Dylann Sowers says she opened her new storefront in Vandergrift with the community in mind.
Kiski Kids Closet, located downtown on Grant Avenue, is a secondhand shop focused on affordable children’s clothing. It opened in mid-December.
Sowers, 28, of Parks Township has three young boys of her own, which offered her a firsthand look at the expenses of raising children. Though nearby Apollo has some thrift stores, Sowers’ focus was on the area’s youth.
“This is strictly for the community,” she said. “This is strictly for the kids.”
Thrifting has always been a pastime for Sowers and her mother.
Just before the pandemic, her mom opened a similar secondhand store in Maryland that has since closed, Sowers said.
Much of the Kiski Kids Closet’s current inventory comes from her mom’s prior venture, though it also has been bolstered by recent donations.
Previously a health care professional, Sowers said it took a lot of coordination to suddenly become a business owner — especially with a 1-year-old son in tow.
“It was a lot of organization, and it was definitely a lot of washing and sorting clothes,” she said.
But, so far, things have worked out well. Despite turbulent weather, the storefront has garnered a fair amount of attention and support from local people, Sowers said.
That attention and foot traffic benefit the whole community, said David Greenlee, who owns the historic three-story building where the business resides.
“Vandergrift definitely needs retail-type of outlets, and her vision of retail was different,” said Greenlee, 72.
The Allegheny Township resident has long owned the neighboring Ross Grant Avenue Pharmacy, but he has seen several occupants where Kiski Kids Closet now sits.
Most recently, it was Until the Whole World Knows Ministry, which has since relocated to the former Trinity United Presbyterian Church on Franklin Avenue.
“It’s such a historical building, and having that storefront is great,” Greenlee said. “She’s definitely fulfilling a need.”
Vandergrift Councilwoman Marilee Kessler said “things are looking up” along Grant Avenue, which answers the needs of small-town shoppers.
Kessler said downtown’s amenities — including Kiski Kids Closet — keep the borough viable for residents who don’t drive.
“I’ve always felt that Main Street shopping is good,” Kessler said. “It lends a charm to the community.”
In the future, Sowers hopes to offer semi-frequent bag-stuffing events, where shoppers would pay a flat rate to fill a sack with store items.
Short-term rentals for items such as cribs and car seats is another avenue Sowers is exploring, she said.
“We want to offer a clean and organized experience,” she said.
Come spring, Sowers also plans to sponsor local youth sports leagues.
Those seeking to donate items can bring them to Kiski Kids Closet during business hours Tuesdays through Sundays.
