If the sign of a good consignment store is its smell (and trust us, it is), Bumbleberry Kids lives up to its delectable name.
Set up like high-end boutique meets children’s nursery, there’s not a hint of mustiness in the air. With no signs of previous wear on the brand name kids’ clothing, which owner Robin MacMillan has artfully arranged by size and gender.
Our ovaries ached just a little as we made our way past the mint-condition infant sleepers, but we forgot all about baby love when we snatched up a pair of pink print Petit Bateau capris in size 7 for our big girl ($12). Rifling through Gap, Burberry, Blu and Janie and Jack togs for our preschooler man, we came upon a mom- and kid-pleasing l’ellow Gymboree rugby shirt ($9).
But the real “a-ha” moment occurred when we realized we could offload – er, recycle our own kids’ and maternity clothes, carriers, shoes, hats and other child paraphernalia to Bumbleberry Kids. With 40 per cent of the sale coming back to us, the profit might just fund our kids’ spring wardrobes.
We’re attacking our bulging closets with the sweet aroma of “empty” on our minds.
Ed. Note: New owner Anna Barron wrote in to let us know that since she took over in the Fall of 2010, the shop now generally buys second-hand items outright.
Bumbleberry Kids
1908 Queen St. E. (at Herbert)
416-691-5556
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