, in north and south Charlotte. Clothes Mentor promises high-quality used clothing in good condition, and buys items locally: "Clothes Mentor buys good-condition clothing from neighbors and is very picky about quality. Items must be current style, freshly laundered and free of stains, fading, missing buttons or broken zippers. Clothing can be brought in any time, without appointment. If accepted, customers receive cash on the spot."


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