Story by Anna Reisman
Putting together the perfect outfit or building an entirely new wardrobe can be expensive. But buying used at a thrift store benefits you and the community, as these stores often donate to charitable causes.
At Cat’s Meow Thrift Shoppe, every cent goes to CATS Rescue & Adoption Services in Plattsburgh. The second-hand store opened on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base in 2014, the brainchild Lillian Cassidy, the previous manager of the Adirondack Humane Society.
Cassidy, now the president of the CATS board, reopened the shop at 61 Champlain St. in Plattsburgh to continue her mission of helping felines.
The Cat’s Meow and CATS Rescue & Adoption Services work hand-in-hand. Together, they have helped over 1,000 cats in the past year through spaying, neutering and adoption.
CATS’s new 5,500 square foot shelter at 7196 Route 9 in Plattsburgh is renovated and open to the public by appointment at 518-569-5157.
The Cat’s Meow shop is open every day except Tuesday and Sunday; the store would expand hours if it had more volunteers. Everyone working there is a volunteer, with two or three helpers on staff each day.
Tom Salka, who has been volunteering at The Cat’s Meow since 2010, said more help is needed.
“We’re always looking for people who want to do something for the community,” Salka said.
Besides all proceeds going to CATS Rescue & Adoption Services, The Cat’s Meow Thrift Shop doesn’t just help cats: it’s there for the people as well.
Everything in the shop is donated and sold for one-tenth of its original price, helping those looking for good deals within the community.
“This place does a lot for more than just the cats,” Salka said. “It does a lot for the people.”
Another used-clothing store that donates to Plattsburgh charities is Dresscode, a consignment shop on Bridge Street.
Dresscode sells a curated stock of men’s, women’s, plus-size and even some children’s clothing for prices they deem fit. Dresscode owners, Katie Steffy and Jenna Whiteman, took over the store in 2022.
When you first walk in, you see racks of clothes to your left and right amongst many accessories. To the left, there is a small staircase leading to another section of the store with many options to choose from. In the back, you can follow the staircase up to their discounted clothes loft.
The store is bright and welcoming, showcasing many pieces that will surely catch your eye.
The owners bring in some of their own clothes to sell or receive items from friends. Steffy and Whiteman make appointments with their clothing providers, allowing them to pick through the clothing and select what they want to sell. The clothing that doesn’t make the cut is donated or returned to the provider.
After being received, the clothing in the store gets processed. Steffy and Whiteman put price tags on the items with barcodes that scan to credit the consignor with a portion of the sale. This helps them keep track of their sales on their computer.
Dresscode donates clothes to benefit local charities a couple of times a year. They also run an occasional bag sale at their store.
Dresscode sells clothing at the price they think is the most fair second-hand market value. However, clothes that don’t sell are discounted, with prices cut by 25%, 50% and then 75% at the five month mark. When the clothes have been unsold for six months, they go on sale for $1.
These discounted clothes can be found in the sales loft on the second floor. “When people that are coming in for the cheapest stuff, I usually refer them to go upstairs,” Steffy said.
Dresscode briefly opened and plans to reopen a separate Dresscode for Kids store.
At the time of publication, the store has a small kids’ section with children’s clothing like baby jumpers, but it does not have room for expanded children’s offerings.
While Dresscode for Kids is on pause at the moment, Steffy said they are hoping to get it running in the spring.
“We’re seeing the way the wind blows with that.”
At the Cat’s Meow Thrift Shopee and Dresscode, your purchases benefit the Plattsburgh community. What’s better than finding unique pieces for an affordable price for a good cause?
