Two Popular Kid Consignment Sales Hit Raleigh This Month
It’s go time. Time to go shopping, that is. Two of the longest running kid consignment sales in Raleigh are hosting their bi-annual spring events this month and they’re kind of a big deal.
Close to 70,000 items, from kids’ clothes and shoes to toys, strollers, nursery decor and more will be up for sale between the two events, so put your sneakers on and get ready to shop ‘til you drop. The deals are nothing new—both the Hayes Barton Baptist Church’s Kidz Stuff Consignment Sale and the Divine Children’s Show have been serving steals for nearly 20 years.
“There is a thrill to finding things that maybe otherwise you can’t afford, or just don’t want to pay the higher cost of a brand new designer item,” says Divine Children’s Show owner Morgan Daughtridge of the benefit of opting to not buy new. “[These sales] are an economical way to clothe your family year after year.”
Cashwell Boykin, co-chair of the Kidz Stuff sale, emphasizes growing kids don’t wear clothes for long, and the lower price point of consignment can help cut clothing costs. “[These sales] provide an opportunity to get things that are still in great condition at a much more affordable price,” Boykin said.
But giving Ben Franklin a break isn’t the only great thing about these sales—they also give back to the community in a major way.
Consignors can choose to donate unsold items at the end of the show, which for Kidz Stuff translates into roughly 5000 items going to refugee organizations and various charities. Divine Children’s unsold items are donated to the Crossnore School in Crossnore, NC, where foster kids get to pick what they want. Saving money and doing good at the same time? Don’t have to tell us twice. March 6–March 8, hbbc.org, March 22–March 25, dcskids.com
Consignment sale newbie? Here, best practices to shop like a pro:
Bring a bag Don’t be limited by what you can carry. And size matters! The bigger the bag, the better.
Make a list It’s easy to forget what you really wanted when there’s so much choice, so make a list and check it twice before you leave
Don’t sleep on it Go ahead and grab anything you might want. You can always put it back, but as everything is one of a kind you don’t want to be disappointed if someone else grabs it while you deliberate
Come back for discount day Most things are half off the already steeply discounted prices the last day of each sale.
Feast your eyes on a first look at conceptual renderings of Village District’s fast-upcoming Oberlin Hotel, slated to bow as early as late 2025. At once realizing the district’s 18-hour-destination MO and adding to DTR’s booming hotel scene, Hilton’s second NC Curio Collection hotel “fills a long-standing need for lodging in Raleigh’s central hub,” says Brooke Conn, GM of Village District owner Regency Centers.
With proximity to universities, businesses and entertainment, the unique boutique grab will feature 150+ well-appointed guest rooms, a market-style open-to-the-public cafe dishing breakfast, a spacious lounge and full cocktail bar, a large outdoor courtyard with a covered patio, and more.
All told, “this premium addition enhances the area while preserving the charm that defines Village District,” adds Conn. “We’re excited to see this addition fuel the area’s continued growth!”
King’s Ridge takes a step toward ending homelessness in Raleigh.
Raleigh is one step closer to solving homelessness. It’s an epidemic on the rise—including on the very streets we all walk every day. In fact, according to the Wake County Point in Time Count, ~1,000 individuals are currently experiencing homelessness on any given night—a 200% increase since 2020.
Now, a cutting-edge concept has made an immediate 15% dent in those stats. Expected to take ~148 people off the street, the freshly debuted King’s Ridge serves up 100 one-, two- and three-bedroom units designated and designed for individuals and families who have a history of homelessness and insufficient credit to qualify for conventional housing.
Chronically homeless people make up: 33% of ER visits costing $44K a year/person
Permanent housing reduces: Health care costs by 59% ER costs by 61% Hospitalizations by 77%
Named for the late former CASA CEO and affordable housing champion Debra King, the Triangle-based affordable housing nonprofit’s most ambitious project to date has already assigned all units in collaboration with street outreach and shelter providers. “We went to the folks that did this work every day to give us our residents,” explains King’s Ridge Director Erin Yates of the community’s efforts to ensure a true focus on Raleigh’s most vulnerable. “We wanted to make sure they follow a housing-first model—meaning there are no requirements before you move in. You don’t take a class or have to be part of a program.” In short, the housing complex meets residents where they are—all of them are able to move in exactly as they are.
While King’s Ridge isn’t free, residents only pay one-third of their monthly income for rent each month and can renew yearly. According to housing affordability devotee and former Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, the largest barrier for the homeless isn’t affording rent—at least 60% of Raleigh’s homeless population have jobs. The real barrier is the ability to put down a security deposit plus first and last month’s rent.
But the monumental project wasn’t realized overnight. It’s been seven years since Molly Painter—now chair of the King’s Ridge Campaign Leadership Committee—picked up Kathy Izard’s The Hundred Story Home. Upon learning of Charlotte’s housing for the homeless, Painter resolved Raleigh could and would achieve the same. A whopping $23 million later—raised in partnership with CASA—the East Raleigh project broke ground in 2022.
“It feels like home,” Painter tells RM—“which is exactly how we want it to feel. The community said yes [and] was very generous—the county was very generous. … Individuals and corporations came together to make it happen.”
Now, locals are finally beginning to move in. One resident who, after a car accident, was rendered unable to work and experienced homelessness, moved into King’s Ridge last in February. “[The resident] said after a couple nights’ sleep, ‘I realized there is a word I’ve never used for myself: I feel calm,’” shares Yates.
