Kids Stuff Closing Store After 31 Years

After 31 years as Wyckoff’s retail destination for children’s clothing, Kids Stuff is closing its doors and going out of business. Longtime customers received a letter in the mail over the weekend notifying them of the closing. Located in the Boulder Run shopping center, Kids Stuff was closed on Monday to prepare for the liquidation sale which begins at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, November 15.

All merchandise, including brands like Under Armour, North Face, Roxy, Quiksilver, So Nikki, Nike, Bear Paw and Vintage Havana will be discounted.

“This will not be a typical Kids Stuff sale. All brands will be discounted and we have over $1 million dollars worth of current fall and winter inventory to sell,” said Frank Arone, owner and founder of Kids Stuff.

However, the closing of Kids Stuff will not end the retail legacy of the Arone family. After extensive renovation, the space will reopen as See U Saturday in early 2012. The new store will feature fashion brands popular with older children, teens and young adults.

After a retail career which included the famed Bamberger’s department store, Frank Arone opened Kids Stuff in his hometown of Wyckoff in 1980. The family operated and owned business includes wife Gloria and daughters Mandy Arone and Angela Festa.

“Kids Stuff is the fifth child in our family,” joked daughter Mandy Arone, who serves as the store’s girls clothing buyer.

The Arone family decided to eliminate some departments when it relaunches as See U Saturday.

“We will no longer have infants, toddler or preschool clothing or toys,” said Angela Festa. See U Saturday will feature a young contemporary and young men’s clothing boutique and continue to cater to girls size 7 to 16 and boys size 8 to 20.     

“We added a juniors and young men’s department to Kids Stuff two years ago that was in response to customer requests,” said Mandy Arone. “We have moms, grandmothers and dads shopping those departments and decided it was time to evolve the business. See U Saturday will feature the hottest brands and latest trends and provide a fresh new option for shopping locally,” she added.

Frank Arone reports the business of children’s clothing has changed.

“When we started in the business, kids wore basic clothes like polos, corduroys and twill pants. There are now hundreds of brands and kids are much more fashion conscious,” he said. “We view See U Saturday as meeting the needs of our customers as they grow up and out of kid’s clothes.”

With 10 highs schools in a five-mile radius of the store, the Arones are hoping to capture the fashion-conscious teen and young adult market with their new store.

“Life is hectic and mom will be able to avoid the mall and drop off her teen to shop locally while she run errands around town,” said Mandy Arone.    

The Kids Stuff sale is expected to last approximately six weeks. Gift cards and store credits can be used during the sale and will be honored by See U Saturday. Kids Stuff will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15 to kick off the closing sale.

“We want to thank our customers for their patronage and loyalty, and know we will continue to offer them the same quality, service and convenience in our new store,” said Frank Arone.