Plato’s Closet and Style Encore open on U.S. 72 corridor

Plato’s Closet specializes in apparel and accessories for teens and 20-somethings. (CONTRIBUTED)

Style Encore accommodates mature female shoppers in finding the latest styles in casual and business attire at exceptional prices. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON COUNTY – Local shoppers have two new locations to earn ‘cash back’ and to buy quality clothing at discounted prices. Plato’s Closet has opened at 7696 U.S. 72 W., and its sister store, Style Encore, is located next door.

Plato’s Closet is part of a national recycling retail chain that specializes in apparel and accessories for teens and 20-somethings. This “hip and trendy store buys and sells guys’ and girls’ gently-used, brand-name clothing and accessories, including shoes, belts, purses and jewelry,” owner Brenda Bishop said.

Style Encore is geared for more mature female shoppers with a range of the latest styles in casual and business attire at exceptional prices. Brands include Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Chico’s, Coach, Gap, Talbots, The Limited and White House Black Market.

Bishop, a veteran to the resale scene, owns Plato’s Closets in Trussville, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Huntsville, Destin, Fla. and Pensacola, Fla. “Our son lived in Huntsville and opened the store for us here. Many customers live in Madison, Athens and Decatur — all the way to Florence,” Bishop said.

For more than one year, Bishop and her colleagues have searched for the right place to open stores in Madison County. “The tremendous growth in this area really demands a store in the Madison area,” she said.

The new store is Bishop’s first Style Encore. “Style Encore was designed by women for women and has a great boutique atmosphere,” Bishop said. “Our style specialist can help pick out the right outfit for any occasion or answer any fashion question.”

“We actually are not consignment,” she said. “We pay cash for stylish clothes generally sold in the malls during the last 1.5 years. Our buyers are trained to pick out styles that are in demand and price them 70 percent or less than mall stores.”

An appointment isn’t necessary to sell items to Plato’s Closet and Style Encore. These stores pay cash ‘on the spot’ for purchased goods from consumers.

For more information, visit platoscloset.com and style-encore.com.