While similar housing-first models have been around for decades, they’re new to Raleigh, emphasizes Yates—and she hopes to show the model gives long-term stability for the homeless. “We’ve already had conversations with folks in Asheville, Greensboro and Wilmington,” she adds.
Baldwin, who, during her mayoral tenure, advocated for $10 million for King’s Ridge from the city—and now continues her passion for the cause as executive director of the Cooper Charitable Foundation—is also eager to see how the project inspires other cities’ affordable housing options. “People were like ‘Oh, [$10 million] is a lot of money,’ but so is treating homeless people in emergency rooms—that costs more money than sheltering,” observes Baldwin, noting, too, it is far less expensive than providing health care to people living on the streets. In short, providing shelter isn’t just the compassionate thing to do—it’s also the best financial move for the city.
Baldwin’s backing stems from King Ridge’s wraparound on-site supportive services for residents. “A home and the services they need to stay sheltered—that is what really sold me,” she reveals.
Two medical clinics, case managers and ample community space will supply the necessary tools to heal. To boot, the complex is ideally situated near WakeMed’s Raleigh campus, Wake County’s health services building and the future bus rapid transit line.
Mirroring other conventional apartments, King’s Ridge residents have full control of their schedules and can come and go as they please. The model recognizes the prominence of housing as the first step in handling other challenges—and the apartment’s services will help tackle these lingering obstacles. Backed by the community and aligned with a housing-first mindset, King’s Ridge is setting the bar—and taking a large stride toward ending homelessness.
Upcoming Affordable Housing Projects
Hope Village at Method: Under construction Housing and support for Raleigh youth aging out of foster care located in the Method neighborhood
Maple Ridge Apartments: Construction slated for 2025 146 affordable units with 30 units in NW Raleigh for those with disabilities or who are experiencing homelessness
Strickland Apartments : Construction slated for 2025 148 affordable units with 30 units off Strickland Road for those with disabilities or who are experiencing homelessness
Moore Square Apartments: Construction slated for 2025 160 affordable rental units with 32 units in DTR for those with disabilities or experiencing homelessness
Where to get sh*t done around town? We have your best bathroom lineup on lock (!).
Madre This mod-chic bathroom is either your best friend or your worst nightmare—the difference is made by ensuring the lock is turned all the way so the translucent door is frosted. Pro tip: If you can see out, they can see in. Possible flashing sitch aside, the neon-lit lavatory sports pink-ish hues, stacking up to be a prime squat (and selfie) spot. @madreraleigh
Clockwork If Beetlejuice were a bathroom, it would be this one. Stroll through the trippy black-and-white-striped Tim Burton-esque hallway—and a literal nod to its namesake A Clockwork Orange—for a mind-bending-meets-magnificent photo op you can and should take advantage of on the way to the Glenwood watering hole’s pinked-out powder room. @clockwork919
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
Stella’s Feeling frisky? So is the PG-13-rated bathroom at this girly Downtown dive. Get glam at one of two vanities under a glittering chandelier illuminating the plethora of risqué photographs and magazine covers coating the walls—and dry your hands under the colorful rhinestone-bedazzled paper towel holder. And don’t fret, there’s plenty of spots to stash your purse while you go. So, truly a bathroom for the girls. @stellasonwest
Watts & Ward Tucked away in an inconspicuous corner, these always-clean and never busy potty palaces are dark enough to make you think your makeup still looks great post-speakeasy romp—plus the gold-trimmed mirrors and tiled floors make for the perfect mirror selfie op. @wattsandward
Postino Step into a dark and moody time warp among retro Roy Lichtenstein-esque music prints (hey, Elvis!) and colorful concert-flyer collages coating the ceiling and melding with trippy tiled walls—more than enough vintage vibes to powder your nose in. @postinowinecafe
Photo by Raleigh Magazine
Johnson Street Yacht Club In your Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” era? This perfectly sleazy suite is a primo pick for an edgy pit stop. Feed into your nonchalant and detached attitude with wallpaper quipping your sentiments exactly—plus mints, magazines and feminine products, JIC. @jsyachtclub
March Madness—Raleigh style. Get ready for chaos on the courts this March as the road to the Final Four runs through Raleigh.
This year, the Cap City once again takes center stage in the national spotlight as sessions of the Big Dance play out at Lenovo Center—marking the fifth time Lenny (formerly PNC Arena) has hosted the madness since 2004. And after a year that saw all three major Triangle unis advance deep into the brackets—with the Wolfpack making that magical Final Four run—the Tar Heel State’s buzzing again.
Now one of 13 cities on the road to this year’s Final Four, NC State will play host to—and ~pack~ in the fans for—a half-dozen first- and second-round games of the NCAA Division Men’s Basketball Championship. The courtside action is primed to get wild with yet-to-be-named top-tier teams squaring off, lurking underdogs, buzzer-beater drama, rabid fans, last-second heroics, that nail-biting chaos only March Madness can deliver—and no doubt a trail of plenty of busted brackets in its wake.
While we await the lineup (tba March 16), one thing is certain—whether it’s the big-name squads or underdog upsets, Raleigh is here for it. Game on. March 21, Sessions 1 & 2 (2 games ea.); March 23, Session 3 (2 games), lenovocenter.com
