Checking in on Jane's Exchange

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Jane's Exchange, the children's and maternity consignment shop at 191 E. Third St., is back open, now offering curbside pickups here between Avenue A and Avenue B as well as deliveries.

"Customers have emailed and called to see if we have certain items and if we do, we meet them on the curb or mail items to them," said co-owner Eva Dorsey, who first opened the shop in 1993. "On Monday, for example, we mailed out a box with $100 worth of books to Maryland."


[Eva Dorsey with her daughter Jane]

Starting on June 1, Jane's Exchange will have their online store up and running, featuring children’s and maternity clothing, books, toys and some equipment. People will be able to order online and given the option for mail delivery, human delivery or curb pickup.

"In addition to our generous customers who have contributed through our GoFundMe and purchased gift cards, we are hoping our online store will help us meet our bills and provide a service to our consignors, customers and community," Dorsey said.



You can follow Jane's Exchange on Instagram here.

Jane's Exchange is not closing!

[Image via Facebook]

Back in late March, the owners of Jane's Exchange, the children's and maternity retail and consignment store on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, reported that they would likely have to close when their lease was up this summer.

However, co-owner Gayle Raskin remained cautiously optimistic that they could extend a lease with new owners.

Looks like it worked out. As they posted on Facebook:

Dear Friends,
WE ARE NOT CLOSING!!! WE ARE NOT CLOSING!!

WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE ANOTHER 5 YEARS ON OUR LEASE! YAY!!!

Gayle and Eva will continue their partnership through December 2018 at which time Gayle will leave and Yelena Ferrer will become Eva’s new partner beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Yelena has been a longtime consignor and we are so excited to welcome her to the fold.

We are overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from all of you. A number of you came forward with great ideas, financial and otherwise, to keep Jane’s Exchange going and it has been so appreciated. It takes a community to preserve local businesses and we value your ongoing participation in this effort.

It begins now — we need your word-of-mouth help to bring more customers to the store. Advertising is expensive as you can imagine. We will be making flyers available for online and hard-copy distribution.

We dodged the bullet this time. We are a children's and maternity store but even more than that, we are a service in the community. We are thrilled to be able to continue that service.

Consignment is a great way to recycle so PLEASE MAKE YOUR SPRING/SUMMER APPOINTMENTS AND THINK OF US BEFORE YOU GO ON AMAZON:)

Thanks,
Eva and Gayle

Jane's Exchange is now in its 24th year in business.

Previously

[Updated] Jane's Exchange closing this summer on 3rd Street; owners looking for a buyer

[Image via Facebook]

After 24 years in business, the owners of Jane's Exchange, the children's and maternity retail and consignment store on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, will be moving on after their lease is up this summer.

However, co-owners Eva and Gayle said that they will help someone else take over the shop. As they wrote on Facebook this past Friday:

Over the years a number of remarkable people have expressed interest in this possibility. We can get 5 years added to our lease that we could pass along to anyone interested in continuing the store. We want to see a small, locally owned Jane’s Exchange continue in this location, and would work to facilitate this transition. If you or anyone you know might be interested in discussing this further please let us know.

Here's their full letter:

Dear Friends,

It is with very mixed emotions that we announce that after 24 great years in business, it is time for us to move on when our lease is up for renewal in July of this year. While this was a very difficult decision to make, we ultimately believe it is the best one.

We have built a store and customer base that we are extremely proud of, and for this reason we are actively pursuing a buyer to continue the work we began and nurtured. Over the years a number of remarkable people have expressed interest in this possibility. We can get 5 years added to our lease that we could pass along to anyone interested in continuing the store. We want to see a small, locally owned Jane’s Exchange continue in this location, and would work to facilitate this transition. If you or anyone you know might be interested in discussing this further please let us know.

Since we do not close for several months, we will not say goodbye now. In fact, we hope to see all of you over the next few months. In the meantime, we have a store full of really great spring and summer clothing (and will soon have a huge sale on left over winter items) - and you have credit! We will welcome new consignments through the middle of April as long as you understand that you may only have till mid-June to spend your credit. We will also accept (and appreciate) donations as long as the items are clean and in good condition.

For consignment or donations we are looking for great spring/summer clothing. No appointment necessary. However, if you have big gear like light weight carriages, portable cribs, etc. please call first.

It has been wonderful getting to know so many of you over the years. We’ve appreciated your support and friendship throughout our many years in business.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!!!
Best,
Eva and Gayle

You may contact them via their website here.

Updated noon

Some encouraging news via co-owner Gayle Raskin via the EVG inbox: "It's slightly premature but we'd like all to know that it looks really good for a friendly takeover of the store at the end of June. We'll announce more as the details get worked out..."

Previously

Today: Sale at Angelica Kitchen; funky fun at Jane's Exchange

Two items to note...

Angelica Kitchen is closing on April 7th. On Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th the contents of the restaurant will be offered in an Auction/ Sale. The contents include decorative items, art, indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting fixtures, professional kitchen equipment and supplies. . Many unique and special items will be available. Besides the typical items one would expect from a restaurant there are sculptures by Bill King, custom wood fabrications by Jefferey Mase, lights by Richard LLoyd, our unique ceramic benches by Tom Ashcraft, mosaic vases by Linda Benzwenger and so much more. . Auction: Cash or bank check Sale: Cash or credit cards for non-auction items over $50. . Proceeds to be distributed to the local farmers and small businesses that have supported Angelica Kitchen throughout the years and who could be adversely affected by this closing. Angelica Kitchen is located at 300 East 12th Street See you soon! #angelicakitchen #farm2table #vegannyc #nycauction #nycauctions

A post shared by Angelica Kitchen (@angelicakitchen) on Apr 7, 2017 at 3:28pm PDT

And for the kids (6 and under)...via the EVG inbox...

Join Esther and her puppet friends for an hour of songs, stories, and FUNKY FUN in this warm, intimate setting! And it's *FREE*! Jane's Exchange is a wonderful little kids consigment shop in the heart of the East Village. Come early- or stay after the show- to shop! Lots of clothes and toys in MINT condition at cheap cheap prices.

Esther is a singer/songwriter, and the founder of Thunder and Sunshine, a funky rock band for kids. She's also the singer and co-founder of The Electric Mess, a NYC rock band established in 2007, which has toured various U.S. and European cities. She does bi-monthly story hours (every other Thursday) at Bank Street Bookstore, and performs for kids all around town, both as a solo act, and with Thunder and Sunshine.

Jane's Exchange is at 191 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

A new lease for Jane's Exchange on East 3rd Street

[Photo from last September by James Maher]

Last September, we featured Eva Dorsey, co-owner of Jane’s Exchange, the children’s resale and consignment shop, in our weekly feature Out and About in the East Village.

The post ended this way:

Unfortunately, our current lease is up as of June 2016. We’re just announcing it now to our customers. This is our third location. We keep losing our leases. That’s the story. These stores can’t maintain anymore. Stores like this, it’s the end, period. Everyone asks why aren’t there more. There aren’t more because of real estate.I don’t know what’s going to happen, like everyone else, but it is highly unlikely that we can move again should our lease go up beyond our means. Like many small businesses, we simply may not make it.

Well, good news for fans of the 22-year-old store at 191 East Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B: They have a new two-year lease. They'll also be offering haircuts for kids with Maria, who worked next door at the now-closed eNe saloon.

For now, they need folks to start bringing in stuff for consigning. You can find a list of things they need (and don't need) at their website here.