Hat City Entertainment, June/July 2007
62
Main Street has been a print shop, a coffee shop, a coffee shop, and
(surprise!) a coffee shop. Now, the little space tucked conveniently
along the strip is the home of Upscale Downtown Consignment,
Danbury’s own unique boutique. Joining such Danbury staples as The
Cow’s Outside and The Music Guild, this mecca for the hipster in you
not only boasts a fabulous locale, but it has such a variety of
wares you’d be hard pressed not to find exactly what you’re looking
for—especially if you’re shopping for yourself.
Upscale Downtown Consignment is not your typical
consignment shop with overpriced old clothes and aloof shopkeepers.
Area residents and friends for more than 25 years, Barbara Levitt
and Susan Tritter welcome you into their store as if they’d known
you for years. They immediately pull up some chairs, offer you a
cold bottle of water, and invite you into their consignment world.
What an eclectic and unique world it is—perfect for diverse Danbury!
"Our goal is to draw people back into downtown
Danbury," said Tritter. The women are doing this not only by
offering unique items for both men and women, but also by being
active members of the community. "It is important to us to interact
with the community," said Levitt. In an effort to reach out to all
of Danbury’s residents, the women had their signs translated into
Spanish, and they advertise in local foreign-language magazines.
This sense of community runs deeper than just
living in the greater Danbury area. It’s about family. Levitt’s
mother, who was a Danbury resident, passed away last summer. In an
effort to lift Barbara’s spirits, the duo went shopping. When the
women were searching consignment shops for handbags, it dawned on
them that they could offer the public better items at better prices.
"We can do this!" exclaimed Levitt, remembering their outing. "Now,
we are doing it."
Although friends tried to steer Levitt and
Tritter away from the downtown area, their sense of family, plus
help from landlord Mark Nolan, drew them to the area. This inspiring
sense of community has given the shop owners the ability to
establish relationships with creative individuals, a few of which
have pieces for sale at the shop.
As participants in City Center activities, Levitt
and Tritter share the point of view that Danbury has something for
everyone. Their shop certainly reflects this belief. With an
eclectic mix of handbags, vintage clothes, brand-new designer wear,
and men’s pants, Upscale Downtown has a little bit of everything.
The store even offers a wide range of sizes, from 0–5X. Plus, no
matter how much money you want to spend, you can find what you need.
Where can you buy a prom dress for $50 and silk slippers for $15?
What about a 1940s silk kimono or a hand-stitched handbag from
Israel? You can find all of these items, and more, at Upscale
Downtown Consignment.
Perhaps the best and most impressive aspect of
Upscale Downtown Consignment is the customer service. Unlike the
impersonal manner of department stores clerks, Levitt and Tritter
are more like friends who offer you a chance to peruse their
closets. On the off chance you are looking for something they don’t
have, they will find it for you. "Once, a woman came to us with a
photograph of a table she had in the 50s. She wanted us to get one
just like it, and we did," Levitt said, matter-of-factly.
Impressively, Barbara and Susan can order a fur coat any way you
like it: long, short, sporty, three-quarter-length sleeve. If you
don’t like it after you try it on, they’ll send it back, no charge.
Upscale Downtown offers the perfect opportunity
for shoppers who want to get away from predictable department store
merchandise. At this consignment shop, you’re sure to find what
you’re looking for—whether that’s an autographed photograph of "The
Honeymooners" or a pair of Chinese Laundry pumps with pink polka
dots.
During the summer, Levitt and Tritter will make
regular appearances at the Farmers’ Market in Kennedy Park. They
will also put on fashion shows during City Center concert nights
with help from the Youth Employment Service, with extended hours on
concert nights. Regular business hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Friday
