Plato's Closet Expands Sustainable Retail Presence with Williamsburg Opening

Plato's Closet, the leading teen and young adult retail resale concept, has announced the grand opening of its newest location in Williamsburg on November 13. Situated inside Midtown Row at 1248 Richmond Rd, the store provides local teens and young adults with a destination that returns cash to their pockets while selling gently used brand-name clothing and accessories across various styles and sizes at reduced prices.

The new Williamsburg location represents part of Winmark – the Resale Company, a distinctive national retail resale franchise emphasizing sustainability, small business development, and the principle of Resale for Everyone. This expansion underscores the growing movement toward circular fashion economies that reduce waste while maintaining accessibility to quality apparel.

Austin and Jennifer Saylor, a husband-and-wife team with strong Virginia connections, own and operate the Williamsburg store locally. Jennifer Saylor, a Williamsburg native and William & Mary graduate, transitioned from her career as a coastal geologist and environmental scientist to pursue her sustainability passion through business ownership. Austin Saylor contributes extensive retail expertise, having worked in his family's five Plato's Closet Virginia stores since age 15.

Jennifer Saylor expressed her motivation for the venture, stating her longstanding commitment to sustainability and extending product lifecycles. She emphasized how opening Plato's Closet in her hometown enables combining this passion with supporting local students and families, creating an environment where teens and young adults can shop affordably, earn money for unwanted clothing, and feel positive about their consumer choices.

The grand opening celebration spans four days beginning November 13, featuring daily promotions designed to attract community participation. Opening day offers the first 25 customers in line $25 Plato's Closet gift cards with complimentary refreshments. Friday includes free tote bags for the first 25 customers and a special designer handbag collection. Saturday features an athletic brand drop with Lululemon items and local gift basket raffle entries, while Sunday provides double rewards points on all purchases and $10 coupons for customers spending $75 or more.

Plato's Closet distinguishes itself from traditional consignment stores by eliminating appointment requirements for selling clothing and accessories. Customers can save up to 70 percent on trendy, brand-name items while receiving immediate cash payment for gently used products they've outgrown or no longer want. This business model aligns with Winmark's environmental mission of redirecting wearable clothing from landfills to new closets, offering shoppers an environmentally conscious method for wardrobe updates.

With more than 525 franchised locations across the United States and Canada, Plato's Closet maintains national leadership in buying and selling gently used brand-name apparel and accessories for teens and young adults. The company focuses on sustainability and value shopping for current styles and popular brands in excellent condition. As part of Winmark's franchise portfolio, which includes Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore and Music Go Round, the organization has facilitated recycling over 2 billion items since 2010, significantly reducing landfill waste while transferring reusable goods to new owners. Additional information is available at https://platoscloset.com/locations/williamsburg-va/.