Twinkle Twinkle Little Store

Inside the 8,000-square-foot location, the staff of Twinkle Twinkle Little Store organizes a collection of gently used, clean children’s gear, from clothing and strollers to books and bassinets. As a consignment shop, they only sell and purchase items that have not been recalled, stained, ripped, or damaged in any way. Though brimming with toys and accessories, the shop is meticulously organized. A fleet of strollers, car seats, and cribs stands in neat rows, and a book nook displays their library beside comfortable reading chairs. As parents browse, kids can play on trampolines, slides, and other equipment in age-specific play zones.

The shop’s values encourage this parent- and kid-friendly style. Before opening the shop, owner Cheryl Courson had struggled to balance her corporate career with motherhood. Frustrated, she decided to create a store that makes life easier for moms. She staffs parents, who may bring their children to work, as well as pregnant moms, joking “their nesting organizational skills are excellent!” She also offers an hourly store-credit wage in return for simple volunteer tasks such as hanging clothing and teaching children about the themes of fatherhood in Ulysses. Regular donations to kid- and mom-centric local charities further root the store in the community.